One-Minute Reads: News from across Jamaica

Ministry mourns slain teacher

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has expressed outrage at the killing of Angella Hamilton, a teacher at Pear Tree Grove Primary and Infant School in St Mary.

Hamilton's body was discovered in her home on Saturday morning with signs of foul play. Education minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon condemned the brutal act. She called Hamilton "a beloved teacher who dedicated her life to shaping the minds of our young people".

"This act of violence against one of our educators is unacceptable and has shaken the education fraternity and the nation as a whole. I implore anyone with information about this crime to come forward and assist the police in their investigation. The perpetrator must be swiftly brought to justice," she said.

The ministry has activated its regional team of guidance counsellors and grief support services to support the Pear Tree Grove school community.

Justice minister wants peaceful solutions to issues

Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, is calling on Jamaicans to desist from resorting to violence and crime as solutions to issues.

"Mothers, sisters and girlfriends, you have to tell those boys to cut it out. And those who know of their illegal activities must be exposed. Silence is not an option. When you know these things, bring it to the attention of the police. Unless you work closely with the police and other authorities, it is not going to stop," the minister said. He was delivering the keynote address at the Custos of Manchester's Annual Church Service, held at the First United Pentecostal Church in Mandeville, Manchester on Sunday, under the theme 'Building a Better Jamaica For Future Generations'.

Chuck said decent, law-abiding citizens must work together to reduce the spaces where gangsters, wrongdoers and criminals thrive, because they have no conscience.

"They are determined to take as much as they can from you. In your individual lives, you must ensure that you expose all sorts of wrongdoing. You have to have courage and determination that for Jamaica to become a peaceful place, we have to get rid of those engaged in doing wrong," he emphasised.

Agriculture sector to get $6 billion boost

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has earmarked $6 billion to be spent over the next six years to revitalise the agricultural sector, through a redevelopment programme at the Bodles Agricultural Research Station in St Catherine.

Portfolio minister, Floyd Green, said this initiative will modernise the facility to meet world-class standards and enhance its capacity. At the heart of this transformation is the construction of a new state-of-the-art piggery, to enable advanced genetic research on pig breeds to further bolster the country's pork industry.

"Anybody who has been looking at our pork industry can say that we have come a far way in terms of the quality of the animal and quantity of pork that we are able to supply," said Green, following a tour of the Pan Caribbean Sugar Company Frome Factory in Westmoreland. Green pointed out that plans also include the construction of a modern goat house and dairy facilities, along with the upgrading of research laboratories. He noted that approximately $1 billion has already been allocated for the project, now in its first year.

INDECOM probing fatal shooting in Clarendon

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is probing an incident which led to the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old woman allegedly by an off-duty cop at a hotel in Clarendon on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as 20-year-old, Jimoy Suckoo. INDECOM said it has received reports that the policeman's service firearm was discharged, causing the injury and subsequent death of Suckoo. INDECOM said its investigation will seek to ascertain the full circumstances and actions taken which resulted in the weapon being fired. It said the policeman's gun was recovered and he provided an initial account to the INDECOM's investigative team. The incident scene was also examined and evidential material processed and packaged. The hands of both the deceased and the policeman were swabbed for gunshot residue.