Foota Hype’s sister has pleaded for his release amid health concerns during the COVID 19 crisis.
Kerry-Ann Townsend is calling on the public to demand the release of her brother, Oneil ‘Foota Hype’ Thomas. According to Kerry-Ann, he is a substantial risk due to his diabetic condition.
In a plea to Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Townsend demanded the release of all detainees with serious medical conditions. She also called for the temporary release of those with delayed hearings, and are low risk.
“I don’t want this to be about if you like Foota Hype, or you don’t. Just think of him as one of your own. He’s Jamaica’s child. He’s somebody’s father. He didn’t commit a crime. At the same time, with what’s going on with him because of his health, it’s really scary for us,” she told The STAR.
“What I need help with from our Jamaican people, I need the assistance with people calling the governor in Florida, so we can make some noise about releasing not just him. There are other people in these facilities too in there, and they just don’t have a voice and don’t know the right people to reach out to. Don’t make this about if you like Foota Hype or you don’t,” she continued.
In recent months Foota’s health has become a growing concern after the selector revealed his struggles.
“My problem is dying of hunger. My diet is different and they cannot maintain feeding me. If I don’t eat, my sugar drops too low, and I am close to the state of a coma. Then when I do eat what they have here, it takes my sugar up through the roof. They only have snacks and stuff like that. I don’t eat rice, meat. I don’t drink coffee. All of that is what they have,” he said.
According to the disc jock, he is also at high risk of contracting COVID 19 in detention.
“In this pandemic, to be kept in a facility that houses thousands of prisoners, and workers who go home and come back every day … I’m liable to catch this pandemic disease more than anybody else,” he added.
According to Foota’s sister, she is terrified as most of these facilities are not taking precautionary measures.
“They’re still arresting people, bringing them in. People can be asymptomatic and pass it on to other inmates or detainees. Nobody knows what’s going on and there’s no form of precautions being taken. He was at a place where there was no water for hours, a week or two ago,” she said.
“It’s more about is my brother going to get out of this alive? That’s what the scary thing is for me and all of his family, friends, and followers,” she said.
