Jamaica issues Ebola travel warning as St. James children’s hospital to honour Portia Simpson Miller

Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging citizens not to travel to, or pass through, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda after the World Health Organization declared an Ebola emergency affecting the area.

The ministry said tighter checks are now operating at ports of entry. People who recently arrived from the affected countries will be required to self-quarantine, while anyone showing symptoms is to be isolated.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has also said the Jamaica Constabulary Force must reassess how officers help injured people and remove bodies from crime scenes. He said police operations must show professionalism, compassion and accountability.

His comments follow public anger over the treatment of Latoya Bulggin’s body after she was fatally shot by a policeman in Granville, St. James, on May 17.

Holness has separately rejected criticism arising from an audit which found that more than $1 billion in donations linked to Hurricane Melissa remained largely unused. He described some of the reaction as common nonsense.

The Prime Minister said the Government’s Hurricane Melissa programme includes a projected $67 billion recovery effort. He added that donation money will go toward rebuilding, with donors able to follow how their contributions are used.

In St. James, the Western Child and Adolescent Hospital is to be named for former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. Holness announced the decision on Tuesday.

In sport, Jamaican footballer Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, a three-time winner of the English Women’s Super League Golden Boot, has agreed to a new four-year contract with Manchester City.

At midday, the US dollar was selling for J$157.81, the British pound for J$216.40 and the Canadian dollar for J$116.45.

The forecast for Wednesday called for a partly cloudy and hazy morning, followed by windy conditions across most parishes in the afternoon.