Sun | May 17, 2026

Half-Way Tree: Crime rolls with transport system

Published:Sunday | December 12, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Inspector Paul Velvet (left) and District Constable Matthew Palmer of the Central Police Station in Kingston, look through stolen goods, including 1,062 bootleg DVDs, 3 HP printers, LG 11 disc burner, two 12-inch speakers, one Gemini mixer, 1 pioneer disc burner, 26 $100 counterfeit notes, 21/2lbs, ganja, among other items, were seized by the police recently. Two persons, including a 14-year-old juvenile, were arrested. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

TAXI OPERATOR Conroy Heaven is adamant that the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre is largely responsible for a rise in crime in the heavily commercialised area.

Speaking emphatically, Heaven says "make me tell you this. Me been driving taxi since Lada days and me see many things happen in the streets. You have the man them who is jus' tief. One time, under Millwood system, the 'ductor them would know them and more time coulda make a soun'. You know, like 'go dung inna de bus' or 'people stan' up good.'"

Opened on Saturday, January 12, 2008, the more than 18,500-square metre centre cost $4.3 billion. It was funded by the Belgian government and built entirely by Jamaican construction workers. Over time, reports of misbehaviour among schoolchildren using the centre began to emerge.

Fights galore

Just over a month ago, THE WEEKEND STAR reported under the headline 'Fights galore at HWT Transport Centre':

The presence of the police in the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre has not stopped a number of brawls between students from occurring in the afternoons.