Jamaica court expansion, NHF cyber threat and blackout probe lead June 11 news

Jamaica’s justice, health, energy and tourism sectors led Thursday’s national news, with Government outlining new court infrastructure plans, the National Health Fund probing a claimed cyber intrusion, and questions continuing over the June 5 islandwide power outage.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck told Parliament that four modern courthouses are planned for St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. Ann and Trelawny under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority. He said the projects began planning in the last fiscal year and are part of a wider push to improve court access. Public-private partnerships are also being pursued for court facilities in Manchester, St. Catherine and a new Supreme Court complex in Kingston. The St. Thomas Parish Court is expected to open early in the next fiscal year, while Clarendon and Linstead courts have been upgraded and further work is planned for Hanover and Portland.

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said the NHF received a message from a hacker group claiming access to some agency data, but the allegation has not been confirmed. He said cybersecurity safeguards have been strengthened and MOCA has been contacted as the investigation continues.

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz told Parliament the June 5 blackout was unacceptable and said the root cause has not yet been established. A preliminary Jamaica Public Service report cited severe weather, including rain and lightning, as part of the sequence leading to the shutdown. Vaz said an independent international expert will review the findings, while opposition spokesman George Anthony Hilton urged reforms to prevent a repeat.

Opposition tourism spokeswoman Andrea Parkins called for more tourism earnings to reach Jamaican workers, farmers and small businesses. She said many workers are still awaiting promised assistance and argued that too much visitor spending leaves the local economy through overseas agents, airlines and supply chains.

In business, Petrojam announced a revised pricing system limiting diesel and ultra-low sulphur diesel movements to $12.50 per litre, effective Thursday. CIBC Caribbean said selected cards can now be added to Google Wallet in Jamaica and other markets from June 9.

Regionally, Grenada is pursuing reciprocal visa-free travel with several African countries, while St. Lucia has tightened Ebola surveillance after outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. In sports, the 2026 FIFA World Cup opened in Mexico, Jamaican triple jumper Jordan Scott won at the Bislett Games, and Australia Women beat West Indies Women by six wickets in a T20 World Cup warm-up in Cardiff.