The Morant Bay police on Wednesday seized 1,042 sticks of dynamite during an operation in Bull Bay Reports are that lawmen conducted a targeted raid in the area The police say two old refrigerators were searched and the dynamite was found No one was arrested in relation to the find Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. 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Join now 3,000 firms Independent Trusted Save up to 70% on staff Get 3 Quotes News » 3,000 BPO jobs expected at Jamaica’s new urban center HJ Suroy suroy is set to generate at least 3,000 jobs in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.  The announcement was made during a tour of the site on November 13 where key stakeholders provided updates on the project’s progress Chairman of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) confirmed that a leading BPO provider has already committed to establishing operations at the facility.  “We are talking about employing some two to 3,000 persons in the BPO for young people, middle-aged people, and bright people of a higher age who want to go into the technology and business of information,” Shirley added The introduction of thousands of BPO jobs is expected to significantly improve employment opportunities in St Thomas a parish that has historically been underserved in terms of economic development.  The Morant Bay Urban Centre is being hailed as a transformative project for the region providing new opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted the development’s importance stating that it will create “the new economy of St Thomas.”  In addition to the BPO jobs, plans are underway to acquire 10 additional acres of land for a micro business park at the urban center This park will support small businesses with facilities such as mini-warehouses and micro-business units for shoemakers Shirley described it as “something that you have never seen before,” with provisions to help small businesses acquire equipment through flexible rent arrangements The urban center will also house what Shirley called “the most modern courthouse to be built in the Caribbean,” along with greenhouses and cold storage facilities to support local farmers The Morant Bay Urban Centre is slated for completion by December 2024 or January 2025 it is expected to serve as a major economic hub for St Thomas and surrounding areas providing residents with access to modern infrastructure and new employment opportunities across multiple sectors Outsource Accelerator is the leading Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) marketplace globally independent resource for businesses of all sizes to explore and embed outsourcing into their operations the platform covers all major outsourcing destinations “The BPO industry has historically been resilient during crises "Outsourcing is fundamentally countercyclical The industry can do well in recessions and depressions," Gallimore said.” “Outsource Accelerator has developed an objective methodology ranking the top 500 outsourcing firms globally and tracking firms across the $250 billion global outsourcing industry.” “If outsourcing will soon be the way of the world this book may help many get through it successfully A book of useful information for a changing employment landscape.” “These are challenges Derek Gallimore chief executive officer of Outsource Accelerator has been hearing about since day one of the pandemic His Manila-based firm helps companies build and operate their offshore teams.” “The best ways to free up your time involve regulating better workplace productivity and finding different strategies to efficiently get work done here are several steps you can take.” “The Great Resignation is unavoidable and it is still happening as employees continue to look for job opportunities with greater working conditions From The Great Resignation to The Great Talent Reshuffle — the key here is to retain employees.” outsourcing is still often looked down upon or misunderstood but Derek Gallimore sees it creating a seismic shift of how and where companies employ their workers.” Outsource Accelerator is the trusted source of independent information advisory and expert implementation of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Outsource Accelerator offers the world’s leading aggregator marketplace for outsourcing It specifically provides the conduit between Philippines outsourcing suppliers and the businesses – clients – across the globe The Outsource Accelerator website has over 5,000 articles and a comprehensive directory with 4000+ BPO companies… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about – and engage with – outsourcing Derek Gallimore has been in business for 20 years and has been living in Manila (the heart of global outsourcing) since 2014 Derek is the founder and CEO of Outsource Accelerator and is regarded as a leading expert on all things outsourcing “Excellent service for outsourcing advice and expertise for my business.” Learn more Get 3 Free Quotes Verified Outsourcing Suppliers 3,000 firms.Just 2 minutes to complete. Get Started SAVE UP TO 70% ON STAFF COSTS Learn more Connect with over 3,000 outsourcing services providers Get 3 Quotes Transform your business with skilled offshore talent 3,000 firms Simple Transparent Book a call Explore outsourcing today Outsourcing