One-Minute Reads ... News from around Jamaica

Person of interest shot by police

Orlando Chambers, 34, of Maxfield Avenue in St Andrew, was shot dead during a confrontation with the police in his community about 5:50 a.m. on Thursday.

Chambers was listed as a person of interest in several murders and shootings that date back to January 2019 in St Ann.

During Thursday's incident, a Bersa 9mm pistol containing a magazine with one round of ammunition was seized.

The matter was reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations and the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau.

NCB confirms first coronavirus case

National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB) yesterday reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 among its employees.

The bank said that an employee attached to the Knutsford Boulevard branch received confirmation that they had tested positive for the virus.

The company said it had taken all the precautions to stem the spread of the virus within its facilities.

"Upon learning last week that an employee may have been in contact with an infected person, this employee and the other employees with whom they interacted were sent home to self-quarantine for the prescribed 14 days, and all were asked to contact the Ministry of Health and Wellness to arrange for testing to be carried out. This was done," the bank said.

The impacted areas were then temporarily closed, and those areas, along with the entire branch, were deep-cleaned and sanitised.

NCB CEO Septimus 'Bob' Blake said the entity has continued to abide by all the safety protocols mandated by the Government and health ministry. "We encourage our customers to use our digital channels -- online banking, mobile banking, and intelligent ABMs -- to minimise person-to-person contact."

TAJ closes downtown locations

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) yesterday closed its Kingston Revenue Service Centre on King Street and its corporate head office on East Street in response to the confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case by a member of staff. The offices will also be closed today, Friday, August 21. The TAJ, in a release, said the closure is to "facilitate deep cleaning and sanitisation".

Additionally, members of staff who may have been exposed have been advised to self-quarantine for 14 days, as instructed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The entity reminded customers that several transactions may be conducted using its tax portal at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm. These include filing and payment of business-related taxes and fees, as well as payment of property tax, traffic tickets, motor vehicle certificate of fitness fees, and driver's licence renewal fees.

Petrojam employee tests positive for COVID-19

A member of the Petrojam team has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now under self-quarantine.

The company's occupational health unit has since activated its response protocol and has begun conducting contact tracing to identify all employees who may have interfaced with the team member. Petrojam said its administrative offices will be closed until August 24. Officials also said there will be deep cleaning and sanitisation of the relevant work areas and common spaces.

"Petrojam wishes to assure the public that there will be no disruption in fuel supply to the market," the entity said in a statement.

Fake cops rob fisherman

The Clarendon police are investigating a case of robbery with aggravation that occurred yesterday in Rocky Point.

According to the police, a 46-year-old fisherman was held up and robbed at his house of $4 million and two cell phones by three men purporting to be cops.

The incident happened about 3 a.m. The men then escaped in a white Toyota Probox motor car.

The police report that during the altercation with his attackers, the complainant punched out a window of the vehicle, resulting in injuries for which he had to seek medical attention.

The matter is also being probed by detectives from Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime and the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau.