Hijack pain lingers – Stephen Fray’s mom, dad still hurting

Two years after CanJet drama – ‘It cannot be how you deal with a young life’

DAWN Fray has difficulty putting into words the toll her son’s incarceration has been taking on her and her family. “It’s really hard. It’s so difficult, so strange… I can’t find the words to tell you,” she reveals to the Sunday Observer. Her words are interspersed with long pauses and sighs.

On April 19, two years ago — the first of a two-day official visit to the island by Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper — her son Stephen breezed past security at Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, boarded CanJet Flight 918 — a Canada-bound charter — wielded a gun and ordered the crew to take him to Cuba.

He held the passengers and crew hostage for hours, before being overpowered by police.

Young Fray was slapped with 10 gun-related charges, including assault, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, shooting with intent, robbery and breaches of the Civil Aviation Act. Rejecting his defence of insanity, the court found him guilty of eight of the charges and sentenced him to 83 years in prison, which will run concurrently, meaning he will serve 20 years.

But his family is appealing. They believe Stephen was wrongfully charged and that the punishment was harsh and excessive. In the meantime, they struggle daily with the reality of the situation and in two recent emotional interviews with the Sunday Observer Stephen’s mother and his dad, Earl, told us about the hurt, distress, and burden of t

he legal fees and how they rely on their faith to get them through.

“It is gross. It’s unheard of and I wonder what the agenda was… It’s ugly. He was so young. What he needed was care and protection,” Dawn Fray said of the sentence, her voice raw with pain.

Making the point that her son, then 22, was found to be mentally unstable by two different psychiatrists prior to his trial, and that it was his first offence, the mother said her pleas to the judge for mercy should have been heeded.

“It cannot be how you deal with a young life. You have to be humane and contemplate the future,” she said.

Earl Fray was just as upset that his son was being treated like a common criminal.

“The youth of today are the future of tomorrow and if we don’t help them we’re going to

be in some serious trouble,” he said. “You put a sick person with hard-core criminals, murderers, gunmen, it’s only going to put more pressure on that sick person because he is going to think that another inmate is going to slash his throat or beat him up and just create more problems.”

The Frays are divorced and live in different towns, but determined to keep their son’s spirits up, they make the trip to the prison in Kingston regularly. He has good days and bad days, they said, but are encouraged that he is taking his medication and tries to keep occupied by reading the Bible and magazines they take him.

“He’s up and down. He has his episodes. Sometimes he’s lucid and another time you have to make an effort to figure out what he’s saying and times when he won’t clean up or anything. Every couple of weeks he has his episodes,” Dawn Fray said.

I go up and down, too,” she quipped, referring to how she deals with the situation. “I have my episodes, but you have to deal with the reality of the situation. He’s there and you have to keep him stabilised so that he doesn’t lose hope.”

Added the senior Fray: “We just try make sure him get him visits and make sure him keep the faith because in there, you need the faith.”

