IRIE FM

Residents, businesses and airport-bound travellers using the Montego Bay-Lucea-Negril corridor will soon have a more comfortable commute with rehabilitation works slated for Seaview Drive, in Hanover.

Works Minister Robert Morgan says preparatory works are underway, and primary construction is expected to begin on Monday, October 5.

He notes that the works are important as delays through Lucea can sometimes be as long as two hours.

This results in missed flights at the airport, as well as disrupted daily commutes and commercial activity.

Mr. Morgan emphasised the importance of continued coordination and clear public information throughout the construction period.

As the debate continues over the firearms act, Justice minister Delroy Chuck says he has to balance the scales in relation to victims of gun crimes and those accused.

His comments follow Wednesday’s silent protest by lawyers, who called for amendments to the firearms act, citing the mandatory sentencing provisions and restrictions placed on judicial discretion.

Mr. Chuck met with the Jamaican Bar and Advocates associations yesterday and aattorneys have committed to refining their concerns and submitting joint proposals for amendments to the act, by early next week.

Speaking on the issue at an event in St. Ann today, Mr. Chuck said exceptional cases will be reviewed.

The minister said the expectations of victims and the country must also be taken into consideration.

Mr. Chuck said Jamaica still has a significant problem of gun crimes, stating that gunmen should spend a long time behind bars.

He opined that police officers are inspired to work harder to recover guns because they know the accused will face the appropriate penalty.

Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley says any perceived or substantive effort to diminish the strength of the Firearms Act should be strongly resisted.

His comment follows a protest on Wednesday by lawyers who called for amendments to the legislation, especially regarding the mandatory sentencing provision.

Lawyers have argued that the Act, in its current form, takes away the discretion of the judge.

They explained that one punishment does not fit all crimes, so judges should be allowed to use a range of sentences based on the circumstances of each case.

In declaring his support for the 15-year minimum penalty, Senator Fitz-Henley cautioned that its removal would represent a weakening of the legislation.

Senator Fitz-Henley also rejected a suggestion by some stakeholders that the empirical evidence does not indicate that there has been a corresponding reduction in the number of gun-related offences or cases brought before the Gun Court since the passage of the Act in 2022.

He cited data from the Court Administration Division, which showed a 10 per cent decline in new Gun Court filings from 403 cases in 2021, before the legislation took effect to 363 cases in 2024.

The Senator said that, with consideration for the creative sector, he does not oppose a revision of aspects of the law which relate to imitation firearms.

Attorneys have argued that the legislation incorrectly treats a fake or toy gun like a lethal weapon.

The Government has called for collaboration with the police to get a bigger decline in murders over the next three months.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says this could result in fewer than five hundred murders at the end of 2026.

Police statistics show that up to September 19 the police recorded 389 murders.

Pointing to the number of murders for September so far, the Justice Minister says crime must be brought down to manageable levels.

Mr. Chuck says the next three months will be defining for the country.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy says the aim of the team is to try and end a two decade wait for a bilateral win in India and to see where they stand in the One Day International (ODI) format.

The first ODI is on Sunday in Thi-ruvanan-tha-puram with game two set for September 30 in Guwahati, while the 3rd and final game in the series will be played on October 3 in Chandigarh.

The Windies will be using the series to prepare for the ICC World Cup qualifiers next year after missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 tournament.

Following the ODI series the teams will be engaged in 5 T20 internationals starting on October 6 in Lucknow.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has raised concern about the impact of school closures, mergers and consolidations on the employment status of educators.

President La Sonja Harrison noted that the changes are being implemented without consultation with the union.

The JTA has written to the Education Ministry seeking information on the schools affected, the arrangements being made and the implications for teachers.

Ms. Harrison said the JTA is addressing teachers’ concerns, as actions that adversely affect them, require urgent attention.

She is urging affected teachers to contact the association for guidance on their employment status before signing or accepting any document that could alter their appointment or conditions of service.

The Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association 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.

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

JMDA President Dr. Jubilee Brown Service said the membership met on Wednesday and passed a resolution, authorising the executive to escalate measures.

These measures may include, but are not limited to, significant disruption of services.

She advised citizens to stay safe.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has indicated that discussions held yesterday with attorneys, about the controversial Firearms Act, were fruitful.

The meeting followed a silent protest organized by representatives of the Jamaican Bar Association and the Advocates’ Association of Jamaica, amid growing concerns over mandatory sentencing for firearm offences, under the act.

A statement from the Ministry yesterday said defence attorneys pressed for amendments to sections of the legislation, during the meeting.

It added that the representatives of the defence bar highlighted gaps and areas of concern within the legislation, including provisions which they believe could result in unlawful arrests and convictions, if not addressed.

Mr. Chuck stated that the attorneys have committed to refining their concerns and submitting joint proposals for amendments to the Firearms Act, by early next week.

Commanding Officer for the St. Catherine North Police Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hopton Nicholson is calling on citizens to intervene in public disputes involving children.

This follows the attack on a female student, after a dispute developed between her and two male students who attend high schools in St Catherine.

Reports are that some time after 4 p.m. on Monday, September 21, a male student and a female student were travelling on a bus when a dispute developed.

The dispute then lead to a physical confrontation where it is alleged that another male student got involved.

The female student, who sustained injuries, was transported to a medical facility for treatment.

SSP Nicholson stated that the two male students have been charged and are to face the court soon.

He implored all citizens to resolve conflicts in a non-violent way.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is assuring residents of Parottee, St. Elizabeth that the Government has no intention of forcibly removing them from their homes or cutting them off from their livelihoods.

This as it considers options to address the community’s exposure to flooding and other climate risks.

Speaking at the groundbreaking for phase 4 of Luana Gardens in the parish yesterday, Dr. Holness said any proposal to relocate residents would be developed through consultation.

The Prime Minister said the Government is exploring whether or not residents who choose to relocate, could be offered access to housing lots within the planned development at Luana Gardens.

Dr. Holness said he has directed the leadership of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority to engage the Housing Agency of Jamaica in securing a number of lots that could be made available to the people of Parottee.