Denham Town wants justice after resident’s death - Man killed in confrontation with JDF

Janet Haye says that her son, 32-year-old Horaine Glenn, was a boss in the kitchen and had dreams of working overseas as a chef.

Those dreams will not be realised as Glenn was killed during a confrontation with members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) last Saturday along Charles Street in Denham Town, Kingston.

"Yuh will all a keep something and him come on and see say yuh need help inna di kitchen and him just fit in same time. A so him roll, him always wah help people. When mi go over him and look pon mi baby pon di ground, all mi can think about is the things dem weh him did wah achieve," she said.

Police reports say Glenn and three other persons were accosted by soldiers who were on a foot patrol on Charles Street. A confrontation developed and it is alleged that Glenn held on to a soldier's weapon and was shot in the process. But residents have strongly refuted this, alleging that Glenn was killed in cold blood. After the shooting, they mounted roadblocks on several streets in the community with items such as old fridges, tyres and old motor cars. Yesterday when the news team visited the area, angry residents were still protesting.

"Di soldier dem a dig dung four likkle youth weh did deh pon di corner. Him come out a di yard and see and say to the soldier dem 'Unuh no see say a baay likkle pickney dem' and a so di soldier dem turn to him same time and start walk him dung. A bathe him did ago bathe when him hear the excitement outside enuh because him did inside a wash," said Haye.

She said she wished she had said something to her son then and that the entire ordeal has left her feeling empty.

"All now mi no eat, a dis mawnin mi actually get up and feel the strength to walk. Yesterday mi in deh a wash and see him slippers and start break down again. Horaine is a cool yute," she told THE STAR. Haye, 56, said Glenn was a quiet and unassuming student when he attended Denham Town High School.

"Horaine no trouble people, everybody have him as somebody weh always lively and a help people. Him full a manners. Di only time yuh hear 'bout him and anybody inna argument a when him a play football and him and man ketch up," she said.

Denham Town has perennially been a volatile community in western Kingston. Although a zone of special operations (ZOSO) was declared in October 2017, the area has continued to be plagued by violence. According to one senior citizen, there are no signs that that will change.

"The ZOSO has been here for quite a while now but each year the tension between residents and the police and soldiers get worse," the resident said.