Mayor of Falmouth Councillor Junior Gager
January 9, 2026
Stray animals endangering Trelawny motorists, says Gager
TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Mayor of Falmouth and chairman of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC), C Junior Gager, has expressed concern about road fatalities in the parish and the growing danger posed by stray animals, especially along the main road between Jackson Town and Clark’s Town.
Speaking at Thursday’s regular monthly meeting of the TMC, Gager said it is his desire that the number of crashes and deaths recorded in Trelawny this year be significantly reduced.
“Trelawny was featured in a number of road fatalities for 2025 but for this year, it is my desire that we can significantly reduce the number of crashes in our parish,” he said.
The mayor pointed out that motorists frequently encounter “loose animals” on the roadway, particularly cows, which have already been responsible for crashes.
“I must also mention too that travelling on the main road leading from Jackson Town to Clark’s Town, from time to time, motorists will encounter a lot of loose animals, cows especially, roaming the road. This has caused accident[s] before,” Gager stated.
Describing the situation as “unpredictable and dangerous,” the mayor said sometimes it involves large herds and other times just a single animal suddenly emerging onto the roadway.
“Sometimes it might be 10, 20 cows. Sometimes it’s just one jumping out of the bushes. I have seen vehicles been damaged. It is just a matter of time too, maybe before somebody who doesn’t know the road and isn’t looking out for these animals, you’re going to be having a head-on collision,” he warned.
Emphasising the need for urgent action, Gager said the goal is to prevent any loss of life.
“We don’t want any deaths, so we are appealing to the farmers to make sure they check their fences, control their animals, so that the road can be safe,” he said.
He also highlighted the particular danger posed by younger animals.
“Sometimes the cows that have the experience of the road, they know when to cross or when to move. But the young ones, they are the ones that will just bolt across the road, and if you aren’t careful, that’s where the accident will happen,” Gager added.
— Horace Hines
