‘Mi did fear fi mi life’ - St Thomas man recounts scary moment after JLP caretaker pointed gun at him

Wayne Walker said his life flashed before him when he crouched to the ground on Monday as a firearm was pointed in his direction by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for the Trinityville Division in Western St Thomas, Dean Jones.

"When mi see him pull the gun, mi crouch and say him win. Mi did fear fi mi life and mi just retreat because mi see di firearm. Mi and the man never have anything before," Walker, a farmer and sound system operator, told THE STAR.

He added: "Mi is a working man who do mi farming and operate mi sound on the front. Mi just don't know what that man did deh pon."

Walker, dressed in a red shirt, was involved in a tussle with Jones before he was tacked to the ground by another man, wearing a green shirt. He was kicked repeatedly as he lay helpless on the ground by two men -- Jones not included -- a video of the incident shows.

Yesterday, the St Thomas resident said he was in immense pain because of the battering. He stated that he was puzzled as to why he was attacked on his property.

"The man just come a mi place and just start fight mi off as weh yuh see on the video. I don't know him, it was the first time in my life I am seeing him. Right now mi a feel a lot of pain in my chest," Walker said.

Like Walker, the JLP standard bearer said he, too, feared for his life during the incident that took place in Springfield, near Morant Bay. In a statement to the media Tuesday, Jones' attorney, Alexander Shaw, said his client was conducting his lawful business when he was physically attacked by persons unknown to him. Shaw said the alleged attack caused Jones to sustain serious injuries and be placed in imminent fear for his life.

In the meantime, Hubert Williams, the PNP's caretaker for St Thomas Western, has called for Jones to be removed as chairman of the Seaforth High School and Rural Agricultural Development Authority branch in St Thomas.

"What are we saying to our kids, that we are going to use violence producers as our leaders? We can never ever accept that as a nation. The day that we accept that as a nation is the day that we can say that Jamaica done," he said.

Williams, who is also mayor of Morant Bay, implored PNP supporters to be calm and let the justice system deal with the situation.

Attempts to contact Superintendent Allison Byfield, head of the St Thomas Police Division, were unsuccessful.

Jones was elected on the JLP ticket as councillor for the Yallahs Divsion in 2016 but was disqualified by the courts after being deemed ineligible to hold the office, as, at the time he was a civil servant.

He is likely to be nominated against the PNP's Kimberley Thompson for the Trinityville Division. The JLP has held the seat since 2003.