The police in St Mary are now interrogating a man in connection with the murder of a teenager in the parish between late Sunday night and early Monday morning.

The teen, 17 -year-old Denroy Commack, hails from the Jeffrey Town community which was the recent recipient of the coveted Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance.

It is reported that on Sunday Commack left home for a dance in the community, but when he did not return his relatives became worried.

Shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday morning a farmer found the teenager's body with multiple machete wounds in his banana field in a district adjacent to where Commack lives.

The Gayle police however have not released the name of the man in custody, as he has not yet been charged.

When THE STAR visited the community family members and residents were grief-stricken as a result of the teenager's death.

The residents described Commack as a quiet individual who was to take up a scholarship overseas next month.