Bark Di Trute!

Wednesday, 15 April 2026

Bog Walk Gorge Now Open

The following message is from SSP Hopeton Nicholson:

The flat bridge is now passable and the roadway north of the Flat Bridge has is reduced to a single Lane due because the trailers are still occupying a section of the roadway. The entire roadway in the Bog Walk Gorge should be able to return to regular traffic in about twenty minutes.

Pleas share this blog with other motorists. Thanks.

Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Singer Ernie Smith Is Critically Ill

Bark Di Trute has received information from a credible source that a well-known Jamaican international singer, Ernie Smith (born Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith in 1945), is ill and is in the ICU at a hospital in Florida.

Ernie Smith, now 80 years old, remains a beloved figure in Jamaican music with classics like “Pitta Patta,” “Play de Music,” and others from the rocksteady/reggae era. He has continued performing in recent years, including shows in South Florida as recently as 2025.

Family members can send further information via WhatsApp to 876 816-5261.

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News Flash From SSP Hopeton Nicholson

Good afternoon, please note that the Flat Bridge is presently closed to remove the trailer from the Rio Cobre.

Motorists are encouraged to use the alternative routes via Sligoville, Barry, or the toll road.

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Fitz Jackson Still Fighting For The Banking Services Amendment Bill

MP Fitz Jackson

Today, Bark Di Trute brings to you MP Fitz Jackson's proposal for amending the Banking Services Act. Please read this carefully and add your comments at the bottom of the blog. It is time for the people to get involved.

The bill is not about regulating banking fees; rather, it is about ensuring a minimum level of service required of licensees of the state through the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ). The bill does NOT address any of the fees being charged by banks for the various services they provide in the transaction of the various banking services involving the use of the banks' own funds. On the contrary, the Bill ONLY refers to transactions by account holders on their accounts and their funds in their accounts.

Banks, by way of a licence is given the privilege of taking deposits.

Banking, unlike every other business enterprise, is very different. It is the depositors’ funds that are the foundation of banking operations. Without deposits, no banking can occur.
Banking is most peculiar because the depositors’ accounts represent the results of their sweat, sacrifice, luck, or even a gift.
Funds placed in deposit accounts are not placed there for investments but for safekeeping.
One’s property and liberty are their most treasured possession. This is the reason why every state from time immemorial has a police force and judicial system, to ensure the protection of each person’s property and his or her liberty!

It is therefore an imperative of our Parliament, the highest court of the land, to ensure the requisite protection of the people’s property, among other reasons. It seeks to preserve the basic expectation of every Jamaican and others that your funds placed in a licensed institution of your country will be safe. The amount you put in will be there until whenever they go back for it. We owe that to anyone, regardless of who you are or wherever you are in Jamaica or, for that matter, in the world.

MINIMUM SERVICE PACKAGE

As I mentioned earlier, the bill before Parliament is essentially about providing a minimum service package that seeks to protect depositors’ funds in the bank and in their transactions with the bank against depositors’ accounts. How does one seek to rationalize that depositors should be contented with providing their money, from which the banks can conduct business and make a profit, should be penalized for making any transaction on their own funds, not the bank's funds? The sophisticated name for those penalties is FEES!

The philosophical base of the MSP is:

to the extent that a licenced financial institution is authorized to take deposits, there should be a minimum level of services provided, which seeks to ensure the face value of their deposits or transactions with the institutions is not reduced. Plain and simple!

We must be mindful that the bank, like all other business operation have to incur unavoidable costs, such as personnel and other utilities, advertising, public relations, marketing, rent/mortgage, taxes, etc. all these are in order to carry out the business of banking in order to make a profit and meet those unavoidable expenses. Why is it that whatever costs are involved in the depositors' minimum services should be charged to the depositors? Taken to its logical conclusion, the depositors should be justified in paying the cost that the banks incur for paying their staff the salaries they are paid, the utility charges, the public relations costs, etc. On the other hand, is it that which they are already doing in charging the fees?

What are some of the provisions of the MSP?

