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Who is this man?
White Marl residents still no closer to knowing identity of mysterious stranger
By Kimmo Matthews Observer staff reporter [email protected]
Monday, September 01, 2014
Residents say after seven years they are still no closer to discovering the identity of this man who sits for hours along the busy Mandela Highway. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)
He sat with his hands clasped, gazing into the distance on Mandela Highway, oblivious of the speeding vehicles which left him covered in dust.
Sweat poured from his forehead, his lips parched and a pot covered in soot lay close to his feet with food left over from the early morning meal he had prepared on a wood fire along the roadside.
Residents claim that for more than seven years, the man, who has mysteriously appeared at the location, sits for hours, braving the harsh weather conditions. At times he uses just a piece of card board as shelter from the rain or sun.
“He would just come there, sit in silence, and just stare in the distance. He hardly talks to people and he never asks for anything. He just sits at the spot and then leaves,” said Devon 'Butter' Smith.
Smith, a resident of White Marl, was among a group of men gathered at a small roadside shop last Friday, discussing their theories as to why the man has remained at the location.
“Well, me hear that several years ago a close relative of his passed away at the location and ever since (then) he comes to the spot and just stares and then leaves,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer during a visit to the community.
Sydney Bryan, a returning resident shared another story.
“Well, I heard that story and I also heard that he was working at a company and was made redundant but ever since (then) he turns up to work,” said Bryan.
“I have been living in this community for more than 30 years and I can tell you that I have left this country on several occasions and every time I come back, I always see him sitting at the location,” Bryan continued.
“He will be there through rain, sun, whatever the condition, that is where he will sit; people have even gone over there trying to offer him help and he has refused. He also cooks along the side of the road,” said Bryan.
George Royal, another resident, agreed.
“Sometimes mi at mi home and me not going to lie, sometimes mi mind run on him, just wondering if he is okay, especially when it rains,” said Royal.
Officials from St Monica's Home, which caters to the elderly, located directly across from where the man sits, said they, too, have tried offering assistance, which he has refused.
“We have gone over there on several occasions offering our help and he has refused. If you notice the chair he is now sitting on, we were the ones that offered him the item,” said Hermin Bascoe, manager of the home.
Bascoe explained that officials from the home have also offered the man a place to live, his own bed and other facilities.
“We have even gone over there to offer him food, sometimes he takes it and sometimes he will refuse it. We have even invited him to stay with us during the days and he has refused,” said Bascoe, who added that she worries about his safety on a daily basis.
The police when contacted could only say that they, too, have seen the man along the busy thoroughfare.
“We have seen him along the highway but we have never received any reports of him causing any problem or disturbing anyone,” said one policeman.
Residents in the area say while they were left wondering about the mystery man, they continue to pray for his safety.
White Marl residents still no closer to knowing identity of mysterious stranger
By Kimmo Matthews Observer staff reporter [email protected]
Monday, September 01, 2014
Residents say after seven years they are still no closer to discovering the identity of this man who sits for hours along the busy Mandela Highway. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)
He sat with his hands clasped, gazing into the distance on Mandela Highway, oblivious of the speeding vehicles which left him covered in dust.
Sweat poured from his forehead, his lips parched and a pot covered in soot lay close to his feet with food left over from the early morning meal he had prepared on a wood fire along the roadside.
Residents claim that for more than seven years, the man, who has mysteriously appeared at the location, sits for hours, braving the harsh weather conditions. At times he uses just a piece of card board as shelter from the rain or sun.
“He would just come there, sit in silence, and just stare in the distance. He hardly talks to people and he never asks for anything. He just sits at the spot and then leaves,” said Devon 'Butter' Smith.
Smith, a resident of White Marl, was among a group of men gathered at a small roadside shop last Friday, discussing their theories as to why the man has remained at the location.
“Well, me hear that several years ago a close relative of his passed away at the location and ever since (then) he comes to the spot and just stares and then leaves,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer during a visit to the community.
Sydney Bryan, a returning resident shared another story.
“Well, I heard that story and I also heard that he was working at a company and was made redundant but ever since (then) he turns up to work,” said Bryan.
“I have been living in this community for more than 30 years and I can tell you that I have left this country on several occasions and every time I come back, I always see him sitting at the location,” Bryan continued.
“He will be there through rain, sun, whatever the condition, that is where he will sit; people have even gone over there trying to offer him help and he has refused. He also cooks along the side of the road,” said Bryan.
George Royal, another resident, agreed.
“Sometimes mi at mi home and me not going to lie, sometimes mi mind run on him, just wondering if he is okay, especially when it rains,” said Royal.
Officials from St Monica's Home, which caters to the elderly, located directly across from where the man sits, said they, too, have tried offering assistance, which he has refused.
“We have gone over there on several occasions offering our help and he has refused. If you notice the chair he is now sitting on, we were the ones that offered him the item,” said Hermin Bascoe, manager of the home.
Bascoe explained that officials from the home have also offered the man a place to live, his own bed and other facilities.
“We have even gone over there to offer him food, sometimes he takes it and sometimes he will refuse it. We have even invited him to stay with us during the days and he has refused,” said Bascoe, who added that she worries about his safety on a daily basis.
The police when contacted could only say that they, too, have seen the man along the busy thoroughfare.
“We have seen him along the highway but we have never received any reports of him causing any problem or disturbing anyone,” said one policeman.
Residents in the area say while they were left wondering about the mystery man, they continue to pray for his safety.
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