Headline

The Spauldings market controversy and the place of Richard Azan in it are expected to come up at tomorrow’s monthly general meeting of the Clarendon Parish Council.

The general meeting comes as reports to Irie Fm news state that several councillors as well as officers of the council have been summoned to and attended at the Office of the Contractor General, OCG for interviews.

Transport Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, says the transportation sector is on the brink of collapse.

He has signalled government's intention to move quickly to increase the current fare structure.

The Transport Minister made the pronouncement, while opening the Sectoral Debate in Parliament, this afternoon (May 7).

Dr. Davies states, that there is time for a fare adjustment, given the length of time since the last one, took effect.

Dr. Davies says, the fare structure of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company is insufficient, to effectively run the bus company.

Operators of coaster buses will be allowed to transport the maximum number of persons, determined by the seating capacity.

The decision came, at a meeting involving Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Dr. Morais Guy, and representatives of bus operators at the ministry, this morning (May 7).

Dr. Guy says, it has been agreed, that operators will be allowed to carry the maximum seating capacity, which is either 28 or 29.

Operators will not be allowed, in any circumstance, to exceed this number.

Officials from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, are to hold talks on plans by Caribbean Airlines, to cut flights from Jamaica.

In recent months, the relations between Jamaica and the management of the airline, have deteriorated.

Transport Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, says Trinidad and Tobago's Minister with responsibility for Caribbean Airlines, Vasant Bharath, is due in the island, to hold talks with Jamaican officials to address the financial problems, which have been plaguing the company.

An ex-soldier was shot and killed, in Tivoli Gardens West Kingston this afternoon (May 7).

Police have not issued any statement on the incident, except to confirm the killing.

However, when Irie FM News checked with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the army reported that the man, who was shot, is an ex JDF reservist.

The army says, he left the force in March and was a lance corporal.

The 16-year-old schoolgirl, who was released by the children's court last Friday, in relation to the killing of a vendor, has been taken into state care.

The student was reportedly taken into state custody by the Child Development Agency, on the weekend.

It is understood that the child was found to be in need of care and protection.

The student, along with one of her friends, a 15-year-old, were brought before the court for their alleged involvement in the death of 39-nine year old, Phillip Bell, also called, "Bell Boy" of Seaforth, St. Thomas.

Cabinet has agreed that a commission of enquiry should be held into the May 2010 security forces operation in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston.

The holding of an enquiry was among the recommendations put forward by Public Defender, Earl Witter in the interim report he submitted to parliament last Wednesday, May 1.

The call has been widely supported especially by human rights groups, who had long called for an enquiry.

The Jamaica Defence Force, (JDF) is welcoming today’s announcement of a commission of enquiry into the May 2010 internal security operations.

The JDF says it is confident that the May 2010 internal security operation can stand up to objective scrutiny.

The JDF says numerous unfortunate conclusions have been drawn in the public domain based on unsubstantiated allegations, misrepresentation and uninformed analyses.

The police have named a suspect and two persons of interest in the shooting death of Constable Michael Townsend yesterday.

Constable Townsend, who lived in Hayes, and was attached to the Junction police in St. Elizabeth, was having drinks with his friends when armed men approached the bar and opened fire hitting him.

The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Lance Simpson of Effortville, May Pen, Clarendon.

He is of dark complexion, slim build and about 5 feet 8 inches tall.

Meanwhile, the persons of interest are known only as ‘dada’ and ‘spent shell’.

Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey this morning ordered that businessman Uriel "rooksie" James be released immediately on his bail bond.

He was taken into custody last month, on the basis that he had breached a condition of his bail in a murder case.

The Senior RM Judith Pusey said she was not satisfied with the evidence represented by a policeman who said he saw him in Rose Town on March 2 at a wake.