SENIOR superintendent of police (SSP) in charge of the Westmoreland Division Othneil Dobson was yesterday unable to provide details of the two people taken into custody following an incident in which a woman was set ablaze in the parish Friday, even as concerns mounted that the victim could be denied access to urgent medical care overseas as social media agitators sought to drive potential donors away.

Forty-year-old Dacia Forrester was doused with gasoline and set ablaze on Friday at a gas station in the parish, reportedly after an altercation with a pump attendant. Forrester is now in critical condition in hospital after receiving severe burns to her body during the incident. The Burn Foundation of Jamaica has embarked on a mission to raise US$55,000 to cover air ambulance fees to fly Forrester overseas for treatment, but the organisation said Sunday that people on social media were thwarting its efforts.

Jamaica does not have a burn unit.

All SSP Dobson was willing to confirm on Sunday was that the police are preparing to charge two people in relation to the incident. While the woman who allegedly set Forrester ablaze is expected to be charged, Dobson declined to say who the second person is and what the likely charge will be.

However, the Jamaica Observer understands that the second person in custody is a sister of the victim. The sister, from reports, was accused of assaulting the alleged perpetrator after her sibling was set on fire.

“Two people are in custody and will be officially charged,” Dobson shared Sunday afternoon, explaining that he would be able to give further details on the matter at a later date.

The Observer was told by representatives of the Burn Foundation of Jamaica that a hospital in the United States (US) has already signed documents indicating its willingness to accept Forrester as a patient. Also, the representatives explained that a commitment has already been given by a private entity in the US that it will cover any hospital costs incurred by Forrester. Her relatives and the foundation are urgently appealing for Jamaicans to donate to enable her to go to the US as quickly as possible, before it is too late.

But a series of social media posts have slowed the efforts. Numerous videos posted to TikTok, Instagram, and on X have named Forrester as the aggressor, with some commentators even wishing for her demise. The same is true for comments on stories of the assault posted online, in which vitriol overrides sympathy.

The foundation’s representatives have condemned these actions by people who they say have been painting the victim as a bad person and suggesting that she had initiated the altercation.

Co-founder Stephen Josephs told the Observer that unscrupulous people have launched a smear campaign on social media, painting the victim as the aggressor, and discouraging potential donors from helping. According to him, “time is running out” for Forrester.

Reports are that Forrester was preparing to celebrate her 41st birthday on Wednesday, but, instead, she is currently confined to a hospital bed in critical condition. So far the Burn Foundation has raised just under US$6,000 through a GoFundMe account, which is woefully inadequate to cover the air fare.

“We just need the misinformation to stop, and we are appealing to the Jamaica Constabulary Force to put out a statement on the matter. Some people are trying to stop the world from helping this young lady. They literally are telling people not to help her and that she must die. Where is the compassion?

“Time is running out and we just need to get her out as quickly as possible. We have gotten Americans and others to respond to the crisis and so we appeal to Jamaicans to help this lady. Don’t be prosecutor and judge. Allow the law to take its course. Persons are looking more at creating [social media] content and not thinking about the life that will be lost if help doesn’t come. We are trying to prevent a murder and a murder charge,” Josephs said.

Meanwhile, Carol Blackwood Hewitt, another sister of Forrester, shared that despite claims being circulated on social media about the victim starting a fight over a man, she was simply trying to get some gasoline.

“In January my sister went by the gas station in Withorn, Westmoreland. She and a pump attendant had an altercation. The pump attendant was reprimanded by her manager and she was still threatening my sister and carrying on. The gas station manager told her that it is a public place and she [couldn’t] tell her that she can’t come back there,” Blackwood Hewitt said.

“On February 19, my sister went back to buy gas and the lady confronted her. My sister had to draw for something to defend herself. They started to fight and the lady grabbed the pump and started to spray my sister with it. My other sister was just in time to see the lady pulling out a lighter to light our sister, who was already doused with gas. She was set ablaze.”

According to her, the other sister who arrived on scene tried to prevent her sibling from being beaten and set on fire; however, the police arrested the sister because the gas station attendant was scratched in the face.

“We do make mistakes, whether we want to admit it or not. The police took my other sister in custody. Up to now they don’t charge her. She is having a mental breakdown in there. I am having a mental breakdown myself. I just want some peace and clarity. I want people to help to revive Dacia from her dying bed,” Blackwood Hewitt said.

Meanwhile, Luke Josephs, another foundation co-founder, said Jamaicans and people from all over the world can contribute to the cause by reaching out via telephone and the Internet.

“They can contact the Burn Foundation of Jamaica at 876-344-7028 or they can go online at crisis supportcharity.org to make a donation towards the air ambulance,” Josephs said.

Carol Blackwood Hewitt, sister of burn victim Dacia Forrester, said despite claims being circulated on social media about the victim, she still urgently needs the country’s help to survive.

Burn victim Dacia Forrester, in better times, flashes a smile for the camera.

Luke Josephs said Jamaicans and people from all over the world can contribute to the cause by reaching out via telephone and the Internet.

Stephen Josephs, founder, The Burn Foundation of Jamaica, said unscrupulous people have launched a smear campaign on social media, painting the victim as the aggressor