ONE-MINUTE READS ... News from across Jamaica

Opposition wants Chang fired

The Opposition People's National Party (PNP) yesterday called for the immediate resignation of Dr Horace Chang as minister of national security.

At the same time, the PNP issued a 60-day ultimatum to Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson for him to improve his performance.

"Dr Horace Chang's tenure as minister of national security has been an abject failure, leaving Jamaicans feeling frightened, hopeless and in despair. He clearly cannot bring the vision and vigour which that portfolio requires," said Opposition Leader Mark Golding at a press conference.

The call for Chang's resignation, and for Anderson to be placed on probation, comes against the backdrop of a galloping murder rate.

As of January 22, there have been 122 murders in Jamaica this year, which represents an 18 per cent increase when compared to numbers recorded during the corresponding period of last year.

The Opposition said that Anderson should be replaced if he is unable to deliver a strategic approach to crime-fighting that does not involve the use of a state of emergency (SOE).

"The commissioner of police is the main architect and promoter of the Government's SOE strategy as an ongoing policing tool. No other commissioner of police before him has followed that unprecedented and dangerous path," said Golding.

--------------

Old Harbour to get upgraded wastewater facility

The National Water Commission (NWC) is now advancing plans to upgrade the Aviary Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Colbeck area of Old Harbour in St Catherine.

Several housing developments are now taking place in the Old Harbour community, and many people in the area are accustomed to using the wastewater systems that have been constructed for the respective housing schemes.

The NWC said that it will be integrating the multiple conveyance systems into a single cohesive plant at one location that will provide wastewater treatment services at the highest prescribed level. This means the community will no longer have several wastewater operations cluttered in the same area.

-------------------

JPS yet to comply with request from OUR

Light and power provider, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), has reportedly not complied with a request from the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to provide data and other information on its Transformer Protection Programme pilot project.

Through the project, the JPS engaged in the shutting down of electricity in communities where it said that there were high levels of theft. It, however, resulted in paying customers of the utility provider being deprived of electricity for extended periods.

Following complaints from members of the pubic, the OUR last year issued a desist order on the JPS, which was in effect for 90 days to allow the OUR to conduct its investigation. A new directive was issued on the JPS not to engage in the transformer protection programme pilot project for another 180 days.

-----------------

Gov't mulls suspension of import duties to lower chicken prices

The Government is considering a temporary suspension of the import (CET) and additional stamp duties (ASD) levied on leg quarters.

Agriculture minister Pearnel Charles Jr, in a statement to Parliament yesterday, said that many Jamaican consumers are finding it difficult to afford protein due to rising costs.

"Currently, the price of leg quarters within the local market is at $360 per pound while we would be able to import leg quarters at $100 per pound and have consumers paying roughly $160 per pound," Charles Jr said.

"This would allow Jamaican consumers to purchase at least three times the quantity of poultry meat than they are currently able to afford. Leg quarters are readily available at more competitive prices than other chicken parts currently being utilised," the minister added.

The minister noted that chicken meat is one of the most versatile and affordable proteins, especially for the most vulnerable in our society. He said that the price of locally produced chicken meat has increased by approximately 17 per cent over the last 12 months, moving from an average of $530 per kilogramme to just under $620 per kilogramme currently.

He said that the suspension of the CET and ASD duties would be a temporary measure "until the local market recalibrates to normal levels where supply matches demand".