Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
News
Observer Reporter  
November 20, 2003

Highway 2000 fence being cemented into place

OLD HARBOUR, St Catherine — Operators of Highway 2000, who have started cementing sections of the toll road’s fence into place, are hoping this will prevent thieves from hauling away huge chunks of the chain-link material.

More than 500 metres of the fence has been stolen since the highway was opened on September 24, they said — 200 metres of which was removed the night before 24 year-old Patrick Howell died when his car collided with a black cow that had strayed onto the roadway.

Howell, a 24 year-old employee of the Jamaica Public Service Company’s Old Harbour location, was from New Green District in Manchester.

According to the Old Harbour police, the accident occurred at about 8:32 pm. Howell, cops said, was travelling in his black Toyota Levin motor car when, upon reaching a bridge in the vicinity of the Old British Caribbean Cable Complex, he collided with the cow.

The vehicle then rolled over into a ditch.

Howell was removed from the car and taken, via ambulance, to the Spanish Town Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Yesterday, highway officials directly linked the fatal accident to the stolen fence.

“This tragedy shows that there are ruthless criminals out there willing to risk the lives of others just for a piece of fence,” said Trevor Jackson, managing director of Trans Jamaica Highways, the 35-year concessionaire.

“It is a daily occurrence. They attach the fence to heavy-duty vehicles and drag down sections,” Jackson added. “The night before the accident they stole over 200 metres of fencing.”

There have also been instances where the fence, which was erected to keep out pedestrians and stray animals, was cut to allow people to walk onto the highway. Days after the toll road opened, a toddler crawled through one of these holes and narrowly missed being run over.

Yesterday, Jackson did not speak specifically to this problem but said some sections of the stolen fence have now been repaired and cemented into place. He could not say exactly how much the vandalism and repairs was costing the company, but he described it as “a considerable amount”.

Spare fencing, which the company always has available, he added, had been used to effect interim repairs after Wednesday night’s accident; and before 11:00 am yesterday contractors began repairing the fence which had been vandalised in four separate sections Tuesday night.

And he was confident that they would find a solution to the theft problem.

“We are going to cement the bottom of the fence. We will catch them and stop this,” Jackson said.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Scotia Investments says it leads Jamaica’s collective investment schemes market
Business, Latest News
Scotia Investments says it leads Jamaica’s collective investment schemes market
March 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Scotia Jamaica Investments Limited (SIJL) said it has taken the leading market share position among service providers in Jamaica’...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Sagicor pulls out the stops for IWD
Entertainment, Latest News
Sagicor pulls out the stops for IWD
March 11, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — As the world marks the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer, the spotlight is firmly on the women whose hands nurture the soi...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Lawyers’ ‘conflicting commitments’ pause Klansman trial
Latest News, News
Lawyers’ ‘conflicting commitments’ pause Klansman trial
Alicia Dunkley-Willism senior reporter, dunkleywillisa@jamaicaobserver.com 
March 11, 2026
“Conflicting commitments” on the part of two defence attorneys representing one of the accused in the ongoing Klansman Gang trial on Wednesday forced ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
NCB to host tax seminar for businesses navigating statutory payments
Business, Latest News
NCB to host tax seminar for businesses navigating statutory payments
March 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB) will host an online seminar this week aimed at helping businesses manage statutory ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Champs ticket sales to go toward helping Western schools recover from Hurricane Melissa
Latest News, Sports
Champs ticket sales to go toward helping Western schools recover from Hurricane Melissa
March 11, 2026
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) president Keith Wellington says proceeds from ticket sales at the ISSA Grace...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Parkmere Group Investment supports ongoing hurricane relief in St James
Latest News, News
Parkmere Group Investment supports ongoing hurricane relief in St James
March 11, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — When Hurricane Melissa struck the island last October, Tastia Stephens, Account Manager for Parkmere Group Investment was in Monte...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Texas woman exonerated in baby’s death freed after 22 years
International News, Latest News
Texas woman exonerated in baby’s death freed after 22 years
March 11, 2026
TEXAS, United States (AFP) — A woman who spent 22 years in a United States (US) prison over the death of a 10-month-old boy in her care was set free W...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
CARPHA strengthens public health support for Jamaica’s hurricane recovery
Latest News, News
CARPHA strengthens public health support for Jamaica’s hurricane recovery
Carlysia Ramdeen, Observer Online reporter, ramdeenc@jamaicaobserver.com 
March 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr Lisa Indar, says the regional health body is continuing to s...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct