‘Ungodly, cruel’ Reverend Leon Paul Golding, head of the Anglican Church in Jamaica, has condemned recent actions taken by the United States (US) against Cuba as “ungodly”. Addressing the opening service of the 155th Synod of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, Golding also criticised the Jamaican Government for ending its decades-long medical cooperation with the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation, suggesting it was done in accordance with the domineering of a foreign power.
Tufton urges accountability after tragic infant loss Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has signalled that decisive action will follow the tragic death of a newborn at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, declaring that the authorities must act if wrongdoing is uncovered. “Clearly, we all want safe deliveries ... . It’s a very unfortunate situation and we certainly sympathse with the family members,” Tufton told The Gleaner, adding he has asked the regional director to probe the circumstances.
Ethics Committee to summon Gordon The Parliament’s Ethics Committee says it is moving to have embattled St Andrew East Central Member of Parliament (MP) Dennis Gordon appear before it on April 22 to clarify statements he made during a previous meeting concerning matters related to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) procurement and tax exemption issue. The Ethics Committee, at its last meeting in February, considered and signed off on an exemption motion which allowed Gordon not to vacate his seat if he becomes party to any contract with the Government.
Fire victims struggle amid theft, job loss and minimal aid A Spanish Town family is appealing for public assistance to rebuild their lives after a fire razed their Old Market Street property on March 9, leaving 13 people, including seven children, homeless.
Grange: Bolt statue ready, dedication date to be announced WESTERN BUREAU: Sport Minister Olivia Grange says the official dedication of the statue honouring Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt in Falmouth will take place once a new date is finalised. Speaking with reporters in Montego Bay over the weekend, Grange explained that the initially planned ceremony was delayed because of recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa, although the statue has been mounted and surrounding installation works were completed.
JPS powers $10m extra-lessons programme for western students WESTERN BUREAU: The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has launched a $10-million extra-lessons initiative to assist students who will begin sitting the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination this month to get them into state of readiness. Hundreds of students in western Jamaica are slated to benefit from the academic support, which will provide intensive tutoring in core subjects to students in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth, who lost valuable instructional time following the storm.
Veteran DJ ‘Jaggy D’ shot dead in Hopewell Square WESTERN BUREAU: Veteran deejay Roger Walker, popularly known as ‘Jaggy D’, was murdered shortly after midday on Monday in Hopewell, Hanover, when an unknown assailant opened fire, killing him on the spot. Reports are that Walker was speaking to friends at a popular hangout spot when he was shot. The 57-year-old entertainer was among a group of promising deejays who surged to prominence in western Jamaica in the late 1980s.
UTech president wants end to TVET stigma WESTERN BUREAU: Dr Kevin Brown, president of The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), has joined calls for an end to the stigma that currently exists against technical and vocational education and training (TVET) subjects in Jamaica’s education system, saying these subjects are key to becoming a technological leader on the global stage.
NET targets power gaps as schools remain in the dark after Melissa Dozens of schools still without electricity months after Hurricane Melissa are now being targeted for emergency support as the National Education Trust (NET) moves to plug critical gaps with the distribution of generators. The agency is compiling a list of institutions still in the dark and in urgent need of backup power following the storm late last year. Students at several schools in Hanover and Westmoreland – two of the parishes hardest hit – are among those most affected, according to NET Executive Director Latoya Harris-Ghartey.
Sweet comeback Just a week after opening its doors, the Pure Chocolate factory in Ocho Rios, St Ann, was battered by Hurricane Melissa. A massive guango tree lodged in its roof, leaving production at a standstill and causing millions in losses. But since last month, the business has started to bounce back, with staff, chocolate, and some of the island’s cocoa farmers all rising from the wreckage. On top of that, the company was nominated days ago as one of the top three businesses of the year by the St Ann Chamber of Commerce.