Four Men Charged After Police Seize Illegal Firearm on Walkerswood Road in St. Ann

Four men are before the courts after police seized an illegal firearm from a bus along Walkerswood main road in St. Ann over the weekend.

Officers said that around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, a team acting on information approached the parked vehicle with the four occupants inside. Going Curtis, who was in the driver's seat, allegedly threw an object from the bus when he saw the police. The item was recovered and identified as a semi-automatic pistol. The weapon was taken into police custody and all four people were arrested and later charged.

Those charged are 26-year-old bus driver Going Curtis, 23-year-old tour guide Demar Henry, and 25-year-old farmer Patrick Hines, all of Walkerswood district, along with 22-year-old housekeeper Savannah Bent of Great Pond, Ocho Rios.

Separately, the Integrity Commission says it will press on with its anti-corruption mandate despite a rise in lawsuits brought against the agency by state actors over the past financial year. In the IC's 2025–2026 annual report, chairman Retired Justice Carl Lawrence Beswick said courts play an essential role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring public bodies act within their legal authority. Beswick added, however, that the lawful execution of the commission's work must not be frustrated, delayed, or weakened by actions aimed at discouraging robust investigations or curbing the IC's powers. The commission pledged to carry out its duties fairly, independently, and without fear or favour, guided by law and principles of justice, transparency, and accountability.

The IC said it respects every person's constitutional right to seek relief from the courts and will honour judicial processes and outcomes. Beswick nonetheless warned that growing reliance on litigation against the commission and its officers may, whether deliberately or not, slow the timely discharge of its responsibilities. Defending court matters, she noted, demands significant time, money, and institutional capacity that could otherwise support corruption investigations and prevention.

Executive Director Craig Beresford said the trend has included greater use of interim injunctions by outside parties, which can pause active probes and delay the release of statutory reports. He said, "While these complex legal proceedings required a substantial allocation of fiscal and human resources, they underscored the robust nature of the commission's legal frameworks. Rather than diminishing systemic impact, navigating these sophisticated legal developments has further fortified the commission's procedural execution and the risk mitigation strategies." He added, "Looking ahead, Beresford said the IC remained resolute in protecting its statutory mandate, ensuring that the transparency and the timing of its anti-corruption outputs are maintained in strict alignment with the public interest."

In May, reports indicated that the Government had gone to court to block the IC from ordering the Minister of Health and Wellness to hand over employment files tied to an investigation into alleged corruption linked to the Jamaica–Cuba Eye Care programme. That matter was filed in the Supreme Court on 23 March 2026, pitting the Attorney General and the minister's permanent secretary, Errol Green, against the IC and its Director of Investigations, Kevon Stephenson. The Government is seeking leave to apply for judicial review.

Cabinet minister Dr Andrew Wheatley has also applied for leave to seek judicial review after the IC's prosecutor indicated he should answer four charges, including illicit enrichment. An investigation reportedly found assets exceeding his lawful earnings by more than $164 million. The director of corruption prosecution also recommended charges over knowingly making false statements in statutory declarations and failing to supply requested information. The IC has given the Supreme Court a formal undertaking that it will not lay charges against Wheatley until the court rules on his leave application. A further hearing is set for 23 July.

In St. Thomas, opposition spokesperson on land Lothan Cousins has again condemned the Government over the continued demolition of houses in West Albion, despite repeated calls for the exercise to stop. Cousins said the National Land Agency pressed ahead with the demolitions and displaced residents, many of whom he said are civil servants. He accused the administration of arrogance and of showing little concern for people already under economic strain, and questioned why the work is taking place during hurricane season. Cousins argued that residents have not been adequately consulted. He said, "This has been the stance of the government from day one. It is all or nothing for them. There is no middle ground. They don't believe in consultation. They don't believe in dialogue. They don't believe in meeting the people where they are unless there's an election. So, I am not surprised. What I would say though is that we have obligations to our international partners that we should adhere to. And this continuing action does not augur well for Jamaica internationally because we are now seeing as a oppressive government that is there to oppress the people and displace them rather than to resettle them and make them comfortable. So, I am appealing to the government to rethink their approach."