IRIE FM

The Advocates’ Association of Jamaica (AAJ) has welcomed the review of child cases under the Firearms Act, but remains concerned about the lack of sentencing discretion for judges.

The National Security Council (NSC) announced that further consideration should be given to how cases involving children found with illegal firearms are handled.

This was among several proposed amendments agreed at the recent NSC meeting.

It was also proposed that the minimum sentence for persons convicted of the possession of an illegal firearm be increased from the current 15 years in prison to 20 years.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, AAJ President Tamika Harris said a judge ought to have some discretion on when the mandatory minimum sentence should be applied.

She argued that children are not the only ones who may be vulnerable.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has announced that the Government will implement further expenditure cuts and redirect additional resources to the ROOFS programme.

This is being done to accelerate the disbursement of grants to households affected by Hurricane Melissa.

The announcement follows the ban on non-essential overseas travel across the public sector until March next year.

The Government said the measure is among the first in a broader series of actions to strengthen expenditure discipline, improve efficiency and accelerate the delivery of national priorities.

In a release yesterday, the Prime Minister disclosed that approximately J$12 billion has already been allocated to the ROOFS programme, with an additional J$2 billion expected to be made available within days.

He said the Government is also identifying areas for expenditure reductions, including official travel, to mobilise further resources for housing recovery.

Speaking during a housing handover ceremony in South St. James, Prime Minister Holness acknowledged the frustration among households that have been assessed for assistance, but have not yet received their grants.

Dr. Holness disclosed that approximately J$20 billion was initially estimated to meet the needs of households assessed as eligible for assistance. To date, grants have been provided to just over 50 per cent of those assessed as having sustained damage, leaving a significant number of households awaiting support.

The Prime Minister assured residents awaiting assistance that the delays were not the result of favouritism or neglect, but reflected the financial constraints associated with funding the recovery programme while maintaining other essential public services.

One year after Hurricane Melissa, many Jamaicans are still picking up the pieces.

Shanice Gibbs highlights one senior’s fight to rebuild, in Hurricane Melissa: One Year Later – A Survivor’s Story.

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has welcomed the National Security Council’s recommendations to amend the Firearms Act by distinguishing toy guns from real firearms and reviewing cases involving children.

Yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister revealed in a statement that several amendments were agreed on at the recent meeting of the National Security Council (NSC).

It was recommended that persons convicted of illegal possession of a firearm should now face a new minimum sentence of 20 years in prison instead of the current 15 years.

The NSC says this is keeping with its commitment to refine the Firearms Act, to make it tougher while protecting the innocent and vulnerable.

The Council also agreed that further consideration should be given to how cases involving children found with illegal firearms are handled.

It also noted that the concerns raised regarding imitation firearms will be clearly addressed to distinguish between toy guns and guns designed to realistically imitate actual weapons.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, Opposition Spokesperson on Justice, Zuleika Jess said distinguishing between toy guns and imitation firearms will help to strengthen the legislation.

She noted that the opposition is relieved that the NSC will be giving further consideration to how cases involving children found with illegal firearms are handled.

Bath Primary School resumed classes today, after serving as an emergency shelter for 13 residents displaced by  flooding over the weekend.

Principal Desmarie Blake-Brown says all 13 shelterees left the institution, allowing school operations to resume.

She says several classrooms were affected by the heavy rainfall, with assessments being conducted today to determine the extent of the damage.

Despite the disruption, Mrs. Blake-Brown says student attendance stood at approximately 73% noting that  some students were directly affected by the flooding.

Meanwhile, one of the residents who sought refuge at the school, Venroy Beckford said he alerted occupants of his yard which houses seven people across three homes including elderly and the disabled.

He said he left the shelter yesterday and returned home to begin cleaning up.

Mr. Beckford added that this is the first time he has experienced flooding of this magnitude.

He is also appealing for assistance, saying residents have yet to receive any help.

