Man accuses JPS of cutting down prized tree

A resident of Hampstead, Yallahs, St Thomas is alleging that Jamaica Public Service (JPS) workers accessed his property without permission and cut down his prized mulberry tree from the root.

Odean Grey, who has problems with his sight, said that last Wednesday, about 1:30 p.m. he heard a power saw in operation.

"My neighbours say dem see one a dem jump the fence," Grey recounted, emphasising that he did not confront the men himself due to his health condition. "Mi sick with mi eye dem, so that's why mi never come out."

"When mi investigate, mi understand seh a them, because one jump the fence from up near to mi house and walk through mi yard go down a the gully, and the other one jump cross the river come over," he stated.

Grey said that his mulberry tree is of great importance to himself and his neighbours, as it helps those who have low blood count.

"The closest power lines to my house is those big high-tension power lines that you have to use a crane to get to. That tree have nothing to do with the power line," he asserted. Grey said that there was also damage to banana trees and is demanding compensation from JPS.

However, Audrey Williams, media and public relations manager at JPS, said inquiries to the team have indicated that they are unaware of the reported incident.

"No one is engaged currently, neither JPS employees nor third party contractors, to conduct vegetation clearance in Hampstead," she said in an email to the news team.

"However, we wish to point out that our teams are taking steps to manage vegetation which poses a risk to public safety as well as disruption of service when they breach power lines or are at risk of doing so. This has included proactively cutting trees."