Donkey cart operators angry, say they need justice.... "We need justice," said a distraught Violet Perrin, who also farms in Kingston. "The motorist dem using the road as if it is for dem alone."

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, December 15, 2014    

"WE need justice!" It's an almost daily cry from Jamaicans who are either complaining about the lack of a service -- any service; or who are angry at agents of the State whom they accuse of extrajudicial killings.

The injured donkey is seen on Mandela
 Highway as a wrecker crew is about to
 leave the crash scene with the bus that
 hit the cart the animal was pulling
 last Friday morning.

Now, the cry for equity is coming from angry donkey cart operators -- mostly farmers -- who travel on the busy Mandela Highway that links Kingston with St Catherine and other parishes west of the capital city.

The appeal was made last Friday after one of their colleagues -- a Kingston farmer -- was struck from his cart by a minibus travelling from Spanish Town to Kingston.

The man, whose name the Jamaica Observer was unable to ascertain, has been admitted to hospital in serious condition, the farmers said.

"We need justice," said a distraught Violet Perrin, who also farms in Kingston. "The motorist dem using the road as if it is for dem alone."

Police report that about 9:00 am the farmer was attempting to cross the busy highway on his donkey-drawn cart when the crash occurred.

"The impact of the crash mash up the cart; all the donkey get injured," said another furious cart operator as he tried to collect what

was left of the wrecked wooden carriage. more