O-Wrap: Phillips calls for Montague’s dismissal … Fire at Geddes… Bolt statue unveiling Sunday
In case you missed it, here are OBSERVER ONLINE’s top 10 stories for today:
1. Fire at Geddes Refrigeration
Plumes of smoke from Geddes Refrigeration Limited cascaded onto Spanish Town Road this morning, as fire ripped through the buildings. Full story here
2. Bolt statue to be unveiled Sunday
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, says come “rain or shine”, the unveiling of the Usain Bolt statue will be done this Sunday. Full story here
3. Dismiss Montague, rescind contract and find another car supplier, Phillips demands
The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says that in light of revelations of misuse of public funds and breaches of government procurement guidelines at yesterday’s meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of House of Representatives, Prime Minister Andrew Holness must “immediately address these serious and profound issues of poor accountability and probity within the government.” Full story here
4. TAJ says systems in place for second traffic ticket amnesty
Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is advising motorists that its systems have been modified to accommodate payments for outstanding traffic tickets issued September 2010 to October 31, 2017. Full story here
5. PSOJ concerned about contract for delivery of police vehicles
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) says it is concerned about reports regarding a private company being contracted to supply 200 pre-owned motor vehicles to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and only delivering 30, causing embarrassment to the Government. Full story here
6. PNP questions success of UNWTO MoBay conference
Opposition Spokesman on Tourism Dr Wykeham McNeill is calling on Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett to clarify concerns that the recently concluded United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference held in Montego Bay, St James woefully underperformed, based on stated expectations. Full story here
7. Activities in ZOSOs to be maintained until normality is restored — PM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, is reassuring that activities, particularly social interventions, which are conducted in communities adversely impacted by crime and violence and are declared Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs), will be maintained until normality is restored in those areas. Full story here
8. Class sizes to be reduced
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information intends to reduce the size of classes at the nation’s schools as part of measures to improve student achievement. Full story here
9. Airbnb sees rapid growth in Jamaica
Silicon Valley giant Airbnb, the world’s largest online home lodging portal, detailed their rapid growth in Jamaica over the last year at a high-level luncheon and press conference hosted by them at the global tourism conference in Montego Bay yesterday. Full story here
10. Craft vendors, attractions to benefit from MoU
Local craft vendors and operators of attractions are set to benefit from a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) Limited and The Travel Foundation, based in the United Kingdom. Full story here