RBPF removes ‘Ninja Man’ from Treasury Building

For ‘Ninja Man’, the flamboyant and mischievous street character, yesterday was his last day living on the exterior of the Treasury Building in Bridgetown.

‘Ninja Man’, better known to the law courts as Anthony Fitzpatrick Lynch, was asked to leave and remove his belongings and trash from the north side of the government building.

At 8 a.m, The Barbados Advocate encountered the irate homeless man as he stormed across traffic to throw old clothing and suitcases onto the sidewalk of Rickett Street. Senior representatives from the Treasury Building and Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) waited for the cleaning staff and the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) to arrive.

During this time, ‘Ninja Man’ started to toss his clothing into the street, flailing his arms around and swearing at the media.

Around 8:17 a.m, the SSA workers, wearing white overalls and red gloves, put on additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before working on the large heap of dirty clothes, plastics and furniture. Five minutes later, two RBPF officers approached ‘Ninja Man’ and told him that he must leave the area.

The SSA workers took about fifteen minutes to load the trash, which included a large sofa chair and a tricycle into the dumper. They drove off, but returned to remove the small pile of garbage left by ‘Ninja Man’ on Rickett Street.

Not the first incident

This is not the first incident for ‘Ninja Man’ who has been to the law courts over the years for several petty crimes and public violations.

In 2015, the local media reported that Lynch had defaced the Treasury Building with spray paint. In 2018, he was in court again for another criminal matter.

The Barbados Advocate understands that ‘Ninja Man’ has been living at the Treasury Building for many years.

Unsanitary conditions being created in The City

As curious Barbadians watched yesterday’s drama unfold, some persons commented on the unsanitary conditions created by vagrants and homeless people in Bridgetown. It was noted that the area is a meeting place for the homeless community and the space around the Treasury Building was often used as an “outdoor toilet” and bathing house.