IRIE FM

Several students are expressing hope that their hard work in the May-June CXC examinations will be rewarded with good results.

Thousands of candidates across the island and across the region are counting down to 11:00 a.m., when the preliminary results will be uploaded to the official CXC Student Results Portal.

One student from St. Catherine told IRIE FM News that she did her part by studying and applying the lessons she was taught.

She said all she can do now is hope that the part she played reaps success.

In the meantime, a student from Bull Bay, St. Andrew recounted how her anxiety about the exam results led to sleepless nights.

She said, with just a few hours left to wait, she is trying to be calm.

Her effort to remain calm was echoed by this St. Andrew student.

Former President of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship, Helene Coley Nicholson has called on the Government to do right by the island’s teachers.

She made the statement at the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s 62nd Annual Conference yesterday.

According to Mrs. Nicholson who was the guest speaker, many of the island’s teachers in attendance are concerned about the ongoing wage negotiations.

As such, she urged the Government to do right by teachers so the island’s children can reap the reward.

Mrs. Nicholson also pointed out that the act would among other things improve teacher retention.

She also called for greater effort to prepare schools for the upcoming academic year, especially those damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

By Sugar Ray Thomas

“Artificial intelligence (AI) must work with people and not in place of people.”

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes made the statement at the Judiciary’s annual Strategic Management Retreat at the AC Hotel Kingston yesterday.

He said A.I. must not be viewed as a tool to replace court officials but must instead work alongside them to support efficiency and productivity.

Acknowledging that the technology has affected legal research and other administrative processes, he said it should not be feared nor romanticized.

The Chief Justice indicated that if A.I. technology is utilized in the court system it must never be permitted to displace fairness.

He added that its limitations must be understood.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says too many criminal cases are going to trial.

He said the prosecution and the defense should instead use plea bargaining arrangements.

Stakeholders in the justice sector, including defense attorneys, have taken issue with the length of time it is taking for some criminal matters to be tried.

Speaking at the judiciary’s annual strategic management retreat at the AC Hotel in Kingston today, Mr. Chuck noted that in the United States, approximately 90% of all cases are settled through plea bargaining.

He said his ministry will discuss the matter with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in a bid to have cases resolved in a timely manner.

Mr. Chuck suggested that if criminal cases are not completed within a reasonable time frame, they should be dismissed because of constitutional breaches.

A lawsuit has been filed for nine of the men who were detained on the morning of the demolition of houses in Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny.

Attorney Donnovan Collins, whose law firm is handling the proceedings, says the legal documents were filed today.

The individuals are seeking damages for, among other things, false imprisonment and breaches of their constitutional rights.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, he says the documents were also served on the Attorney General’s Offices.

Mr. Collins says the claims for the other individuals will be filed this week.

Initially, more than 30 men had shown interest in filing a lawsuit against the state.

Meanwhile, Mr. Collins notes that many of the men appear to have lost trust in the system, but he has sought to reassure them that there will be no repeat of what happened last week.

There are mixed reactions from members of the public about the water prohibition orders which took effect today.

The water restrictions are for: Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Mary, Portland, St. Ann, and St. Catherine.

The National Water Commission (NWC) has banned non-essential water use due to severe drought and low reservoir levels.

Its customers are prohibited from using NWC-supplied water for: watering lawn, gardens, and farms, refilling ponds and swimming pools, washing vehicles with a hose, washing roadways, pavements and outdoor areas or any activity requiring excessive quantity of water.

IRIE FM News took to the streets of Half-Way-Tree to get people’s reactions to the restrictions.

One bus operator says, due to this restriction, he will now have to wash his vehicle once per week.

One St. Andrew woman says she tries her best to conserve water, by not using a hose to wash her car, ensuring she avoids wasting it.

A St. Mary man says he believes the fine will force people to conserve water.

Meanwhile, a Kingston woman says she recycles water, therefore the restrictions will not have a major impact on her.

And, a taxi operator lamented that the government had made promises to put measures in place to store more water, but those measures have still not been implemented, therefore, he does not support the restrictions.

Veteran reggae singer Barrington Levy has apologized to fans following his performance at Reggae Land 2026, while addressing issues involving changes to his band and musical setup.

In a statement shared on social media, he said he was sorry to fans who attended the festival expecting to see the live musical experience they have come to know and love.

According to Barrington Levy, changes to the musicians, including the replacement of his keyboard player, created challenges during the performance. He said the replacement musician was not sufficiently familiar with his established set, arrangements, and musical cues.

The veteran singer thanked his fans and band members for their continued support and said he hopes to perform for them again soon and deliver the experience they deserve.

“Reggae music has given me a lifetime of blessings,” Levy said, while expressing his appreciation for those who continue to support his music.

Reggae Land 2026 brought together several reggae and dancehall acts, with Barrington Levy among the performers on the festival lineup.

Performer, emcee, and host Beenie Man wore multiple hats on Saturday at his Summa Sizzle Music Festival, held at the Woodleigh Sports Complex in May Pen, Clarendon.

Although the event was not at full capacity, patrons were treated to performances from the likes of Capleton, Beenie Man, Ashanti, Jahshii, Shaneil Muir, Nesbeth, Sita Lyrical, Yaksta, Spragga Bens, Tommy Lee Sparta, Skeng, Nigy Boy, Tanto Blacks and others.

Capleton, who performed in the early hours of Sunday morning, suggested that promoters consider cutting out day light performances, after revealing that Beenie Man had him waiting for too long before taking the stage.

Beenie Man’s Summa Sizzle Music Festival returned this year after a six-year break.

With the release of the CXC examination results less than 24 hours away, parents are eagerly awaiting the outcome with great expectations.

The preliminary results for the May-June exams will be uploaded on the official CXC student results portal tomorrow.

Thousands of Jamaican candidates should be able to access the results by 11:00 A.M.

Speaking with IRIE FM News ahead of the release, one parent, whose daughters sat the regional exams says she is confident of their success.

Another mother, whose son attended St. George’s College in Kingston, admits being anxious.

She notes, however, that amidst her anxiety, she is expecting positive results.

In the meantime one parent recounts how her daughter carefully planned for her academic and professional journey.

She is eager to see how well her child has managed this phase of the journey.

Opposition Spokesperson on Land, Lothan Cousins is demanding immediate public disclosure of the court order used to carry out last week’s demolition exercise in Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny.

Some 40 families, comprising of children and the elderly were affected when their houses were demolished.

In a statement from the People’s National Party (PNP) today, Mr. Cousins warns that if the order had expired without a lawful extension, the state faces serious exposure to damages claims.

He also notes that 99 residents were subject to the order under the court of appeal rulings.

Mr. Cousins is urging all residents impacted outside of the strict parameters of the historical order, to seek independent legal advice.