Education Ministry to Issue Fortnightly Hurricane School Repair Updates

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information will start publishing fortnightly updates on hurricane-related school repairs, portfolio minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon has disclosed, detailing costs, contractors and expected completion dates for every school still under repair.

Dixon said the reports are meant to strengthen transparency and public accountability for taxpayer-funded projects. She acknowledged that repair and maintenance work across the education system has taken longer than expected and said the ministry is looking at ways to speed its maintenance response, including hiring more technical staff. Principals whose schools are due for works were urged to review the scope carefully so longstanding problems are fixed while contractors are on site.

Separately, Findley Douglas, councillor for the Water Division in St. Catherine, called for a mandatory health insurance programme for Jamaica’s roughly 28,000 route taxi operators and their families, comparable to schemes for sportspeople and entertainers. Edgar Newman, president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services, backed the proposal and said the group is already moving toward insurance and pension benefits. He suggested a government contribution of about $200 million to a dedicated fund could help advance the plan.

In the courts, Constable Patrick Walters pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 15, before the St. Mary Circuit Court to manslaughter and using a firearm to commit a felony in the fatal shooting of Djane Graham on June 25, 2025, in Essex district, Richmond. He pleaded not guilty to murder. The Independent Commission of Investigations brought the charges after its probe. The case was transferred to the Home Circuit Court for sentencing on September 25, and Walters was remanded in custody. INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner said the commission investigated with Jamaica Constabulary Force cooperation but could not comment further while the matter remains before the court.

On tolls, the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications said rate adjustments on the Highway 2000 East–West Corridor and the North–South Highway follow concession formulas linked mainly to the US consumer price index and the Jamaica–US exchange rate, agreements negotiated under a former People’s National Party administration. Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the government wants fairer terms for motorists but any change needs the concessionaires’ agreement under binding contracts.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding, addressing the Small Business Association of Jamaica’s one-day conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Thursday, called for a review of Road Traffic Act ticketing rules he said are stressing small transport operators. Finance Minister Fayval Williams told the same gathering that an MSME procurement list will roll out by the end of July 2026, with guidance notes for procuring entities expected by the end of August.

In sport, Omar McFarland resigned as Jamaica Football Federation operations manager effective the end of July after serving since January. He will remain Reggae Boyz global youth ambassador, a role through which he has donated $30 million to Jamaican football, saying the federation faces a tough financial period after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign and needs restructuring.

Taste of Reggae Sumfest is set for Saturday, July 18, at Plantation Cove, St. Ann, including a Gaza–Gully reunion. Artist Sean Storm, preparing for his first Sumfest appearance since 2011, appeared in studio ahead of the show.