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
      • 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
      • 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
  • 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
Regional, Western
September 23, 2015

Pastor on lotto – scamming rap to appear in court next week

BY HORACE HINES

Observer West reporter

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland

MINISTER of Religion, Ray Foster who was arrested and charged with breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act following an anti- lottery scam operation in Westmoreland on the weekend, is scheduled to appear in the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magistrate’s Court next week to answer to the charges.

Foster, affectionately called ‘Pastor Ray,’ a resident of Little London in Westmoreland, is reportedly the head of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, located along Cooke Street, Savanna-la-Mar, in the parish.

Similar charges are also expected to be laid against a member of the same church and another person. They were both taken into custody during last weekend’s operation carried out by members of the Westmoreland police and the Proactive Investigative Unit, a police source told the Jamaica Observer West.

Reports are that during the operation, the police seized a motor car and lottery-scamming paraphernalia at a premises along Cooke Street in Savanna-la-Mar.

Subsequent investigations led to the arrest and charge of Foster at his church. He was subsequently granted bail.

The clergyman’s arrest come days after Minister of Security Peter Bunting called on churches in western Jamaica to assist in the fight against lotto scamming, which he described as one of “the most corrosive of activities”.

“This is not something we think the church has taken on frontally. One pastor told me recently that he preached against lottery scamming one Sunday and the following Sunday he lost half of his congregation,” Bunting disclosed during an address at the Western Jamaica Seventh-Day Adventist Leadership Conference in Mount Salem, Montego Bay.

He added: “If you are for Jesus, take a stand for Jesus, because you can’t be for Jesus and for scammers same time.”

When news broke of the arrests on the pastor and his church companion on the weekend, a large gathering of curious onlookers swarmed Great Georges Street, in the vicinity of the Savanna-la-Mar Police Station, where the pastor was held, causing vehicular traffic to come to a halt.

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

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Jackson chides Chang over comment that JFJ ‘living off blood money’
Latest News, News
Jackson chides Chang over comment that JFJ ‘living off blood money’
February 25, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Spokesperson on National Security, Fitz Jackson has chided Dr Horace Chang for the national security minister's remark th...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Crawford chides councillors amid bad road fuss
Latest News, News
Crawford chides councillors amid bad road fuss
February 25, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica—Member of Parliament for Manchester Central, Rhoda Moy Crawford has criticised councillors and the Manchester Municipal Corporatio...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Iran negotiators head to Geneva for US talks
International News, Latest News
Iran negotiators head to Geneva for US talks
February 25, 2026
PARIS, France (AFP)—An Iranian delegation headed by its top diplomat set off for Geneva on Wednesday for talks with the US, as the Islamic republic's ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
WATCH: Truck overturns on Hatfield main road
Latest News, News
WATCH: Truck overturns on Hatfield main road
February 25, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica— A truck carrying sand overturned along the Hatfield main road in Manchester on Wednesday morning. Work is now in progress to clea...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Bill Gates admits affairs but denies involvement in Epstein crimes
International News, Latest News
Bill Gates admits affairs but denies involvement in Epstein crimes
February 25, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—Bill Gates has admitted making a "huge mistake" in associating with Jeffrey Epstein, telling staff at his charity foun...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Fi We Children calls for reform of school grooming policies, urges principals to sign MoU
Latest News, News
Fi We Children calls for reform of school grooming policies, urges principals to sign MoU
February 25, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) is calling for urgent review and reform of school grooming policies across Jamaica and is inviting...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Schoolgirl among five injured in Manchester crash
Latest News, News
Schoolgirl among five injured in Manchester crash
February 25, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A schoolgirl is among five people who sustained injuries in a multi-vehicle crash on the Winston Jones Highway in Manchester on ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trinidad PM to Caricom leaders: ‘who vex loss… but we gained’
Latest News, Regional
Trinidad PM to Caricom leaders: ‘who vex loss… but we gained’
Persad-Bissessar reiterates support for US military presence
February 25, 2026
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told regional leaders Tuesday, “who vex loss”, as she reitera...
{"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