It was just one of those or
dinary incidents. Or so it seemed. A vehicle stopped at the traffic lights. It was early morning Saturday, January 18 in Ocho Rios and there wasn’t much interest, except that when the lights changed, the vehicle didn’t move. Some thought it had broken down but then, on closer examination, it was discovered that there was a man at the wheel and he wasn’t moving. It wasn’t ordinary after all.Neville Preston, more popularly known Flugie, a JUTA driver was dead.Family and friends who were left shocked over the sudden death are still trying to come to terms with his passing.They are, however, comforted in the fact that he lived a full time, was well loved by many and that he had a positive impact on lives of people from all around the world who crossed his path on a daily basis.Flugie was pronounced dead at hospital after he was reportedly seen motionless and slumped around the steering wheel of his motor vehicle sometime after 5 a.m. at the traffic light in the town centre of Ocho Rios. Persons reportedly became concerned and alerted the police who rushed him to hospital.His family said he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was a diabetic, but his family said at the time of his passing he was in good health.Flugie was well known across the tourism industry having been a part of JUTA Tours for over 20 years. In recent time and up to the time of his passing, he worked from RIU Ocho Rios and the cruise pier. In addition he had clients from across the world who visited the island regularly and depended solely on him to provide transportation.His wife, Andrea, told the North Coast Times that her husband was heading home having worked during the night at RIU when he collapsed. She explained that he was heading home to get some rest as he was expected to take his daughter who attends UWI Mona, back to school later in the afternoon.
STILL CALLING
She told the Times that since his passing she has been receiving numerous requests via calls and mails from visitors who did not know he was dead, asking that Flugie provide their regular transport service. “One man called and when I told him what happened he just broke down in tears and hung up the phone,” she said. Many other clients who have been requesting are also in shock when they learn that Flugie is dead. “They just can’t believe,” she added. Mrs. Preston who was surrounded by close friends and family when The Times visited her home in Great Pond, Ocho Rios said her husband had a wide client base and was well loved by visitors from all over the world. She said he normally went above and beyond for his clients.They told The Times that Flugie took his job seriously and that he was very reliable and dependent. They said he ensured that his clients were comfortable and that he exposed them to different aspects of the Jamaican culture, especially food and reggae music.Alma Scott, a close family friend spoke glowingly about Flugie. She said he was very friendly, loving, kind jovial and that he had a special love for children.“If he came here right now and saw you and even if he didn’t know you from Adam and he was seeing you for the first time, when him start talk to you anybody would think that him know you long time, that’s how friendly Flugie was,” Mrs Scott explained.Her sentiments were echoed by others including his friend of over 40 years Derrick Patterson who said he has not only lost a friend but a brother.“He was very provoking, he loved teasing people,” another relative shared. “He was such a nice person, never a dull moment when he is around,” she added.Flugie was also the official chauffeur for members of the film industry who traveled to Jamaica on a regular basis to shoot movies and videos. His family said he has been transporting them for many years and that his untimely passing has really shaken members of that industry.His daughter, Nicole, shared with The Times several mail from persons within the film industry who have been paying tribute to her father. He had two other children.In one of the mails sent by producer Arthur Gorson of Wild Indigo Studio in California, he wrote “Jamaica’s film industry lost a star today; I lost a friend, Neville Flugie Preston. He was one of the reasons I looked forward to filming in Jamaica. Production is only as good as its transportation and Flugie got us to set in the most reliable style.”Gorson said that for almost 15 years he looked forward to spending time with Flugie in his bus. He said they had a special bond.“With Flugie I was safe, I was home and he saved my life more than once … here was a good and honest man who took great pride in doing his job, here was the essence of the spirit and quality that makes Jamaica a special place to work, here was truly a critical link in the chain, nuff respect my brother Neville Flugie Presto,” the filmmaker wrote.Another of Flugie longtime friends, Maxie ‘Steve’ Atkinson described him as a very kind, jovial, professional and reliable individual. He said no matter how an individual was having a bad day, Flugie was always the one to bring laughter and cheer to that person.“He will be greatly missed,” Atkinson said.A service of thanksgiving will be held at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church on February 8. His remains will be interred at the St. Ann’s Bay cemetery.
