IRIE FM

Principal of Holmwood Technical High School Hidran Mckulsky is calling for greater emphasis on non-violent conflict resolution among young people.

Mr. Mckulsky says while crime is being reduced, there are still numerous unresolved disputes that are being handled inappropriately, with some escalating into fatal confrontations.

This call follows yesterday’s fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old schoolboy during an altercation near the roadway leading to the playfield at Holmwood Technical High.

The other teenager involved in the altercation is  in police custody. 

It’s reported that both students attended Knox community college.

Mr. Mckulsky says school leaders must work together to promote peaceful approaches to resolving conflicts.

Calls to Knox Community College went unanswered up to newstime.

Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis has assured that drain cleaning activities are being carried out by the St. Ann Municipal Corporation to minimise flooding across the parish, amid the threat of unstable weather this week.

The Met Service said on Sunday that a broad trough will bring intermittent showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, to affect most parishes through Saturday.

St Ann’s Bay was among sections of the parish flooded during heavy rains last month.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, Mr. Belnavis said drain cleaning works are being carried out in Ocho Rios and St. Ann’s Bay.

He explained that the Municipality will be monitoring the situation in rural areas of the parish such as Cave Valley.

He reiterated his call for residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to seek shelter elsewhere.

The National Works Agency (NWA) says its regional teams are prepared to respond to any challenge that may arise from unstable weather this week.

The Met Service says the unstable weather conditions are to start today.

The forecast is for a gradual increase in cloudiness followed by intermittent showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, to affect most parishes through to Saturday.

NWA Communications Manager Stephen Shaw said the NWA has its various systems in place to deal with flooded or blocked corridors.

The Brown’s Town Community College (BTCC) is mourning the death of one of its students in Saturday’s deadly three-vehicle crash in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

She is 17-year-old Shantana Leonard, who was a student in the college’s continuing education programme, studying business.

Police said Shantana was the driver of a Toyota Vitz motor car, with 3 teen boys as passengers.

They succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.

In a statement on its Facebook page today, BTCC’s board expressed condolences to Shantana’s family, friends, classmates and lecturers.

The college described her death as a heartbreaking blow to the institution.

It said Shantana was a valued member of the student body, and her presence will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Chairman of BTCC’s Board, Christopher Charley JR, said the crash claimed the lives of four promising young people.

Mr. Charley Jr reiterated that BTCC has been rocked by Shantana’s death, and is hoping justice will be served at the conclusion of investigations in the matter.

Meanwhile, BTCC said it recognizes that Shantana’s death will be deeply felt across its college family, especially by those who shared in her academic journey.

It is encouraging students and staff to support each other in the days ahead.

BTCC further reminded that those grieving can gain access to counselling support at its guidance counsellors’ department.

The St. Ann Police are reviewing CCTV footage of the deadly three-vehicle crash in Ocho Rios, St. Ann at the weekend, which resulted in the death of four teenagers.

The footage has gone viral on social media, with more questions being asked about what transpired on the morning of the crash.

Head of the St. Ann Police, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell told IRIE FM News that the division’s traffic team will be reviewing the footage as part of the investigations.

He reported earlier today that two men are in custody.

SSP Russel said they are suspected to be the drivers of two Mercedes Benz motor cars, who fled the scene of Saturday morning’s crash.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry deployed various teams to support school communities in St. Mary and St. Ann today following the deaths of the 4 students.

The deceased are they are 17-year-old Shantana Leonard of Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay, a student of Brown’s Town Community College; Oracabessa High School students, 16-year-old Marcodine Maxwell and 15-year-old Rajani Abdul; and 16-year-old Kenneil Lyle, a sixth form student at Iona High School.

All three boys were from Mansfield Heights, Ocho Rios.

The Scientific Research Council (SRC) has acknowledged its role in helping Jamaica address major national challenges, but says a more collaborative approach will be needed to achieve further progress.

SRC Chairman Robert Lawrence made the remarks during the launch of Science and Technology Month at Jamaica House this morning.

It’s being observed under the theme: Science Saves.

Mr. Lawrence highlighted the Council’s contributions in key areas, including food security and sustainable development.

He said he hopes the observance of Science and Technology Month, will help pave the way for greater investment in research and other initiatives to advance Jamaica’s national development objectives.

