IRIE FM

Head of police Area One, Assistant Commissioner Glenford Miller, says the divisions within the area continue to collaborate to prevent the migration of criminals.

ACP Miller made the statement during yesterday’s Force4Good podcast hosted by the Constabulary Force.

According to ACP Miller, this collaboration has aided in reducing crimes in Hanover, St. James, Westmoreland and Trelawny.

However, he admitted that more work is needed.

ACP Miller also extended gratitude to the citizens in Area One who work with the police to curtail crime and violence.

He highlighted residents in Green Island Hanover who he said worked with the police to reduce crimes significantly since the start of the year.

The police say there is no threat to public safety in the West Kingston area at this time.

This follows the circulation of a video on social media suggesting that the community remains tense following last week’s fatal shooting of Amani Malcolm.

Malcolm, who is said to be the leader of the One Away Gang, was shot during a reported confrontation with the police on September 19.

Upset residents later staged demonstrations and mounted roadblocks in the area.

Head of the Kingston Western Police, Acting Senior Superintendent Brian Henry, told IRIE FM News that police presence will be maintained in the space.

Meanwhile, SSP Henry noted that there was a disturbance in the West Kingston area yesterday.

He said it related to the hosting of the ninth night for Malcolm amid a curfew imposed in the area.

In the meantime, he stated that the police carried out an operation on Friday in the area during the protest to ensure that public order was maintained.

He said two men, who were said to be instrumental in leading the protest linked to Malcolm’s death, were arrested.

The Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association says it will continue to fight for fair rates, given that it is mandatory for doctors to do overtime due to the limited number of doctors in public facilities.

The JMDA has described as exploitation, the continued payment of overtime at rates established 6 years ago.

The public sector doctors have become restive, as the situation has not changed despite attempts to have the issue resolved over the years.

A major hold-up with the process is the delayed ruling from the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT).

The JMDA had warned that if the IDT does not rule immediately, it cannot guarantee normality at public health facilities.

JMDA President Dr. Jubilee Brown Service lamented that in some cases doctors have done up to 80 hours on duty under harsh conditions.

Dr. Brown Service recalled a recent instance where doctors were required to meet the demands of a hospital under pressure.

She further revealed that the same team of doctors continued on duty after concluding their shifts, completing a total of 32 hours.

Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon has admitted that it will take 18 to 24 months to complete rebuilding and full restoration at some of the schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

This as the ministry is ensuring that schools are being built to better standards and are climate resilient.

Hundreds of schools suffered damage during the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October and restoration work is ongoing.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has expressed concern about the pace of school repairs.

Speaking at at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Savanna-La-Mar inclusive High School in Westmoreland, Dr Morris Dixon emphasized that the hurricane presented an opportunity to ensure that the reconstruction works are done properly.

Dr Morris Dixon assured that schools in western Jamaica will have the best infrastructure in the country, once reconstruction works are completed.

She reiterated that new technology and reinforced building techniques are being applied to roofs and structures, to ensure that schools can better withstand future severe weather events.

A three-year-old Kingston girl is preparing to travel to the United States for potentially life-changing treatment, but her loved ones say they need financial assistance to make the journey possible.

Ayana Wilson, who was born with Erb’s Palsy following complications during her birth, has been accepted for evaluation and treatment at Shriners Children’s in Philadelphia.

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Shanice Gibbs reports:

The Clarendon police have revealed that the man in custody in connection with the reported sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in Mineral Heights, May Pen, was identified by the child.

Police say the man who was held on Thursday is being questioned as part of the investigation.

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 were alerted, the child was rushed to hospital, and the police were called.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, Commander of the Clarendon Police Division, Superintendent Anton-Gur Cardoza notes that while the area is not deemed a hotspot, parents should remain vigilant.

The Opposition is calling on the Government to consult with the Church and civil society before bringing its proposed legislation on non-profit organisations to Parliament.

This comes amid concern that provisions affecting the collection of tithes and offerings could expose church leaders to criminal liability.

Spokesperson on Social Protection and Social Transformation, Dr. Angela Brown Burke, notes that the Opposition shares the concerns raised by church leaders.

She also took note of claims that church leaders were sidelined for discussions on the Charities Act.

She says for generations, the Church has been among Jamaica’s first responders, feeding the hungry, sheltering the vulnerable, running schools and restoring hope in communities.

She stresses that any law that treats the faithful act of giving as a potential offence risks weakening that vital work.

Dr. Brown Burke says the opposition stands ready to work constructively towards legislation that protects the integrity of Jamaica’s financial system while safeguarding freedom of worship and the Church’s ability to serve.

New research conducted over the summer holiday period has highlighted growing frustration among some teachers experiencing menopause while working in extremely hot classrooms.

Director of the School of Education at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, Professor Carmel Roofe presented a snippet of the findings at the Higher Education Taskforce for Disaster Resilience Webinar on Tuesday.

The study is not yet published.

Professor Roofe said the research explored whether there is a correlation between climate change and teachers’ well-being.

It revealed, among other things, that educators felt that an increase in their respiratory illnesses resulted from sudden changes in the environment.

She said that, based on the study, the heat is impacting how teachers respond to students.

Professor Roofe urged school administrators to review dress codes for teachers, given the current hot conditions.

Lobby group Hear the Children’s Cry (HTCC) is calling for the rapid rollout of ‘Gabby’ a free, interactive computer-based game designed to help high school students recognise and prevent child sexual abuse.

HTCC Director, Nigel Cooper says Government support is needed to train teachers to administer and supervise the game and to ensure schools have adequate laptops and desktop computers to facilitate its use.

Mr. Cooper is also commending the University of Technology Jamaica for leading a three-year research project that tested ‘Gabby’ as a tool for engaging young people in preventing child sexual abuse.

He describes the platform as a game changer.

The project, “Play. Talk. Change: Digital and Creative Technologies for the Engagement of Youth in Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in Jamaica,” ran from June 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026.

The US$105,000 project was funded by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, which supports research on violence against women and children.

President of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools Anniona Jones has called on the relevant authorities to implement permanent solutions to water related challenges at institutions.

Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Higher Education Taskforce for disaster resilience, Mrs. Jones expressed frustration with the length of time it takes the National Water Commission (NWC) to supply schools with the commodity, amidst the ongoing drought.

Mrs jones, who is also Principal of Haile Selassie high school, outlined her institution’s experience with getting trucked water from the NWC, sometime after 11:00 p.m., last Saturday.

She said school leaders are frustrated by situations caused by the ongoing drought and their feelings must be taken into account.

Mrs. Jones said no school should have to operate during the drought, without water.