HAZY FIRE FACTS Cops probing the death of two young children in a house fire on the weekend have received “conflicting stories” about whether they were home alone at the time of the blaze, a police official has revealed. At the same time, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) said an assessment to determine whether there are other children “within the home, family, or community who may be in need of care and protection” has been interrupted by a warning from the police. The CPFSA is the principal body tasked with guarding the welfare of children in Jamaica.
Chuck warns against going soft on guns Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says the Government is reviewing the mandatory minimum sentences under the Firearms Act but remains convinced, along with the security forces, that the tough penalties are helping to reduce murders and shootings. At the same time, Chuck said firearms are a major problem in Jamaica and cautioned against sending a signal that the Government intends to ease enforcement of the law.
St Bess police tackle vehicle shortage, rise in fatal domestic disputes WESTERN BUREAU: Deputy Superintendent Adrian Flemming, the head of operations in the St Elizabeth Police Division, has said that an inadequate number of police vehicles remain a challenge to cops in the parish, He said a number of police stations are forced to continue sharing vehicles because there are not enough for each station to have at least one of their own.
Bird shooters accused of setting bushfires WESTERN BUREAU: Bird shooters in St Elizabeth are said to be using bushfires to force birds to leave their habitats and go into open spaces, where rice is scattered to lure them into shooting range. The practice has reportedly resulted in millions in losses to farms and an unnecessary strain on firefighters. The matter was brought to the attention of last week’s meeting of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation by Acting Superintendent Donovan Clarke of the St Elizabeth Division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade.
Dream Big Foundation serves up ‘Breakfast for Bright Futures’ The Elite Basic School in Seaview Gardens, St Andrew, provided Antoine Lodge with refuge, friends, and filial love when he was a student there more than 20 years ago. Describing the school as a “safe haven”, Lodge said his experience at the early childhood institution instilled in him a desire to give back. On Tuesday, he was able to fulfill that aspiration by launching the Breakfast for Bright Futures Programme through his Dream Big for Youth Foundation.
Closed hotels sell their comeback at JAPEX WESTERN BUREAU: Nearly 11 months after Hurricane Melissa knocked thousands of hotel rooms out of Jamaica’s tourism inventory, some of the properties that remain closed or only partially reopened are on the JAPEX 2026 trade floor, selling their comeback to international buyers.
1,200 back on the job as Royalton reopens Trelawny resorts WESTERN BUREAU: Nearly 11 months after Hurricane Melissa forced their closure, Royalton’s two Trelawny resorts reopened their doors Tuesday morning, welcoming their first set of guests and putting approximately 1,200 tourism workers back on at the job. Royalton Blue Waters, and Royalton Hideaway Blue Waters, both Autograph Collection properties, returned 578 rooms to Jamaica’s tourism inventory following extensive repairs, refurbishment and upgrades in the wake of the Category Five hurricane.
Demand outpacing recovery in tourism bounceback WESTERN BUREAU: Jamaica’s tourism industry is facing an unusual post-hurricane challenge: demand for the destination is running ahead of the country’s ability to accommodate it. Eight months into the year, flights to the island are operating at an average 85 per cent load factor even though available airline seats have fallen 22 per cent year-on-year, yet approximately 30 per cent of the hotel room stock affected by Hurricane Melissa is still to return to service.
PNP: Gov’t failed to plan for school reopening - Opposition cites safety, deadline concerns as repairs lag The People’s National Party (PNP) has accused the Government of “building narratives” to cover up a failure to properly plan for the new school year, pointing to widespread delays in school renovations across the country as evidence of poor strategic management. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, PNP President Mark Golding said the fact that only 57 of the 313 severely damaged schools have been fully repaired is evidence that no “sensible” plan was in place to address the issue before the beginning of the new academic year.
RESET VALUES - Harrison challenges schools to shape students of sound character amid rising moral concerns WESTERN BUREAU: Speaking against the background of the recent abduction and sexual assault of a 10-year-old student in Clarendon, Jamaica Teachers’ Association President La Sonja Harrison is calling on school administrators to endeavour to instil stronger ethical values in the current generation of students as part of efforts to build a better Jamaica.