Prohibiting dormancy fees on inactive accounts: in so doing ensuing that what is placed in an account is not penalized for any inactivity, as the banks do continue to have access to the funds in those inactive accounts for lending, meeting reserve requirements, and making profits from the account holders don’t participate. Earning interest on deposit accounts has virtually become a thing of the past.
Getting information on account balances and general records of transactions made on the depositors' accounts
Encashing cheques without any fees (penalties). Cheques under law are a legal instrument in making transactions against one’s account. It is an alternative to cash, which should be safer for both the account holder and the banks themselves. The banks already do charge a fee against the account holder for writing the cheques as a processing fee. That is a contractual arrangement between with the bank from the point of opening the account, and maintaining such account. (encashment fees for cheques distorts the face value of a transaction, making commerce unpredictable and irregular)
ATM platform to advise of the cost of the transaction before the transaction is completed so the customer can make a decision before, on whether they wish to incur the cost, or use any alternatives they may wish.
Required to inform and obtain the customer’s approval of any change in the conditions of the account prior to coming into effect. o Prohibit any fee for time of day or day of the week transaction while the bank is open for business. (such as Saturday fee - JN)

The practice of incrementally imposing fees on account transactions have arbitrarily violated the fundamental practice of banking, to the disadvantage of the depositors and account holders. The sadness of this that the State has become complicit with the banks in placing the depositors/account holders in the disadvantageous position:

The State has done so knowingly, or through negligence. What is most is most appalling about in this failure is the fact that the practice is in violation of the critical Duty of Care provision of the law! (see Section 36 (a) of BSA).

Let us examine the Duty of Care provision, the fiduciary responsibility of the banks:

a. The safety of depositors funds
b. Ensuring confidence in the banking sector

Both of the above are important to the depositors on the one hand, and the banks on the other, but the country on a whole.

Viable and credible banks and a banking industry is imperative to a modern economy and society
The savings level determines the level of funds available to lend for national development and personal self-actualization in various endeavours.
Low savings levels in my opinion has the same effect as crowding out by government over-extended borrowing from our banks (what are our economists and academics say about this?)
How is this stunting the prospects of economic growth by denying funding to the private and productive sector?

(do the Growth Council) o Are there any studies being done by the PSOJ, CAPRI OR any other such groups?

GOING FORWARD

The tabling of the Private Members' Motion in November 2013 and the subsequent tabling of the Private Members' Bill now before Parliament, among other things, have made clear how the depositors and the country at large REALLY feel about our banks and banking services in Jamaica. To the extent that our banks truly see themselves as committed to long-term endeavours, and not hustling, there is now a great opportunity.

Real businesspersons take decisions for the long-term benefits; hustlers just grab as much as they can get now! Have banks over time become mere hustlers? Just a question.

If the banks are given the benefits o f the doubt, they should welcome the Bill as it allows them to reconfigure their banking model, to better respond and realign to the depositors' desires and expectations. This is what entrepreneurship is all about: designing and developing products and services to satisfy market demands. This may very well call for the banks to reinvent themselves. Indeed, this is where intellectual and creative abilities must be awakened, and come to like. Intellectual dexterity should differentiate itself from mental laziness and mediocrity in merely tacking on fees here and there to increase margins and profits. Like our intellectuals in the applied sciences, such as engineering, medicine, etc., a challenge does not mean the end of the road or a destination. Rather, it is a point at which you become truly creative, taking you beyond where you are.

The banks, therefore, should see the bill as providing an opportunity for a rebirth and a platform from which to progress to new and lasting levels of real prosperity. A prosperity that works not just for a few, but for all Jamaicans.

End

Click the link to see the proposed bill—A Bill To Amend The Bank Services Act.

Note

Fitz Jackson is the PNP member of parliament for St. Catherine Southern. He is the Opposition Spokesperson on Security.

Fitz Jackson has been critical of how banks treat their customers and has been a champion for pushing a bill that would make banks deal fairly with their customers.

Editor's Note

All consumers need to start asking questions and call for changes in the banking sector. We are being used and abused left, right and centre.

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Important Banking Tips

The following are banking tips from Octavia Smith:

Octavia Smith

Choose an account that suits you.
Ask about minimum balances and penalties when opening an account.
Debit cards are important to have.
Choose a hard token if you are not tech-savvy.
Inquire about ATM and online transaction limits.
If you are a senior, choose the appropriate account for your age.
Senior-type accounts are usually allowed to make free branch withdrawals.
A fixed number of free withdrawals per month at the ATM is allowed for seniors.
Passbooks are optional.
Based on lifestyle and future contemplation, it's a beneficial idea to have an international currency account. It's smart to have funds that are transferable overseas for travel, medical fees, or further education.
It's wise to commit a portion of one's income to a foreign currency account monthly. Cross-currency transfers can be done online.
Protect your debit card by using it at reputable places.
Never share PIN information with anyone.
Never ask for help at the ATM.
If a transaction failed, pause to verify your balance before you make another attempt. Do not keep your PIN next to your card.
Use a branch machine and not an off-site machine where possible to do large cash transactions.
It's safer to type in the bank's website in the URL each time you go online. Avoid choosing from previous search history.

