Linstead native giving back with school treat

Appalled by the crime rate in North West St Catherine, Arthur Bowen, a Linstead native, said he will be hosting a back-to-school treat called 'Comrade Reach Out' in the New Works Housing Scheme on Saturday.

"I really hope this treat will bring back the unity in North West St Catherine. I partially grow up in this area and crime is taking over. I am not making an excuse for anyone, but a lot of the youth ... who are robbing and being a nuisance in the area are hungry and have children to go back to school. If this treat can make everyone life a bit easier, then I am willing to try. I am just trying to alleviate the stress and problems off people's hands," he said.

Over a dozen persons have been killed in Linstead since the start of the year. Among the latest victims is an elderly man known as 'Earl', who was killed last weekend. The robbers took an undetermined sum of money from him, but some of the cash was left on the ground beside his body.

"The police are trying their best to lessen the crime. The churches and business operators are trying their best also, but it seems like the devil has a hold on Linstead. Right now Linstead is nicknamed 'Hell Instead'. Business is good in Linstead but a lot of persons, such as the small higglers, will do their little hustling in the street. But then the police run dem off the road. So we want to all help those people with their back-to-school expenses as well," Bowen said.

Bowen, a rising entertainer who goes by the name 'Majahi G.O.D.', said that while the treat is not likely to bring an end to the rising crime rate within the embattled space, he is hoping that participants, especially the children, will have a grand experience.

"We don't have a limit to the number of persons. We will be giving away everything [concerning] back to school. There will be free rides for the children, a lot of who have not got a chance to enjoy their summer holidays for one or more reasons," he said.

The Comrade Reach Out back-to-school treat was provided with additional funding from the political representatives and business operators within the constituency.