Deputy May Pen mayor evicted

Horace Fisher, Gleaner Writer

May Pen, Clarendon

Deputy Mayor of May Pen, Uphel Purcell, has been evicted from his rented flat in York Town, Clarendon, which he had occupied for the past 15 years.

Purcell's swift eviction follows a court ruling on August 2 that he should vacate the premises by August 24.

The deputy mayor, however, didn't budge, leading the court's appointed bailiffs to kick down the door and throw all his belongings outside.

Purcell's possessions were thrown out in the open, to face the rains associated with Tropical Storm Isaac. They included the deputy mayor's beds, tables, pots and pans.

Years of litigation

The deputy mayor's eviction follows years of litigation between himself and his landlord, Lewis Bramwell.

Bramwell told The Gleaner that the premises were rented to Purcell in 2007, but he claimed that since 2008, the councillor for the York Town division has not paid any instalments on his rent, triggering the court action.

"The magistrate ruled he vacate our property forthwith, but again he refused, and was thrown out," Bramwell declared with a smirk on his face.

When contacted by The Gleaner, Purcell was shocked to learn that his belongings were being washed away by Isaac. He insisted he wasn't aware of an eviction notice or an eviction date for August 24, and vowed to take the matter back to court.

"Right now me and my lawyer are taking the matter back to the court as we speak," he insisted.