Editor's Note

Octavia Smith is a retired banker. Please share this blog with your friends. Add our comments at the bottom of the blog.

Thanks.

Flat Bridge Closed - Update

The following is an update from SSP Hopeton Nicholson:

Please note that the trailer has been separated from the tractor, and the road is temporarily open. The road will be closed again when the heavy-duty wrecker arrives to retrieve the trailer from the river.
Updates will be provided.

Please share with all drivers.

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Accident - Flat Bridge Closed

The following message is from SSP Hopeton Nicholson:

Good morning, please note that the Flat Bridge is presently impassable due to an incident with a tractor trailer.
Motorists are encouraged to use the alternative routes via Sligoville, Barry or the toll road.

Please share this post with all motorists.

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Bark Di Trute requests that you click on the advertiser's link on the page and also donate to the work of Bark Di Trute. It takes cash to care!
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Make a financial donation now.
Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.
You can view the blog with your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar to see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles. There is also a weather link, which you can use to track hurricanes.
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Bark Di Trute Writes To The Central Bank About Customers' Interest

I received a lengthy missive from an officer at the Bank of Jamaica regarding my complaints about missing funds from customers' accounts. The letter did not deal substantially with the matters affecting bank customers. The missive was replete with legal jargon, and I certainly don't have any money to ask a lawyer to interpret it for me.

Consumers are concerned about the security of their funds in the commercial banks, and it is in the interest of the central bank to find out why clients' funds disappear.

Bark Di Trute sent the following message to the Bank of Jamaica officer:

I appreciate the information, but I'm more interested in what the Bank of Jamaica will do about the issues we have with commercial banks. The matter of customers being required to sign a document agreeing not to discuss a resolved matter happened many years ago, and I would not be able to locate those persons now.
The following are the concerns that I would like to see addressed:
Banks should let customers add at least two contacts to their accounts so the bank can get help if they can't reach the customer. The contacts would have no other authority. This could solve your dormant account problem.
All cases of funds missing from someone's account should be reported to the central bank and also the police.
Customers should be made aware of such findings of missing funds unless it is confidential and would jeopardize further investigations.
All dormant funds after a certain number of years should go to the customer's estate.
The banks should require the PIN for all uses of credit and debit cards and not allow a person to just tap the cashier machine. If someone finds the card, then they can tap away.
All withdrawals and payments using a credit or debit card should require cell phone or email confirmation.
Customers should not be told that the bank cannot investigate missing funds beyond a certain number of days. Such a policy will encourage individuals to tamper with accounts that are not used regularly.
A bank is a place where customers should feel comfortable to leave their funds until they die and the funds go to their estate. During this time, interest must be paid on the balance.
Charges for all transactions should not only be posted in the bank but also in the ABM. These charges should be printed on the customer's receipt.
ABMs should be upgraded to allow facial recognition before transactions are allowed.
ABMs should have an alarm code for customers to enter if they are being forced to withdraw funds from their accounts.
Customers should be able to set daily withdrawal and spending limits on their accounts, and they should be able to stop transactions using a cellular phone application.
These are some of the things that the central bank should work to achieve for all commercial banks. Security will continue to be a major challenge if we are not one step ahead of the criminals.
Thanks and all the best.

A few people have said to me that some of the culprits are bank workers, and that is why they make it difficult for customers to know what is happening with their accounts.

Monitor your bank accounts.

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Bark Di Trute requests that you click on the advertiser's link on the page and also donate to the work of Bark Di Trute. It takes cash to care!
_____________________

Click here to see what's happening.
_________________

Subscribe Now!
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
Subscribe to my Emergency News Advice Service.
Make a financial donation now.
Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.
You can view the blog with your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar to see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles. There is also a weather link, which you can use to track hurricanes.
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Monday, 13 April 2026

UWI Workers Walk Off The Job?

I just got unconfirmed information that some UWI workers have walked off the job.

If you have any information, please WhatsApp this number: 876 816-5261.

JTA Notes Planned Removal of Shelterees From School Compounds

Jamaica Teachers Association Press Release - April 13, 2026

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) notes the government’s announcement of a timeline for the removal of shelterees from school compounds.

This is a welcomed development and reflects the seriousness of concerns raised regarding student safety, child protection, and the disruption to teaching and learning.

However, the JTA observes that the proposed timeline appears longer than is ideal, given the continued impact on schools, educators, and students. The Association therefore encourages all relevant authorities to expedite the process where possible.

