One-Minute Reads: News from across Jamaica

New NHT loan ceiling available

In an effort to deliver more benefits to its contributors, the National Housing Trust (NHT) has introduced a new loan ceiling that is now available to qualifying single applicants.

Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank recently, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Dwayne Berbick, said up to $8.5 million will be available, effective July 1.

However, this amount is subject to affordability and can only be used towards purchasing a property selling for $12 million or less. The new loan limit is one of several "strategic changes" implemented by the NHT in recent months.

Less than a week ago, the organisation announced increases in the loan amounts for Open Market, Build on Own Land, Home Improvement, Ten Plus and Fifteen Plus loan products.

The NHT has also automated some of its services, including the process of obtaining an eligibility letter.

All parish capitals now have free public Wi-Fi

All 14 parish capitals now have free public Wi-Fi as Government continues to expand Internet access as part of the digitisation drive.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, informed that the service, which is being provided by the Universal Service Fund, is also available in some public parks, green spaces and along pedestrian thoroughfares.

These include Cecil Charlton Park and Chapelton Park in Manchester; Devon House, Emancipation Park, Mandela Park, and Olympic Way in St Andrew; Junction, St Elizabeth, and St William Grant Park, Kingston. Nineteen public Wi-Fi sites have been established in town centres under the programme dubbed 'Connect Jamaica'.

Turning to the Community Wi-Fi initiative implemented in 2021 for the installation of three, free Wi-Fi hotspots in each constituency, the minister said that the programme has been successful.

"I'm pleased to announce that all 189 sites are currently online, with 166 of them being formally launched across all of these constituencies," Vaz said.

He said that two additional community Wi-Fi sites have been added. He informed that 90 per cent of the additional sites have been scoped and designed and the procurement process has commenced. The sites are expected to be launched during the second quarter of this financial year.

Waiter charged with murder

A 24-year-old waiter of Percy district in St Ann was charged with murder following the stabbing death of an elderly shopkeeper in Watt Town on Sunday.

Odavid Morris, otherwise called 'Patcha Grey', was charged for the murder of 71-year-old Herbert Simms otherwise called 'Tallman' of Watt Town.

Reports from the Browns Town police are that about 12:55 a.m., Simms was inside his shop, when Morris entered and used a ratchet knife to inflict stab wounds to his neck. The police were

alerted and upon their arrival, Simms was seen lying face down in a pool of blood. He was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation was launched and Morris was apprehended during a police operation. He was charged on Tuesday after confessing to the crime in a caution statement during an interview. His court date is being finalised.

Ministry sees decline in teacher resignation

The Ministry of Education and Youth is reporting a 43 per cent decline in teacher resignation from January to June this year, when compared to the corresponding period last year.

"In January to June 2022, our internal figures show 506 resignations versus 287 [this year]," said portfolio minister Fayval Williams, during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday. The minister pointed out that strategies that were employed last year to assist schools in filling vacancies will continue this year.

"School boards are empowered to take early recruitment decisions and [they] can engage teachers who are on their approved vacation leaves," she said, noting that they will be compensated for their vacation.

"We also encourage our schools to see how best they could extend service for teachers scheduled to retire," she added.

In addition, schools are encouraged to engage part-time teachers who have retired since January 2018, pre-trained graduate teachers, or final year student teachers in recognised teacher-training programmes.