Whats Happening, August 18, 2021

The Delta Virus Is In Jamaica!!!

Minister Christopher Tufton

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed the presence of the highly contagious Delta Variant of COVID-19 in Jamaica.

The statement from the Minister of Health and Wellness states that, “We have received 40 results from the 60 samples sent to Caribbean Public Health Agency. Twenty-two (22) are positive for the Delta Variant,” revealed Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.

The confirmation of the presence of the variant comes as Jamaica recorded 289 new COVID-19 infectious and confirmed 19 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of infections now moves to 59,377 since the first case was confirmed last year while the total number of deaths stands at 1,339.

At the same time, hospitals across the country have exceeded their COVID-19 bed capacity while exhausted health care workers urge members of the public to stay vigilant in their practice of infection prevention and control measures, notably, mask wearing, maintaining a physical distancing from others and frequently washing and/or sanitizing hands.

Jamaica will tomorrow receive its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine for which children and teens will be prioritised for vaccination. The donation will be delivered in three shipments over three months, with an initial 204,000 doses to make up the first shipment, which should originally have arrived on Tuesday (August 17). The arrival was delayed by Tropical Storm Grace.

To become vaccinated, members of the public are encouraged to make their appointments online at https://www.moh.gov.jm or call the Vaccination Call Centre at 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683).

Policeman Killed

My On The Ground Reporter has reported that a Policeman has just been killed in Central Village in St. Catherine.

Hugh Nash Funeral Postponed

Hugh Nash, CD

Funeral Service for Mr. Hugh Nash who is known as Mr. Festival has been postponed. Follow my blog to get the new date for the funeral service.

AAJ Pensioners Important News

If your are an Airport Authority of Jamaica pensioner and you see your name on the list below or if you know any of these persons, tell them to send a text message to (876) 816-5261 with the message:

AAJ:Your Telephone number.

 

New JTA President

Winston Smith
JTA President 2021

Principal of the Golden Spring Primary School in St. Andrew, Winston Smith, has been installed as the 57th president of the Jamaica Teacher’s Association (JTA).  

Mr. Smith was installed during the opening ceremony of the 57th JTA annual conference, which was held on Monday (August 16) at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny.

I listened to the JTA president and I asked myself why he has to be shouting. This does not sound good because he was speaking directly to the Minister of Education and Information and it came across as someone shouting at the Minister. He did not sound good at all. 

NWC Distribution System Affected By Power Challenges

Yesterday during the passage of Tropical Storm Grace, the Hope Filter Plant in St. Andrew was affected by low voltage. As a result several customers who are served by the plant are without the supply or have low water supply.

Among the areas affected are: Mona Heights, Liguanea, Hope Pastures, sections of Barbican Road, Ravina, Papine, Gordon Town Road, Hope Flats among other and surrounding areas.

I will be sending a message to JPSCo to see if anything can be done to deal with this challenger urgently. I understand that the situation could affect the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Breaking News - Speaker Of The House Charged By Police

Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert

I have received a report that the Speaker of the House, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert was charged for placing some boxes in an area where this is not allowed. 

According to the source, The Speaker of The House put some boxes in an area where there was garbage, and where the NSWMA normally collects garbage from. When cautioned by the officer, it is said that Mrs. Dalrymple-Philibert apologized to the officer and explained that she was not aware that garbage was not to go there. She subsequently removed the boxes from the area.

I understand that she was detained at the Runaway Police Station for approximately three hours. She will will face the charges in the court.

There was an incident between a Minister and a police officer recently in St. Catherine, and I suggested then that we need to have a protocol for dealing with officials of the state who come into conflict with the law. No one is above the law but we cannot allow officials of the state to be arrested like that. It is possible that one of these days we could hear that a number of Cabinet members have been arrested and the business of the state has to come to an halt.

I am suggesting that where a member of parliament, a member of the senate or even a judge commits certain offences then we should use the ticketing system to charge them. If it is a very serious offence, then application should be made to the Governor General for example for that person to be suspended from public office until the matter is dealt with. Under no condition should members of the security forces have the right to arrest leaders of the state like that. One of these days someone is going to lock up the Prime Minister for breaking the law and that could put the country in a very awkward situation.

Contrary to information being circulated via social media, the Speaker is not in lock-up at this time. I understand that it was an humiliating experience for the Speaker to be detained by the police for over three hours at the police station. She was thoroughly interrogated I have been informed.

#JamaicaConstabularyForce #Jamaica #Politician