KIDD LANE TERROR The frantic voice of her daughter pleading for help over the telephone moments before she was killed will forever haunt Natasha Hall. Hall’s daughter, 30-year-old Lashane Ellis, and her one-year-old grandson, Kaheel Daley, were killed on Friday night when armed men went to their home on Kidd Lane, off Spanish Town Road in St Andrew, opened fire and set the house ablaze. Before fleeing, the gunmen reportedly opened fire on a neighbouring house, killing 39-year-old Kimeisha Gibson.
Californian cannabis on Customs radar A worrying trend involving the illegal importation of Californian cannabis into Jamaica is being reported by the recently appointed head of the Jamaica Customs Agency. Kirk Benjamin, chief executive officer (CEO) of Jamaica Customs, told The Sunday Gleaner that the particular strain of marijuana being shipped to Jamaica has a higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level than locally grown cannabis. THC is the primary psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant.
‘Downright robbery’ The practice by some courier companies of covertly imposing charges on customers and attributing them to customs fees when no such costs have been levied by the Jamaica Customs Agency is being described as “downright robbery”. Arguing that many courier companies were “abusing” the system, Kirk Benjamin, chief executive officer of Jamaica Customs, said the agency’s customer service team has had to spend an inordinate amount of time each day responding to complaints and queries about courier companies.
COSTLY WAIT - 15-month delay for trial transcript derails Crown’s sentence appeal for missionaries’ killer A 15-month transcript delay has cost the Crown its chance to challenge the 26-year minimum term before parole imposed on Andre Thomas for the 2016 killing of two American missionaries in St Mary. The Court of Appeal last month ruled that the Crown’s appeal against the sentence was statute-barred because it was not heard within the 12 months prescribed by law. The court also rejected a subsequent attempt by the prosecution to revive the matter by filing a renewed application for leave to appeal.
Chuck: Ministries dragging feet on updating archaic fines Several government ministries have not yet submitted lists of offences with “absolutely ridiculous” monetary fines that fall under their purview, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has disclosed. The revelation comes years after the Government, through the justice ministry, began legislative reforms targeting nearly 700 mostly archaic laws with outdated monetary fines that have not been adjusted for decades.
‘A watchman may not be enough’ - Samuels calls on schools to tighten security amid multiple break-in reports WESTERN BUREAU: The St James police are urging the Ministry of Education to put adequate security measures in place at schools to address a spike in break-ins in recent weeks. Speaking at the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) meeting on Thursday, Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels, who heads the St James Police Division, said schools should include provisions in their budgets for security systems that will reduce or prevent burglaries.
StJMC mulls action against companies for hanging wires WESTERN BUREAU: The St James Municipal Corporation is calling on telecommunications companies with low-hanging wires, which were displaced by Hurricane Melissa a year ago, to address them immediately or risk legal action in the interest of the public safety. Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon issued the warning on Thursday at the St James Municipal Corporation’s (StJMC) City Hall 2026 Municipal Budget Presentation at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, where he outlined plans for the corporation’s $2.8-billion budget expenditure for the 2027-2028 financial year.
Management hearing in ‘Buju’ murder case rescheduled WESTERN BUREAU: The case management hearing in the murder case against Constable Andrew Wilson, who is charged with the May shooting death of Latoya ‘Buju’ Bulgin, has been rescheduled to December 4. The hearing was scheduled to begin on Friday morning following Wilson’s previous appearance in the St James Circuit Court on July 13.
Caregivers need to take care of themselves, too CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP): For Jessica Renda, the breaking point was a particularly chaotic Christmas season. Consumed by her eldest daughter's mental and behavioral health struggles, she stopped exercising or doing anything else that brought her joy. Forget holiday magic, she was barely hanging on.
OUSTER LOOMS - PNP caucus plans to boot May Pen mayor, deputy; tackle permits, water The minority caucus in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation says it will move a no-confidence motion against Mayor of May Pen Joel Williams and his deputy, Clive Mundle, at a special sitting it has requested following a dramatic end to Thursday’s monthly meeting. Minority Leader Scean Barnswell, the councillor for the Hayes division, has declared that the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is poised to take over the majority and steer the parish in a new direction.