Maldives in Kamina’s corner for Commonwealth vote THE REPUBLIC of Maldives is backing Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith’s bid to become Commonwealth secretary general. Johnson Smith is seeking to unseat the incumbent, Baroness Patricia Scotland. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih indicated his support for her candidacy during a phone call with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness Wednesday. In a statement, Solih charged that Johnson Smith was the most qualified candidate because of her extensive experience and background. “In his conversation, the president noted that Maldives affirms our support for Johnson’s candidacy without hesitation.” The 54-member Commonwealth will have the final say when it meets in June in Rwanda. Central bank mum on cost of contract award for new currency notes THE BANK of Jamaica (BOJ) has refused to disclose the cost of financing the controversial upgrade of banknotes scheduled for release later this year. An Access to Information (ATI) request submitted by The Gleaner for the cost to revamp the notes, first announced in Parliament by Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke, was denied by the central bank. “The contract relating to the cost of upgrading the banknotes is exempt from disclosure under the Access to Information Act,” the BOJ’s Deputy General Counsel Alvana Johnson said on April 22 in response to the request. Concern over cost of royal visit THE GOVERNMENT last week sought to rectify aspects of a budget released by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) which inaccurately itemised an $8-million spend on the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last month. The detailed budget was offered in response to an Access to Information (ATI) request by representatives of the civil society coalition, Advocates Network, days after the royals visited Jamaica in March, as part of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebration. Upon close inspection of the response that went viral online over the weekend, the expenses listed totalled just over $5.9 million; a $2-million shortfall from the total outlined by the OPM. Call for CRH security beef-up after ward stormed THE STORMING of a medical ward by men demanding the release of a patient last week has sparked calls for the ramping up of security at Cornwall Regional Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department. Anxiety heightened after approximately 15 people pressed clinical staff to discharge 25-yearold diabetic patient Tyrone Bromfield into their care “because he does not have a medical condition but was infected with demons”. Hospital staff reportedly received threats. Businessman linked to coke, cash seizure charged THE BUSINESSMAN whose arrest led cops to a cash seizure valued at almost J$600 million has been charged with several drug-related crimes, according to police sources. Oral Johnson, 43, of Garden district in Westmoreland, was charged Wednesday with possession of, dealing in, taking steps to export, and trafficking cocaine. The charges were laid after he was interviewed by detectives in the presence of his attorneys. A spokesperson for the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Corporation Communications Unit said they could not immediately confirm the development. Johnson was taken into custody on April 26 after 24lb of cocaine was allegedly found in a car he was driving in Coral Gardens, St James. The drug seizure led cops to a house in the same community where US$3.8 million and CDN$30,000 were seized. A female bartender was also arrested after she was allegedly held with a quantity of ganja during a secondary operation in St Elizabeth. Rage at KC as students barred over hairstyles A PARENT has threatened legal action against Kingston College (KC) and the Government if her son performs below par in upcoming external exams following the lockout of students in a grooming firestorm last Tuesday. Her child was among scores of students who were turned away in the morning after their hairstyles were deemed inappropriate for the classroom. Grooming rules are a recurrent cultural flashpoint in Jamaican schools, but hairstyles, in particular, are the source of greatest contention. The educationministry has issued broad guidelines but schools have leeway for their own scope. CXC bows to lobby for exam delay THE CARIBBEAN Examinations Council (CXC) will be formulating a policy to allow for continued assessment and flexibility in the administration of its examinations. That declaration was made as the organisation yielded to pressure from Jamaica and other Caribbean governments to push back regional exams by three weeks, a compromise forged through robust negotiations after earlier resisting appeals. Examinations will now commence on May 23 and end on July 1. Results will be released between late August and early September. Funeral appeal page launched for Bermondsey stab victims A GOFUNDME page to raise money to assist with funeral arrangements has been set up by the family of the four persons, including a Jamaican, who were stabbed to death in their home in Bermondsey, southeast London, on April 25. As tributes poured in for SamanthaDrummonds, 27, her mother, Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Hill’s partner, Denton Burke, 68, all of whom were found stabbed to death at Hill’s home in Delaford Road, a 28-year-old man, Joshua Jacques, was arrested and charged with their murder. 4 [News You May Have Missed] Members of the Edwin Allen High School team celebrate with their plaque after a record run to capture the Championship of America 4x100 metres at the Penn Relays. From left: Tina Clayton, Brandy Hall, Tia Clayton and Serena Cole. Edwin Allen clocked a fast 43.18 seconds to win the event. PHOTO BY ROBERT BAILEY The Kingston College 4x400-metre relay team celebrate winning the Championship of America event at the Penn Relays last week. COURTESY OF PENN RELAYS MEDIA THE MONTHLY GLEANER | MAY 5 - 31, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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