Sweet sin tax The Budget will lean on eight revenue measures that blend classic ‘sin taxes’, modernisation of the tax base, and the continuation of extraordinary flows from the National Housing Trust (NHT)
Elderly US couple dressed up to collect lottery ‘prize’ An elderly American couple who lost US$70,000 to a Jamaican lottery scam syndicate got dressed “on several occasions” in their “best clothes” and waited for their million-dollar ‘prize’ to be delivered to their home, according to authorities in the United States (US). The allegations were outlined in an indictment charging a Jamaican man, Richard Murray, 31, with money laundering and fraud-related crimes for his alleged involvement in a lottery scam that defrauded mainly elderly American citizens of millions of dollars.
‘Pen is mightier than the firearm’ Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell has advised attorneys for Senior Superintendent Wayne Cameron to write to Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake regarding concerns about the seizure of his service firearm even though he remains on active duty. Cameron, chairman of the Police Officers’ Association (POA), is facing allegations that he stole $15 million from the association. He was charged last month with five counts of fraudulent conversion and six counts of larceny as a servant. Following his arrest, he was granted $500,000 station bail, and his service firearm was taken.
Morris: Stop raid the barn Opposition Spokesman on Housing and Sustainable Living Senator Professor Floyd Morris is calling on the Government to stop what he describes as continued raids on the National Housing Trust (NHT), arguing that contributors’ funds should be used to build homes not prop up the country’s fiscal accounts. His comments come after Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams announced on Thursday that the Government would extract another $57 billion from the NHT over the next five years to sustain fiscal operations following Hurricane Melissa.
JUTC losses balloon The financial haemorrhaging at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) is expected to continue in the new fiscal year with the beleaguered state body projected to rack up a hefty $18 billion loss before a government grant is taken into account. The Jamaica Public Bodies estimates of revenue and expenditure for the year ending March 2027, which was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, highlighted that the state-owned bus company will suffer a $14-billion operating loss for the 2026-2027 financial year.
MoBay Boys and Girls’ Club reels from Melissa’s blow WESTERN BUREAU: The Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club (MBB&GC), which has a rich history of positively impacting the lives of young people in St James over several decades, is still reeling after Hurricane Melissa devastated its River Bay Road home base last October, leaving millions of dollars in damage behind. “The damage is massive,” said popular drummer Delroy ‘Cava’ Reid, who serves as a music teacher at the club. “The damage to the roof on the main building is estimated at $5 million and that is only a small part of the damage, which covers multiple buildings.”
Reasonable force The Supreme Court has ruled that police personnel acted lawfully in self-defence during an armed confrontation
BRACE FOR New taxes Economist Keenan Falconer says he was not expecting the administration to introduce new tax measures at this time, arguing that the conventional approach in the aftermath of a crisis is to either reduce or remove some taxes to spur economic activity and accelerate growth. According to Falconer, by taking this approach the Government would pave the way for gross domestic product (GDP) growth and output that would result in a return to pre-crisis levels in the shortest possible time, allowing tax revenues to rebound.
New parliamentary year begins The 2026-2027 parliamentary year will begin today with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen delivering the Throne Speech at George William Gordon House, the seat of Jamaica’s bi-cameral legislature. In his presentation, the head of state is expected to highlight the Holness administration’s policies and programme for the legislative year. The ceremonial opening of Parliament is characterised by pomp and pageantry, with the First Battalion The Jamaica Regiment giving the Royal Salute, after which the governor general inspects the Guard of Honour.
Darliston misery mounting Western Bureau: More than three months after Hurricane Melissa battered western Jamaica, life in sections of Darliston in Westmoreland remains defined by darkness, uncertainty, and mounting frustration, as residents continue to grapple with prolonged electricity and water outages that have disrupted daily life and tested their mental health. Darliston, Westmoreland, have been living without electricity since the passage of Hurricane Melissa,” one resident told The Gleaner during a recent visit to the community.