作者： admin

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s House of Representatives engaged in substantive debate on Tuesday regarding the Jury (Amendment) Act 2026, which proposes a significant increase in juror compensation from $2,000 to $6,000 daily. The legislative amendments, spearheaded by Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, have sparked discussions about the nature of jury service and its financial implications within the justice system.

The proposed legislation extends beyond empaneled jurors, offering $2,000 per day to individuals summoned for duty but not ultimately selected. This comprehensive approach to compensation marks the first stipend increase in over a decade, previously adjusted from $400 to $2,000 daily during Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s tenure as justice minister.

MP Marlene Malahoo Forte, representing St James West Central and a former attorney general, emphasized cross-party support for the increase while cautioning against misinterpretation of jury service fundamentals. “We should make it abundantly clear that we’re not paying citizens to serve as jurors,” she stated, explaining that the adjustment primarily addresses inflationary pressures and expense reimbursement rather than creating professional opportunities.

However, Opposition Leader Golding presented a contrasting interpretation, noting the compensation structure encompasses both time commitment and travel expenses. He highlighted that weekly earnings of $30,000 for five-day service would substantially exceed Jamaica’s minimum wage of $16,000 weekly, creating what he termed “a compendious payment” that inherently compensates for service time.

The debate revealed nuanced perspectives on civic responsibility versus financial practicality, with lawmakers acknowledging the necessity of adequate compensation while maintaining the fundamental voluntary nature of jury duty within Jamaica’s judicial framework.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA — In a landmark corporate social responsibility initiative, Jamaican electronic payments provider JETS Limited has pledged J$100 million (approximately US$640,000) to hurricane recovery efforts through the United Way of Jamaica (UWJ). The substantial donation represents the largest single contribution in UWJ’s history and will be administered in two equal installments of J$50 million each.

The initial allocation has been designated to eight beneficiary organizations responding to Hurricane Melissa’s impact. Educational institutions feature prominently in the first tranche, with Belmont Academy receiving J$10 million, followed by St Elizabeth Technical High School (J$7.5 million), and five additional schools—William Knibb Memorial High, Hampton School, Black River High, Manning’s School—each receiving J$5 million. Mustard Seed Communities and UWJ’s agricultural relief program will also receive J$5 million respectively.

UWJ Board Chair Dr. Devon Smith praised JETS Limited’s unprecedented commitment during the late December handover ceremony. “This monumental contribution significantly advances our national restoration efforts, addressing both physical infrastructure and educational system resilience,” Smith stated.

JETS CEO Edmundo Jenez emphasized his organization’s sustained partnership with UWJ, which began in 2019. “United Way has proven to be a stalwart ally in extending our CSR program’s reach, particularly in education and healthcare sectors,” Jenez remarked, expressing confidence in UWJ’s stewardship of the funds.

The second J$50 million allocation will be distributed to additional recipients identified through ongoing needs assessments. UWJ has implemented comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure transparent utilization of resources across all beneficiary organizations.

In the face of artificial intelligence’s pervasive transformation of global employment landscapes, Jamaica’s apiculture sector is emerging as a bastion of irreplaceable human expertise. Dennis McKay, President of the St James Bee Farmers Association, has declared beekeeping among the professions least vulnerable to AI disruption, launching an ambitious youth education program to secure the industry’s future.

The association is implementing a comprehensive initiative featuring school visits and specialized training sessions throughout St James this year. This program aims to introduce younger generations to apiculture as both an economically viable and environmentally sustainable career path. “We’re developing structured school training programs through our committee,” McKay stated. “Our objective is to train emerging youth through these educational visits, teaching them the essentials of bee farming.”

The announcement coincided with the ceremonial handover of a wax foundation mill, valued at approximately J$200,000, to the association. This equipment was donated by the St James Municipal Corporation through the mayor’s charity fund, with the presentation occurring at the corporation’s Montego Bay offices.

