Troy Bridge Reopens as Jamaica Reviews Grid Resilience, NHT Transfers and Crime Declines

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has opened the $230-million Troy Bridge, restoring the Troy to Oxford main road link at the Manchester-Trelawny border after almost five years of disruption for residents, farmers and students. The bridge was destroyed by Tropical Storm Grace in 2021. At Friday's ceremony, Holness said the project represented renewed access, community reconnection and stronger infrastructure built for long-term use.

Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz said Friday's islandwide power outage showed the need to make Jamaica's electricity system more resilient as the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins. At a Saturday media briefing, JPS President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant said early checks pointed to heavy lightning activity that knocked out five transmission lines from a major Corporate Area substation, triggering a wider loss of generation and grid shutdown. JPS said restoration began within an hour after teams self-started the Bogue plant in St. James and the South Jamaica Power Company facility in St. Catherine, with the final customers reconnected about 6:30 a.m. Saturday. The OUR requested a preliminary JPS report due Monday and a fuller submission within 30 days of service restoration.

The Senate has passed the National Housing Trust (Amendment) Special Provisions Act, 2026 without changes, sending it to the Governor General for assent. The measure, already approved by the House, allows $11.4 billion to be withdrawn annually from the NHT over five fiscal years to support the budget. Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said Hurricane Melissa had placed major pressure on public finances and that stopping the transfers would force programme cuts or new taxes.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett also welcomed a Tourism Enhancement Fund and University of the West Indies event playbook partnership, which includes workshops and short courses for event promoters and organisers. In St. Mary, Bartlett said the rehabilitated $27.5-million Fontabelle to Get His Town road would improve access to Sun Valley Plantation, Tamarind Great House and nearby communities including Get His Town, Hunts Town, Free Hill and Bonnie Gate.

National Security and Peace Minister Dr. Horace Chang said murders in the Area 5 police division have fallen 56 per cent because of JCF work and government investment. The division covers St. Andrew North, St. Catherine North, St. Catherine South and St. Thomas. JCF data showed major crimes down 20.3 per cent at the end of May, with rape down 14.7 per cent, robbery down 25 per cent and break-ins down 10 per cent.