News Briefs

TAJ cashier sentenced on larceny charge

Tamarla Peart, a cashier at the King Street, downtown Kingston, location of the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), was last Friday sentenced by in the Corporate Area Parish Court to six months imprisonment at hard labour or a fine of $80,000. She opted to pay the fine.

The sentence was imposed after Peart, having been charged by officers of the Revenue Protection Division (RPD), pleaded guilty to the offence of larceny as a servant. She pleaded not guilty to breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act and the Crown subsequently withdrew the charge.

In his summation, Judge Vaughn Smith stated that while he took into account the defence’s pleas for leniency, by virtue of her position as a cashier, the defendant was placed in a position of trust and this was abused. He also stated that he had a duty to send a message to others who hold similar positions that should they act in a similar manner, there would be serious consequences.

Peart was arrested after it was discovered that she stole two licence discs which had been entrusted to her. She subsequently returned the items.

 

 

Live firing at Twickenham Park Gallery Range

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will be conducting live firing exercises at the Twickenham Park Gallery Range in St Catherine today and tomorrow.

It is advising residents that there is no need to be alarmed by the presence of the soldiers, however, they are asked to secure livestock until the end of the training and also not to interfere with and/or move security flags and notifications.

In the event that unexploded ordnances or paraphernalia are found, please report it to the JDF Headquarters at telephone number (876) 960-8776.

Members of the public who may have concerns about the presence of soldiers in their area may contact the JDF at telephone number (876) 960-8776.

 

NWC finds 467 illegal connections in Grange Hill

The National Water Commission (NWC) is reporting success under the ‘Sustainable Public Safety and Public Order’ initiative, launched by the Westmoreland police as part of efforts to restore law and order across the parish.

Within a two week period ending on Monday, the NWC team found 467 illegal connections in Grange Hill during joint operations with the police.

“This is major success for NWC. The community gets good water supply, but the compliance level is extremely low despite our efforts. We are happy for this initiative so we can clamp down on water theft in the area,” said Acting Revenue Recovery Manager Horace Binns.

He said that the illegal practices will not be condoned.

The NWC reaped similar success under Operation Restore Paradise, where over 160 illegal connections were found in various communities in St James.

 

 

CARICOM urged to sign treaty on nuclear disarmament

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

A two-day regional forum on the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) began in Guyana yesterday with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries being urged to ratify the treaty on Nuclear Disarmament to ensure its early entry into force.

Foreign Secretary in Guyana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge said ratifying the treaty would strengthen the international norms and standards regarding the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Greenidge, a former foreign affairs minister, had in 2017, ensured that Guyana had became the first CARICOM member state to sign on to the treaty, which prohibits the development, testing, manufacturing, production, possession, stockpiling, and use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstance.

Greenidge, who was forced to step down as foreign minister following a court ruling that barred persons with dual citizenship from being a member of the parliament, said the decision was rooted in government’s conviction that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is dependent on both words and actions.

He said that he was hoping that by the end of the meeting, officials would be in a better position to take the internal process forward.

“Our planet and our people expect and deserve nothing less,” he said.