“I’m particularly concerned that he gets good food since he is on medication, but most of the time when I visit I spend a lot of time reassuring him, telling him everything is going to be OK, and that’s what keeps me grounded also. When I talk to him, hear him and touch him, I feel better. That’s my medicine, so to speak,” said his mother, who taes a home-cooked meal, cereals, snacks and fruits each Wednesday when she visits.
For Earl Fray, coping means praying, immersing himself in workouts and listening to music. He admitted to crying alone and said he has trouble sleeping, some nights.
“To keep my sanity I pray to God,” he said. “I give God thanks (for) keeping me strong. I have to keep strong for (my family).”
Of late he’s been keeping a low profile; he doesn’t go to church as often and he has scaled back his visits to the Dolphin Cove swim club where he is a member. He doesn’t want to have to rehash the story everytime someone asks, he said. It’s too painful.
One of the things he finds particularly vexing though, is the way, he said, inmates, especially those who are mentally ill, are treated while in lock-up.
“The system out here, I don’t know how people cope with it. You can see that some of these youngsters in there don’t belong there. You can see that some of them just get themselves caught up. You can see that they just need some help, not Stephen alone, other people’s kids, too,” he said.
“What got me so shocked was when I went to Tower Street and yuh see when yuh loss people pickney, ah dere so yuh see dem, enuh! Dere so yuh see dem! When I saw them I almost break down, man,” he told the Sunday Observer.
“You cyaan really blame the warders or the policemen there because they get orders to carry out dem work. All they do is just go there, they don’t even see that whosoever is to take dem medication taking it. They just lackadaisical,” he alleged.
“Yuh cyaan do that! Yuh can’t treat people like that, because they are just human like anybody else.”
Commissioner of Corrections Colonel Sean Prendergast confirmed that young Fray is now being held at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, after being transferred from the facility on South Camp Road almost three months ago. He would only say it was out of “security concerns”.
He, however, disagreed with Mr Fray’s take on the treatment of inmates.
“I don’t agree,” he said when informed of the father’s comments.
“(Stephen) is seen by the institution psychiatrist on a regular basis and they check to make sure he is taking his medication. I have spoken to Mrs Fray on a number of occasions to allay her fears and to let her know that we are in fact taking care of her son,” he said.
That point was corroborated by Dawn Fray. “I’m reassured by the authorities that he does get what he needs,” she had told us earlier.
But the cost of the medication is hefty, and leaves the family wondering how others less fortunate than themselves manage.
“Boy, suppose we didn’t have a little money?” asked Earl Fray. “I can’t imagine other people who don’t have money to afford that expensive medication. They can cost up to between $12,000 and $15,000 a month. So you wonder what’s going to happen to those people’s kids who can’t afford that.
“They just take the key, have them in the system, lock them up, throw away the key because you can’t maintain them. It only going to make them get worse and you lose them in the system because the parents can’t afford to help them and they just stay in there, waste them life and waste taxpayers’ money,” said a deeply upset Fray.
While the family can afford the medication, the legal fees are another story. Fray disclosed to the Sunday Observer that he has had to sell some of the family’s possessions and that they have changed their lifestyle.
“Because we’ve been trying to get the lawyer’s money together, we try and cut off a lot of things. Plus, I don’t really owe that much… We sell some things and my family members help and I’m kind of happy that I don’t have any babies because my daughter and my other son really help.
“My family really stick with me, they help with paying the bills and so on. Good friends help too, but mostly it’s family,” said Fray.
Recalling the night she learned that Stephen attempted to hijack the plane, Dawn Fray said she became instantly numb.
“I was numb. I was traumatised for a long, long time. My daughter used to say ‘Mommy’s lost her memory and Daddy’s having flu all the time’,” she said.
She admitted, however, that prior to the CanJet incident, there were signs — which she described as “frightening” — that her youngest of three children was not coping well.
The February before the attempted hijacking, while spending time with her in Mandeville, he kept his room shuttered and would spend all day there by himself watching TV.
Then there were the times he would turn his phone off for extended periods. Those who wanted to get in touch with him either had to call his dad or his two siblings.
There was also the time when the very popular, very socially active Stephen suddenly stopped going out and instead stayed home sequestered in his room.
You could almost hear the tears in Dawn Fray’s voice as she added: “Those are warning signs, but it wouldn’t have crossed my mind that it was a mental issue. I thought he was depressed, maybe, but never that it was so serious.”
His father, too, noticed the changes but thought it was a phase.
“If I had known that Stephen was going through that, I would attack it long time, but you know kids, young boys go through a phase and yuh say ‘cho, him ah grow up’… I saw that he started to keep by himself but I thought it was a phase. I didn’t know,” he said.
In spite of all the challenges, however, the family remains hopeful.
“Once he has family around and makes sure he takes his medication, he’ll be alright. So I think the best place for him is to be at home around his family members,” Earl Fray insisted. “He was wrongfully charged. Him nuh supposed to dey there so. It’s not his fault.”
But at this point the outcome of the appeal, for which no date has yet been set, will be anyone’s guess.
“I can only pray,” Dawn Fray said.

PAYOLA FORUM A HUGE SUCCESS
Brooklyn, April 28th, 2011…If the overwhelming majority of respondents attending the CPR forum examining the Payola Plunder on Tuesday, April 26th are to be believed, this forum was the best one to date. Organizers were very pleased with the turnout but it was the quality of the conversation that had the respondents beaming. “People left the forum more enlightened than when they first arrived,” says Carlyle McKetty, co-founder and president of CPR, “one objective of the Community Conversation Series is to foster a sense of community so that we can have healthy discussions like what took place on Tuesday night at the 3Ten Lounge and we are very pleased with the outcome.” The forum which was part three of the “Who Mash Up Reggae Series” looked to “tally the toll of pay for play” which has become a scourge on the music industry not only in Jamaica but within the Diaspora.
According to panelist, Cordel Green, executive director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, “These conversations are taking place all over the world, but they are not being led by Jamaicans.” He went on to say that, “The work that CPR is doing is very important as CPR is using the preservation of reggae as a platform to deal with many social issues.” Echoing Mr. Green’s sentiment was veteran reggae singer, Freddie McGregor who said he was pleased to be a part of the evening’s conversation. McGregor added that, “Only people who care about our craft and care about us would do what CPR is doing.” Panelist Mandingo, who resides in the United Kingdom, was very forthcoming. He pointed out that “These discussions have to be continuous in order to maintain the integrity of the music. If we don’t maintain the integrity of the music the whole thing will wither and die.”

Forum commentator Carter Van Pelt, was impressed with the turn out and the quality of the discussion which took place. “It was the best forum to date,” he said, “Cordel Green was absolutely brilliant in the way he spoke and laid out the issues.” Pat Meschino, agreed, adding that, “there needs to be a part two.” The Billboard writer, presented on the issue of editorial payola and her presentation was well received. “This was a very interesting and positive discussion,” she added. Jubba White, leader and co-founder of DubTonic Kru, winners of the Best Band in the World Championship which was recently held in Malaysia, was a welcome surprise at the evening’s proceedings, and added his voice to the discussion. He spoke of the need for more people to speak out and not be pressured into staying silent. In closing he stated that he was pleased to see that, “the movement to preserve the music industry continues through dialogue.”

