Jamaica road deaths top 100 as temporary housing units arrive

Jamaica’s road fatality count has climbed beyond 100 so far this year, even as the overall number of road deaths remains sharply lower than at the same point last year. The latest figures show fatalities are down by 43, representing a 29 per cent reduction year-to-date.

The Government’s temporary housing support for families displaced by Hurricane Melissa is also advancing, with about 924 containerised units now in Jamaica. Another 500 units are due within the next three weeks, forming part of a broader shipment of 2,500 units.

The Government has granted an official funeral for Leslie Campbell, the former State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and former Member of Parliament. Officials said the honour recognises Campbell’s distinguished national service and his contribution to public life. He died on Sunday, May 3, at age 67 after a period of illness.

In sport, Portmore United secured a place in Sunday’s Jamaica Premier League Super Final after defeating Mount Pleasant 4-2 in the second leg of their semi-final at the National Stadium on Wednesday. The result gave Portmore a 4-3 aggregate victory.

At midday in currency trading, the US dollar was selling for J$157.62, the British pound sterling for J$216.66 and the Canadian dollar for J$118.05.

Friday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy conditions across eastern parishes, with widely scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms expected over western and north-central parishes.