ONE-MINUTE READS ... News from across Jamaica

$35-million still unclaimed

The $35-million lotto jackpot that was hit on May 31 is still unclaimed.

The winning numbers were 03, 04, 13, 20, 25, and 34, and the ticket was bought at the Meadowbrook Pharmacy in St Andrew.

Under the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act, prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the draw date. If the 35 million is not claimed by October 4, the money will go to the Betting Gaming & Lotteries Commission.

Supreme Ventures Limited is urging all Lotto players to check their tickets to see if they have the winning ticket.

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Three councillors resign from PNP

Three members of Westmoreland Municipal Corporation have resigned from the People's National Party (PNP), opting to become independent councillors.

The councillors Ian Myles (Little London), Lawton McKenzie (Sheffield) and Garfield James (Grange Hill) were elected on the PNP ticket. They resigned from the party to protest the selection of Ian Hayles as the party's standard bearer for Westmoreland Western in the next general election.

Hayles, who served three terms as member of parliament for Hanover Western, found himself in Westmoreland Western after losing his seat in the 2020 parliamentary election.

The PNP lost all three seats in Westmoreland, a parish that has traditionally favoured the socialist party, in 2020.

James, councillor for the Grange Hill division, was seeking the nod to be the PNP's candidate for Westmoreland Western in the next general election. He had the support of Myles and McKenzie.

James, however, withdrew from the race at the 11th hour.

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Suspected drug trafficker arrested

Seven persons including three suspected drug traffickers following anti-narcotics operation in St James and Hanover on Sunday night.

According to reports, a team of Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) agents and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) personnel went to a premises in Montego Bay in search of a suspected drug trafficker who was wanted for questioning in connection with multiple local and international drug trafficking offences. During the operation, the individual and six other persons were arrested pending further investigations.

According to MOCA, approximately nine kilograms of cocaine with a local street value of approximately $14-million was found during searches conducted by members of MOCA and the JCF.

A large quantity of cash, a number of electronic devices and a motor vehicle were reportedly seized during the operations.

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The heat is on

Jamaicans are being urged to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses as the country continues to experience higher-than-normal temperatures.

Gerald Miller, health promotion and education officer in Westmoreland, says the combination of high temperatures and prolonged sun exposure can pose serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

He is urging the public to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoid excessive consumption of alcoholic or sugary beverages.

In addition, persons are being advised to use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high sun protection factor to help to protect themselves from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Persons are also advised to wear light-weight loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics to help their bodies stay cool.

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Project STAR gets Sumfest boost

Joseph Bogdanovich, chairman and CEO of Downsound Entertainment, organisers of Reggae Sumfest, has underscored the importance of unity through music.

Bogdanovich said that Reggae Sumfest, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will be partnering with Project STAR as one of the highlights of the festival's celebrations. The partnership, he said, includes conveying the message of Project STAR on the event's website as well as on festival nights to help boost the project's current fund-raising drive.

Project STAR is a social and economic transformation initiative created by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and driven by communities to bring about societal transformation through targeted interventions in under-resourced areas of Jamaica.

"Unity through music means not only working together with the artistes, sponsors, fans, and the community but to also reach out and be able to embrace one another and make Jamaica a better place. I love what the PSOJ and the JCF are doing with Project STAR, which is something that we need to support as it creates opportunities for Jamaicans, such as employment for those in low-income communities," Bogdanovich said.