The JTA also acknowledges and thanks the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) and the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC) for helping to bring this matter to national attention. The Association will be closely monitoring implementation and expects that the stated timeline will be met.

The JTA expresses sincere appreciation to teachers and school leaders in the worstaffected parishes for their resilience, professionalism, and unwavering commitment in navigating these challenging circumstances.

We look forward to the day when schools in these communities are fully restored— where students and teachers are able to interact in safe, supportive learning spaces, and where education recovery can truly take root within these institutions.

The announcement marks important progress; the priority now is timely delivery.

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This Nastiness Must Stop

One of the indications of effective governance is the extent to which we can maintain law and order. In the above picture, taken by a motorist just able to catch someone throwing a coconut on the sidewalk in downtown Kingston. We need to have a few courtesy officers armed with their cameras to capture these antisocial acts and ensure that persons are ticketed and pay for their nasty deeds.

I would love the Transport Authority and the NSWMA to send a notice to this driver about what was reported. The law should state that all motor vehicles should have garbage bags.

Click the bar below to listen to the motorist making the report. Thanks to this motorist who wants a cleaner city.

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MP Delano Seiveright Reacts To Citizens And Sets Out Plans For Manor Park In Kingston

The Honourable Delano Seiveright

The following is a recent response from MP Delano Seiveright regarding complaints made by residents and individuals overseas about Manor Park. This is the kind of response we expect from our elected representative, whom we are paying more these days. We now look for action.

The MP's response:

Cease and desist order executed in the past. The property was then sold. Another cease and desist to be sorted in short order re new owners. Also working on getting contact details re new owners. It's a very sensitive space (borders Cassava Piece)... the actual entrance to Grosvenor will be dealt. We are wrapping up the Manor Park Upgrade public private partnership efforts in coming weeks
Once that's cleared, we will move re Grosvenor.

Citizens must recognize their duty to act when their communities face illegal activities. If you sit down and do nothing, then it is only a matter of time before you will discover that you are living in a slum or next to one, and crime becomes a major issue for the area.

The government must plan how it will reorganize places like Cassava Piece, Flanker, and Mona Commons. If Hurricane Melissa had hit Kingston last year, it does not take much imagination to understand what would have happened to those houses perched on the gully banks and the lives that could have been lost. Just giving titles to people in these areas will not solve the problem. These communities must pay for utilities, and the police and fire brigade services must have access to all these areas.

Please continue to share the Bark Di Trute blog as we work to make this a better society.

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Sunday, 12 April 2026

Breaking News - US and Iran Fail To Reach Ceasefire Deal

It was expected, and the news now out is that the US and Iran have failed to reach a ceasefire agreement. Vice President of the US JD Vance says the proposal was the final offer. The concern is what's next. It is clear that, although President Trump has used rhetoric to force the Iranians to comply with US demands, they have not done so. Such actions could lead to more aggressive moves by the USA. The reduction of power among the Houthis and Hezbollah suggests a lack of ability to support Iran.

The US will not bow to demands to allow Iran to continue its stockpile of enriched uranium or control of the Hormuz Strait. The US plans to block the Hormuz Strait on Monday. This means no country will be able to transport oil via the strait. Old-time people would say, "It shall be hell and powder house."

What does this situation mean for the world and for Jamaica specifically? Rising oil prices and an increase in the prices of other commodities, which typically travel through the Hormuz Strait, are the implications of this situation.

This war is affecting the world; therefore, I see it as World War III. If we haven't already prepared a war plan, we need to prepare one now! All of Jamaica will have to be a part of this war plan. Our first move will have to be to reduce our dependency on oil.

If you believe that our situation will be challenging, consider Haiti and Cuba. What a conundrum!

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Wednesday, 15 April 2026

Bog Walk Gorge Now Open

Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Singer Ernie Smith Is Critically Ill

Fitz Jackson Still Fighting For The Banking Services Amendment Bill

Important Banking Tips

Flat Bridge Closed - Update

Accident - Flat Bridge Closed

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Bark Di Trute Writes To The Central Bank About Customers' Interest

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Monday, 13 April 2026

UWI Workers Walk Off The Job?

JTA Notes Planned Removal of Shelterees From School Compounds

Jamaica Teachers Association Press Release - April 13, 2026

This Nastiness Must Stop

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MP Delano Seiveright Reacts To Citizens And Sets Out Plans For Manor Park In Kingston

Subscribe Now!

Sunday, 12 April 2026

Breaking News - US and Iran Fail To Reach Ceasefire Deal

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