PNP mourns former Manchester Northwest MP Dean Alexander Peart in Sunday news roundup

The People's National Party says Dean Alexander Peart, former member of parliament for Manchester Northwest, former councillor, mayor of Mandeville, and ex-cabinet minister, died early Sunday. In a statement, the party hailed him as a proud son of Manchester and of the PNP who carried forward the legacy of his father, the Honorable Ernest Peart, and served alongside his brother, former Speaker of the House Michael Peart.

The PNP said Peart won the Northwest Manchester seat five consecutive times and served constituents for 22 years. It credited him with building 13 community centres and numerous basic schools across the constituency and with championing education for young people. In government he held minister-of-state and ministerial portfolios including local government, environment, and lands and works, and served as parliamentary secretary in the ministry of labour, social security, and sports. The party praised his integrity, hard work, and candour, and extended condolences to his wife Vinette, his children, the Peart family, and the people of northwestern Manchester. "May his soul rest in eternal peace," the PNP said.

Clarendon police are investigating after charred remains of two men were found inside a burnt-out green Nissan Caravan in Bull Head Mountain, Rickford, about 2:15 a.m. Saturday. The deceased were identified as Daniel Thomas, 25, a farmer, and Tyrone Thompson, 22, also called Bubba, both of Good Hope District. Police said the vehicle bore apparent gunshot damage to the front passenger door and the rear left sliding door. The bodies were taken to hospital and pronounced dead.

Security guard Gareth Wright, 51, of Standfast District, Broomfield, St. Ann, has been charged with wounding with intent, using a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm to cause injury after an altercation at a Discovery Bay supermarket on July 7. Police said Wright, employed at the store, asked to search a customer's bag as the man was leaving; when the customer refused, a physical fight developed and Wright allegedly shot him in the abdomen with a licensed firearm. The injured man was admitted to hospital. Wright was arrested after investigators reviewed video footage and obtained a statement from the complainant.

A 20-year-old labourer, Delano Willis, otherwise called Delhi, and a 14-year-old boy, both of St. Thomas, have been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon following an incident in the parish on July 5. Morant Bay police said an off-duty officer at an event received information that individuals were seen with a firearm; both were searched and a green imitation firearm was found in the teenager's waistband.

Landlord Lloyd Gonzalez, 69, of St. Catherine, has been charged with breaches of the Rent Restriction Act, housebreaking and larceny after allegedly stealing about $400,000 in coins from a tenant. Old Harbour police said the woman locked her rented dwelling and left on July 6; when she returned about 3:00 p.m. on July 9, she found padlocks on the front grill cut and replaced, a room door forced open, and her savings container missing. Gonzalez was arrested and charged on July 11 after reportedly confessing.

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said a Wednesday meeting secured support from about 20 unions and professional associations for the ministry's accountability framework for public health workers, weeks after nurses at the University Hospital of the West Indies withdrew services over overcrowding and poor working conditions. Tufton said the framework recognises the need to improve staff welfare, including healthier meals, lounge areas for long shifts, and broader working conditions, while also stressing accountability from workers. Nurses Association of Jamaica President Don Marie Richards said the meeting was a crucial step toward maintaining standard operating procedures and achieving favourable outcomes for all stakeholders in healthcare delivery.