One-Minute Reads ... News from around Jamaica

Accused in attempted murder case turns self in

The Warsop police in Trelawny have charged 34-year-old Anthony Bailey, otherwise called 'Israel', a farmer of Warsop in the parish with attempted murder in connection with an incident in New Road district on April 15.

Reports from the police are that about 8:30 p.m., Bailey, who was reportedly armed with a knife, approached the complainant and threatened to kill her. He then allegedly stabbed her all over her body. The complainant was transported to the hospital where she was treated and admitted in stable condition. On Monday, April 26, Bailey turned himself in to the police where he was arrested and charged. His court date is being finalised.

Farmer facing wounding charge

The Falmouth police arrested and charged a 24-year-old farmer with wounding with intent following an incident in Crownland district in Trelawny on March 15.

The accused is Omar Black, otherwise called 'Omi', of Howard Town, Wilson Run. Reports from the police are that about 7:15 p.m., Black was at a bar when he and the bartender got into a dispute, during which the complainant intervened. Black, who had a knife, allegedly used it to inflict several stab wounds to the complainant's face and body. The complainant was assisted to hospital where he was admitted. On Friday, April 23, Black was arrested. He was charged on Monday, April 26. His court date is being finalised.

New termination point for Portmore taxi drivers

Taxi drivers who previously terminated at the Portmore Mall are now required to park at the newly built Portmore Mall Transport Centre.

Petra-Kene Williams, manager for communication and customer service at the Transport Authority, told JIS News that the change became effective on April 1.

The new transport centre, located on Dawkins Drive, was established by the Portmore Municipal Corporation. She called on illegal operators along the routes to regularise their activities as "we will be monitoring the situation closely".

For hackney carriage operators who use their vehicles as route taxis, Williams said "We are warning these operators that it is in their best interest to submit an application for change to their licence type in order to become compliant with the law". Portmore's mayor, Leon Thomas, said the $2-million centre was established to ease congestion in the area.

He informed that it was the operators who requested that the authorities provide a facility in order to prevent them from terminating on the roadway.

He said that the centre is well lit and has adequate security. "I am appealing to all the taxi operators to use the facility and stem the [congestion] problem that exists on Dawkins Drive," he told JIS News.

Senator slammed for endorsing jungle justice

Opposition Senator Lambert Brown has been warned to retract his endorsement of vigilante justice or be deemed unfit to serve as a lawmaker.

The call by a civil-society pressure group comes after Brown, during a sitting of the Senate last Friday, indicated that anyone who "violates" his daughter or any other female member of his family would have to face the consequences that would flow from him in the absence of the rule of law.

"So I don't need a lawyer, once the jungle justice in the absence of the rule of law kicks in. I have held that view for many, many years," Brown declared. He said he would walk to the 'William', a term used to describe the gallows, "proudly knowing that the honour of my family was held high".

But Jeanette Calder, executive director of the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal, has criticised Brown for losing "control to the point where he should be apologising to the country".

Brown has been unrepentant in the face of backlash.