ONE-MINUTE READS ... News from across Jamaica

Persons in St Ann, St Mary, Portland urged to conserve water

The National Water Commission (NWC) is urging customers, particularly in north-eastern parishes, to continue practising water conservation.

According to the NWC, a number of these systems continue to experience declining inflows at surface water sources, resulting in diminished production. In some cases, water is being produced at just 10 to 40 per cent of normal capacity.

In St Ann, the affected systems include Avisfield, New Ground, Blackstonedge, Higgin Town, and Seville. Over in St Mary, Rock Spring, Bunny Gate, Iterboreale, Hunts Town, Martha Hall, and Palmetto Grove are experiencing difficulties, while in Portland, Turtle Crawl, Packi River No. 1, Kensington, Long Bay, Haining, Hope Bay, and Windsor Forest are among the facilities hardest hit.

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Justice community mourns Judge Ruth Lawrence

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes has expressed "deep and profound sorrow" at the passing of parish judge Ruth Lawrence, who died in Trelawny on Monday.

Judge Lawrence began her career with the courts in Westmoreland in 1997 and went on to serve as parish judge in Westmoreland, Trelawny, Kingston and St Andrew, St James, and St Ann.

In a statement, Sykes said Lawrence had dedicated her life to the service of justice, embodying unwavering commitment, compassion, and professionalism throughout her career.

"Her passing is a profound loss to our system and to all who knew her," he said.

The parliamentary opposition has also extended condolences. Opposition spokesperson on justice, Zuleika Jess, described Lawrence's work as a reflection of the highest ideals of fairness and equity.

"Judge Lawrence's passing is a great loss to Jamaica. She was a dedicated servant of justice whose integrity and compassion left an indelible mark on the legal profession," Jess said.

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Holness tells ministers to fulfil election promises

Cabinet ministers were reminded of the manifesto commitments made by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the last general election and were urged by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness to ensure that they are fulfilled.

Speaking at a post cabinet briefing yesterday, information minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon, "All the ministers got their charge and we are all ready to go. We are all committed to the mission that has been laid out by our prime minister".

Morris Dixon said that at the first Cabinet meeting since the election, ministers were presented with copies of the manifesto.

"These are not just things that were put in to win an election. They are commitments that we truly believe are going to change and transform Jamaica," she said, reinforcing the importance of fulfilling the promises made to the electorate.

"We have a mandate from the people of Jamaica and it's a mandate that we take very seriously," Morris Dixon said, stressing that the government's work must reflect integrity and dedication to delivering on its promises.

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Protecting children is everyone's responsibility, says minister

Education minister Dr Dana Morris Dixion has called on communities to take an active role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children.

Morris Dixon, addressing a post cabinet briefing yesterday, emphasised that the responsibility of protecting children extends beyond parents to the entire community.

"It's important that all of us see children as our children. Every child is ours and this notion that we had in the past that every child was ours and that raising children was a community affair, we have to get back to that," she said.

The minister's comments come in light of an ongoing search to locate Jayden Smith, a student of Manchester High School who has been reported missing since last Friday. She said that law enforcement and emergency services are working tirelessly to locate the missing child.

"They're working really hard. The military has been involved. Even the fire brigade is involved. They've been scouring CCTV cameras around the area trying to locate him. They've not been successful but they're not stopping," she said.

The minister also expressed concern over students missing school and congregating at commercial spaces during school hours, often with establishments allowing them entry.

"We have to understand that our children need us to really care for them. It's not just their parents. It's the entire community that has to do it," Morris Dixon said.