分类： society

PORT ANTONIO, Portland — A critical infrastructure crisis persists within Portland’s law enforcement facilities, with health authorities revealing that seven of the parish’s nine police stations remain in dire need of urgent rehabilitation. Despite commencing repairs at the severely dilapidated Port Antonio Marine Police Station, the overwhelming majority of facilities fail to meet satisfactory operational standards.

Lorenzo Hume, Portland’s Chief Public Health Inspector, provided this concerning assessment during the recent monthly meeting of the Portland Municipal Corporation. While acknowledging ongoing renovation efforts at the marine station located at Errol Flynn Marina, Hume emphasized the extensive work required across the police infrastructure network. “Only two stations are currently considered satisfactory,” he stated, highlighting the systemic nature of the problem.

The Inspector referenced previous communications regarding the Manchioneal Police Station, where authorities had committed to addressing sewage system issues by December’s end. Although these repairs remain incomplete, Hume expressed optimism that progress would accelerate following the holiday season.

However, significant bureaucratic challenges continue to impede resolution efforts. Hume detailed frustrations in maintaining consistent communication with police leadership, citing frequent managerial changes that necessitate repeated re-engagement processes. This administrative instability, combined with jurisdictional ambiguities regarding facility maintenance responsibilities within the Ministry of National Security, has substantially delayed essential improvements.

Amid these systemic challenges, a tangible achievement has emerged at the Port Antonio Marine Station. Following November 2024 reports by the Jamaica Observer that documented officers working under leaky roofs and in substandard living conditions, visible repairs were underway during a recent visit. Law enforcement personnel expressed relief and satisfaction with the improvements, with one officer noting: “This is long overdue and will make our working conditions better and more comfortable.”

Residents of Dover, St. Mary, are confronting severe flooding that has surpassed the impact of Hurricane Melissa, attributing the crisis to chronically clogged drainage systems. Following an initial reprieve from the hurricane’s full force last October, the community has been subjected to intense rainfall from an unstable weather system persisting into the new year, resulting in impassable roads and homes inundated with murky water.

Eyewitness accounts reveal the sudden and alarming nature of the flooding. Latoya Hall described receiving a frantic call from her uncle, prompting her to discover her verandah submerged and water encroaching into her home. Immediate action to elevate appliances and belongings prevented destruction, but Hall emphasized this was an unprecedented event, with water levels exceeding those experienced during the hurricane.

The persistence of the problem is evident days after the rains, with stagnant water pools remaining throughout the community. Investigations point to obstructed drains as the core issue. Laura Samuels explained the failure of local flood mechanisms, noting that a nearby gully, overwhelmed by volume and debris, overflowed for the first time since its construction. She and her neighbors manually extracted a significant pile of branches and sticks from the drains, which they identified as a primary cause of the water buildup.

This sentiment is echoed across Dover, with multiple households reporting flood damage. Donnaree McIntosh shared that her home and business were affected, with water marks indicating ankle-high flooding inside her bar. She warned that the already saturated land could lead to worsening conditions with any additional rainfall.

The community’s response includes urgent appeals for improved infrastructure management. Residents are calling for systematic and regular cleaning of drains and the riverbed under a key bridge, arguing that partial efforts are ineffective. An anonymous resident noted that overgrown vegetation under the bridge constricts water flow through culverts, exacerbating flooding. Additionally, the force of the water has damaged local pipes, disrupting the domestic water supply.

While most blame poor maintenance, some, like Latoya Clemetson, propose structural solutions, suggesting that raising the height of drain channels at hillside bases could prevent water from overflowing into homes situated below road level. The collective experience has left the community of Dover advocating for comprehensive and preventative measures to mitigate future disasters.

Distinguished Jamaican attorney Peter Champagnie, King’s Counsel, has proposed establishing a Criminal Justice Board to address systemic inefficiencies within the nation’s legal framework. This recommendation follows recent tensions between correctional authorities and defense lawyers regarding electronic device access in prisons.

The proposal emerges against the backdrop of a recent confrontation where Correctional Services Commissioner Brigadier (Ret’d) Radgh Mason appeared before the Supreme Court to address allegations that prison officials were preventing attorneys from bringing electronic devices to client meetings. Following vigorous arguments from defense attorneys Tamika Harris and John Clarke, the commissioner conceded, authorizing formal notices permitting electronic device access for attorneys, mirroring privileges already extended to medical professionals and investigative officials.

Champagnie cites Belize’s successful implementation of a similar multidisciplinary board as a model for Jamaica. “Belize has established a Criminal Justice Board that meets regularly with representation from correctional services, judiciary, security forces, medical facilities, lawyers, and prosecutors,” Champagnie explained. “This collaborative body ensures all stakeholders operate under consistent protocols and can address implementation gaps when judicial directives aren’t properly followed.”

The veteran legal expert emphasized that such a body could additionally serve as a mechanism for reviewing outdated legislation. He specifically referenced Jamaica’s Obeah Act, Unlawful Possession of Property Act, and aspects of the Firearms Act that inadequately address modern legal realities. Champagnie highlighted a 2017 case where alleged gang leader Tesha Miller received only a $100 fine for making false declarations to immigration officials as evidence of systemic inadequacy.

The electronic access controversy stems from an April 2024 practice direction issued by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes authorizing electronic disclosure methods for criminal trials. Despite this judicial mandate, defense attorneys reported continued resistance from prison facilities when attempting to utilize electronic devices for client consultations and document sharing—a critical capability given the shift toward digital evidence management.

Justice Vinette Graham-Allen, who originally advocated for the electronic disclosure reforms based on her Case Management Court experience, recently urged the Jamaican Bar Association to formally document these ongoing access issues, indicating persistent implementation challenges within Jamaica’s correctional system.