IRIE FM

Four people, including a male child, were fatally shot by members of the security forces in separate incidents in the past 24 hours. The Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), in a release on Wednesday, said it commenced investigations into three fatal shooting incidents, which occurred on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. Two of the incidents occurred in the corporate area, one in St. Ann and the other in St. James. In today’s incident, a male child was fatally shot at around 2:00 p.m. along 100 Lane along Red Hills Road, in Kingston. His identity has not been released. And in the incidents on Tuesday, an unidentified man was fatally shot by the police along St. Joseph Road, in Kingston. A browning single action pistol was reported as recovered from the incident scene. In the second incident, Kenroy Roach, otherwise called “Ticka Weed” was fatally shot in St. James. Roach was wanted by the police for murder. Reports are that he was shot during a confrontation with the lawmen in his community. A glock pistol with a magazine containing two 9 millimeter rounds was allegedly retrieved in that incident. And 21 year old Dahmaney Higgins of Cardiff Hall in Runaway St Ann was fatally shot by the police around 2:00 p.m. Two firearms were reported as recovered from the incident scene. Head of the St Ann police Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell says Higgins was one of two men who reportedly confronted the police in a gun battle. He said higgins was a suspect in two separate murder incidents since the start of the year. Click the link in bio for more

A 40 year old fire fighter is in custody in relation to the murder of a 63 year old woman in Claremont, St Ann. The deceased is Maxine Parkinson of Archer Hill in Claremont. Head of the St Ann police Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell told Irie Fm news that Parkinson reportedly went missing on Tuesday. He said searches were conducted, and her body was found in bushes with head injuries. The firefighter was arrested following investigations. SSP Powell called on citizens who can assist with the investigation to contact them. Click the link in bio for more

The Westmoreland police will be undertaking a robust public education campaign to educate motorists on road codes and proper use of motor vehicles. This, as the parish recorded 61 fatalities from crashes in 2023 – the highest number of any police division. Speaking on the frequency of crashes in the parish, zone commander for Little London and Negril in Westmoreland, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shaunjaye Mitchell, noted that motorcyclists accounted for a large percentage of the deaths. He said work will be undertaken to help reduce the number of crashes in the parish. He said the latest crash in the parish, fortunately, did not result in the loss of life. Passengers who were travelling aboard a Toyota Voxy motor car on Tuesday narrowly escaped injuries after the vehicle collided with the Negril bridge and plunged into the river. DSP Mitchell said the damaged area of the bridge has been cordoned off, and motorists are advised to use an alternative route. Click the link in bio for more

There is a heavy police and military presence in the community of 100 Lane, off Red Hills Road in St Andrew following the shooting death of a 14-year-old on Wednesday afternoon allegedly by security forces.

The #energyqueen @djsunhineyellowmoonrecords has arrived so you know what time it is!! #BigLeagueWednesday kicks off like this! Tune in now and join in on the fun! No bad vibes! Good vibes only! #iriefm #jamaica

As the new year progresses, the unavailability of buses and the long wait time for commuters continue to plague the transportation sector. Transport Minister Daryl Vaz made the observation, as he toured the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre on Monday. The tour followed the implementation of reduced fares for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and the start of the new school term. The fare cut which took effect on January 1, was met with concern by some citizens over whether or not Jamaicans would truly benefit from the reduction. Up to 80,000 Jamaicans are expected to benefit, especially with the intended roll-out of more JUTC buses, including in St Thomas. However, after Monday’s observation of operations at the Half-Way-Tree bus centre, Mr Vaz admitted that several challenges need to be urgently addressed by his Ministry. Click the link in bio for more

Opposition Spokesman Peter Bunting points to misuse of Gov’t resources as contributing factor to Jamaica being unable to keep murder rate down Newly appointed Opposition Spokesman on Citizen Security and Productivity, Peter Bunting has again pointed to how Government resources are used as a contributing factor to Jamaica being unable to keep the murder rate down. Statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force indicate that 1,511 persons were murdered as at the end of 2022. Preliminary reports for last year indicate that 1,393 persons were killed. Senator Bunting said despite the reduction between 2023 and 2022, the figures are still too high. He said the JLP administration continues to misallocate fiscal and human resources needed to tackle crime and violence. Click the link in bio for more

In a developing story… The St Ann police arrested a member of the Jamaica Fire Brigade this morning in relation to the murder of a woman in Claremont in the parish. IRIE FM news understands that the police are at the scene. Head of the St Ann police, Senior Superintendent, Dwight Powell confirmed that a fireman was in custody, following a probe into the murder of the woman.

