The 36-year-old businessman, Kemar Coke, has been hit with formal charges by the police following the dramatic seizure of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit engine oil in May Pen, Clarendon. The Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC) alleges that Coke, a Portmore, St. Catherine resident, engaged in unauthorized use of trademark and misleading and deceptive conduct.
The police wasted no time in indicting Coke, who was promptly released on station bail and is scheduled to appear in the Clarendon parish court on May 9, 2024. According to CTOC, over 400 buckets of counterfeit engine oil, valued at more than $10 million, were confiscated at a location in May Pen, where Mr. Coke operated.
Amidst the bust, Mr. Coke found himself in police custody as Deputy Superintendent Victor Barrett, head of CTOC’s Intellectual Property Unit, issued a stark warning on Radio Jamaica News. He expressed concerns that numerous motorists may have fallen prey to the tainted product, emphasizing the serious risk that counterfeit engine oil poses to unsuspecting vehicle owners.
Over 30 People Injured in Portmore Bus Accident.
According to reports from the media, more than 30 individuals were given medical attention for injuries, including broken limbs, at Kingston Public Hospital following a public passenger bus overturning on a section of the Portmore Toll Road on Thursday morning, April 11, 2024.
Several of the injured individuals were transported to the University Hospital of the West Indies.
The incident occurred after 7 a.m. when the yellow Toyota Coaster bus, carrying adults and children, was heading towards Portmore. The vehicle veered over the guard rail as it approached the wharf and flipped into the bushes.
Superintendent Winchester Watson, who oversees the Traffic Enforcement Division at the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), mentioned that the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Finance Minister Faces Criticism Over Budget Error.
Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson has demanded an explanation from Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke regarding a recent budget error for the 2024/25 fiscal year.
The error led to a special Parliament sitting and an amendment to the Appropriations Act 2024. The Finance Minister’s absence during the amendment’s piloting by Education Minister Fayval Williams has raised concerns.
Robinson emphasized the need for transparency and highlighted potential negative effects on critical institutions due to the error. The Finance Minister could not be reached for comment, with reports suggesting he may be out of the country.
KSAMC’s Justification for Requesting Audit on Municipal Police Hiring and Payment.
The KSAMC stands by its decision to request an audit of the municipal police force’s hiring and payment processes.
Dennis Gordon, chairman of the KSAMC’s Finance Committee, states that the Auditor General should determine whether the hiring and remuneration process for municipal police officers employed by the corporation was above board.
He claims that the hired officers did not receive approval from the Finance Committee.
Mr. Gordon asserts that an examination of the KSAMC’s accounts reveals approximately $80 million was spent on salaries for employees hired under irregular circumstances.
According to Mr. Gordon, most of this expenditure went towards employing municipal police officers who were allegedly untrained and affiliated with the JLP.
Mr. Gordon alleges that the recruitment of municipal officers deviated from the usual process in the 40-member-strong KSAMC.
He states that the audit will be requested at the next meeting of the Finance Committee, scheduled for April 25. The JLP’s Delroy Williams, deputy mayor of the KSAMC, has expressed support for the audit.