Calculator Explore prices The Source April 30 is the deadline for members of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) to apply to lease one of the dozens of commercial units that are being made available in the Morant Bay Urban Development Centre in St Thomas The SBAJ has informed its membership via email that the “incredible opportunity” was made available through its “ongoing partnership with the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ),” the developers of the multi-billion dollar project “Phase 2 of the Urban Development Centre in Morant Bay and SBAJ members have been given exclusive access to apply for lease-to-own commercial units within this modern development” “This initiative presents a powerful opportunity for small business owners like you to secure a permanent space to operate and expand your enterprise,” it added Having distributed application forms a little over a month ago the SBAJ is reminding interested members of the fast -approaching deadline “We are encouraging those who have not yet submitted their forms to do so as soon as possible We also welcome new members who are now learning about this opportunity to apply,” the email said The SBAJ has listed the benefits of applying including: securing a physical location to grow your business; positioning your enterprise within a growing commercial hub; and accessing long-term business stability through lease-to-own arrangements The SBAJ noted that securing a shop in the urban centre gives small operators an opportunity to “invest in the future of your business” The association notes that the centre’s “strategic location and a space of your own can make all the difference in scaling up and accessing new markets” The Morant Bay Urban Centre is being constructed at a cost of $6 billion by contractors China Harbour Engineering Company The 28-acre development comprises more than 400,000 square feet and will feature more than 50 public- and private-sector entities in one space It will have special areas to accommodate children and the elderly It has missed several opening deadlines and the phased handover of offices was slated for February this year being constructed at the Morant Bay Urban Centre is projected to be completed within six months Minister of Local Government and Community Development provided the update during a tour of the facility on Wednesday (February 26) “We are looking at a possible six months to fully conclude and occupy this building There are still some minor works to be done [But] those works would not impede the progress that we expect to make in making this facility ready before the end of this year,” he indicated McKenzie commended the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) for the “excellent job” in bringing the new building to its present while advising that more than 140 employees from the Municipal Corporation are expected to be relocated to the facility when completed the various services provided by the Corporation will be available at one location are eagerly awaiting the use of this facility We are at a point now where the necessary costings [for the rest of the project] have been completed then we would now start to look at the source of funding you will have your spanking new municipal building that will be responsible to deliver service to the people of St But those hurdles are much easier than the ones we were crossing many years ago,” the Minister said McKenzie was accompanied on the tour by a Ministry team Thomas Municipal Corporation as well as representatives of the FCJ Send An Email Get the latest news & updates from the JIS sent to your inbox Former Morant Bay Mayor Hubert ‘Ryan’ Williams was on Sunday night presented as the People’s National Party (PNP) standard-bearer for Western St Thomas ahead of the next general election due by September who made the presentation to the people of the constituency while stating that he had every confidence in Williams going into an election where the PNP will seek to unseat incumbent James Roberston a former minister of mining and energy during the period March 2009 to May 2011 has been the member of parliament for that constituency since 2002 winning five consecutive elections on a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ticket while describing him as having the ability stated that the former mayor is very organised and has the experience to get the job done Hubert ‘Ryan’ Williams is stepping forward as your candidate in the next general elections “We know the opponent we are up against But wha?