Community nightmare

Palpable fear and nightmarish encounters have become commonplace for Dr Elsa Amanu* and her 12-year-old son after nearly three years of traumatic experiences at their home in Green Acres, St Catherine.

Amanu, who came to Jamaica from Venezuela to offer her service as a dental surgeon, has reportedly been subject to physical and verbal attacks from her neighbour, who is believed to suffer from mental illness.

The Venezuelan doctor, who works with the St Catherine Health Department and the Second Chance Smiles programme, said her allegedly violent and aggressive neighbour has made her life and that of her son a living hell.

Amanu told The Gleaner last week that her home is like a prison as she has to lock her doors and her child cannot play on the outside for fear of being attacked by the neighbour.

The Gleaner has seen video recorded by one resident showing the allegedly violent neighbour wielding what appears to be a machete at the gate of the complainant.

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

She also told The Gleaner that her driveway has been pelted with glass bottles by her assailant, noting that this could damage her car tyres.

The dental surgeon further alleged that stones have been hurled at her premises on many occasions.

Her neighbour also reportedly lights a fire on a regular basis, which often triggers her son’s asthma.

With tears welled up and voice breaking, the doctor said her attempts to get the authorities to address the problem seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

The neighbour has put up zinc fences and other trappings against the perimeter wall erected between the two houses, creating an appalling eyesore.

The Gleaner was told that the St Catherine Parish Municipal Corporation gave the alleged offender an order to remove the zinc fence, but about a year has passed and it remains intact.

“I have a 12-year old son. Since he came here, he can’t walk outside in the garden and can’t exercise. He can’t play. What kind of life is this?” she asked.

Even routine acts such as driving out of the car port to her gate can be a risky venture, Amanu said, alleging that she had been attacked by her neighbour with a machete and a knife in separate incidents.

“Who knows that situation? My work department, the police, the mental health team, the community. And nobody does anything,” she lamented.

A resident of the community, who asked not to be named, said the Green Acres Citizens Association is also aware of the serious threats against her life and property.

Amanu is fearful that she or he son could be seriously hurt or killed.

“You know why she doesn’t hurt me? Because I run all the time,” she said.

The situation has taken a toll on the health professional and her son, who tells his mother that he wants to return to Venezuela as he is terrified.

SEEKING INTERVENTION

Vanessa White-Barrow, president of the Green Acres Citizens’ Association, told The Gleaner on Thursday that the community group has reached out to the police and health department to intervene in the matter.

She also revealed that the association has contacted the family members of the resident who is alleged to have carried out various intimidatory actions against the medical professional.

“We tried to ask her family to try and intervene, but nobody seems to be responsive at all. Everybody seems to put the action back into the hands of the police, but the police say they can’t just act like that. They need the family members to also intervene,” White-Barrow said.

White-Barrow said the citizens’ association has not given up, but continues to reach out to the family of the resident.

“We don’t want somebody to be killed before serious steps are taken,” she said.

Abdon Campbell, parish manager of the St Catherine Health Department, confirmed to The Gleaner that the dental surgeon has reported the alleged incidents.

“We would have met with her (the neighbour). I don’t think we had ever taken her into the health centre. There is a period when she is calm,” he said.

Campbell said that, with no known relative, if the resident was removed from the house, there is the risk of her property being vandalised when she returns.

He said the health department was in the process of escalating the matter to the superintendent at the Spanish Town Police Station.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Campbell said both the mental-health professionals and the police will have to work together to bring about a resolution.

“We are fully aware of the doctor’s concern, and it has been reported to the political directorate,” said Campbell, admitting that the doctor needs help and everything would be done to respond to her concerns.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, who is also the member of parliament for St Catherine West Central, in which Green Acres is situated, said the case at hand requires that mental health officers visit and try to provide an assessment and, if necessary, remove the individual. However, he said that the health team would not want to go unless the police accompanied them, especially if the person is violent.

He said when a certain type of aggression is displayed, the mental-health professionals do not go on their own but require support from the police.

Tufton said he would take steps to ensure that the matter is addressed.

When The Gleaner visited the community last Thursday, there was no sign of the resident who is accused of attacking her neighbour.

*Named changed upon request.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com