JUTC denies St. Ann firearm link as government faces housing, water and school fee scrutiny

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has pushed back against media reports tying the company to the discovery of an illegal firearm on a bus in Walkers Wood, St. Ann, insisting the incident did not involve JUTC or any of its employees. Corporate communications manager Shantol Thompson said the person named in coverage is not a JUTC driver, and that clear information was needed to stop misinformation and protect public confidence. "We recognize that the initial reports may have caused some confusion. We want to assure the public that this incident did not involve JUTC or any member of our team. We encourage our commuters and stakeholders to verify information through official sources before drawing conclusions," she said. Thompson added that JUTC remains committed to safe, reliable public transport for all Jamaicans.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force says it is stepping up road-safety work through targeted enforcement and public education. Senior Superintendent Lloyd Darby, who heads the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, told the Force for Good podcast that the focus is on saving lives by cutting deaths among the most vulnerable road users. "Our priority as police officers is to save lives," Darby said, noting Jamaica's long history of high road-fatality rates. He said the force is using a focused deterrent strategy aimed mainly at motorcyclists to reduce overall crash deaths.

Minister with responsibility for efficiency, innovation and digital transformation, Ambassador Audrey Marks, has rejected claims that she proposed bringing criminals into Jamaica under the country's third-country national agreement with the United States. Speaking on the Jamaica Information Service ministerial update, Marks said her proposal was aimed at attracting skilled workers to support economic growth. She said a popular video about Secretary Rubio had driven misunderstanding, and stressed that admitting persons with criminal records is non-negotiable under the memorandum of understanding. Jamaica retains full discretion to decline any individual for health, security or other reasons, she added.

Opposition spokesman on housing and sustainable living, Professor Senator Floyd Morris, has criticised the government for failing to distribute any of the 5,000 containerised houses promised to Hurricane Melissa victims, despite reports that hundreds have already reached Jamaica. In a press release, Morris questioned the delay and called on the government to explain when and how the units would be handed over, saying affected families deserve answers and the help they were promised.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness defended his administration's development agenda during a tour of the Bond Brook Urban Centre in Port Antonio, Portland, urging Jamaicans to judge the government on completed work rather than what he called growing online misinformation. He said Bond Brook would positively change Port Antonio and forms part of a wider push to modernise ageing town centres. Holness also dismissed speculation about future Portland plans, including Navy Island, insisting no development under his administration would dispossess residents.

Residents across the corporate area faced scheduled water disruptions as the National Water Commission moved to manage falling storage at the Hermitage Dam. Corporate relations manager Delano Williams said declining inflows and rising demand, alongside seasonal rainfall patterns, had pushed the system to a point where regulated supply was necessary. He noted that Kingston and St. Andrew hold storage for roughly 1.2 billion gallons of water, which comes under strain during dry spells. The NWC said pipe repairs and pressure management have cut losses in the corporate area, while expansion options for key reservoirs remain under review.

With the 2025-2026 academic year ending, parents are raising concerns about auxiliary and administrative school costs ahead of the September term. National Parent Teacher Association of Jamaica president Stewart Jacobs said families face averages of about $140,000 to prepare a primary pupil for school and about $175,000 to $180,000 for high school. He criticised non-refundable application fees of up to $15,000, mandatory summer-school charges and graduation fees ranging from $26,000 to $140,000 or more. Jacobs argued those costs are not justified by government funding shortfalls and called for national guidelines on registration and graduation fees, urging parents not to borrow for non-compulsory ceremonies.