Sam Sharpe Square statues vandalised

The memorial statues in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay has been reportedly vandalised this afternoon with the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and The St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) taking swift action to address the situation.

The StJMC made notification earlier this afternoon that green paint was dumped on the statues, located at the square in the vicinity of the St James Street and Market Street intersection. It was not made clear whether a motive for the action was ascertained or if the perpetrators were identified.

Montego Bay's Mayor Richard Vernon told The STAR that the statues, which were erected in honour of National Hero Samuel Sharpe, had a fence set up around them in 2023 to minimise the potential for vandalism.

"The StJMC informed the JNHT of the situation earlier today. Our team was asked to allow the JNHT to do an immediate assessment, with an intent to restore [the statues] before any other action is taken," Vernon said in a brief statement.

"I recall having to address a similar situation before, but not of this magnitude. The risk of tampering was also the reason we had to install grills a few years ago to reduce that likelihood," Vernon added.

Under Section 17 of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act, anyone who wilfully defaces, damages, or destroys any national monument or any protected national heritage site, shall be fined a maximum of $40,000 or spend no more than two years in prison, or be subjected to both fine and imprisonment, if convicted before a Resident Magistrate's Court.

- Christopher Thomas

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