IRIE FM

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is urging citizens to stand united against gun violence.

The PNP made the appeal as it expressed deep sadness at the deaths of Constable Devoney Rose and Corporal Trevoy Shaw, following an operation in Sligoville, St. Catherine, on Friday.

Members of the Special Operations Branch were reportedly on an operation in search of wanted persons when they came under fire from gunmen barricaded inside a house with other occupants, including children.

Constable Rose, Corporal Shaw and three gunmen were fatally shot during the incident, while a third police officer and a 10-year-old girl were wounded.

Opposition Spokesperson on National Security Fitz Jackson has extended condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased officers.

He also expressed hope that the wounded persons will have a speedy recovery.

Mr. Jackson said persons with information on the incident should contact the police.

A pedestrian and a motorcyclist are the latest casualties of motor vehicle crashes in St. Ann and Manchester between yesterday and today.

In the first incident, in St. Ann yesterday, 33 year old Jamel McFarlane of St. D’Acre, died after being hit by a truck, at the intersection of Bethany and Hall roads.

Reports are that about 6:15 p.m. McFarlane, who appeared to have suffered a seizure, fell onto the roadway and into the path of a blue freightliner, which ran over him.

In the second incident, in Manchester at about 2:40 a.m. today, an unidentified man died after the green missile motorcycle he was driving collided with a white Mercedes Benz motorcar, along the Manchester main road in Mandeville.

Police theorise that the crash may have been caused by failure to comply with traffic signs or signals, apparent error of judgment or negligence and excess speed with no regard for condition.

Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council Dr. Lucien Jones noted that these 2 fatalities have pushed this month’s death toll so far to 16.

Noting that this is a long holiday weekend, Dr. Jones urged road users to be careful, especially while travelling on roadways on the north coast.

The West Indies’ will have to wait longer for their first-ever series win in India since 2002 as the 5th and deciding T20 International ended in a no-result in Bengaluru to leave the series tied at 2-2.

The game which got off to a late start because of the rain was reduced to a 9 overs a side affair and saw India sent to bat first getting to 118 for 5 in the 8th over when the rain came back.

Ishan Khan topscored with 30 from 10 balls and captain Shreyas Iyer got 22 with Naman Dhir getting 24 not out.

Bowling for the West Indies Keemo Paul and Shamar Springer claimed two wickets each.

Captain Shai Hope was named the player of the series after scoring 250 runs at a strike rate of 180.

He says it was commendable what they were able to achieve – having not won a series in India in 20 plus years.

Hope also scored 278 in the One Day International series at a strike rate of 112

The Advocates Network has joined the call for the government to disclose immediately, the memorandum of understanding with the United States relating to Third Country Nationals (TCN).

Its call follows the landing of 22 adults at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, on Tuesday.

The International Organization for Migration is directly responsible for managing the daily care, accommodation and general welfare of the individuals.

Advocates Network member Kay Osborne wants the government to reveal a full public accounting of all funds and benefits offered, approved, transferred or paid in connection with Jamaica’s participation in the TCN agreement with the USA.

She says the government should disclose the programme’s governing legal framework, oversight mechanisms and financial obligations.

She is questioning why Jamaica’s MOU with the USA is private, while other countries have made theirs public.

Lobby group Hear the Children’s Cry (HTCC) has called for the implementation of stronger measures to break the cycle of violence perpetrated against the nation’s youth.

This is in the wake of yesterday’s incident in which a 10-year-old girl was wounded in Sligoville, St. Catherine.

It has been reported that the girl was shot while being used as a shield by armed men who were in a gun battle with the security forces.

The child remains hospitalised in critical condition.

HTCC Board member Nigel Cooper said there needs to be a nationwide response to situations that leave innocent children vulnerable to untenable levels of violence.

Human Rights Lobby Group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has condemned the killing of a police corporal during a confrontation with armed men in Sligoville, St. Catherine, yesterday.

Dead is Trevoy Shaw, who was attached to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Special Operations Branch.

