West Kingston Commission of Enquiry - Day 3

A resident of West Kingston Troy Palmer,45 on Wednesday recounted his May 24, 2010 encounter with Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers during which he claimed he was beaten and his business and personal items damaged.      

Palmer told the commission that about 6 a.m. he was at home on Ebenezer Path in Tivoli Gardens when he heard explosions. The businessman said he took cover and noticed a large deployment of  soldiers on the roof  of  a building at the Coronation Market.

Palmer claimed the soldiers aimed their guns at Tivoli Gardens and other directions. He said gunshots were fired, resulting in damage to windows and appliances at his house and, two hours later soldiers took him from his house and a bus transported him to the National Arena where he spent four days.  

Palmer also testified that a soldier abused him. He claimed the soldier hit him in the back with his rifle while another took water from his shop. He said goods valued at three hundred thousand dollars were stolen

Meanwhile, during cross-examination Palmer testified that he saw persons mounting sand bags and other forms of  blockade around the community.     

He said he was aware that a warrant was out for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and that there was a State of  Emergency at the time, but was not aware if the former Tivoli Gardens strongman had left the community. 

Interruptions

During the examination Chief Counsel to the Commission, Garth McBean, was interrupted by Attorney for the Jamaica Defence Force, Linton Gordon, who objected to documents which Palmer had in his possession being passed to attorney for the Office of  the Public Defender, Miguel Lorne. The JDF attorney said the documents should be submitted to the Commission if it become necessary during cross-examination.  

Lorne explained that the documents were receipts issued during Palmer's detention as well as a medical bill.  

Sir David Simmons, Chairman of the Commission of Enquiry, suggested that the documents be copied and furnished to the lawyers present.  

The documents were later tendered into evidence.