KINGSTON, Jamaica–On Friday, November 17, 2023, Supreme Court Justice Tara Carr ordered that Corporal Rohan James, Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, be reinstated in his job in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, pending the outcome of his motion for judicial review.

In granting the application for judicial review, the judge also ordered that the Commissioner of Police should be a defendant in the matter.

Attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman, a James’ defense team member, said today’s ruling means that James can return to work immediately and is entitled to full benefits.

However, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, representing the defendant, Assistant Commissioner of Police Andrew Lewis, said he would appeal the reinstatement order. Champagnie said he was optimistic that his client would be vindicated.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s High Command interdicted James in July 2023 for comments he made at the funeral of a colleague. James had criticized the Police High Command for not paying police officers their overtime money.

Labourer shot and killed in Portland.

The Portland police, on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, responded to a fatal shooting on David Lane in Port Antonio.

The authorities identified the deceased as Romain Grant, also known as ‘Tiger,’ a laborer from the David Lane community.

The police say Grant was at home sleeping at about 5:45 a.m. when a gunman forced open the front door, entered his house, and fired several shots, hitting Grant.

The attacker reportedly fled the scene, and the police rushed Grant to the Port Antonio Hospital, where he died while being treated.

The authorities said Wednesday’s shooting was the second incident of its kind to occur in the Port Antonio community in less than two weeks.

On November 5, a woman was shot in the Prospect area by unknown assailants.

Portland, dubbed Jamaica’s most peaceful parish, has had fourteen murders so far this year.

Two men were shot dead in separate incidents in Manchester.

Two men were shot and killed in separate incidents in Manchester over the last 24 hours.

In the first reported incident, the body of 52-year-old taxi driver Cleon Hinds was found with what appeared to be gunshot wounds in the Heathfield district, Knockpatrick, early Friday morning.

When Radio Jamaica News visited the area, the body of Mr. Hinds was still in his car as police processed the scene.

His mother, with whom he lived, said she became aware that something was wrong when she received phone calls about her son’s car being parked along the main road early Friday morning.

She said it was unusual for him not to return home at night after a day’s work.

In the second incident, a man was shot and killed in the Maidstone district sometime between Thursday night and early Friday morning.

Initial reports state that the man, whose identity has not been released, was shot at his house. He is said to have been a returned resident from Canada.