In Jamaica, Outlawed Occult Practices Are Popular

Today's Jamaica Observer has a long article on the ritual of obeah whose practice is widespread on the island of Jamaica even though it has been outlawed for 246 years. Obeah includes a wide range of rituals concerned with divination, healing, ancestral veneration, and manipulating and controlling supernatural forces. The Obeah Act subjects to up to a year in prison "any person who, to effect any fraudulent or unlawful purpose, or for gain, or for the purpose of frightening any person, uses, or pretends to use any occult means, or pretends to possess any supernatural power or knowledge." However at least two pharmacies in downtown Kingston carry carved candles and potions used in the myal branch of obeah.