… we are the People’s National Party workers and warriors and we will stand firm and deliver the victory for the People’s National Party it is the intention of the PNP candidate to use agriculture as an economic vehicle for farmers while ensuring that entertainment for the people of Western St Thomas is realised and maintained Golding was also quick to point out that those investing in their livelihood will be treated as priority when Williams becomes the next member of parliament “Right now we have a system where some likkle arbitrary thing can play and people can find that dem party get lock down and dem don’t have no justice in it And the system to get the permit is not transparent We want to change that as the next People’s National Party government,” Golding further stated argued that there was need to address the pricing for coffee on the part of farmers in Western St Thomas who are grappling with the low price for the berry when compared to what he alleged was anywhere between $14,000 and $16,000 during the last time the PNP was in power who is getting only $10,000 a box for coffee under this wicked Jamaica Labour Party government no coffee farmer will receive less than $22,000 a box for coffee,” Williams stated editorial@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. A phased handover of the Morant Bay Urban Centre project in St Thomas is expected to begin mid-February which was previously expected to be completed by January such as the weather as well as setbacks with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) “Better access was delayed because of the attention to the Hurricane situation around the country so we were very understanding of them (JPS) We are expecting China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to give us a final handover of all the buildings by mid-March we will have a phased handover of some of the buildings,” Shirley said During a tour of the facility today with the British High Commissioner to Jamaica Shirley noted that many different buildings at the facility are swiftly approaching completion which will house almost 70 clients; eight warehouses for distribution and manufacturing Once the spaces are completed and handed over to clients the chairman said they will be given a three-month preparation and buildout period because “we provide only a shell for them to do their fit out to suit their operations.” In addition to the variety of businesses and services that the Centre will boast Shirley said that there will be proper security and special areas for children and the elderly it’s going to be that pride of St Thomas wherever you come from… you must feel as if it is something that we all are proud of continuously,” Shirley said The Morant Bay Urban Centre is being constructed at a cost of $6 billion by contractors CHEC Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. The under-construction $6-billion Morant Bay Urban Centre in St Thomas was not affected by a massive wildfire that broke out on a nearby farm on Wednesday the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has confirmed There have been claims in several social media videos that the fire while confirming that the fire started on the adjacent Springfield Farm property said firefighters took steps to ensure it did not spread to the billion-dollar commercial hub “The strategy was to surround it [the fire] and prevent it from getting across there and they managed to do that,” said Martin The blaze was put out by firefighters from the Morant Bay and Yallahs fire stations with assistance from two water trucks provided by the National Water Commission The cause of the fire is still under investigation View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. A “national disgrace” is how former Mayor of Morant Bay Yvonne Rosemarie Shaw who is vying once a again for a seat in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation describes the legacy road network in the parish which forms part of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project has been hit with delays and criticism over the substandard works at sections of the project who is known for switching political allegiance – leaving the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for the People’s National Party (PNP) then back to the JLP – during her veteran political career She spoke to journalists following her nomination at the Coke Methodist Church yesterday and said she was not satisfied with the quality of roadwork taking place in St Thomas You yourself would have driven on the road and you would have seen the problem So many billions of dollars was spent the other day and we have been clamouring for this road for years and you see what happens It is a national disgrace,” Shaw said Shaw said she has some unfinished business “The first priority is a central system for the town of Morant Bay Shaw said she has plans to build on the recreational park started by Councillor Rohan Bryan who died from a heart condition last April The police officers and the civilians have to be using the same bathroom so I need to make representation in that regard.” Shaw said The seat became vacant following Bryan’s death Bryan defeated Shaw when he first won the Morant Bay division for the PNP in the 2012 parish council elections Shaw plans to revisit removing the vendors off the streets for ease of movement for pedestrians and motorists in the town area I got the land from the Ministry of Health to build a proper arcade ease the congestion on the road,” She said She is confident that the electorate will ensure that she returns the seat to the PNP “I know the people; the people know me and I’ll do it again,” Shaw told The Gleaner Her opponent is vice-principal of the Paul Bogle High School Downie told The Gleaner that he would bring integrity and equity to the municipal corporation when elected Taking care of the toddler up to the elders The Lord will always be the head of my life and the head of this campaign trail,” Downie said Asked about the projects he intends to implement during his tenure he said: “The projects are here already but I can’t speak on matters that I am .. I will wait in the balance for those to come on board,” Downie said Bryan defeated Wilbert Walker of the JLP by 423 votes in the February 2024 local government elections the PNP won four seats to the JLP’s six andre.williams@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. has made a triumphant return to the St Thomas Municipal Corporation with a decisive victory for the People’s National Party (PNP) in yesterday’s by-election in Morant Bay Shaw’s win is seen by many as a boost to her candidacy in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for next year who has been known to switch political allegiances in the past is now the PNP’s standard-bearer for the St Thomas Eastern seat She is expected to challenge the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) incumbent Shaw contested the seat following the death of Rohan Bryan the man who defeated her in the 2012 elections when she last represented the JLP and his untimely death in April this year created the vacancy Bryan had successfully contested the February 2024 local government elections defeating Wilbert Walker of the JLP by 423 votes who was initially scheduled to vote at Lyssons Primary School at 10 a.m delayed her appearance until nearly 12:30 p.m Reports indicated Shaw was grappling with tension in the division which had reportedly started building as early as Thursday night There were reports of gunfire and voter intimidation in the Lyssons area prompting additional police and military presence to ensure security on election day who cast his vote shortly after midday at the Morant Bay Primary School instead opting to oversee his supporters’ activities in the division The Morant Bay by-election saw a sluggish voting pace with turnout at 13.63 per cent by 11:00 a.m there were more election day workers present than voters and tensions seemed to boil over into verbal confrontations the site of the bulk of election-day activity supporters from both parties were engaged in verbal exchanges “Dean Shaw put on a worker’s vest and went inside the polling station saying he heard that the PNP started a riot and asked us to go outside We were simply shading from the sun and had to stay outside.” with a PNP supporter taunting a female JLP supporter “You a go down with Downie,” as she passed by in her party colours Both political parties had high-profile figures on the ground to rally support member of parliament for Portland Western; and Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn member of parliament for St Andrew West Rural were actively working to bolster Downie’s campaign PNP supporters were buoyed by the presence of Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Eastern Julian Robinson; and Member of Parliament for St Catherine Southern View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. There has been radio silence on a date for the by-election to fill the vacancy left in the Morant Bay division in St Thomas following the death of Councillor Rohan Bryan almost three months ago who ran on a People’s National Party (PNP) ticket and was serving his second term died on May 1 after an ongoing battle with a heart condition The Gleaner confirmed after multiple checks including with the St Thomas Municipal Corporation that Bryan’s death was recorded in the minutes of the council meeting on May 9 Section 4(5) of the 2016 Local Governance Act states that a by-election to fill a vacancy in any electoral division must be held the day the chairperson of the municipal corporation directs by order published in the Gazette after consultation with the chief electoral officer Section 4(5)(a) and (b) indicate that this must be within three months after the vacancy has been entered in the minutes of the council or a day within three months after notice in writing of the occurrence of the vacancy has been given to the chairperson of the municipal corporation by two persons who were entitled to vote at the last election of a councillor for that electoral division The act further states that no by-election is to be held if a vacancy occurs within one year before the next general election General election in the Local Governance Act is defined as the general election of councillors Jamaicans last voted in a local government election in February Efforts by The Gleaner to reach Mayor of Morant Bay Louis Chin the chairperson for the St Thomas Municipal Corporation for comment on the matter were unsuccessful Calls and a message to his cell phone went unanswered Attempts by The Gleaner to reach Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie were also unsuccessful He did not respond to telephone calls or messages told The Gleaner that a meeting is to be held to determine when the overdue announcement will be made “At the last meeting I said to them it most likely… because even in the act it said if you have a disaster you can postpone whether from the general secretary or the member of parliament “I think they will be meeting soon to make a decision,” he added Section 11(1)(c) of the Local Governance Act states where a proclamation has been made for the holding of an election but there has been the occurrence of an earthquake outbreak of pestilence or outbreak of infectious disease or other calamity adjourn the holding of the poll to some other day not being more than 30 days after the day specified