IRIE FM

The Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) says the Health Ministry’s call for patience in the ongoing matter with the Industrial Disputes tribunal, is an appropriate request.

The JMDA has been awaiting the Tribunal’s decision on the overtime dispute since April 1, and has warned of possible disruption to public health services if no ruling is delivered by Friday.

The JMDA’s warning has placed the Ministry in preparation mode, with it implementing measures to limit impact on patients.

Speaking with IRIE FM News this morning, JMDA President Dr. Jubilee Brown Service says the doctors understand the Ministry’s call for patience, as they are aware of the seriousness of any disruption to the sector.

She also emphasised that the JMDA is doing its part to advise the necessary stakeholders of the possibility of industrial action.

Police have identified him as 37-year-old Damion Beckford, a taxi operator of Canaan Heights in May Pen.

Police report, that on September 8, the child disembarked a taxi at the entrance of the Mineral Heights housing scheme on her way to school, when a man allegedly persuaded her to get into his vehicle.

Police say the child was taken to a neighbouring community where she was sexually assaulted in bushes, before being released near her school.

The institution’s staff was alerted, the child was rushed to hospital, and the police were called.

In an update to IRIE FM News, Commander of the Clarendon police Superintendent Anton-Gur Cardoza said Beckford, who was taken into custody as a person of interest in the matter last week, was charged on Monday.

He said Beckford will make his first appearance before the Clarendon Parish Court.

The Commander is doubling down on his call for parents to remain on high alert regarding the safety of children.

The Government is using Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) to expand the country’s irrigation programme.

This is aimed at ensuring that local farmers gain access to reliable water sources to boost agricultural production.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness made the announcement at the Spatial Arc G.I.S. Conference at the A.C. Hotel this morning.

G.I.S. is a computer system that captures, stores, analyzes and displays data linked to specific locations on Earth’s surface.

The Government has been using G.I.S. technology to support data-driven decision-making and the development of an integrated national geo-spatial infrastructure.

Dr. Holness says the technology is assisting in the development of the Pedro Plains Irrigation Project in St Elizabeth.

He added that G.I.S. is being used to gain a better understanding of how persons utilize water on their farmlands.

The island’s security forces are being urged to carefully use artificial intelligence (A.I.) to improve efficiency and assist in making operational decisions.

The appeal was made by Director of the National Police College of Jamaica, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Merrick Watson, who was speaking at the college’s A.I. Conference on Thursday.

According to him, A.I. can cut the time it would take a police investigator to examine thousands of documents.

ACP Watson said A.I. can also help a soldier to understand a rapidly changing operational environment while a correctional officer could use the technology to improve rehabilitation programmes and allocate limited resources.

However, he warned that A.I. does not eliminate human errors, but can industrialize it.

ACP Watson noted that the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has adopted structured approaches to developing responsible A.I. applications.

This while recognizing that there are limitations and risks in using the technology in law enforcement.

Principal of Munro College, Dr. Mark Smith has indicated that the all-boys school needs about $60–70 million more to finish repairing the damage from Hurricane Melissa.

The St. Elizabeth-based school was hit by back-to-back hurricanes in 15 months.

Speaking at a recent webinar hosted by the Higher Education Task Force for Disaster Resilience, Dr. Smith said the school’s repair work is approximately 90 percent complete with its computer systems to be reinstalled.

He commended the National Education Trust (NET) for approving reconstruction works at the school.

Dr. Smith said the school’s infrastructure is now resilient, ensuring that it can withstand future storms. 

Dr. Smith added that despite the impact of the 2 storms, students did well in their exit exams.

President of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools Anniona Jones has called for a national framework to ensure student learning continues seamlessly following natural disasters.

She underscored the need to shift the priority from merely repairing school buildings to crafting sustainable plans that prevent learning disruptions.

Mrs. Jones stressed that the country should not find itself scrambling to preserve the learning process when the next hurricane hits.

Pointing to prevailing drought conditions, Mrs. Jones underscored the need for logical systems to secure adequate water supply for schools.

She said the technocrats must play a key role in this effort.

She was addressing a webinar hosted by the Higher Education Task Force for Disaster Resilience.

A meeting has been scheduled for next month between the Education Ministry and the trade union representing ancillary staff to discuss salary concerns.

The Union of Technical Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP) said it hopes that the meeting will allow for a better understanding of how recent changes impact the workers.

This, after workers at some primary schools in Region 3 which includes St. Ann and St. Catherine reported that they have not been paid in about 6 weeks.

Union Officer, Anthony Smith says the union is seeking to determine what may be contributing to the reported delays in payment.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has stressed that Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) played a critical role in the Government’s response to Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at the Spatial Arc G.I.S. User Conference yesterday, Dr. Holness noted that G.I.S., drones and artificial intelligence were used to produce preliminary damage assessments.

This aided with identifying where assistance was needed most.

The Prime Minister said G.I.S. will be central to the work of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARRA) as well as the distribution of homes to persons.

The St. Catherine North Police has reiterated that the division is not a safe haven for criminals.

Commanding Officer, Senior Superintendent Hopton Nicholson says officers will continue efforts to identify and apprehend persons wanted for serious and violent crimes.

This as an intensive search has been launched for ten wanted men, who police believe are involved in criminal activities across several communities.

The reminder comes in the wake of the fatal shooting of Anthony Williams otherwise called “Intra Tech” or “Pops” during an alleged confrontation with police along Old Harbour Road in St Catherine last week.

Williams had been implicated in several violent crimes including shootings, larceny, robberies and illegal firearm possession.

Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth North Western Andrew Morris says all medical fees have been waived for the girl who was hit by a boulder in Breadnut Walk.

The child is in a coma and remains admitted for treatment at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

She was among three children who were walking along a railway track to school when the boulder rolled down a hillside and hit them on September 11.

During his State of the Constituency Debate in Parliament yesterday, Mr. Morris said the other two children have been released from hospital and are continuing treatment at home.

Morris said a request has been made for the Agriculture Ministry to rehabilitate the Breadnut Walk to Merrywood roadway under the Farm Road Programme.