SCHOOL RIGHTS CHALLENGE Arguing that Jamaica’s education system was gradually collapsing, Opposition Spokesman on Education Damion Crawford on Tuesday announced that he has taken the Government to court to defend the constitutional rights of children at the pre-primary and primary levels.
Regional energy transition now urgent, says Wheatley WESTERN BUREAU: Andrew Wheatley, minister without portfolio with responsibility for science, technology, and special projects, has warned that the Caribbean’s energy transition and digital transformation has moved “from aspirational to urgent” and is calling on regional regulators to act with greater foresight and collaboration.
Cayman minister wants stronger backing for regional regulators WESTERN BUREAU: A Caymanian government official is urging Caribbean countries to provide stronger support to regulatory bodies, saying that underinvestment in these institutions could undermine the region’s development ambitions. Speaking at the 20th Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OCCUR) Conference in Trelawny, Rolston Anglin, the minister of finance and economic development, education and training in the Cayman Islands, said governments must deepen their engagement with regulators and recognise their critical economic role.
Probe deepens into UHWI tax exemption abuse Focused on revenue recovery, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) has launched an audit of the last three years to assess breaches by the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) involving misuse of its tax-exempt status to import goods for private companies. JCA Acting CEO Kirk Benjamin told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday that if the probe uncovers fraudulent activities, the agency would extend its investigations to the last seven years.
Son held in suspected St Bess patricide A domestic dispute between a father and a son turned deadly in a quiet farming community in Mountainside, St Elizabeth, on Tuesday afternoon. Dead is Gary Allwood, a 53-year-old farmer, who was reportedly stabbed multiple times inside his home by his 19-year-old son, said to be mentally challenged. The teenager is now in police custody as investigations continue. Reports are that some time after 1 p.m., an argument developed between the two at their residence after the father reportedly instructed his son to take some prescribed medication.
Ground broken for sensory room at St Andrew school An ambitious suggestion during a parent-teacher conference at Melrose Primary and Junior High led to a seed being planted that has now grown into the breaking of ground for the construction of a sensory room at the St Andrew-based institution. A sensory room is a specially designed therapeutic space used to support neurodivergent people, including those with autism or ADHD, to either calm down during overstimulation or engage in focused sensory exploration.
Autism forum stresses connection before correction A feverish house of 362 participants asked probing questions about autism behaviour management strategies at a recent online Autism Parent Forum hosted by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information. Host Dianne Loton-Franklyn, a behavioural therapist at the Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities (JAID), fielded questions long after the scheduled two-hour programme on approaches to addressing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Trust, she noted, is a particular supporting pillar for greater interaction.
Cop held in bribery sting charged Criminal charges have been laid against the policeman who was arrested earlier this month during a sting operation while he was allegedly in the process of collecting $230,000 in cash from a civilian to help retrieve his vehicle, law-enforcement sources have revealed. Constable Andrew Allydice, who is attached to the St Ann Police Division, is charged with corruptly soliciting a benefit, corruptly accepting a benefit, and misconduct in a public office.
SIX MONTHS IN THE DARK WESTERN BUREAU: Six months after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, residents of the small coastal community of Parottee in St Elizabeth say their most urgent needs are the restoration of electricity and access to water, as recovery continues at a slow pace. “We have a big issue here with water and light, but water is our main issue, and water is life,” said Sandra Linton-Jones, a 62-year-old fish vendor who sells at the Black River Fish Market.
PM to respond to concerns in NaRRA bill Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is expected today to respond to mounting concerns over the proposed National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) bill, a sweeping piece of legislation that has drawn criticism from civil society groups, a government lawmaker, and the parliamentary Opposition. At Gordon House, Holness faces three main options: push the bill through unchanged, agree to amendments, or refer it to a joint select committee for further review.