Three cases, four other attempts in four months

Suicide a worrying concern in Wait-a-Bit

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:While the slaughter of his two daughters overshadowed his own act of suicide, last week's death of 34-year-old farmer Kenville Mullings of Woodgrove district in Wait-a-Bit, Trelawny, is the third case of suicide in that section of the parish in a mere four months.

According to Councillor Paul Patmore, who represents the Lorimers Division - which includes Wait-a-Bit - in the Trelawny Parish Council, in addition to the three suicides, another four persons attempted to kill themselves but were unsuccessful.

"We have had three deaths from suicide, and another four attempted suicides in the past four months in this division," said Patmore, who, ironically, operates a funeral home in the area.

"One man said he owed $30,000 and kills himself … . Another man's girlfriend wanted to leave him, so he drank poison, and now this young man has not only killed himself, but his little girls as well," added Patmore.

In bemoaning the lack of value being placed on life by those who are willing to kill others as well as themselves, Patmore drew reference to an incident in the area some years ago when residents danced and drank rum to celebrate the mob killing of a yam thief.

"In one instance, they caught a man in a field stealing, and he was chopped to death … even folks who were coming from church at the time supported the act," said Patmore. "What I notice is that for the past couple of years, we have applauded killings … vigilante justice is rampant … people don't regard life or take life seriously anymore."

Following last week's triple tragedy in which Mullings killed his two daughters and then hanged himself following a dispute with the children's mother, Assistant Commissioner of Police Devon Watkis, the commanding officer for Area One (Trelawny, St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland) urged residents to choose mediation over violence to settle their differences.

"All police personnel have the basic intervention skills required in conflict resolution," said Watkis. "The police also oftentimes partner with organisations that have trained persons with mediation skills … . The police regularly interact with the other agencies that would bring about a speedy resolution … . All officers have a fair idea as to where to seek that resolution."

kiwanis concerned

Like the police and the other stakeholders who have a vested interest in ensuring that conflicts are resolved peacefully, the newly formed Kiwanis Club of New Falmouth in Trelawny is also concerned about the series of deaths plaguing Wait-a-Bit and would like to be a part of the intervention process.

"People are stressed, and in most cases, they don't have any avenue to vent," said Veniesha Cookhorn, secretary of the newly formed Kiwanis group. "In the absence of a means to push out their frustration, they have turned to taking their own lives.

"As a club, we are very concerned about the situation, and we are now actively exploring ways in which we can assist in the whole matter of conflict resolution," added Cookhorn.

As a proactive step towards finding a solution to the problem, Councillor Patmore said residents in his division had come together and had established an organisation to deal with conflict in the hope that the unfortunate situations that occurred over the past four months would become a thing of the past soon.

"We have a committee which deals with conflicts," said Patmore. "We also selected respected members of the communities to act as mediators … . I am also a promoter, and we have taken a decision to no longer promote events that do not promote good family values."