André Williams, STAR Writer

Brite Lite CEO Tommy Thompson says, since opening a branch recently in Montego Bay, St James, the parish has been very welcoming, though he is yet to undertake funeral arrangements for any 'scammer'.

THE STAR understands that the popular funeral home now has a new office in Montego Bay that is located at 3 East Street in the parish.

Montego Bay is the first parish to record 100 murders since the start of the year. Recently, seven persons were gunned down in the parish in 24 hours. Though deaths help with the survival of the funeral business, Thompson told THE STAR that the increase in murders currently gripping the parish did not inspire him to set up business there.

"It has nothing to do with the murder rate. It (the move) has been on the agenda for a long time. We are able to access our clients much easier. There are times we get bodies from Kingston to Mobay. Even before we came here, people from Mobay would contact Brite Lite and drive to Kingston," he said.

When asked if the heavy spending by scammers was a factor, Thompson said, "To be honest, I have not been on the ground long enough to know how they spend. I have not been blessed with any yet."

He continued, "We are here doing business like any well-thinking business person who wants to maximise earnings and give people options. Everybody has their preference, so the business is not guaranteed. People will seek us because of our vehicles, caskets or because of how we treat the dead."

Brite Lite currently operates from three locations islandwide - Spanish Town, Kingston and Montego Bay.

The ambitious businessman also told THE STAR that, since opening doors in the second city a little over a month now, business has been promising.

"Definitely, this is Brite Lite, we are welcomed in Mobay. we haven't had any of the multimillion-dollar arrangements that we are usually highlighted for, but there are the little people who are coming in with the $200,000 and $250,000 arrangements. One one cocoa full basket," Thompson said.

Presently, Thompson is in negotiations to purchase 50 acres of land to provide a burial park for the entire city. He said plots would also be available to persons who opt out of using his funeral service.

Brite Lite Funeral Service, which has been in operation for over 10 years, is famous for providing funeral arrangements for some of Jamaica's top celebrities who have passed such as Montego Bay businessman 'Fateye', Bogle, Ice, Captain Barkey, Toya, Sugar Minott, Christine Hewitt, Moses, Willie Haggart, Trinity, Bun Man, Bulbie and Bubba Smith.