O-Wrap: FLA Board resigns… Ticket amnesty begins… Gov’t caps ministers’ phone bills
In case you missed it, here are OBSERVER ONLINE’s top 10 stories for today:
1. FLA Board resigns amid gun licensing controversy
The Board of the Firearm Licensing Authority, which has come under intense public scrutiny over the past week in relation to the issuance of licences to people deemed unfit, has resigned.
2. TAJ says systems ready for traffic ticket amnesty
Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) says its systems have been updated to allow motorists to pay for outstanding traffic tickets, dating back to September 2010.
3. Man’s head partially severed in Manchester
A man’s head was partially severed just outside the northern Manchester town of Christiana shortly after 8:00 am Wednesday, locals are reporting.
4. JCF refutes claims of stolen electricity at Negril Police Station
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is refuting “erroneous and misleading” claims of electricity theft at the Negril Police Station that were published in the media on Monday.
5. Special honour for former PM Seaga at Grand Gala
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, has announced that former Prime Minister Edward Seaga will receive a special honour at this year’s Jamaica 55 Independence Grand Gala on Independence Day.
6. Gov’t puts $40,000 per month cap on cell phone charges
The Government has approved an interim policy for the use of mobile telephones, which places a cap of $40,000 on all telephone expenses by ministers and ministers of State.
Full story here
7. Two Manchester men plead guilty to ganja charges
Two men were sentenced after pleading guilty to breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act when they appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court on Monday, July 31.
8. Reid warns schools to desist from imposing non-mandatory fees
Education Minister, Senator Ruel Reid, today warned that strong action will be taken against school administrators and boards of management that continue to breach the Government’s non-mandatory fees policy.
9. DPP denies deadly encounter with assailants, asks JCF to investigate
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn, says she has contacted the Cybercrimes Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to investigate a Facebook post in which she says false allegations were made about her.
10. JFJ calls for public consultations on proposed amendments to Gun Court Act
Human rights advocates, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), has urged the Government to have consultations with the public before it implements its decision to amend the Gun Court Act, which will allow for all non-capital murder cases, involving the use of the gun, to be tried by a judge.
