The Montego Bay police had reported that on Saturday afternoon, May 20, armed thugs shot and killed one man and seriously injured another during an attack on a taxi cab downtown Montego Bay, St James.

The police are yet to ascertain the deceased’s identity. 

According to preliminary reports, at about 3:30 pm, Saturday, May 20, 2023, the driver of a Toyota Probox motor car and a male passenger were traveling along Harbour Street when armed men traveling in another vehicle opened fire at the taxi as it approached the intersection at Harbor Street and Church Street. Both driver and passenger got shot.

Residents summoned the police to the scene. Upon their arrival, the police rushed the wounded men to the hospital, where hospital officials pronounced one dead and admitted the other in critical condition. 

Fruit vendor shot and killed in Clarendon

CLARENDON, Jamaica – The Clarendon police have launched an intensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a woman in Swansea on Friday afternoon, May 19, 2023, even as the parish is under a state of emergency.

The police identified the deceased as Stephanie Gordon, a fruit vendor from Denbigh, Clarendon.

According to the police, Gordon was at her stall at about 12:30 pm, May 19, 2023, when an armed thug approached her and opened fire, hitting her several times. The gunman then robbed two persons – he took a wallet from a male and a red Mitsubishi motorcar from a female motorist – which he used to escape.

Carlos Russell, the Commanding officer in charge of the Clarendon Division, described the killing as unfortunate.

“It’s a regrettable situation, this is normally a quiet space, and the citizens may be shocked by this murder, but we are appealing to anyone with information to work with the police to help us solve this murder,” Russell said.

The police did not establish a motive for the killing.

Hon. Karl Samuda announced his resignation as labor minister.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda, has confirmed that he has resigned from the Cabinet, effective Monday, May 22, 2023. 

The Minister said he announced his resignation Friday night, May 19, 2023, at the labor ministry’s awards banquet at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel and had already advised the prime Minister. 

“Two and half years ago I told him I would only be here to serve in the Cabinet for two years. That was something that is well known, and I have reached that critical moment,” he told The Gleaner.

“Make no mistake about it, I am still a firm supporter of the prime Minister and the team. I would not like anybody to misinterpret this action in any way. I still support the team and will do everything I can to assist,” Samuda stressed. 

Hon. Karl Samuda

News emerged on Friday, May 12, 2023, that he would leave the ministry following a post on the ministry’s website, which showed Samuda bidding farewell to Permanent Secretary Colette Roberts Risden and the ministry’s executive team. The post has since been deleted.

There has yet to be any information from the Office of the Prime Minister about a change in leadership at the labor ministry.

However, speculation has been that a Cabinet reshuffle is on the horizon.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently announced changes to the composition of the Senate with the appointment of former journalist Abka Fitz-Henley and finance executive Dr. Dana Morris Dixon.