Obeah worker defends occult practice

Members of the clergy have again lashed out against obeah, arguing that it is demonic, sinful and could be contributing to the island's crime rate, Jill*, who indulges in the spiritual practice, says this is "nonsense".

"Jamaica crime rate nuh have nutten fi do with obeah, a nonsense dat. Mi grow and hear dem say if a spirit take set on yuh is someone put it on yuh. Duppy and demon nah shoot people eno, because mi next door to cemetery and mi nuh see no ghosts a walk over here suh. Obeah nah cause no bad energy and violence in Jamaica, a wicked people a do dat," she said, adding that she has never seen a gun-slinging demon.

There is a current legal challenge to Jamaica's Obeah Act of 1898, which has long criminalised the practice. The claim was filed in the Supreme Court on May 16 on behalf of Professor Clinton Hutton, director of the Institute of Theological and Educational Research at Rutgers University College. The application is arguing, among other things, that sections of the Act violate some rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, including freedom of religion, privacy, conscience, and expression. But Jill says obeah is the only weapon she has to fight her enemies.

"Mi talk it all the while suh mi nah get up and fass with anybody, but if yuh ever trouble me or mi family dem, then mi ago defend it my way. I don't know any gunman or have any in my family, suh a my reader man mi gonna go. Mi nuh go there often eno, but once mi feel a way inna mi self, straight a mi reader man mi gone," Jill said.

Jill is one of the most feared women in Torrington Park, St Andrew, earlier this year, she boldly admitted to using obeah spells to 'bury' several members of a family under a staircase. The elderly woman said she had used vials, parchment paper, dragon blood ink and other things associated with the spiritual realm to cast compelling spells on the family who was trying to force her out of a government-owned dwelling. The items were found as workmen repaired a staircase following a collapse in 2024. Jill said that although some of her neighbours avoid her at all costs, she is not one to be afraid of.

"Mi know nuff a dem afraid of me but that is there problem. I am not a wicked woman eno and the only persons ago fraid of mi is those who try after mi and fail. When the man dem a work on the building a mi make tea and give some a dem and nothing don't do them. Mi nuh trouble people and mi a one a di kindest person you will ever find," she said.

She argued that obeah spells have been around since the days of the Old Testament.

"When God was on Earth, him use to heal people same way and dem use to call him the obeah man, so the government needs to legalise it because it beneficial to people. Obeah must not work in a way where yuh hold down yuh neighbour because yuh badmind, ano suh it fi work. Yuh must work obeah to protect yourself and your family," Jill said.