IRIE FM

Mr. Golding made the statement at yesterday’s staging of the People’s National Party’s 88th Annual Conference which was held in Westmoreland for the first time.

The PNP said the move was to show that it cares about the western end of the island, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa almost one year ago.

According to Mr. Golding, families cannot rebuild securely without the peace of mind of owning the land where their homes are to be built.

He also called for a wide cross section of the society to be part of the decision making in the reconstruction process.

Mr. Golding said the recovery road map must be shaped with citizens who live in the disaster torn communities.

Face-to-face classes were suspended following the incident.

School Chairman, Renardo Douglas, told IRIE FM News that the institution experienced significant loss and damage as a result of the incident, with the estimated loss valued at over $2 million.

He said repair works have started.

Mr. Douglas noted that following an earlier break-in at the institution about one year ago, the Education Ministry promised a meeting to discuss a security system.

Although that meeting never took place, he hopes last week’s break-in will fast-track the discussion.

The 88th Annual Conference of the People’s National Party is underway in Westmoreland, with special focus being placed on the impacts of Hurricane Melissa which devastated Jamaica, almost one year ago. 

Western Jamaica suffered the brunt of damage when the category five hurricane made landfall in October 2025. 

Many residents are reportedly still reeling from the effects of the hurricane, and many schools are undergoing construction, despite the start of the new academic year on September 7. 

Speaking at today’s conference, chairman of the PNP Dr. Angela Brown Burke thanked residents for coming out despite the rains. 

She said the PNP will not forsake the people. 

And Mayor of Savanna-la-mar Danree Delancy said the decision to hold the conference in Westmoreland shows that the PNP stands in solidarity with the people of Western Jamaica. 

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Central Westmoreland Dwayne Vaz said the PNP  has made history by bringing the conference to Western Jamaica. 

He criticized the government for not doing more to improve the conditions of Hurricane Melissa victims. 

The Government has issued 19 humanitarian grants valued at $9.9 million to assist vulnerable citizens displaced in the eviction exercise conducted by property owners in Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny, last month.

The demolition exercise affected some 40 families.

During a visit to the area after the demolition, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness indicated that the Government would assist with relocating the affected residents.

In an update today, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development said the grants were handed over to the residents yesterday.

According to the statement grants of $200,000 to $800,000 per family are being provided to some of the most vulnerable residents, many of whom have lived in government-issued emergency tents since August 12.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Arlene Williams reiterated that the Government is not the owner of the property and was not responsible for the demolition or displacement of the occupants.

She noted that under legitimate terms issued by the property owners, residents remaining on the site are required to leave by November 30, while those currently occupying tents were required to relocate immediately.

Water Minister Matthew Samuda has pushed back at criticism from the opposition over claims of inequitable sharing of water resources, amid the ongoing drought.

Last month, Opposition Spokesman for Water, Ian Hayles blasted the Government for what he deemed a reactive and inequitable handling of the situation.

Mr. Hayles called on the Government to distribute water tanks to residents in hard hit communities, as well as to allocate special funds to all members of parliament to facilitate the trucking of water.

Mr. Samuda pointed out that each MP already received funds for trucked water.

He refuted claims that water tanks are being distributed based on political affiliation.

The Minister said the Government remains committed to providing potable water to every citizen.

He cited the Western Water Resilience Project as an example of that commitment.

Mr. Samuda was speaking at the recent commissioning of the Brown’s Town to Retreat Pipeline Installation Project in St. Ann.

The constabulary force has increased security presence in sections of the Kingston Western division following the fatal shooting of the reputed leader of the One A Way gang during an alleged confrontation with officers in Denham Town, last night.

This in the wake of reported threats against the police, as well as a fiery protest mounted by angry residents in the community this morning.

The deceased has been identified as 26-year-old Amani Malcolm, otherwise called “Bling Dawg” of Denham Town.

The incident occurred at about 10:40 p.m. at the intersection of North Street and Pink Lane.

Preliminary reports are that a police team was on mobile patrol along North Street when its members encountered Malcolm.

During the encounter, an armed confrontation reportedly developed in which Malcolm allegedly produced a firearm and pointed it at a member of the police team.

A physical struggle then developed between Malcolm and the officer.

