IRIE FM

The Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) has ruled in favour of the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) in relation to the overtime rate for doctors.

The ruling comes after the island’s doctors staged a 24 hour strike at the weekend, stepping up pressure on the IDT to hand down the long-awaited ruling.

The JMDA has been awaiting a ruling since April 1 this year, however, the issue dates back to 2023.

In an update to the media today Industrial Relations Consultant Senator Lambert Brown said the JMDA received the award sometime after 4 p.m. today.

He said the JMDA is looking forward to meet with the Government to implement the ruling.

The door remains open for the Government and the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) to settle their overtime dispute, without a ruling from the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.

That is according to JMDA’s Industrial Relations Consultant, Lambert Brown, who says the bargaining units can legally return to the negotiating table and hammer out an agreement while they await the Tribunal’s decision.

Mr. Brown spoke with IRIE FM News this morning as frustration continues to mount over the delay in the ruling.

His comments come just days after doctors staged a 24-hour protest on Friday, withdrawing services across the public health sector to pressure the Tribunal to hand down its decision.

However, Friday came and went, and there was still no ruling.

With the JMDA warning of further disruption if the delay continues, Mr. Brown said the parties do not necessarily have to remain locked in a waiting game.

The overtime matter which arose in 2023 has been before the Tribunal since January 2025.

Doctors have been waiting on a ruling since April 1.

Mr. Brown noted that with last week’s disruption to the public health sector, it is expected that a ruling will be handed down this week.

In this case, the Industrial Relations Consultant explained that it would be prudent for all parties to await the Tribunal’s outcome.

The doctors are to meet early this week to chart their next course of action

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says he expects court proceedings to resume in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland and Black River, St. Elizabeth, after new locations were secured to replace the facilities.

Both courts were severely damaged during Hurricane Melissa last October.

Mr. Chuck said a lease agreement has already been signed for the Savanna-la-Mar Parish Court and it’s now being set up to allow the staff to move there.

He noted that a lease agreement is being negotiated for the Black River Parish Court.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has stated that it is not beyond legislators to make laws tougher, while ensuring that the innocent are protected.

Dr. Holness made the statement during a meeting with the Jamaican Bar Association and the Advocates Association on the Firearms Act on Friday.

Attorneys protested last month as they called for aspects of the Act to be amended, particularly as it relates to mandatory minimum sentences and persons held with imitation firearms.

Dr. Holness said that while he acknowledged the concerns raised by the legal fraternity, particularly around exceptional circumstances and the need to preserve fairness in the application of the law, the Government must continue to remove illegal guns from communities and protect people from gun violence.

He assured the Associations that the concerns raised would form part of the review process of the legislation.

The Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) says it has not received any update from the Industrial Disputes Tribunal since its 24-hour strike over the delay in the Tribunal’s ruling on the overtime rate for doctors.

JMDA members are to meet early this week to chart their next course of action.

The doctors withdrew service from 8:00 A.M. on Friday to 8:00 a.m. on Saturday to intensify pressure on the Tribunal to hand down the long-awaited ruling.

The Tribunal, in a statement last week, said it is committed to delivering reasoned and fair rulings and promoting industrial harmony and stability. However, it did not say how soon the ruling would be handed down.

The JMDA has been awaiting a ruling since April 1 this year; however, the issue dates back to 2023.

The JMDA said that although doctors have returned to work, normalcy remains in the hands of the Tribunal.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, JMDA President Dr. Jubilee Brown-Service said the doctors will not be exploited.

Anti-Bullying Week is being observed from October 4 to 10 under the theme; “Kindness Run Di Place; Bullying Nuh Have No Space.”

Speaking at a National Anti-Bullying Week 2026 church service, CPFSA Director of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Newton Douglas says tackling bullying cannot be left to schools alone, as its impact extends beyond the classroom.

He says Jamaica must move towards a culture where kindness is practised more consistently including in the way children interact with each other every day.

In the meantime, Mr. Douglas is encouraging people to support and encourage children who are being bullied to speak up and report what they are experiencing.

He says early reporting can lead to early intervention and help prevent situations from becoming more serious.

The Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) is calling for a national risk based assessment of school security systems.

It also wants a funding programme for perimeter fencing and other security measures.

JTA President Lasonja Harrison pointed out that the relevant authorities should not wait until there is another security related incident at a school, for them to act by resolving the challenges.

She cited the government’s promise to have closed circuit television cameras installed at schools, following the incident at the Braeton primary school, in 2023.

The JTA President said the Spanish Town infant school is in urgent need of proper perimeter fencing.

Mrs. Harrison argued that while fencing is unable to prevent all security breaches, it is a layer of protection.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has given a firm commitment that persons involved in the murder of a young mother in Olympic Gardens last month will be pursued and brought to justice.

Dead is 25 year old Ornielia Walker, otherwise called Nana and Chin, of Hibiscus Avenue in Olympic Gardens, Kingston.

Walker was shot and killed by gunmen at her home on Sunday, September 27.

Dr. Holness, who is also member of parliament for the west central St. Andrew constituency, visited Walker’s grieving relatives yesterday.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the responsibility of the state to protect citizens and assured the family that the investigation into the murder is progressing.

He appealed to those involved in the killing to surrender to the police.

He reiterated the government’s determination to get tougher on crime and illegal firearms.

The Prime Minister said the incident underscores the devastating consequences of illegal firearms and the human cost that remains behind every murder recorded in Jamaica.

He stressed that Jamaica cannot become indifferent to the loss of innocent lives to criminal violence.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has instructed Justice Minister Delroy Chuck to convene the Legal Reform Committee to explore how the Firearms Act can be refined and strengthened.

Dr. Holness’ directive follows a meeting with members of the Jamaica Bar Association and the Advocates Association at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.

The Associations, which staged a demonstration and withdrew their services last week, have raised concerns about aspects of the Act, particularly its mandatory sentencing provisions and the restrictions placed on judicial discretion.

They also have an issue with the treatment of persons found in possession of imitation firearms, such as those used as props for film production.

Following the meeting, State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Abka Fitz-Henley, said Dr. Holness has vowed to have the Committee evaluate the Act in a timely manner.

The Health Ministry says regional health authorities reported no adverse event at public health centres and hospitals due to protest action taken by doctors yesterday.

The doctors withdrew their services as part of efforts to press the Industrial Disputes Tribunal to hand down its ruling on overtime rates.

The Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) said yesterday that despite still not getting a ruling from the Tribunal by its Thursday deadline, its members resumed duties as rostered this morning.

In a statement, the Ministry said facilities islandwide entered emergency mode yesterday and prioritised patients presenting with life-threatening or other serious medical emergencies, as well as patients already admitted to hospitals.

It said elective surgeries were cancelled and some patients were discharged.

Portfolio Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said medical consultants played a role in ensuring that systems were able to function under the challenging circumstances.

Dr. Tufton noted that in some instances, non-staff medical professionals provided assistance.