Dancehall veteran Beenie Man is teasing a new song, Weh Di Money Deh, following his public disagreement with Prime Minister Andrew Holness over the distribution of Hurricane Melissa relief funds.

In a video shared on his verified Instagram account, Beenie Man gives fans a glimpse inside the studio, where he is heard singing, “Green or orange, everybody bleed.”

The entertainer also offered insight into the inspiration behind the track, writing in his caption, “Music has always been a voice for the people.”

He further described the song as being inspired by the concerns of Jamaicans who are still awaiting assistance as they work to rebuild their lives following the hurricane.

The preview comes after Beenie Man, during an interview with ITV News, criticised the government’s distribution of Hurricane Melissa relief funds, accusing officials of allocating the assistance “the wrong way.”

His comments prompted a response from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who accused the entertainer of lying.

Speaking at the reopening of the Black River Hospital, which was destroyed by Hurricane Melissa, the PM said, “We must call them out because they go and wave our flag and get people to attend their shows, while they’re out there tearing down our country”.

He further argued that such criticism “will not help one more person get one more grant.”

The Oracabessa High School in St. Mary is mourning following the deaths of two students and a past student in a three-vehicle crash in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Saturday.

They are 16-year-old Marcodine Maxwell, a Grade 11 student at the school and 15-year-old Rajani Abdul, a Grade 10 student.

Another boy, 16-year-old Kenneil Lyle, was a former student at Oracabessa High, who is now attending sixth form at Iona High School.

A fourth teenager also died in the crash.

She is Shantana Leonard of Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay, who was reportedly attending school in St. Ann

Councillor for the Oracabessa Division, Ramon Henry, who is a teacher of Social Studies and Physical Education at Oracabessa High, says grief counselling is being carried out by officials from the Education Ministry at the school.

Mr. Henry says Rajani Abdul was in his grade nine form class last academic year.

He describes Rajani as a very respectful young man.

Mr. Henry is appealing to motorists to desist from speeding on the road.

The Ministry said yesterday that it would deploy various teams to support school communities in St. Mary and St. Ann today following the deaths of the four students.

Residents, business owners and visitors to Downtown Kingston can now report problems affecting the public environment and track their resolution through a new digital platform.

The platform ‘See it. Snap it. Fix it.’, was officially launched on Thursday through a partnership involving the Downtown Kingston Redevelopment Initiative, the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the National Works Agency.

The platform provides a QR code-based reporting system that allows users to submit photographs and details of issues such as illegal dumping, overflowing garbage bins, blocked drains, damaged sidewalks, potholes and faulty streetlights.

The service covers areas including South Parade, Ocean Boulevard, East Street and Orange Street.

Reports are forwarded to the relevant agencies for attention, with users receiving email updates on actions taken.

The system also enables agencies to identify recurring problems, monitor outstanding issues and better coordinate their responses.

Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby describes the platform as a practical tool to strengthen the Corporation’s ongoing efforts to improve public spaces across the municipality.

The Mayor notes that the success of the initiative will depend on several factors, including timely assessments, clearly assigned responsibilities, appropriate follow-up and visible improvements on the ground.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is being challenged to produce evidence to support his allegation that public sector workers are deliberately sabotaging the Government’s policies and recovery programmes.

The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), which issued the challenge, warned that the allegation unfairly casts suspicion on thousands of public officers.

Dr. Holness made the comment during a special press briefing at Jamaica House last Tuesday.

In a statement, the JCTU demanded that Dr. Holness substantiate his claims through the appropriate channels or withdraw them.

The trade union body insisted that accusations of deliberate wrongdoing should not be levelled against the public sector workforce without identifying those allegedly responsible.

It argued that the use of the word ‘sabotage’ carries serious implications, as it suggests deliberate interference rather than administrative delays, bureaucratic inefficiencies or weaknesses within the public service.

According to the Confederation, the Prime Minister’s remarks effectively placed every public officer under suspicion, including clerical workers, engineers assessing damaged infrastructure, social workers processing relief applications and nurses providing care in affected communities.

The JCTU warned that such allegations could undermine workers’ morale at a time when the country needs its public servants to play a critical role in the national recovery effort.

The Confederation also pointed to the Constitution of Jamaica and the Public Service Regulations of 1961, which it said provide established procedures for addressing misconduct within the public service.

It maintained that these mechanisms exist to ensure that allegations against public officers are investigated and dealt with fairly, in accordance with established procedures.