The JFJ says it is also deeply concerned about the wounding of another police officer, as well as a 10-year-old girl during the incident.

Executive Director Mickel Jackson expressed her support to the Constabulary during this time.

Jackson wished for the full recovery of the wounded persons.

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Abka Fitz-Henley, says he is confident that the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) will deliver results.

This, despite what he calls a coordinated smear campaign by the Opposition.

Fitz-Henley made the comments when he spoke to members of the Diaspora in New York in the United States yesterday.

He was attending the American Friends of Jamaica Gala.

The State Minister noted that the Government’s special-purpose vehicle to rebuild sections of the island which were devastated by Hurricane Melissa will succeed.

According to Fitz-Henley, scrutiny of NaRRA is important, and there have been some reasonable questions.

NaRRA is back in the spotlight, following reports that its Chief Executive Officer was receiving a compensation of $40 million per annum, plus a 25 per cent performance gratuity.

There was also a revelation that the Digicel building chosen to serve as the NaRRA headquarters would cost $115 million each year to rent.

The Government is reviewing the lease.

Fitz-Henely said given that the market rate for the salary of some heads of key statutory bodies and rental costs across successive administrations are not widely known, it is understandable that some Jamaicans have genuine concerns about NaRRA.

He noted that some of these concerns, especially from the Opposition, are spurious.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court to temporarily restrain the Clarendon Municipal Corporation from proceeding with a no-confidence vote against the Mayor of May Pen, Joel Williams and his Deputy, Clive Mundle.

The no-confidence vote was one of five agenda items that were to be dealt with at a Special Council Meeting today.

The court order follows an application brought by Williams and Mundle.

JLP Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, says the party supports the application filed by the Mayor and his Deputy and that the rule of law should be allowed to take its course.

Meanwhile, Michelle Champagnie, one of the attorneys representing the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, confirmed that she appeared in the Supreme Court today regarding the leadership challenge and application for an injunction.

The leadership dispute at the Clarendon Municipal Corporation is expected to intensify, with the People’s National Party (PNP) indicating that it also intends to seek legal redress.

This comes after the Supreme Court granted an injunction to sitting Mayor Joel Williams and Deputy Mayor Clive Mundle, who are members of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

The Court issued the order this morning to temporarily restrain the Corporation from proceeding with specified agenda items at a special meeting that would have paved the way for the Mayor and his Deputy to be replaced.

The injunction, granted by Justice Tracey-Ann Johnson, will remain in force until November 13, unless the court orders otherwise.

With the temporary restrictions in place, this morning’s special meeting was adjourned five minutes after it commenced.

The situation has concerned the PNP, which described the developments as profoundly anti-democratic.

Speaking with IRIE FM News this afternoon, minority leader in the Corporation, Scean Barnswell, said that while PNP Councillors respect the Court’s decision, they remain militant.

Following Thursday’s announcement and subsequent confirmation that a JLP Councillor was switching allegiance to the PNP, the Party maintains that it now commands a 12 -10 majority at the Corporation.

It has also argued that leadership of the Municipal body should reflect that shift in support.

Barnswell also highlighted issues with the injunction order, noting that it was obtained without notice to the PNP Councillors, and without them being represented in court.

He said it is anticipated that when the PNP lawyers bring the matter of the breaches to the Court, the judge will permit them to continue the process of electing a PNP majority-supported mayor and deputy mayor.

Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake is urging members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force not to allow this morning’s shooting incident in Sligoville, St. Catherine, to define how they operate moving forward.

The incident, which involved a team from the Special Operations Branch, led to the death of one cop and the wounding of another.

The deceased lawman has been identified as Corporal Trevoy Shaw.

He and his teammates were on an operation in the Five Miles area.

Speaking to members of the Constabulary this afternoon, Dr. Blake revealed that the perpetrators involved were given the opportunity to surrender.

He urged lawmen to remain resolute in their pursuit to keep Jamaica safe.