Jamaica: Opposition MP found stabbed to death

Dr Lynvale Bloomfield

(Jamaica Gleaner) Member of Parliament for East Portland Dr Lynvale Bloomfield has been found stabbed to death at his home in Passley Gardens.

Bloomfield, a medical doctor by profession, first won the seat in 2011 on a People’s National Party ticket. He managed to retain the seat in 2016 despite the party’s defeat at the polls.

Curious onlookers near the home of murdered Member of Parliament Dr Lynvale Bloomfield – Gareth Davis Photo

The news of the murder has shocked the constituency.

There Was A Trail Of Blood… 

There was a trail of dried blood from the bathroom to the bedroom of murdered Member of Parliament Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, his gardener has reported.

The gardener, who did not want to be identified, turned up at Bloomfield’s Passley Gardens, Portland home about 8 o’clock this morning to cut the yard as usual.

He said on arrival, he noticed that the grille and front door were opened but he never found it suspicious.

According to the gardener, some time later, the helper arrived and after a brief greeting headed inside the two-storey house.

The crime scene

He said before long, he heard her screaming and he immediately dashed inside to find a bloodied Bloomfield lying naked in the bedroom.

The gardener also said the shower in the bathroom was running.

Senior police investigators from Kingston’s Major Investigation Division have been in Passley Gardens since this morning searching for clues into the murder.

They have not released any information beyond confirming that Bloomfield was killed.

However, it is understood that the police have not identified any sign of forced entry.

They have also reportedly discovered a black vest in a bushy pathway leading to Bloomfield’s house.

In the meantime, as news of Bloomfield’s murder spread, a massive crowd of People’s National Party and Jamaica Labour Party supporters converged near his home hoping to get a glimpse of the body.

However, the entire area was cordoned off by the police.

“It came as a shock to me,” said Dexter Rowland, councillor for the Port Antonio division and Bloomfield loyalist. “When I first heard about the incident I was numb.”

He described Bloomfield as one of the kindest, happiest most loving and caring human beings he knew. 

“I spoke to him on Friday round at 3 p.m. I tried calling him Friday night, but his phone rang without any answer. I also tried to contact him again by phone this morning, but the phone rang unanswered, which was quite unusual,” Rowland said.

IN PHOTO: (From left) Dexter Rowland, councillor for the Port Antonio division; Wayne McKenzie, Councillor for the Prospect division; Julian King caretaker councillor for the Fairy Hill division; and Peter Stamp, member of the East Portland constituency executive near the crime scene.

Wayne McKenzie, the councillor for the Prospect division, also had pleasant memories.

“He was a wonderful person, who was always calm,” said McKenzie, who opposed Bloomfield during a run-off with attorney Andrea Moore more than three years ago.

“His death is quite shocking and should never happen to a person like Bloomfield, who is kind-hearted and jovial. He is a wonderful human being, and despite our differences during that run-off, he was a gentleman, who extended kindness to many.”

Bloomfield, a two-term MP was first elected in 2011 when he defeated Patrick Lee of the Jamaica Labour Party.

In 2016, he beat the JLP’s Derron Wood to retain the Portland East seat.