Dancehall entertainer Popcaan, fresh from his appearance at the St. Thomas Parish court last Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to four of five charges related to the December staging of Unruly Fest, ventured into a neighbouring community. His purpose was to assess and determine the necessary steps to clear clogged drains.
The residents warmly welcomed his act of philanthropy, citing safety concerns due to the challenges posed by stagnant water weaving through dozens of homes in Bamboo River, St. Thomas. Not only does this present an unpleasant odour, but it has also become a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Amidst the residents’ struggles, one shared, “All three destroyers, we have to light at nighttime. We have fans, and we still have to light destroyers because the mosquitoes are rampant on us.” Another resident said, “Look at it, stay bad mosquitoes are killing us down here.“
The environmental eyesore primarily comprises discarded plastic and crumbled garbage, creating a dire situation for the community. When it rains, residents are forced to seek higher ground as their homes are frequently inundated.
In response to this pressing issue, St. Thomas native Andre Sutherland, popularly known as the Unruly Boss, and his team toured the community on Wednesday. The entertainer assured the residents that a drain-cleaning exercise would commence on Monday, January 15th.
“We speak for the people, and we have the voice, so we use it positively. We use it for the people and use it against crime and violence. What I am doing is bringing the community together to clean up this place so it can be in a better state,” declared the Unruly Boss.
Although a finalized budget has not been disclosed, Popcaan expressed his commitment to employing the services of residents to complete the job. Furthermore, he announced that other communities are also set to benefit from similar initiatives.
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