St. Catherine farmer charged in pitchfork killing as NHF confirms data breach

A St. Catherine farmer has been charged with murder following a fatal attack in Old Harbour on Wednesday, July 1. Detectives from the St. Catherine South Police Division arrested and charged 36-year-old Peter Fable, a farmer of Free Marley Boys Content, Old Harbour, in connection with the death of 33-year-old truck driver Mario Newell of Joe Ground, also in Boys Content.

Police say that at about 10:00 p.m., Newell was walking home when Fable stopped him and told him to wait. Fable left briefly and reportedly returned with a pitchfork, which he allegedly used to inflict multiple stab wounds to Newell's upper body and face before fleeing on foot. Residents helped Newell reach hospital, where he was pronounced dead. After an investigation and targeted operation, officers apprehended Fable and charged him with murder.

In St. Mary, 33-year-old Demoy Pennington of Tremolsworth District, Highgate, has been charged with larceny by trick and unauthorised access to computer data. Constant Spring police report that a woman met Pennington through a dating application on Sunday, April 26, and they arranged to meet the following day in Half-Way Tree. They later left together with Pennington driving. It is alleged that along Temple Hall main road he stopped at a supermarket, gave her money to buy bottled water, and drove off with her belongings while she was inside. Items taken included an iPhone 13, a Samsung A05, about $80,000 in cash, bank cards, and personal documents. The complainant later found unauthorised transactions totalling about $100,000 from her account. Pennington was arrested on Friday, July 3, identified in a parade, and formally charged. The bar operator was also charged on Monday, June 29 with unauthorised possession of ammunition after five 9mm rounds were found at his home during a police operation. He is due before the Spanish Town Parish Court on July 10.

The National Health Fund has confirmed that NHF data has appeared without authorisation on a third-party site following a cybersecurity incident reported in June 2026. The matter has been referred to the Office of the Information Commissioner. Director of information and communications technology Wilbert Lynn said the fund activated incident response protocols to strengthen safeguards and improve monitoring. Chief executive Everton Anderson expressed sincere regret over anxiety the breach may cause and reaffirmed commitments to transparency under Jamaica's Data Protection Act. Persons with concerns may call 876-061-1106 or 876-618-3617.

A full 16% increase in public passenger fares took effect on Wednesday, July 1. Transport Authority managing director Ruston Smith said enforcement will intensify across all 14 parishes against overcharging, overloading, and illegal taxis, with fines of up to $100,000 for fare violations.

Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby toured critical drains as the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation prepares for hurricane season. A first-phase cleanup will target 27 drains at a cost of $23 million. Acting chief engineering officer Yukini Binni said evidence points to illegal dumping by construction firms and poor waste management.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie announced an additional $50 million for the church recovery programme, on top of an earlier $77 million allocation. One hundred and two Westmoreland churches recently received $18.7 million. Further funds will cover Clarendon and St. Ann parishes affected by hurricane damage.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the National Water Commission's debt is under control for the first time in decades and that the utility neared break-even, with plans for major sewage upgrades in downtown Kingston. He defended drinking-water quality as among the best in the region.

Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson warned that higher Financial Services Commission fees approved by Parliament could push up insurance premiums, after the regulator drew $500 million from the agency while facing a deficit. The Insurance Association of Jamaica said talks with the FSC on the fee scale are ongoing.