Homeless man relocated to shelter after being attacked in Kingston

By Kimone Witter  

 

 

A team from the Poor Relief Department of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) on Monday relocated a homeless man to a shelter after he was attacked and wounded by a man said to be of unsound mind.

 

Alvaro Brevett, 60, said he was attacked while sleeping on steps along Sutton Street during the week of February 16.

 

Mr. Brevett said the man used a stone and a piece of board to hit him on the head and other parts of his body. 

 

"The man start swing some board and lick me all bout. I never acquainted with that man. I see him, and most deportee you don't get friendly with. It's like him going down back a di place now, either fi a iron pipe or cutlass fi finish me off. A suh mi see di police come on. A dat save me," he recounted.

 

Mr. Brevett suffered head injuries and was hospitalised for a week. He was released on Monday.

 

He claimed that his attacker, who managed to evade the police, has hurt other homeless people.

 

He also said he has been attacked and wounded on at least two other occasions by people believed to be mentally ill.

 

Acting Inspector of Poor at the KSAMC, Donna Gaye-Brady, said the police informed the Poor Relief Department of Mr. Brevett's plight.

 

Ms. Brady said he was found at premises in Central Kingston following his release from the hospital. 

 

"When he was released, the team from the Poor Relief Department, we went to the location where he was. Upon arrival, we saw the condition, the horrendous state that he was in and we could not have left him there. Having spoken to him, heard his cry, heard his concern for his safety, we decided that we're going to relocate him to a space of safety, so we took him to another location," she shared. 

 

Ms. Brady implored the public to treat homeless people with dignity. She also appealed for persons to encourage the homeless in Kingston to sleep at the Marie Atkins Night shelter on Hanover Street for their safety.