by the election notice Director of Elections Glasspole Brown told The Gleaner on Monday that he has not been consulted regarding a date for the by-election – as required by law – and has not yet submitted a budget for it Smith stated that the absence of any communication from the mayor is a disservice to the residents of the division who ran successfully on a PNP ticket to become a member of parliament noted that it is customary for a party to hesitate to announce a by-election close to a general election “Any election that is held now is going to be perceived as a referendum against or for the Government if the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) should not triumph,” said Smith if the PNP should prevail then it would suggest that the PNP is moving in on the JLP in terms of overall political support So I think that is the backdrop to all of this,” he said The PNP won four divisions in the corporation in the February election in his capacity as chairperson of the municipal corporation should act within the by-laws and regulations that govern the corporation It is unfair to the people and especially at this time in the aftermath of Beryl when the people need to have their local representative to represent them fully and effectively It also shows a lack of regard and respect for the democratic process,” he said arguing that the absence of impetus for a replacement indicates that the opposition party’s focus is on the general election He said that appears to be the party’s only concern at this time kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. Copyright © 2025 Multimedia Jamaica Ltd The procurement process to engage the services of a consulting firm to design a museum at the old courthouse in Morant Bay made the disclosure during her contribution to the 2024/25 State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (December 10) Charles informed that the tendering process solicited bidders from Jamaica and overseas A Technical Committee that was formed to evaluate the bids is expected to complete the evaluation process by December 12 Charles added that the design component is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2025/26 the project will advance to the second phase which entails procuring construction management services Thomas Eastern know that… we are a Government they can depend on Hold it up and show the world that your light is shining,” Dr Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Rosemarie Shaw has won the Morant Bay Division by-election A preliminary count of ballot boxes revealed that Shaw won with 2,096 votes (51.4 per cent) ahead of Jamaica Labour Party’s Winston Downie’s 1,978 (48.6 per cent) According to the Electoral Office of Jamaica the preliminary voter turnout was 37 per cent comrades took to the streets in St Thomas to celebrate with PNP veteran Fitz Jackson declaring the win as a springboard to a sweep in the upcoming General Election With the Morant Bay Urban Centre’s construction now in the final stages is encouraging residents to prepare themselves for the opportunities that will result from the development who participated in a tour of the facility on Thursday (January 30) “my only concern now is that I hope our people are ready and prepared for this next step our young people must ensure that… they are ready to take up this next step to empower themselves and to ensure that they are not left behind and [that] it’s persons from outside who will benefit from this,” she added Bennett lauded the development as “quite significant” for the people of St pointing out that jobs as well as training and educational opportunities are expected to abound “This sort of development is the first of its kind [but] it is now time for St Thomas to have such a development manufacturing and export and also commercial businesses,” the Custos said Among the entities whose buildings will line the Urban Centre’s landscape are the HEART/NSTA Trust University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) a business process outsourcing (BPO) facility which will bring together several State agencies in one space The project will also feature a main commercial building with almost 70 clients offering a wide range of services such as fast food shops and a gym as well as eight warehouses for distribution and manufacturing She is also optimistic that the $6-billion project will reshape the narrative of St JLP's Daryl Vaz denied any involvement of the party in the disorderly conduct The incomplete Morant Bay Urban Centre in October 2024 Jamaica — The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says a comprehensive report on the plan to move hundreds of truckloads of waste from St Thomas to Kingston is expected to be delivered by March The garbage is to be moved from the Morant Bay landfill in St Thomas to the Riverton landfill in Kingston Approximately 500 truckloads of waste are being transferred with authorities eyeing the former as a transfer point Relieving this site of some of the waste is intended to make it more manageable Speaking during the St Thomas Municipal Corporation’s monthly sitting in Morant Bay on February 13 Public Cleansing Inspector in charge of Western St Thomas informed that “the project is ongoing and a comprehensive report will be provided at our next meeting” “We have implemented all