6 AMID THE volatility in the world oil market, Jamaica’s energy security remains intact and there is no need for panic, the Government has sought to assure. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz, who delivered the assurance on Wednesday, however also signalled that, as part of an attempt to encourage energy conservation, the Government would have to consider policies that would “limit movements”. “I don’t know whether we go back to a COVID hybrid version of working from home, but something has to happen,”Vaz said, making reference to the no-movement days and other restrictions imposed during the pandemic. “The level of traffic that I am seeing on the road doesn’t show me that anybody realises that there is a war, and the price of fuel and oil is just continuing to go up and up,” he added. Vaz, along with Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, minister of education, skills, youth and information, insisted that no decision has been taken. “I am sure that the Cabinet will deliberate and the Government will come up with plans as to how to conserve,” Vaz said. However, he said Jamaica’s energy security is anchored in the refining capacity at Petrojam, the government-owned oil refinery, and established finished product contracts. “So, it’s not a matter of not being able to buy, it’s the price. So there is no need to panic,”Vaz told journalists during a post-Cabinet press conference at Jamaica House in St Andrew yesterday. He said the Government is very clear on what it needs to do to ensure supplies to the Jamaican market. THE MINISTRY of Education has stated that it has received no official reports of inappropriate behaviour by individuals sheltering at schools, following allegations made by Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Mark Malabver. Speaking at the first day of the JTA’s 2026 education conference Malabver said that the association has received reports of students and teachers being unable to use their classrooms where shelterees engage in unsavoury activities while occupying the buildings. Those reports, he said, included shelterees engaging in sexual activities in full view of students, as well as teaching supplies going missing following their occupancy of schools, while students and teachers have to conduct their classes under tents. However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry said it has not been notified of any incidents, particularly those involving children, at any school currently being used as a shelter. The ministry noted that checks were conducted with the relevant regional office that has direct oversight for the schools referenced. According to the ministry, Regional Director Dr Michelle Pinnock confirmed that no such reports had been made to the region. Further, it said that principals of schools currently operating as shelters were contacted, and none indicated that any such incidents had occurred on their compounds. However, the ministry said the principals have requested additional time to carry out further due diligence, given the seriousness of the allegations. At present, 81 individuals are being accommodated across eight shelter sites, the education ministry said. These persons have been in shelters since the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October. Ministry pushes back at claims about inappropriate behaviour at school shelters AG GUEST GUEST Mark Malabver, president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA). THE TEENAGE boy who suffered injuries in an incident at Jamaica College on March 26 will not be returning to the Old Hope Road, St Andrew-based institution when it reopens for the summer term next Monday. “I haven’t decided on how to finish the term as he only has a few more months left to complete fourth form, but the short answer is he is never setting foot on that campus [again],” the boy’s mom told The Gleaner. She insisted that her son was being bullied and that he was injured by a group of boys, not in a fight between himself (identified as Boy 3) and Boy 1 as the school said in a statement last week. One boy is reportedly facing charges over the incident. Caroline Hay, KC, confirmed to The Gleaner that her firm, Hay McDowell, is now representing the family’s interests and sent a press release accusing the school of attempting to control the narrative. In its statement, Jamaica College said the incident was regrettable. It said the parties and eyewitnesses involved provided written statements of what had transpired. It said the incident was a fight between two boys over the ownership of $2,000. JC student injured in bust-up withdraws from school THE FORMER Member of Parliament charged with incest following allegations that he sexually assaulted his young teenage daughter in January was last Thursday granted $300,000 bail when he appeared in court in Westmoreland. He was ordered to report to the Frome police on Saturdays and have no contact with the child. No travel restriction was imposed. The man, who represented the People’s National Party, was arrested on Monday. The name of the former lawmaker is being withheld to protect the child’s identity. Reports are that the alleged incident occurred on January 23 while the man was assisting the child with a passport application, during which he took her to verify photographs. It is further alleged that the child was later taken to the man’s home, where he engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Investigators later carried out an operation at the accused man’s home, where he was arrested and taken into custody. Former MP accused of incest granted $300,000 bail THE WEEKLY GLEANER | APRIL 16 - MAY 14, 2026 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS Vaz floats policies to ‘limit movements’, preserve energy security amid oil volatility
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