‘Dem rob di dead man’

Western Bureau:

The nephew of a man who died at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, St James, last Wednesday after falling and hitting his head says in addition to not receiving timely medical attention, his uncle’s body was subsequently “robbed”.

Seventy-one-year-old Leroy Smith’s death has been the subject of controversy amid reports that he did not receive the required medical attention after suffering a medical emergency at the airport.

Ramond Smith, the son of the deceased man’s twin brother, said that after dropping off his uncle at the airport, he was the one who rushed back there after the family was notified of his medical situation.

“When I got back to the airport, his body was being wrapped up by two undertakers,” recalled the nephew.

He said he informed the undertakers that he wanted to take possession of the items.

“They (the undertakers) took the body outside and placed it in a van, and I was there waiting on them to turn over the items when the police officer, who was handling the investigation, told me I could also pick up his luggage, which I went off and did, thinking the undertakers would have waited on me,” said the nephew.

“When I returned, the van with the body was gone. The police officer made a quick call to get his colleagues to stop the vehicle before it left the compound, but by then, it was gone. Another police officer called the funeral home and told them the body was coming and all of Mr Smith’s personal items were still on him,” added the nephew.

Not familiar with the layout of Montego Bay, the nephew said it took him over half an hour to get to funeral home, which is in downtown Montego Bay. He said when he got there, he identified himself and told the person in the office that he was there to collect his uncle’s possessions.

“I was surprised when she told me what was found on the body, since the van with the body had still not arrived there,” said the nephew. “About half an hour later, the van arrived with the body. One of the men handed me a bag with my uncle’s chain, his ring, his watch, J$50 and J$30 in silver, saying that was all they found on him.

“I know he had a lot of money on him because on my way to Montego Bay, I saw him pay US$400 for a car he had rented and got back US$50 change. I also paid J$5,000 at the gas pump for my gas to Montego Bay; he took out J$2,000 and gave me to give a youth who had roasted some breadfruit for him ... . He had a lot of Jamaican and US dollars on him. I saw it myself ... . He had money to buy liquor in the airport’s duty-free shop to take back to Florida for persons who had asked him to bring back those items for them,” stated the nephew.

“I want to know, where you ever hear seh man a go travel go back to America and all him have as money is J$50 and J$30 silver ... . That no make no sense. After dem mek him dead because of US$400 fi a private ambulance, which I approved when dem call me from the airport, dem turn ‘round and rob the dead man ... . Dem rob mi uncle; dem rob di dead man,” he claimed.

The elder Smith, an established mechanic, who is originally from Westmoreland, but was based in Orlando, Florida, came to Jamaica to attend the funeral of a relative in Whitehouse, Westmoreland. He reportedly fell and hit his head while checking in at the airport last Wednesday.

Fellow passenger Celia Foster, who ran to his assistance, alongside a JetBlue employee, said he was on the ground, battling for life for more than 20 minutes before a nurse came.

According to Foster, instead of pushing to get medical help for Smith, an airport official, who arrived belatedly, seemed more interested in which family member was going to approve the US$400 to utilise the services of a private ambulance to take him to hospital.

He never reach the hospital and was instead taken to the morgue.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com