Shots were fired by members of the police team and Malcolm was hit.

A civilian was shot and wounded during the incident.

Both Malcolm and the civilian were taken to hospital, where Malcolm was pronounced dead and the civilian admitted for treatment.

Area 4 commander Assistant Commissioner of police Michael Phipps says a firearm was also seized at the scene.

The man who was set on fire remains hospitalised.

His condition is not known.

The police have listed Omarley Dennie, otherwise called “Neily Blacks” an alleged senior member of the One A Way gang, as a person of interest in relation to that incident.

Dennie is being asked to surrender to the police immediately.

A vehicle was also set ablaze during this morning’s protest.

The police say they recognise and respect the right of citizens to engage in peaceful and lawful protest.

However, no person should be threatened, intimidated or subjected to violence because he or she chooses not to participate in a protest.

ACP Phipps added that the police are treating the threats against the police seriously and have taken appropriate operational measures to protect members.

The police are also probing reports that some armed men, including persons carrying high powered rifles, were observed in sections of the community.

Reggae/Dancehall star Capleton, returned to Canada last week after a 11 year hiatus to perform at the Soul Food Festival Fire in the Park in Vaughn, Ontario.

Last Friday, he received a proclamation from Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton.

The citation read in part, “The city of Brampton proudly acknowledges your dedication to the local community and your continued efforts to use music and the arts of bringing people together, inspiring others, and celebrating our city’s diverse cultural heritage. Your passion, talent and commitment to the community have made a meaningful impact, and your contributions to the music industry, serve as an inspiration to emerging artistes and future generations.”

One of the highlights of Capleton’s return to Canada, was when the veteran dancehall artiste arrived in a fire truck at last weekend’s staging of the Soul Food Caribbean Festival.

Capleton added, “I’m known as the fireman who uses the fire as a metaphor for purification. My fire can never be put out so we used the fire truck as a symbol of my ever-burning passion in me for the music”

The National Housing Trust (NHT) is introducing a new initiative aimed at improving young people’s access to affordable housing.

This will allow eligible NHT contributors to purchase specially developed homes including apartments and studio units and potentially access another NHT housing benefit later by selling the property back to the trust.

Currently, NHT contributors are entitled to one housing benefit.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, who has responsibility for the Housing Portfolio said the new measure would provide a pathway for persons who purchase specially developed homes to sell them back to the NHT after their circumstances change and they qualify for another benefit.

He made the announcement while responding to questions about access to affordable housing  during a meeting with the University of the West Indies Guild executives at Jamaica House yesterday.

Water Minister Matthew Samuda has indicated that the Brown’s Town to Retreat Pipeline Installation Project in St Ann is part of the Government’s goal to achieve universal access to potable water by 2030 in Jamaica.

About 2,000 residents across four communities are benefiting from piped water for the first time as a result of the project, which was officially commissioned into service yesterday.

Phase One of the project valued at $60 million extends the National Water Commission’s distribution network in Enfield, Lyndale, Retreat and Brown’s Town.

Mr Samuda described the initiative as moral water type scheme, because the NWC is not likely to benefit economically from it.

He said the project highlights the Government’s thrust to expand access to potable water.

Mr. Samuda urged new n-w-c customers to pay their bills so that others can benefit in the long-term.

Dancehall veteran Bounty Killer has responded to recent comments by Beenie Man with a preview of a track that appears to take aim at his longtime rival.

The preview begins with an interview clip of Beenie Man saying, “I feel like if there is no Beenie Man there’s no Bounty Killer.”

Bounty Killer accompanied the preview with a warning to Beenie Man, accusing him of adopting elements of his style. “Doh get ahead of yourself you pirated my style fi buss is you sound like me not me sound like you yuh lie like lysol,” Bounty wrote in the caption.

Beenie Man has been at the centre of several Dancehall discussions in recent weeks following comments made during international interviews.

Among the topics are the controversy surrounding the title of his marijuana song “Marijuana In The Kouchie” and his claim that he has 187 number-one songs and 2,000 hit songs.

This comes as the Dancehall veterans are set to revisit one of Jamaica’s most talked-about musical rivalries in a 30-song showdown later this evening on YouTube, with each artiste set to showcase 30 tracks from their respective catalogues.