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Tributes pour in for Colleen Yap

Former Mayor of Kingston Colleen Yap has been remembered by representatives of the country's major political parties as a formidable leader who was committed to community development.

Yap, who represented the Seivwright Gardens Division in the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, died yesterday.

In leading the tributes, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that her loss is "deeply felt".

Yap is the wife of Ferdie Yap, former member of parliament for St Andrew West Central, which Holness represents. She served as councillor and mayor from 1981 to 1984.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie said her death is "a tremendous blow for the local government community, and for me personally".

"Mrs Yap was a formidable woman, who was highly respected across the political and administrative spectrum for her knowledge and abilities. She was truly a trailblazer," McKenzie said.

Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government and Sports Natalie Neita Garvey said Yap made a mark in the firmness of her chairmanship and advocacy for better housing conditions for the citizens of Kingston and St Andrew.

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NWC spending millions to cut electricity cost

With approximately 30 per cent of the National Water Commission's revenue being spent on electricity, Senator Matthew Samuda, minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, has announced that $900 million will be spent to upgrade pumping stations operated by the Commission in order to reduce energy costs.

Samuda, who was speaking during the commissioning ceremony for the Sandside Storage Tank Replacement Project, which was held at the Trinity Primary School in St Mary last Thursday, said that a significant amount of money is being spent by the NWC on electricity monthly. For this reason, he said that steps are being taken to reduce energy costs at the commission.

"We will be investing significantly in renewable energy and reserve power by way of generators for many of our pumping stations," he said.

"This year, we will invest in excess of $900 million in upgrading our pump stations with newer pumps that use less energy, as well as implementing solar energy where it is suitable to do so."

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Welder convicted for Westmoreland triple murder

The Police High Command is commending investigators for the stellar work done in securing another conviction in an 11-year-old triple murder probe.

Two men are now serving their sentences for the gruesome murder of three security guards at their workplace in Sheffield, Westmoreland, on June 28, 2012.

The deceased are 33-year-old Bryan Morris of Station Road, Little London; 40-year-old Sylvia Beckford of Whitehouse; and 31-year-old Judith McCailey of Cordwell district, Green Island.

Two persons, Kevon Smith, a 31-year-old security guard, and 33-year-old welder Jason Butland of Three Miles River in Westmoreland, were both charged with murder, larceny, robbery with aggravation, and arson.

Butland pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison on July 28, 2017. However, Smith pleaded not guilty and the case went to trial.

Over the period of the investigation, lawmen were able to establish the motive for the killings as robbery. All items stolen from the scene of the crime, including two firearms, were recovered at Butland's home. The case was solved through the use of various technologies, including communication and ballistic forensics.

Smith eventually pleaded guilty to murder at trial and was sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment.

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ICWI offers dream gift to teachers

Students across the island are being encouraged to nominate outstanding teachers to be specially recognised in the Insurance Company of the West Indies' (ICWI) 'Dream Big' campaign.

This Teacher's Day, May 2, three teachers will each receive a dream gift as indicated by their student nominee. Children are required to submit an essay of 500 words or less, explaining how their teacher encouraged them to dream big. Students also get the chance to suggest a gift for their nominated teacher.

Nominations close on April 29.

ICWI said that its 'Dream Big' campaign is aimed at recognising teachers for their hard work and dedication.

"We want to motivate them to continue making a positive impact on our children's lives, despite the challenges they face," the company said.

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