CVM News roundup: Guardsman survivor flown overseas, FLA appeal set, Portmore MegaMart to close

A third survivor from the Guardsman Group explosion has been flown to Atlanta, Georgia, for specialised care, while external contractor Richard Maguire has died from injuries linked to Thursday’s blast. The survivor’s partner told CVM News the company moved quickly to help, but said the burns were severe and he remained in significant pain.

The Firearm Licensing Authority will return to court after the Supreme Court rejected its attempt to obtain an Integrity Commission report before the document is tabled in Parliament. The report concerns alleged corruption, firearm-licensing irregularities and issues involving the storage of firearms and ammunition at the agency. The court found the report must stay confidential under the Integrity Commission Act, but allowed the FLA to appeal. The matter is set for the Court of Appeal on September 17.

The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal also announced new digital tools to track how public bodies meet governance requirements. Executive director Jeanette Calder said the platform will identify responsible officials, compliance rates and governance indicators. Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding cautioned that public officials do not naturally welcome oversight, while JAMP said the database is intended to be updated annually.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, speaking at a National Disaster Council meeting, called for stronger, more coordinated disaster systems after lessons from Hurricane Melissa. He said ODPEM should be developed into a national resilience agency and again argued that a national identification system would speed up relief distribution.

Regionally, the Caribbean Development Bank and IDB Invest signed an agreement aimed at improving trade financing for small and medium-sized firms. IDB Invest CEO James Scriven said the programme is meant to help businesses export within and beyond the region.

In St Catherine, MegaMart’s Portmore store is scheduled to close on June 30, 2026, after 27 years, affecting about 200 workers. Customers told CVM the supermarket had become a key shopping landmark. The newscast also reported Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett’s praise for Leisure for Pleasure Holidays and Tours at its 27th anniversary luncheon, and floral tributes at National Heroes Circle for former Prime Minister Edward Seaga’s 96th birthday.