COOPER’S PEN LAWSUIT - Nine men sue Gov’t over detention amid demolition of Trelawny homes Nine men from Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny, who claim that they were rounded up by the police and kept in custody for hours during last week’s controversial demolition exercise in the community, have filed a lawsuit against the Government for breaches of their constitutional rights. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Supreme Court yesterday by the law firm Donnovan Collins & Company, seeks damages for false imprisonment and assault.
Langrin takes the helm - BOJ appoints former World Bank board adviser as governor The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has appointed Dr Brian Langrin as governor, succeeding Richard Byles, whose seven-year term ends today. The appointment follows a selection process formalised in April 2026 through a four-member search committee convened by Finance Minister Fayval Williams, which assessed a field of local and international candidates. Langrin takes over at a time of uncertainty, with the central bank maintaining a tight grip on inflation through elevated interest rates.
Principals do the math as CXC releases results today Principals across Jamaica are hopeful that the strategies employed to improve their students’ mathematics performance will pay off when this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination results are released later today. Dr Worrel Hibbert, principal of St Andrew Technical High School, said this involved restructuring the school’s approach to the subject. Although he declined to state the technical school’s pass rate in the subject last year, Hibbert told The Gleaner that it was “way below what was expected”.
Taxpayers will pay if Cooper’s Pen men win lawsuits – Coley Nicholson WESTERN BUREAU: Attorney-at-law Helene Coley Nicholson, president of Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship Jamaica, is warning that lawsuits filed against the State, for breaching the constitutional rights of residents of Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny, could cost taxpayers. Several of those residents were arrested prior to last Tuesday’s demolition exercise that flattened 20 houses.
Lisa Hanna facing $8-million film fight Businesswoman Lisa Hanna is facing an $8-million lawsuit over an aborted documentary project, with Neish Creative Group Limited, the production company behind the film, accusing her of breaching their agreement. Hanna has, however, fired back with a defamation counterclaim against the company’s principal, Jason McNeish, over a message he allegedly sent to her husband, and is seeking damages for interference with her marital relationship.
WRHA drivers get defensive-driving boost WESTERN BUREAU: Drivers employed by the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) are now undergoing a 10-day Driver Sensitisation, Certification and Recertification Programme aimed at upgrading their defensive-driving skills. The programme comes against the backdrop of several accidents across the region in recent years that have significantly depleted the number of ambulances serving the region and undermined the effectiveness of service delivery.
A century to celebrate WESTERN BUREAU: Looming rain clouds and strong winds were not enough to dampen the party spirit in Goodwill, St James, on Sunday, as relatives and friends came together to celebrate the 100th birthday of Adele Warner, the family’s matriarch, two days ahead of her actual Tuesday, August 18 birth date.
Deal or no deal - Public-sector teachers to decide on Government’s adjusted wage offer The government has made an improved offer on key components of the 28-point claim from the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), which will be placed before delegates for a decision early this week. Mark Malabver, president of the JTA, told The Gleaner that the government has responded to what he termed “some deal breakers”, and the delegates will decide on them at the association’s 62nd annual conference, which begins in Kingston today.
Tufton calls for law changes to tackle hospital ‘social cases’ Jamaica will have to change its laws and policies to address the perennial problem of patients remaining in public hospitals long after they are medically discharged, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has warned. Tufton, who has raised concerns about the number of social cases at hospitals across the island on numerous occasions in recent years, reiterated yesterday that the situation is consuming scarce beds and resources needed by acutely ill patients.
75 years later, the scars of Hurricane Charlie remain The Gleaner headline of Friday, August 17, 1951, was ominous: “Hurricane may hit Jamaica today: Bad weather from noon, Crisis in evening.” It was not a sensational prediction. By the time it was over, more than 150 people had died, many thousands were left homeless, including an estimated 9,000 in the Corporate Area alone, and the trail of destruction included catastrophic infrastructure and business losses that dealt a severe blow to the economy.