St James protest shooting draws INDECOM appeal as firearms sentencing and FLA report fuel political pressure

Anger is mounting after police fatally shot 45-year-old Latoya Bulgin, also known as Buju, in Granville, St James, on Sunday during a demonstration linked to another officer-involved death.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force has suspended the officer involved. The force’s Internal Affairs unit and the Independent Commission of Investigations are both examining the incident. INDECOM says footage circulating on social media may be vital to its inquiry and is asking anyone with information or video to contact investigators. The commission also says none of the three officers reportedly assigned crowd-control duties that day were issued body-worn cameras, and none wore such devices.

Senior attorney Bert Samuels is pressing for swift government action after music producer Ewan Price received a 15-year sentence last week tied to imitation firearms and related firearms offences. Samuels wants changes to the Firearms Act, arguing that mandatory minimum penalties for imitation weapons strip judges of discretion and produce unfair outcomes.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding wants an Integrity Commission report on alleged corruption and irregularities at the Firearm Licensing Authority tabled in Parliament on Tuesday—six weeks after it reached Gordon House. Parliamentary officials say they will not move on the document while Supreme Court proceedings brought by the FLA remain active.

In Jamaica Premier League semi-final action on Sunday, Montego Bay United beat defending champions Cavalier 1-0 in the first leg. Later that day, Mount Pleasant defeated Portmore United by the same score.