Opposition Leader Mark Golding Embraces Jamaican Citizenship
In an inspiring move, Opposition Leader Mark Golding has chosen to embrace his Jamaican citizenship by renouncing his United Kingdom citizenship. Golding made this significant announcement during a People’s National Party (PNP) meeting, emphasizing his dedication to representing the views of the Jamaican people.
Addressing his supporters, Golding explained, “Comrades, we now have valuable insights into the public’s perspectives. I am committed to ensuring that my status does not hinder our party’s progress or disadvantage any of our candidates in their efforts to secure victory, especially in challenging constituencies.”
Expressing his resolve, he stated, “I have made the decision to remove any uncertainty by renouncing my British citizenship.”
While Golding had previously emphasized that there was no legal requirement for him to renounce his UK citizenship, he has now taken this proactive step in response to the Jamaican public’s sentiments. His decision reflects a dedication to serving his fellow Jamaicans and addressing concerns raised by members of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party.
This bold and decisive action by Mark Golding underscores his unwavering commitment to his role as Jamaica’s Opposition Leader and his determination to lead with integrity and accountability.
Man and Juvenile Accused of Shooting at Police Acquitted by Court.
A Supreme Court judge has ordered the release of two accused individuals, including a juvenile, who were charged with engaging the police in a shootout on Mountain View Avenue two years ago. The juvenile and his co-accused, Taheer Fletcher, were freed after King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie made no-case submissions following the closure of the prosecution’s case.
According to police reports, on January 15, 2022, three men in a car engaged in a high-speed chase from Bull Bay to Mountain View Avenue after being signaled to stop. A reported shootout ensued, during which the juvenile was shot. Subsequently, he and Fletcher were found hiding in a house following a search of the area.
However, during cross-examination by the defense, it was revealed that the two accused were initially charged only with breaches of the Disaster Risk Management Act, which was in force at the time. Furthermore, it came to light that the wounded juvenile, after being taken to the hospital, was discharged without being placed under police guard or any expressed concerns by the police.
Mr. Champagnie argued that no firearm was recovered by the police, and the forensic crime scene investigator admitted that there was no evidence to suggest that any firing came from the car in which the men were traveling. He further suggested during cross-examination that the police involved in the incident were attempting to create a justification for the juvenile being shot in the face of an internal police probe by the High Command.
St. James police attribute the decline in murders and shootings to the success of ‘Operation Storm.’
The St. James police have reported a significant decline in murders and shootings in the parish following the launch of their anti-crime initiative, ‘Operation Storm,’ over two weeks ago.
Superintendent Eron Samuels, the head of the division, met with Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday and expressed that the operation has been successful since his team initiated the offensive against criminal gangs in St. James.
“We have seen a 28 percent reduction in murders in the St. James division. Over the past three weeks, there have been no murders in St. James, and we are committed to maintaining this trend,” he proudly shared.
Prime Minister Holness commended the security forces for their exceptional work in the parish, emphasizing the need for a zero-tolerance approach to combatting the gangs in St. James.
“I want to commend the security forces for your outstanding work in the parish. We are particularly focused on St. James because if not properly managed, it can significantly impact the national murder rate. We recognize that the new strategies implemented by the commissioner and the CDS in managing the area are yielding positive results. Therefore, I applaud you and your team and encourage you to continue the excellent work, maintain vigilance, and ensure that the gangs have no opportunity to operate,” he conveyed.