Man regrets becoming a State witness

A man who witnessed a murder more than a decade ago says he regrets becoming part of the witness protection programme and is encouraging others to think twice before making that decision.

John Brown*, who is in his 50s, says he has been under the programme for the past 12 years and it has taken away his independence. He said although the court matter in which he testified is over, he is yet to be discharged, and believes he is being treated unfairly.

"It is not a nice ting because some a di time dem only treat yuh good when di case a gwan, but after that, tings nuh right. When di case a gwan, anything dem tell mi to do mi do it, and now it done, dem all a tell mi say dem can't get mi on mi phone when dem a call. Mi nuh expect dem to take care a mi all a mi life, but after 10 years mi expect to get something to start mi life back," Brown said.

The man, who admitted that he breached the programme's protocols by visiting Kingston, said he is desperate to have his story aired as he needs assistance for his daughter. He said she was recently placed in a prominent high school but he is unable to even pay the registration fee to collect her package.

Brown said that at the time he joined the programme, he was living in a family home and doing construction work.

"I wasn't paying rent at the time and life was comfortable because I was getting jobs as a mason. My daughter was a newborn so the authorities move mi and mi baby and babymother to somewhere weh dem say safe. At first mi say mi never wah be a part of the system but dem say dem couldn't let mi off of the case because mi start it already," he said.

"Dem tell we say we mustn't work because dat ago risky so at that time dem take care of us. Dem pay di rent and provide groceries and so on but after the case finish about three years ago, mi feel like dem a try shove we out. But yuh can't just shove us out like that," Brown added.

He said he still receives a stipend for food and other necessities but said he may be homeless very soon.

"It's like dem wah stop pay di rent or when dem pay, it come in late. So now the landlord want to give us notice. Dem don't want to take care of my daughter back-to-school supplies so because of that mi can't even pay the registration fee and collect the package. Remember a dem say mi must not work, so what mi must do?" he asked.

He said his case manager suggested he should venture into animal or poultry rearing. But Brown said that is impossible since he resides on a rented property.

"Mi ask him if him can get mi a little ride so mi can run some taxi and him ask mi if mi mad. Him a say mi must try look some work but mi can't find any. Right now mi and some a mi family dem don't even talk ," he said.

"Memba a dem take mi from my house where mi nuh have to pay rent enuh. Mi want dem to just give mi summen weh mi can just start mi life over with. It better dem put mi back a town because mi don't even know anyone where mi live and nutten much not there for me to do. A just farming gwan right deh so and yuh have to have place to farm. Mi a tell yuh di truth, mi stress," Brown added.

THE STAR reached out the case manager who Brown said was handling his matter, but the individual who spoke to the news team said he knew nothing about the matter.

*Name changed to protect identity