JOLYAN Silvera’s admission of guilt in the killing of his wife in November 2023 has sent shock waves through St Mary Western, with many who supported him in his election victory there in 2011, and defeat in 2016, wrestling with a mix of anger, disbelief, and disappointment.

On Sunday when the Jamaica Observer visited the People’s National Party (PNP) stronghold of Oracabessa — where Silvera polled 2,948 votes to the Jamaica Labour Party’s Robert Montague 1,762 in his 2011 victory — residents were not shy in indicating that they supported the Comrade in elections, but they differed sharply on what punishment he should receive when he is sentenced on March 6.

“He’s my real good friend — I campaigned for him, and he knows me well — so one of the time mi did all think they were framing him. But when I watched the news now and see that him plead guilty I was so astonished,” said a man who identified himself only as Tarry while standing in Oracabessa square.

According to Tarry, while he sympathised with Silvera because of years of political affiliation and friendship, he could not agree with the former Member of Parliament’s action.

“Him almost kind of let me down, because when I heard he plead guilty mi did feel shame, because I knew of a rumour that was saying that the projectiles that they found were not from his gun, but then I found out that those actually matched his firearm. So now that everything confirmed, I feel it for him, but it’s still shameful,” added Tarry.

Beside Tarry, another man who identified himself as a PNP supporter vouched for Silvera’s character outside of his recent admission of guilt.

Cross Road, Oracabessa, St Mary, on Sunday when the Jamaica Observer visited the community in St Mary Western which was once represented by Joylan Silvera, who won the seat on a PNP ticket in 2011. Garfield Robinson

According to the man, who declined to give his name, Silvera was a “good man” and he could not understand why the former Member of Parliament put himself in such a position.

“He is an intelligent and nice guy, nothing don’t worry or trouble him, so I don’t know how him get himself into this. I feel disappointed because he’s a good person. Him come around and drink, laugh, cook, and eat with us, so I really don’t know what happened,” said the man. He told the
Observer that while he wants justice to be served, he hopes the judge exercises leniency.

Fellow resident Harrol Brown also expressed hope that the judge will show Silvera mercy in the sentencing.

Brown said he also found Silvera to be a good person who is capable of redemption.

“First of all, it is sad how this whole situation ended up,” said Brown.

“I’m disappointed because someone lost their life, and that is a life gone too soon; he really could have handled it better. He needed counselling — many of us do — so I’m hoping he learns from this. But I voted for him. He is always social, and I think he’s a good guy, so when I think of this situation I think leniency could be there, because sometimes we act outside of our nature. It could even be an evil force that got to him so I only hope and pray that he will get pity and they are not too harsh,” added Brown.

For Leon Clarke, who sat silently listening to the conversation around him, though he supported Silvera during his political career he could not agree with his actions.

“He could have walked away. If I have a wife who I respect and love, and I find out that she’s wronged me in any way, it is better I just walk away and I can go find another wife. But you cannot just take another person’s life. With his guilty plea him definitely need to serve some time, but I hope them give him a little chance,” said Clarke.

But the plea for leniency was not shared by many people in Oracabessa who are deeply angered by Silvera’s actions.

“For me, I wish Jamaica could have come back with corporal punishment. I’m being honest. Because you kill somebody innocently, and then you’re going to sit down and eat taxpayers’ money? It makes no sense. Because he denied that first, then when they check it out, he changed the tiles, clean up the scene, all of that. That clearly… says you know what you did and you are trying to hide what you did,” said a female vendor who paused her selling to give her input.

“If you can kill a woman innocently, you’re robbing a whole family — a mother of her daughter, a father of his daughter, kids of their mother, she may have been an auntie. Whatever it is, you’re still robbing a life from a whole family, and now a family is grieving,” the woman charged.

Another vendor, who admitted to supporting Silvera during his political career, called him “wicked” as she declared that he deserves the maximum penalty under the law.

“For me, as a woman, he needs to face whatever the court give him because he is supposed to know better than that. He could have, no he should have, handled whatever he and his wife had better. I am disappointed in him and what he has done,” said the woman firmly.

It was a similar sentiment from a male vendor who condemned violence against women and urged the justice system to deliver a sentence fitting the crime.

“No matter what goes on in life, women are a blessing; you cannot just take a woman’s life. The court system is not ready. If I did something like that, as a normal man, I would have gone to prison. Those politicians need to change their ways. They act as if they are above the law — and this is not a political thing I am talking about; I am talking as a born Jamaican,” the man said, his face clouded with disgruntlement.

For another resident of Oracabessa, because of Silvera’s status as a well known political official and influential person he deserves to be punished for betraying the public’s trust.

“He [is a former] Member of Parliament, he is influential and kids look up to him…I think he should be held to a higher standard because of all of that, and what that looks like for me is… he should be punished at the highest extent of the law,” declared the obviously angry man.

Silvera was arrested and charged in connection with the November 10, 2023 death of his wife.

Facing trial on a murder charge Silvera, who for more than two years claimed he was innocent, last Monday pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. He also entered a guilty plea on the charge of using a firearm to commit manslaughter.