Written by: Clement Reid and Marlene Freeman

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has welcomed the recommendations of the National Security Council in relation to amendments to the Firearms Act.

The Office of the Prime Minister revealed yesterday that several recommendations were agreed on at a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC).

It was recommended that persons convicted of illegal possession of a firearm should receive a new minimum sentence of 20 years in prison up from 15 years.

Adults who groom children to use, store, transport or acquire illegal guns should also face a new criminal offence under proposed amendments to the Firearms Act.

The NSC also agreed that further consideration should be given to how cases involving children found with illegal firearms are handled.

The Ministry of National Security and Peace has been directed to have the draft legislation ready by the end of November 2026 for wider consultations.

In a release to the media yesterday, Ms. Jackson said the JFJ strongly supports the prosecution of adults who use children to commit crimes.

She also called for the NSC and the Government to outline how children are to be dealt with if they are being exploited by adults.

And the Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) is also welcoming the NSC’s recognition that further consideration must be given to cases involving children found in possession of illegal firearms.

The FWCF says any amendment to the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act must distinguish between children exploited by criminal networks and adults who deliberately recruit, coerce or manipulate them into gun-related activities.

The foundation emphasizes that children found with illegal firearms should not automatically be treated as willing participants in organised criminal activity.

Youth Policy Committee Member of the FWCF, Zowayne Williams further states that children exploited by criminals must be protected.

The foundation says it supports the proposed creation of a specific offence targeting adults who groom or recruit children into firearms-related criminal activity.

However, it says such provisions must be accompanied by effective investigation, child-sensitive interviewing, appropriate safeguarding measures and access to diversion and rehabilitation where warranted.

The foundation is also urging the Government to ensure that the legislation clearly distinguishes ordinary toy guns from realistic imitation firearms and actual weapons.

The National Works Agency (NWA) says its response efforts continue following major flooding which affected some parishes over the weekend.

Several parishes were under Flash Flood Warning and Watch due to the heavy rains.

The advisories have been discontinued.

Communities in St. Thomas, St. Ann and St. Catherine were impacted significantly.

Preliminary reports indicate that 54 homes were flooded in St. Thomas and 13 persons were being accommodated at the Bath Primary School shelter in the parish.

NWA’s Communication Manager, Stephen Shaw noted that teams have been on the ground, clearing roadways affected by landslides and fallen trees including those in St. Thomas.

Meanwhile, he also echoed the call for residents  to exercise caution.

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is calling on persons to dispose of their animal carcasses responsibly.

It says improper disposal along roadways poses a serious public safety and environmental concern.

The call comes after the carcass of a cow was seen along the Runaway Bay main road in St. Ann on Saturday.

The authority outlined that such cases endanger motorists and pedestrians, obstruct traffic and create public health risks.

Executive Director of the NSWMA, Audley Gordon said the practice is unacceptable.

The authority further outlined that animal carcass should never be dumped along the roadway, in drains, gullies or other public spaces.

A lack of sufficient teachers of Caribbean history is reportedly delaying efforts to make the subject compulsory in the formal education system across the region.

The disclosure was made by CARICOM Reparations Committee member Barbados’ ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissong.

Speaking at a CRC virtual press conference on Thursday, Ambassador Comissong pointed to various challenges with the teaching of Caribbean history in classrooms across the region.

He noted the low number of students who pursue the course at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) level.

A 2018 CXC regional committee recommended that the subject be mandatory, but implementation has been delayed due to a reported shortage of history teachers.

Eight people are in police custody following two coordinated operations in Ocho Rios, St. Ann between Friday and yesterday.

The operations, conducted jointly by the National Strategic Anti-gang Division and the St. Ann operational support team, resulted in the seizure of two firearms and a quantity of ammunition.

Both operations were carried out along Main Street in Ocho Rios.

Commanding Officer for the St. Ann Police Division, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell, provided details of the arrests and seizures.