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Chang apologises for 'university scammers' comment

Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang has seemingly backtracked from a statement he made in which he linked the University of Technology (UTech) to the production of scammers.

Chang has been reported in the media elsewhere as having said UTech is a source of the so-called 'university scammers'. However, following a backlash, the minister apologised to the university "for the misrepresentation of my statement".

"I was making the point that scamming now involves persons at all levels, including some at the tertiary level. Unfortunately, as our society grapples with this increase in scamming, far too many of our young adults are opting for the quick cash and risky lifestyle of scamming," the minister said.

He added: "Scamming is a widespread problem that is being practised by young people of varying socio-economic backgrounds. Some of our brightest young minds are being absorbed in this particular type of crime. This is a grave concern and a matter that the ministry is seeking to disrupt."

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'Pay With Lynk' to power events

Partygoers in Jamaica can now use Lynk to pay for event tickets online.

The digital wallet entity last Wednesday signed an agreement with SpurrOpen.com that will offer Jamaicans, including those without bank accounts or credit and debit cards, a fast, safe, and easy payment option.

SpurrOpen.com is a leading platform for online payment. Customers can expect the roll out of a 'Pay With Lynk' button on the platform.

"We are thrilled to offer another cashless payment option to event patrons with the integration of Lynk on our platform. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide seamless and secure payment solutions, and we are confident that it will greatly benefit our customers," said Wendell Lawrence, managing director, SpurrOpen.com.

Lynk, launched in December 2021, is a digital wallet app that allows users to conduct transactions using their phones without the need for physical cards or cash.

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Hammer used to bash cop's head

Constable Damien Blair, the policeman who was killed at his home in Somerset district, Manchester, on Monday, suffered both gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma.

Blair, 41, was shot inside his house, allegedly by his wife, about 6:25 p.m., after a domestic dispute escalated. After being shot, the policeman reportedly ran from the house but collapsed at his gate, where further wounds were inflicted to him with a hammer.

His wife, the police said, was found inside the house in a pool of blood, with a laceration to her wrist. She has been admitted to hospital in stable condition.

The Police High Command yesterday expressed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the slain constable, who was assigned to the Manchester division.

At the same time, Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson has renewed his call for members of the public to seek non-violent means to settle conflicts. He is urging members of the public to use the force's domestic violence intervention centres across the island, as well as other available programmes such as mediation, dispute resolution and restorative justice centres.

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'Grow Food, Not Tobacco'

As advocacy for an end to tobacco cultivation intensifies, campaigners are urging the world to 'Grow Food, Not Tobacco'.

Campaigners have argued that farmers should switch to more sustainable crops that improve food security and nutrition.

World No Tobacco Day, which is observed annually on May 31, also informs the public on the dangers of direct use, and exposure to tobacco.

Tobacco use remains a major public health concern in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) said there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, arguing that use of tobacco products in any form harms nearly every organ of the body, irrespective of whether it is smoked, smokeless, or electronic.

CARPHA said, too, that cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, and that second-hand smoke exposure causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults, and acute respiratory infections and severe asthma in children.

Executive director at CARPHA, Dr Joy St John, said that e-cigarettes are also dangerous to health as nicotine, which is found in these products, is a highly addictive drug.

"Children and adolescents who use e-cigarettes at least double their chance of smoking cigarettes later in life. Preventing tobacco product use among youth is therefore critical," St John said.