A riot broke out Monday night at a National Youth Service camp at the Eco Village, Chester Vale in rural St Andrew, as several participants objected to the ejection of four of their colleagues for indiscipline.

A participant in the National Youth Service camp at Chester Vale is being escorted to a police car by an officer yesterday morning. Campers rioted on Monday after four of their colleagues were ejected for instigating unruly behaviour. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

The stone-throwing youngsters damaged windows and doors of several buildings and looted the tuck shop, making off with $12,000 and all the food and drink that was stored inside the camp. The glass door of the tuck shop was smashed in with a fire extinguisher.
Incidentally, the participants, who were selected from several inner-city communities in Kingston, were sent to help re-socialise and improve their lives, after being either involved in violent incidents or prone to incidents of violence in their communities.

In the meantime, some participants claimed that they were brutalised by Jamaica Defence Force soldiers after they protested against the expulsion of four of their members by authorities at the camp.
"The decision was taken to remove four students who were instigators of disruptive behaviour and it did not go down well with the rest of them," Reverend Adinhair Jones, head of the National Youth Service (NYS) told the Observer.

He said the staff at the camp did not engage the participants but chose to retreat inside buildings during the rioting. One of the campers was allegedly injured by a soldier during the disturbance and was taken to hospital.
Meanwhile, five students were removed from the camp by officers from the St Andrew North Police Division who were called in to quell the disturbance.

"If we can prove that any of them were involved they will be charged with destruction of property and larceny," Deputy Superintendent Beau Rigabie, said yesterday.

More than 232 troubled youths between the ages of 17 and 24 from nine inner city communities, including Mountain View, Fletchers Land, Arnett Gardens and Tivoli Gardens, are taking part in the camp.

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS

Pepper Pot