Police officer interdicted after fatal Granville shooting sparks fresh outrage in St. James

The Jamaica Constabulary Force has interdicted a policeman after a woman was fatally shot in Granville, St. James, on Sunday, reopening fierce debate over lethal force by officers in the parish.

Preliminary CCTV review prompted the high command’s decision. The force said the matter is under active investigation and that conduct outside the law or professional standards will not be tolerated. The Independent Commission of Investigations has also launched a full probe.

Residents named the deceased as Latoya Bulgin, known locally as Buju. Witness accounts indicated she was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle when she was shot. The killing landed as demonstrators prepared to shift from Granville Square to Sam Sharpe Square, two weeks after police fatally shot a teenager on Mother’s Day.

St. James North Western Member of Parliament Marlene Malahoo Fon said emotions in Granville remain raw. She called for swift action once available footage is reviewed, warning that public trust in the system is already low.

INDECOM said it was notified immediately and responded amid viral circulation of video from the encounter. The commission stated: "The emergence of video evidence in cases involving law enforcement use of force highlights the growing importance of technology and independent visual documentation in policing oversight." It urged witnesses, including anyone travelling in Bulgin’s vehicle, to come forward with information or additional footage.

Jamaicans for Justice renewed calls for wider deployment of body-worn cameras. Executive Director Michael Jackson questioned whether lethal force was proportionate and raised concern about post-shooting scene processing.

In St. Andrew, Finance Minister Fayval Williams and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz met operator groups and the Transport Authority at the Halfway Tree Transport Centre on Monday morning. Operators are pressing for a long-awaited fare increase, citing rising global fuel prices. Vaz said officials must balance commuter hardship with operators’ burdens.

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation continued removing illegal billboards in Halfway Tree on Sunday. Chief Executive Officer Robert Hill said compliance improved after a January–March education drive, but delinquent operators still face enforcement.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding accused the government of mismanaging Hurricane Melissa relief funds. Citing the auditor general’s report, he said that as at 23 February 2026—five months after the storm—the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had received about $1.44 billion in cash but spent roughly $26 million, less than two per cent, while many hard-hit communities still struggle.