McKay emphasized the unique resistance of hands-on agricultural professions to technological displacement during his address. “In this era of AI advancement, people must pursue occupations that technology cannot replicate,” he asserted. “Artificial intelligence cannot perform beekeeping tasks—AI doesn’t experience bee stings, but human beekeepers do,” he noted with pragmatic humor.

The association president outlined a vision where innovation and practical skill development form the cornerstone of Jamaica’s youth preparation for future economic realities. “We must adopt innovative, hands-on approaches to facilitate our younger generation’s advancement through the 21st century and beyond,” McKay explained. “Supporting the next generation through foundational work benefits not just ourselves, but the entire community.”

Beyond the educational initiative, the association plans to expand its community engagement through its annual Healthy Lifestyle Day event, potentially relocated to Harmony Beach Park this year. Traditionally hosted at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) office in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, this collaborative event with RADA and the St James Health Department focuses on strengthening local apiculture, recruiting new beekeepers, and promoting the health advantages of bee-derived products.

In an unusual procedural shift, judicial authorities barred press members from attending Wednesday’s court session for Tor McIntosh, the university student facing two counts of death by dangerous driving. The Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court conducted the hearing in-camera, marking a departure from previous sessions where media observation had been permitted.

McIntosh stands accused in the tragic September 28, 2024 incident that claimed the lives of two men who had stopped to assist a stranded motorist. According to police reports, the fatal collision occurred approximately at 3:30 AM on Washington Boulevard in St Andrew. The victims, identified as 37-year-old Javaughn Rodney, a vehicle inspector from Spanish Town, St Catherine, and 50-year-old Mark Garrick of Kingston 20, were struck and killed while providing assistance to another driver experiencing vehicle difficulties.

The court’s decision to exclude journalists raises questions about transparency in high-profile legal proceedings. This development follows earlier reports that McIntosh had received relaxed bail conditions in connection with the case that has drawn public attention due to the victims’ altruistic actions prior to their deaths.

Judicial authorities have scheduled the next hearing for March 9, though no official explanation has been provided regarding the sudden change in media access policy for this ongoing legal matter.

Jamaica’s healthcare sector faces serious accountability questions as Shadow Health Minister Dr. Alfred Dawes raises alarms over the alleged misdirection of approximately J$75 million in charitable donations intended for the University Hospital of the West Indies’ paediatric ward.

The substantial sum was generated through the widely-publicized 2023 Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, explicitly promoted as funding the long-awaited construction of a permanent paediatric facility at UHWI. Initial reports indicated the event raised J$91 million total, with the majority specifically designated for the children’s hospital building project—a critical initiative for enhancing medical care for Jamaica’s most vulnerable young patients.

Dr. Dawes characterized these developments as “troubling and deeply concerning” in an official statement, emphasizing that “funds raised in the name of sick children, with the goodwill of thousands of Jamaicans, athletes and corporate partners, must be used strictly for the purpose promised.” The opposition health spokesperson stressed that any deviation from this commitment requires immediate and comprehensive explanation from hospital authorities.

The controversy emerges against a backdrop of recent Auditor General findings that identified significant weaknesses in Jamaica’s public financial management systems. Dr. Dawes highlighted that transparency isn’t optional but essential, particularly given UHWI Paediatric Unit’s vital national role in delivering specialist care and life-saving treatments for children with complex and chronic illnesses.

Funding delays or uncertainties directly impact patient outcomes and exacerbate the strain on healthcare professionals working within already overstretched resources, Dr. Dawes noted. He has formally called upon UHWI administration to provide detailed public accounting of the charitable funds—including expenditure specifics, remaining balances, and clarification regarding any reallocation decisions.

The opposition’s demand for accountability underscores broader concerns about financial governance in Jamaica’s public health system. “Our children cannot afford silence or ambiguity,” Dr. Dawes asserted. “Accountability in healthcare financing is fundamental to trust, integrity, and the future of Jamaica’s public health system.”