Like CPR, Cordel Green encourages folks to become advocates. “People need to write and call in to the stations, lobby, and do whatever it takes to make your voices be heard,” said Mr. Green, “The Broadcasting Commission needs to hear from you.” Lloyd Stanbury, agreed with that as well. Speaking as an industry insider at Tuesday’s event, the entertainment attorney brought clarity to the issue by explaining how different stakeholders interacted with each other around the issue of payola.

Now in its third season, the CPR Community Conversation Series is fast becoming the benchmark for industry advocacy and agitation not only within the United States but in Jamaica as well. The next forum takes place on Tuesday, May 24th and will examine the influence of Reggae on African Liberation. For more information on the CPR forums call 718-421-6927 or email, [email protected].

Testing the Spirits

Tom,

Per my telephone conversation with you the other day, you said you had a friend who was hearing “voices.” You said it got so bad at one time that she had herself checked into a mental hospital. You also mentioned that she apparently believes in “spirit guides.”

Tom, if she is using the word “spirit guides,” the voices that she is hearing are demonic spirits. Spirit Guides is a New Age term and comes right out of the occult. There are some people who literally make contact with what they feel are “good spirits.” These good spirits are really demonic spirits masquerading as angels of light.

If this woman is a Christian, then she is headed towards very dangerous waters if she is still hearing these voices and have gone as far as to make direct contact with what she feels is a good spirit guide. If she has made contact with some kind of spirit being – then there are only 3 possible things it could be:

Jesus Christ
One of God’s angels
A demonic spirit
I will give you two Scripture verses to give to her to try and help her out and to also give her fair warning as to what she is really dealing with.

Scripture Verses

1. This first verse tells us that either Satan or one of his demonic spirits can literally appear to us masquerading as an angel of light. Here it is:

“For Satan himself transforms himself into an ANGEL OF LIGHT. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

This verse tells us that not only can Satan himself actually do this – but also his other ministers, which I believe are either demonic spirits or other people who are operating under his direction and influence. This is why you have to test out any spirit that would suddenly appear to you. The first thing you have to find out is if the spirit appearing to you is one of God’s angels or a demonic spirit. This now leads us into the next verse which will tell us exactly how to do this.

2. This next verse specifically tells us not to believe every spirit, but to test it out as to whether they are from God or not. Here is the verse:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, BUT TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-4)

Recommendation

Tom, per all of the above, I would tell your friend that the next time she hears voices coming at her or if one of these spirits should actually appear in front of her, I would tell her to do two things:

Ask the spirit who his Lord and Master is. The spirit better say his Lord and Master is Jesus Christ. If the spirit cannot confess that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Master – then he is not an angel from God.

I would then tell her to ask the spirit to confess to her that Jesus Christ has come to our earth in the flesh. If this spirit cannot make this specific confession to her – then this spirit is definitely not from God!
I believe the reason a demonic spirit cannot confess that Jesus Christ came to our earth in the flesh is due to the fact that Jesus defeated Satan and all of the fallen angels when He came to our earth in the flesh and died on the cross. This is called the incarnation when Jesus came to us in the flesh, which means He was fully man and fully God when He was walking down here on our earth.

If this spirit cannot make the above two confessions to her – then your friend has just made contact with a real live demonic spirit. At this point she should immediately command the demon to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ!

Tell her to tell the demon that he has now been fully exposed, that she now knows that he is not one of God’s angels, and that he is to leave her now and forevermore, and that he is to never, ever come back on her again. Tell her to do the same thing every time she hears those “voices” trying to talk to her. Tell her to simply speak out loud to the voices telling them to stop and for them to now leave her in the name of Jesus Christ.

If the above does not work – tell her to plead the Blood of Jesus directly against the demons. That should take care of it unless she has engaged in some kind of door opener activity that has allowed the demons to come in on her in the first place.

If that is the case, then she will have to confess the door opening activity as a sin to God, and then renounce this activity before God – telling Him that she will never, ever go back to it again. Once she has fully confessed and fully renounced the sin before the Lord, then the demons will lose their legal right to be able to stay attached to her, and they will now have to leave her if she commands them to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ!

Tom, I do not know how far you will be able to get with this woman – either now or somewhere down the road. If you need any further help on all of this after you talk to her, let me know, and I will be glad to answer any specific questions she may have about all of this.

DI SMADDY SEH MET MEET KENDRA..SHE CELEBRATED HER 23RD BIRTHDAY AN HAVE HAR PARTY………… MI STILL A LOOK FI DI ”DRA” CAUSE MI SEH DI TREE FUS LETTA DEM….DEN K BELLY ZING WHEY LIKE DEM YOUNG BELLY AN SHE NUH KNOW WHA NAME SHAVE NOR CLOSE UP YUH SHAP DOOR……….NO COMMENT FI DI RES A TINGS CAUSE DIS NEED WIKIPEDIA