STAR investigations have uncovered that persons have been preying on the graves in the May Pen Cemetery, Kingston, in search of scrap metal.

We recently visited the cemetery and though there was not a single living being in sight, there was obvious evidence of graves without coffins. The skulls and bones were left lying around and told the tale of the activities which were being carried out.

Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie, while noting that at least two mentally challenged persons have been living in the cemetery for several years, said he was not aware of the graves being robbed for scrap metal. Similarly, the police say they are not familiar with such cases.

However, while they are unaware, several residents of surrounding communities told THE STAR the cemetery has become fair game for a number of persons while on their metal seeking missions.

When we visted the cemetery, at least 15 graves were found without coffins in only a relatively small section of the burial ground.

Noticeably, the walls of the graves also had burn marks. The residents claim that these marks is a clear reflection of the scrap metal exploits.

They say that the graves are first dug up, then the coffins heated at specific points to provide easy access.

Big business

"Scrap metal is big business eno and time hard so more time yu wi jus hear some man seh dem a go hustle and a cross di cemetery dem go...If u deh pon di ends long enough yu will si wen dem a come back wid di metal dem," one resident of the nearby Denham Town community told THE STAR.

A resident of Tivoli Gardens, another nearby community said: "Dem man deh brave still, more time mi ask dem how dem do it...Den again everybody haffi live an dat a di only way weh some a dem can eat a food."

Though they were reluctant to identify anyone involved in the practice, residents with whom THE STAR spoke said the activities are no secret.

"Dem nuh hide and do it, plus dem nuh hide and talk, if you lucky fi find dem, dem ago tell yuh cause nuff people si dem ova deh a dig up di people dem coffin," Anancyanother resident of Denham Town said.

THE STAR was also told that the search for metal is not restricted by time or day. "All time a day, all hours a night yu si dem either a go ova deh or ova deh aready ...

When yu si dem on dem way, dem have dem shovel, pick axe, wheelbarrow an dem crocus bag," a resident claimed

It was also learnt that the men usually travel in groups of two or more, in order to reduce the workload as well as to ensure a 'watchman'.

"No one man nah go travel by himself, yu think it easy fi dig up grave? A whole heap a work eno...Plus dem kno seh dem can get inna trouble if police si dem wid di scrap metal so a one man haffi always a play di watchman role," Anancy explained.