suggestions made in the last sitting and there have been no safety incidents and [there has been] minimal disturbance to the neighbouring community,” he further advised The NSWMA is also reporting that there have been significant improvements in its St Thomas collection schedules over the past month “[This is] due to the implementation of our night collection [schedules] in some communities especially on the eastern side of the parish This change has led to a notable decrease in our backlogs even reaching a [point] where there are no reported backlogs,” Grossett said He indicated that efforts are also underway “to better inform the communities about the night collection operation including generating and sharing a night collection schedule” To accommodate small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) has acquired 10 additional acres adjacent to the Urban Centre in Morant Bay who made the announcement in his 2025/26 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on March 20 said this will provide dedicated spaces for small and micro businesses Holness said the FCJ continues to drive major projects that enhance productivity and capacity for economic growth across the country “The FCJ is playing a critical role in modernising town centres across the island,” Dr “The Morant Bay Urban Centre faced great skepticism from some but now it is nearing completion,” he noted Holness said the demand for space in the area is such that an additional two buildings are being designed to house the National Insurance Fund and a medical service block Prime Minister Holness said Boundbrook in Portland is out of the planning phase and construction will commence in 2025/2026 “Plans are being advanced for similar urban centres for Negril The Prime Minister said these projects will bring modern infrastructure and essential services to communities across Jamaica “The intention is to modernise all our townships and urban commercial nodes All our townships are overcrowded and congested and we will decongest the towns by developing the bypasses and this will also open up new lands which we will then commission master plans for and we will then use public-private vehicles to execute development of the new urban centres and we will then partner with existing property owners in the old town centres to develop a new plan for those old areas,” Dr “Having gone through the successful development for the Morant Bay Urban Centre we are going to take that [as a blueprint] and go right across Jamaica to upgrade and modernise our towns,” the Prime Minister said toured the $6-billion Morant Bay Urban Centre project on Thursday (January 30) I’m very pleased to see how much progress has been made,” she told journalists “Whilst we don’t currently have any involvement in this specific site we’re very interested in what this site means for the future of St Thomas I think it means more business [and] more opportunity for exporters I’m very keen to look and see what involvement the United Kingdom (UK) might be able to have I think the opportunities for St Thomas are pretty limitless with this fantastic development,” High Commissioner Slater added The tour was led by Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) Chairman and also included Deputy British High Commissioner to Jamaica [as] it solidifies what we intend to do for the parish of St He said the Morant Bay Urban Centre project could be categorised as the blueprint for a new Jamaica “The Prime Minister has articulated his plan to transform St Thomas from a parish that was perceived as being left behind for many years to bring it now to be the pearl of Jamaica if that transformation can take place in St it means it can take place anywhere else,” the Chairman said as examples of the transformation prospects as well as plans to build Urban Centres in Negril and Old Harbour pointing out that these form part of a “massive development plan for urban redevelopment” Mayor Chin thanked the High Commissioner for visiting the project Thomas is going to be one of the best parishes in Jamaica” The Morant Bay Urban Centre is being developed by the FCJ with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) as the contractors The project is slated for completion by March this year and will feature a main commercial building with almost 70 clients offering a wide range of services and eight warehouses for distribution and manufacturing the Urban Centre will comprise six stand-alone buildings including the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) a modern courthouse and a government services building Jamaica — A supporter of the People’s National Party (PNP) is hinting at some level of voter intimidation has interrupted the voting process at times in the Morant Bay Division by-election in St Thomas the party worker said they have been having some challenges at some polling stations since morning who is a member of parliament and spokesperson for finance for the Opposition he wanted to just go into the yard to have a look this morning and the security both sides — one day police and the regular Jamaica Constabulary police — stopped him from going inside,” he shared criticising the police for their actions which he said were not partial there was intimidation at the gate most times by the other side of people [JLP] The security force of the Jamaica