News Briefs

Windalco workers ordered back to work

Workers at the West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco) were ordered to return to their jobs after they staged a two-day protest this week over the non-payment of retroactive salaries.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security said that the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) had ordered the workers at the bauxite and alumina joint venture between the UC Rusal and the Government back to work on Wednesday.

The IDT told the Union of Clerical and Administration Supervisory Employees, which represents the employees, that continued industrial action would be a breach of the back to work order that was issued last Thursday and that it could not deal with the disputes between the parties until normalcy is restored.

The IDT also informed the union that the order was to be complied with immediately.

- CMC

 

 

Body of teen who disappeared while swimming recovered

The search for a teen, who disappeared after he went swimming at a river in Manchester, came to an end on Wednesday when his body was discovered on the Alligator Pond beach in the parish.

Reports from the Alligator Pond police are that 16-year-old Christopher Wellington and his family members were swimming at Port Keiser River on Monday, when he left to swim in the adjoining sea and later disappeared.

The police and members of the Marine Division were contacted and a search conducted, to no avail.

However, another search party was organised consisting of the Alligator Pond police, local fishermen and family members, leading to the discovery of Wellington’s body about 11:45 .a.m on Wednesday.

The body was removed to the morgue and awaits a post mortem examination.

 

 

Phillips supports Bernard Lodge review

Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips is pledging his support for a review of the Bernard Lodge city project as announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Phillips urged that the review of the project – which is being implemented by the Government on sugar lands owned by the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) – goes further than the spatial and transport concerns outlined by Holness to include other technical issues raised by hydrologists and other technical experts.

The review, Phillips said, must also include details of the divestment process used by the SCJ to sell the lands, which is known to be among Jamaica’s most productive agricultural lands.

The opposition leader is also proposing that the review should include independent state commissions, including the auditor general and the Water Resources Authority to ensure transparency and technically sound decisions.

At the same time, Phillips also wants public consultation as part of the review so that property owners in the numerous housing and business developments in the south St Catherine, especially those in Portmore, can contribute to the planning process of the development project.