MANCHESTER, Jamaica — On Tuesday, an excavator capsized into the Hectors River at the site of the collapsed Troy Bridge, although the operator was fortunate to escape serious injury.
According to residents who spoke, the incident occurred while workers were demolishing the remaining parts of the bridge in the early afternoon. The excavator fell into the river after the bridge’s partial collapse.
Concerns have been raised by locals about traditional practices not being followed before the demolition. Some residents claim that the required folklore ritual—slaughtering goats or chickens and draining their blood—was not observed. “You have to kill something to get the rum because it’s been there for over 125 years. You have to kill a chicken or a goat and pour the rum in the pot before you touch the place,” a Cowick Park resident said.
Dulcie Bromfield, another local, mentioned her Sunday prayers for protection during the construction of the new Troy Bridge. “We pray in church to prevent any accidents and ward off evil spirits. We don’t know if the proper rituals were performed. There is only one blood here, and that is the blood of Jesus Christ,” Bromfield said.
The National Works Authority (NWA) had announced the start of the long-awaited replacement work for the Troy Bridge, which links northwest Manchester with southern Trelawny. Since the bridge collapsed in August 2021, residents have been forced to use makeshift crossing methods, including fallen trees and zip lines made from ropes and buckets. This collapse has necessitated a 15-mile detour for safer travel, affecting daily commutes for residents.
