Who chopped Belnavis?
St Ann’s Bay mayor admitted to hospital after Monday night attack
Published:Wednesday | January 22, 2025 | 12:10 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
Mystery surrounds how and why St Ann’s Bay Mayor Michael Belnavis was chopped several times on Monday night and had to seek treatment at the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital.
Up to press time last night, the St Mary police were not able to give a report on the incident, which is believed to have occurred at a building he owns, located between Boscobel and Oracabessa in that parish.
Police sources initially said no report was made. However, The Gleaner understands that senior detectives from the police’s Area Two Headquarters in Tower Isle were carrying out investigations into the attack.
The incident is said to have occurred around 11 p.m. at the newly constructed premises, which is not the mayor’s home.
Reports indicate that the mayor was able to drive himself to hospital, where he was treated.
On Tuesday afternoon, he returned to the hospital, with his head bandaged, a source told The Gleaner.
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), to which the politician is affiliated, later released a statement, saying that Belnavis was “readmitted” to hospital for supervision.
“Mayor Belnavis was initially released from hospital on Monday night, but was subsequently readmitted after feeling discomfort on Tuesday afternoon,” the JLP said.
“The mayor was attacked by an unknown assailant at his residence on Monday and sustained what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries. Mayor Belnavis and his family are thankful for the outpouring of support and good wishes,” the statement said.
Belnavis is serving in his second stint as mayor following last February’s local government elections.
Four years into his first term, Belnavis was forced to resign from the post in July 2020 after facing the heat for using taxpayers’ money to pay for a $80,000 charging port for his Porsche motorcar, which he claimed was being used for government work.