Constabulary did nothing in my judgment that would be reasonable to say ‘we are not partial,” he continued The PNP supporter noted in particular that Andrew Holness and his entourage arrived at the location shortly after midday and were welcomed with open gates unlike PNP’s Robinson an entourage came down on an already narrow street An entourage was led by the security force with the prime minister of this country “The gates which housed the five polling divisions at that particular time of day was open wide which would have been said to be the prime minister’s entourage Noting that the entourage made a mockery of PNP supporters he claimed that poling was halted for at least 15 minutes People didn’t want to come because the amount of police who were on the streets I think it is a national disgrace,” he said “I also think that the basic rules and regulations of this country have been put aside for just authority —authority in the fact that you do whatever you want to do I ask that people of this country look to see where our party are going.” which forms a cluster of Church Corner and Morant Bay Winning these PDs would mean a lot to winning the division Intimidation at any level on one part would mean that somebody else stands to benefit.” Labelling the incident as a “national disgrace” “The fact is that in the Morant Bay division we all know that the amount of money that is being spent and in the night last night The PNP cannot do anything like that but people would want to vote Allow them to vote without being intimidated I’m badly hurt as a citizen of this country who looks for better.” Professor Richard Huzzey investigates how the brutal massacre following the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica created a schism in British opinion over the role of colonialism.. The British soldiers stood among thousands of burned homes in Jamaica surveying the battlefield they had created many of them hanged in reprisals after the fighting had finished The use of martial law to authorise these deaths quickly became the most infamous part of Britain’s response to the ‘Morant Bay Rebellion’ that shocked the island in October 1865 A celebratory letter from one soldier to another recorded “the splendid service” of “shooting every black man who cannot account” satisfactorily for his activity The colony’s governor had not only authorised brutal force against the areas in disruption but he had directed sweeping revenge against the communities and individuals who defied his rule cultured Victorians back home in Britain would use these events to debate the finer legal and philosophical points of what empire meant for liberal and conservative principles The tensions that sparked the rebellion and its brutal suppression had been building since slavery was finally abolished in the British West Indies in 1838 black Jamaicans found themselves pushed to work for low wages in the sugar fields of former masters Those who wanted to strike out on their own were harassed by the Jamaican colonial assembly’s laws that punished vagrancy or ‘squatting’ Though the assembly was elected by a black majority since the property qualification for voting was fairly modest the requirements for candidates ensured that only a few wealthier black or mixed-race Jamaicans could play a part in government the wealthy white owners of sugar estates remained in charge and tried to prevent any redistribution of land to their former slaves Seven months before the rebellion, black Jamaican workers had articulated their grievances to their queen respectfully and peaceably. On 25 April 1865, the workers from Saint Ann parish petitioned Queen Victoria about their “great want at this moment from the bad state of our island soon after we became free subjects” following their emancipation from slavery 27 years earlier black Jamaicans had found colonial authorities set against any efforts at independence especially when it came to farming for themselves reluctantly forwarded the petition to the monarch He found the response from the British Colonial Office much to his liking and widely distributed this ‘Queen’s Advice’ workers’ prosperity depended upon them working harder to make “the plantations productive” would allow West Indian proprietors to match the wages “received by the best field labourers” in Britain a leading black resident of Saint Thomas parish led protests against the court settlement of a land dispute Efforts to arrest him and others escalated over subsequent days and on 11 October he marched on the Morant Bay courthouse he was caught and executed; many hundreds of others were killed in the fighting and reprisals that followed was a wealthy member of the island’s elected assembly son of an enslaved mother and a Scottish slave-owning father But that did not spare Gordon from guilt by association He had agitated on behalf of poor Jamaicans raising exactly the same issues of prejudice that sparked Bogle’s defiance Governor Eyre ordered Gordon’s arrest; he was taken into the area under martial law to be hanged without the usual burdens of proof in a civilian court When news of the rising reached British newspapers, many readers would probably have sided with the governor. Just a few years earlier, in 1857-58, Britons had broadly supported the punishment meted out to Indians rebelling against the East India