Charity Pays Fine, Secures Release of Man Jailed Over Land Dispute

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A 67-year-old man has regained his freedom after spending 10 months at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, following intervention from Food For The Poor.

The man had been incarcerated in 2025 for contempt of court stemming from a dispute with his brother over family land left by their late father. Although he believed he was entitled to a share, the property had been legally willed to his sibling.

The disagreement escalated into legal proceedings, and the court imposed a fine of $114,000 after he remained on the property against an order. Unable to pay, he was remanded to custody, where he remained for nearly a year.

Food For The Poor later stepped in and, through donor support, paid the outstanding fine in full—securing his immediate release and clearing all related charges.

With his freedom restored, the organisation said the man will now benefit from its Fresh Start Programme, part of its prison ministry initiative aimed at helping former inmates reintegrate into society.

A farmer by trade, he is expected to undergo an assessment to determine the type of assistance needed to restart his livelihood. This may include agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertiliser, tools, and other resources.

Food For The Poor said the programme is designed to support individuals facing barriers to employment after incarceration, providing them with the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.

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