Nepal's star cricket player and former captain of the national team was sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday for rape and ordered to pay a fine. The Kathmandu District Court judge issued the sentence for Sandeep Lamichhane. He has the next 100 days to make an appeal. Lamichhane’s attorneys were not available for comment, but local news reports said they were likely to appeal. Court official Chandra Prasad Panthi told reporters that Judge Shishir Raj Dhakal also ordered Lamichhane to pay 300,000 rupees ($2,250) as a fine and another 200,000 rupees ($1,500) to the victim as compensation. The victim said she was sexually assaulted on Aug. 21, 2022. Lamichhane was arrested soon afterward and spent time in jail before being allowed out on bail while the case was heard in court. The courts also allowed him to play matches. The identity of the victim has been kept confidential.

A 61-year-old man with schizophrenia — who had been missing for more three weeks since the St. Louis nursing home where he lived abruptly closed — was found Tuesday about a mile away, authorities said. Northview Village Nursing Home, the city's largest nursing home, shut down suddenly on Dec. 15. As workers scrambled to prepare residents for transfer to other facilities, and employees from other nursing homes arrived to take them, one resident, Frederick Caruthers, walked away from the building, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Tuesday that Caruthers was found at a local restaurant. A member of the public saw him and phoned the police. Sgt. Charles Wall, of the St. Louis police department, said the officers received a call Tuesday at around 10 a.m. that Caruthers had been spotted on the 4900 block of Natural Bridge Avenue — about a mile north of the shuttered nursing home. When officers located him, Caruthers had no obvious signs of injury, Wall said. He was taken to an area hospital for evaluation. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is investigating the circumstances surrounding the nursing home closure. The union representing workers has said the company started to close the home and bus away residents after staff raised concerns about not being paid.

The man accused of stabbing South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung in the neck told investigators that he wanted to kill him to prevent him from becoming the country’s president, police said Wednesday. Lee, 59, was released Wednesday from the hospital after eight days of treatment, including surgery. Police said they believe the suspect acted alone. He approached Lee asking for his autograph then stabbed him in the neck, leaving him bleeding and slumping on the ground, during a Jan. 2 event in the southeastern city of Busan. During questioning, the suspect said he had determined to kill Lee to prevent him from running for South Korea’s presidency, Busan police chief Woo Cheol-Mun told a televised briefing. Woo said the suspect said he was unsatisfied with what he believes were authorities’ failures to punish Lee over his corruption allegations. Woo said the suspect left a eight-page note that shows similar motives for his attack. Woo said the suspect bought an outdoor knife last April and followed Lee on five events since June. Police handed over the suspect to prosecutors, who will determine whether to indict him and send him to a trial. If he’s indicted but still has no lawyer, a court will appoint one. A Busan court earlier approved an arrest warrant for him on alleged attempted murder. Police refused to identify him except that he is about 67.

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell seized over a ton of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $32.2 million on Tuesday, according to authorities. The two separate seizures, which took place in international waters of the Caribbean Sea, totalled 2,450 pounds of cocaine and led to the arrest of six smugglers, according to a statement by the United States Coast Guard following the incident. The six suspected smugglers that were apprehended will now face prosecution in federal courts by the Department of Justice. The seizures involved crews from the USCG Cutter Richard Dixon, the USCG Cutter Dauntless and theJoint Interagency Task Force South.

Brandon Rootz will be on the #EBUZZ TONIGHT, January 10, 2024. LIVE on the 107’s with @kshemaf @djbonesja #roots #rocking #reggae #radio #jamaica @brandonrootz

Nigy Boy will be on the #EBUZZ TONIGHT, January 10, 2024. LIVE on the 107’s with @kshemaf @djbonesja #roots #rocking #reggae #radio #jamaica @nigyboyagain

