DEMERIT DELAY DANGER - Road safety advocate says holding off on points sanctions for rogue drivers puts lives at risk The Government’s announcement that it will delay the implementation of the demerit point system has been met with disappointment from Vice-Chairman of the National Road Safety Council Dr Lucien Jones. Jones, who has for years campaigned for the application of demerit points as a means to improve road safety and curb dangerous driving, said this latest delay is not only disheartening, but dangerous.
Hunter bids farewell to NWA After 14 years as head of the National Works Agency (NWA), Chief Executive Officer E.G. Hunter bid farewell to the staff yesterday, his final day of employment at the agency. In a letter to the Public Services Commission dated May 7, 2026, Hunter advised that he would serve out the term of his current contract, which expires this month, and thereafter would not seek an extension through a new contract. Hunter’s final contract was entered into in September 2024 for a two-year period.
Pearnel Charles Sr shares nine decades of life-defining memories At 90, Pearnel Charles Sr still has his hair half-black, half-white. The trademark style that has travelled with him through decades of Jamaican politics, trade union battles, parliamentary debates, and Cabinet rooms remains firmly in place. On Sunday, one day before his 90th birthday, the veteran politician was dressed to match. Crisp white shirt. Immaculate black trousers. Black jacket. Charles looked good – very good – for a 90-year-old.
Rhoda Crawford salutes western teachers WESTERN BUREAU: Educators in western Jamaica are being hailed for their courage as defenders of the nation’s children in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, as their determination to keep students learning never faltered. Reflecting on her first field visit to the region following the devastating hurricane, Juneio Education Minister Rhoda Crawford said she encountered damaged schools and shattered communities, but also principals and teachers who had transformed themselves into counsellors, relief workers, and community leaders.
UPDATED | JHTA: J’cans should have access to beaches WESTERN BUREAU: Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President O’Brian Heron is supporting the call for Jamaicans to have access to the island’s beaches and coastline. In a brief interview with The Gleaner following last week’s JHTA’s annual general meeting in Montego Bay, St James, Heron mirrored the position taken by thee Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JABBEM), which is testing the matter in the courts. The first-term president described the matter as deeply emotional.
Pinnock calls on western teachers to remain resilient WESTERN BUREAU: Amid concerns about the state of readiness of schools in western Jamaica ahead of the new school year, Dr Michelle Pinnock, director of the Ministry of Education’s Region Four, is calling on teachers to be patient and resilient as the conditions might not be ideal. During the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October, several schools across western Jamaica were extensively damaged, and many remain in a significant state of disrepair. However, Pinnock is urging educators to remain patient as the affected institutions to bounce back.
Sheree Martin is NCBJ’s new CEO The National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCBJ) has appointed Sheree Martin as chief executive officer, effective September 1, 2026. Martin had served as interim CEO since January 19, 2026, leading the bank’s strategic and operational priorities with a focus on efficiency, governance and the customer experience, NCB said in a release on Monday. It said her appointment provides continuity as NCBJ advances these priorities and builds a more agile and connected organisation.
Vote transfer troubles - ECJ to probe claims that scrutineer absences blocking some electors’ from going to polls where they now reside The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) is investigating reports that some electors, particularly in St Mary, have been unable to transfer their votes despite repeated attempts over several years. Central to the issue is the verification process for voter transfers, which requires Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) staff to be accompanied by scrutineers representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party when they visit an elector’s new address. According to the ECJ, the transfer cannot be completed unless the new residence is verified.
Our grief must become action - Dalrymple-Philibert WESTERN BUREAU: Jamaicans are being challenged to break the culture of silence surrounding the abuse of children, with Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, minister of state in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, declaring that communities often see the warning signs long before the police do. Dalrymple-Philibert’s impassioned appeal came as 10-year-old Shani Coke, who was raped and murdered in her community of Troy, Trelawny, was being laid to rest.
Pearnel Charles celebrates 90 Family, friends and political colleagues gathered at the home of former Speaker of the House Pearnel Charles Sr yesterday to celebrate his 90th birthday, which he officially marks today. Among those joining the celebration were his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sons- and daughters-in-law and granddaughter-in-law.