Statues in Sam Sharpe Square vandalised
The St James Municipal Corporation [StJMC] has taken swift action to address today’s vandalism of the memorial statues in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, with the Jamaica National Heritage Trust [JNHT] called in to assess the situation.
The StJMC gave notification earlier this afternoon that green paint was dumped on the statues, located at the square in the vicinity of the St James Street and Market Street intersection. It did not say whether a motive for the action was ascertained or if the perpetrators were identified.
Montego Bay’s Mayor Richard Vernon told The Gleaner that the statues, which were erected in honour of National Hero Samuel Sharpe, had a fence erected around them in 2023 to minimise the potential for vandalism.
“I recall having to address a similar situation before, but not of this magnitude. The risk of tampering was also the reason we had to install grilles a few years ago to reduce that likelihood,” Vernon said in a brief statement.
“The StJMC informed the JNHT of the situation earlier today. Our team was asked to allow the JNHT to do an immediate assessment, with an intent to restore [the statues] before any other action is taken,” Vernon added.
Under Section 17 of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act, anyone who wilfully defaces, damages, or destroys any national monument or any protected national heritage site, shall be fined a maximum of $40,000 or spend no more than two years in prison, or be subjected to both fine and imprisonment, if convicted before a Resident Magistrate’s Court.
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