Licence to deal - More casino resorts on horizon as Princess targets winter opening WESTERN BUREAU: The granting of Jamaica’s first casino gaming licence is expected to pave the way for additional integrated resort developments (IRDs), with at least three other investors, including for the proposed Hard Rock Hotel in St James, already expressing interest in entering the sector.
Data defence delay - Staffing shortages, technology gaps and training needs slow move towards full enforcement of personal information protection law The regulatory body responsible for Jamaica’s national data protection regime has said it will require another two years before it is in a position to fully enforce the Data Protection Act (DPA), which was passed by Parliament in 2020. Established under the DPA, the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) is responsible for overseeing the use of personal data and addressing breaches as outlined in the law.
Dignity debate - Holness rejects PNP criticism of placement of plaques in homes of social housing beneficiaries Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has dismissed assertions that the practice of installing commemorative plaques on homes distributed under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) dehumanises beneficiaries and robs them of their dignity. Speaking yesterday at the Howard Avenue Apartments opening ceremony in St Andrew, Holness said there is a collective sense of pride in using taxpayers’ money to build homes for the country’s most vulnerable.
J$1.3b for recovery of hurricane-ravaged Westmoreland primary schools Just over $1.3 billion is being invested in the reconstruction and expansion of two hurricane-ravaged schools in Westmoreland, Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon indicated during a back-to-school readiness tour on Tuesday. The larger share, nearly $1 billion, is being spent on Unity Primary School, while $302 million has been allocated to Petersfield Primary School, where the minister acknowledged that students will still have to contend with some disruption when the new academic year begins in September amid continuing construction.
Champagnie blasts 10-yr wait for trial in cop-killing case King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie has blasted the more than decade-long delay in bringing three men accused of murdering police Corporal Judith Williams to trial, saying it is “simply unacceptable” for accused persons to remain in custody for over 10 years before trial. Police Constable Gladstone Williams, Rohan Smith and Jessie ‘Pops’ Anderson have spent more than a decade in custody awaiting trial in the 2016 murder of Corporal Judith Williams.
J$36.8m boost for community spaces Four community spaces in violence-prone communities are to undergo renovation under a J$36.8-million initiative aimed at strengthening community safety, expanding opportunities for at-risk youth and supporting violence-prevention efforts. The Community Space Renovation Initiative, scheduled to be officially launched tomorrow, is being implemented by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
14-y-o MoBay High student is Junior Tourism Minister Montego Bay High School for Girls’ Thaejadore Kerr has been named Jamaica’s Junior Minister of Tourism after emerging victorious in the finals of the Minister of Tourism Public Speaking Competition. The 14-year-old topped a field that included Manning’s School’s Govaunia James, who finished second, and Glenmuir High School’s Nathan Clarke, who placed third. The finals were held at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in Ocho Rios, St Ann last Friday. Kerr will now represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO’s) regional finals in Guyana later this year.
Ship sails as chicken foot fight fails An international food distributor and importer’s legal battle over 2,237 cases of frozen chicken feet has ended in defeat after the Supreme Court struck out its claim against a local shipping agent. Worldwide Foods Limited had sued MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company Jamaica Limited, seeking damages exceeding J$9 million and US$33,000 after the frozen cargo was condemned as unfit for human consumption.
Donor data row The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is scrambling to assuage donors and international partners who contributed more than $1.4 billion to the SupportJamaica.gov.jm website that the platform is owned by the Government and not Amber, a private company which developed the platform.
ONLINE SHIELD - Study finds widespread support for regulating social media use by minors One in every four Jamaican caregivers says children under their supervision have experienced sexual exposure or grooming attempts linked to social media use. The finding formed part of a national study commissioned by the Ministry of Health & Wellness to guide potential state regulation of social media use for minors. Of the 1,027 adult participants asked to indicate the kinds of negative encounters minors in their care have been exposed to, 16.5 per cent said sexual content, while 9.1 per cent said unwanted sexual messages or grooming.