The drama leading up to the Jamaica Football Federation Congress headlined by the presidential election on Sunday opened a new chapter yesterday. This, with the president of Beach Soccer Jamaica, Patricia Garel going to the Supreme court seeking a mandatory injunction to compel the JFF to allow Beach Soccer to vote in the election. Garel contends in the application which was filed today that in 2022, the JFF promulgated a new constitution and article 12 stipulates that Beach Soccer Jamaica is one of the affiliates under pillar 3 of the constitution, adding that by virtue of that promulgation under article 12, beach soccer became a member of the JFF and was so treated. Garel says recognition was given to beach soccer when they were invited to send three representatives to the congress on September 24 last year and that is reflected in the minutes of the JFF. Garel outlined in court documents that she was recently informed by the JFF that beach football association of Jamaica which was created in October last year was the body representing beach football in Jamaica and had voting rights. Attorneys-at-law Hugh Wildman and Duke Foote who are representing the applicant beach soccer Jamaica say Garel is seeking a mandatory injunction to compel the JFF to allow Beach Soccer to vote in the election on January 14 as the body representing Beach football in Jamaica. The lawyers say they are expecting to have a hearing this week in the matter. The January 14 election sees incumbent Michael Rickettes being challenged by JFF vice-president Raymond Anderson. Click the link in our bio for more.

Goalkeeper Ajania Burton has been named captain of Jamaica’s team to the historic first-ever F.I.H hockey fives world cup in Muscat Oman later this month. In the ten-man squad released by the Jamaica Hockey Federation, Burton’s co-captains will be Richard Harris and Christopher Reid, while the rest of the team features Tyrone Vernon, Rasheed Johnston, George Mcglashen, Shemar Gordon, Kemar Mitchell, Tuseef Graham, Daniel Powell. The reserves are Kevon Ried, Jachin Mullings, Nickoy Stephenson, Phillip Dawson and Kevaun Reid. The Jamaicans booked a spot in the 2024 Hockey 5s World Cup when they finished third in the Hockey 5s Pan American Cup held in Kingston last June. The World Cup is set for January 28-31 and Jamaica will compete in pool b alongside India, Egypt and Switzerland. Their first game will be against Switzerland on January 28. The local team still faces an approximate deficit of 4 million dollars in their budget to make it to the games. Click the link in our bio for more.

Saluters are you ready?! Rebel Salute 2024 is bigger & better than ever before! Come out on January 19 & 20, 2024 at Plantation Cove for the ultimate reggae experience! #rebelsalute #rebelsalute2024 #reggae #reggaemusic #reggaefestival @rebelsalute

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) has sought to assure Jamaicans that the identities of persons who decide to provide information about allegedly corrupt entities will remain anonymous. The assurance comes, as the Agency’s Director of Communications, Major Basil Jarrett, encourages people to utilize the MOCA tipline to report alleged corruption. Speaking with IRIE FM news, Major Jarrett acknowledged that several Jamaicans refrain from sharing useful information out of fear. He noted, however, that MOCA’s relationship with Crime Stop has never been compromised. Major Jarrett noted that persons who wish to share information to the MOCA team, should call, 888-MOCA-TIP. Click the link in bio for more

A policeman attached to the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) remains hospitalised in stable condition after he was reportedly shot by a man said to be of unsound mind yesterday. Reports are that at about 3:30 PM, two police officers were carrying out traffic duties at the intersection of Maxfield and Balmoral Avenue, when they were approached by a man. The man reportedly disarmed one of the cops, then opened fire in the direction of the other, hitting him in his leg and hands. The shooter then fled the area on foot, taking the gun with him. The wounded officer was rushed to hospital and admitted for treatment. Investigations continue

A meeting with representatives of the Health Ministry and the union representing workers at the National Public Health Laboratory and the National Blood Transfusion Services (Blood Bank) is underway, in a bid to resolve workers’ grouses relating to allegations of mistreatment by senior staff. Some upset workers took industrial action, saying the situation has been ongoing for some time and they are fed up. General Secretary of the Union of Technical Administrative and Supervisory Personnel, UTASP, St. Patrice Ennis said the most recent incident occurred on the weekend. He noted that the affected workers had, on previous occasions, written to the Ministry about the issue. He said the workers want the Health Ministry to intervene and address their concerns. In response to the industrial action, the ministry mobilized resources to carry out emergency services. It is collaborating with private facilities and individuals, public hospitals with lab services, and the Jamaica Defence Force, to carry out the functions. The ministry said it was not advised of the industrial action by workers. Meanwhile, a meeting that was scheduled for today involving the Finance Ministry, and the umbrella trade union was put off, but no new date has yet been set. The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, JCTU, said the meeting was intended to facilitate discussion on several outstanding issues for public sector workers, mainly those in central government entities. JCTU President St. Patrice Ennis explained that these issues include, travelling allowance, uniform and overtime. Click the link in bio for more