By KAVELLE ANGLIN-CHRISTIE - Staff Reporter
THE BUSHES BORDERING the Bellevue Hospital in East Kingston, harbour criminals; but exactly whose problem is this?
The open lot, which is partially fenced, is often used as a short-cut by residents to get to Manley Meadows, a nearby community, though persons are said to be frequently attacked there.
There were even rumours of a Rastafarian man awaiting women at a nearby bus stop late at nights, and taking them into the bushes and raping them.
When THE STAR visited the Manley Meadows community, and spoke with the Elletson Road police, the rumours seemed unfounded.
Although the rumour and the bushes have been a major concern of the workers and those living in Duncaster and Manley Meadows, the hospital insists that they are not responsible for the upkeep of the open lot.
Stop trespassing
According to Yvonne Miller, chief executive officer of the hospital, before the fence bordering the hospital was erected, persons often trespassed. "It was a thoroughfare, so the fence was put up by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) , so it (open lot) was no longer our responsibility."
"I don't know if there was anyone who was designated to care for the lot, but no one seems to be doing anything," she said.
When contacted,a representative of the UDC said they were not the owners of the lot.
Miller, however, says a portion of the fence was torn down, and persons are again trespassing on the property. "There are persons straying on to the compound because someone tore a hole in the fence ... Right now we are in the process of getting the fence repaired, and we will be trying to solicit funds from the National Health Fund."
She also says the bushes only serve as a safe haven for criminals. "Not only is it unsightly, but it poses a security threat, especially because it is in a volatile area," she said.
Although the residents insist they are being attacked by criminals who hide in the bushes, the police say they received no such reports.
According to the deputy superintendent in charge of crime at the Elletson Road CIB, Michael Ellis, "We have not been getting any such reports. We have been hearing the rumours, but no one is coming to us on record. If it is happening then the people are keeping it to themselves. We visited the area and persons said they did not know of any attacks."
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