Company as news of Eyre’s actions filtered across the Atlantic black Jamaicans appeared in a more sympathetic light Gordon had used the hours between condemnation and execution to write a letter to his wife secretary of the British Foreign and Anti-Slavery Society Gordon was embraced as a Christian martyr to Eyre’s butchery during the “very questionable” period of “military despotism” some of the most famous lights of Victorian British society were dividing into clear factions an organisation calling itself the Jamaica Committee denounced Eyre – not his victims – as the real threat to the British empire The savagery of the military response and the manipulative extra-legal killing of Gordon offended these men’s faith in the benevolence of British rule Sceptics were not satisfied with the Royal Commission sent to Jamaica by the Liberal government in early 1866 to investigate but avoided any legal sanctions against him when he warned that the Confederacy was fighting for slavery rather than national self-determination.","image":null,"hasBackdrop":true,"useCommercialTheme":false}},{"type":"html","data":{"value":"The philosopher John Stuart Mill played a leading role in sharpening the committee’s response He was incensed at “an infringement of the laws of England” and “acts of violence committed by Englishmen in authority calculated to lower the character of England in the eyes of all foreign lovers of liberty” and likely to “inflame against us the people of our dependencies” Mill and his fellow Liberal MP John Bright hoped to launch and finance a private prosecution against Eyre for what they saw as his murder of Gordon In July 1866, when moderate members flinched at this suggestion, Mill took over as chairman of the Jamaica Committee and the money was raised from supporters including biologists Thomas Huxley and Charles Darwin geologist Charles Lyell and historian Goldwin Smith Most of these intellectuals were publicly identified with the Liberal party and some A similarly distinguished group of Eyre apologists arrayed themselves against this committee in a “war of representation” as one eminent historian has described the public debates the author Thomas Carlyle chaired the Eyre Defence Fund to raise money for the costs of legal representation for the governor More than a decade earlier Mill had crossed swords with Carlyle They had argued over the reasons why the West Indian sugar colonies had not prospered after emancipation Carlyle blaming the freed people and Mill their tyrannical government Now Carlyle employed his pen to defend Eyre and criticise the government, which “instead of rewarding their governor Eyre, throw him out the window to a small loud group” of “rabid Nigger-Philanthropists, barking furiously in the gutter”. This cause – if not the aggressive language – drew support from literati such as Charles Dickens Charles Kingsley and Alfred (later Lord) Tennyson How did such Victorian intellectuals justify their sympathy with Eyre We might point to three general influences they included some of the most passionate champions of workers against free-trade industrialists; men such as Carlyle and Dickens had previously attacked middle-class philanthropists as too interested in American slavery or African civilisation rather than with the plight of workers in Britain venerated a cult of manly leadership and prized authoritative rule allowing them to interpret the governor’s actions accordingly the sharp power of a belief in racial superiority led Eyre’s defenders to trust a white governor’s judgment and doubt the trustworthiness of people of African descent Thomas CarlyleOne of the most celebrated essayists and controversialists of the age Carlyle criticised the exploitation of factory workers and posed the ‘Condition of England’ question about the dehumanisation of the poor he also venerated a “genuine aristocracy” of great men who could rule authoritatively for the common good.Charles DickensThe famed author drew attention to the plight of the British poor in his popular serialised stories but he did not extend that sympathy to black Jamaicans Though he criticised slavery in his American Notes (1842) in mocking philanthropists who sent charity to Africa while ignoring suffering at home.Rev Charles KingsleyKingsley was regius professor of modern history at Cambridge University but also famous for his novels Westward Ho Initially reluctant to speak publicly in favour of Eyre he found himself opposed to Hughes and Darwin who had been his allies in previous public controversies.","image":null,"hasBackdrop":true,"useCommercialTheme":false}},{"type":"html","data":{"value":"This is not to say that the critics of Eyre were anti-racists or anti-imperialists Their criticism of violent repression rested on the damage done to Britons’ claims to superiority and benevolence in ruling “subject and dependent races” They did not fundamentally disagree with the Queen’s Advice which had dismissed the tensions over land and labour law in Jamaica Far from sympathising with the rebellion as epitomised by Paul Bogle Mill and his colleagues focused on the use of martial law and the opportunistic murder of George Gordon whose part in the controversy may have helped him lose his seat in the 1868 election would later recall that “there was much more at stake than only justice to the Negroes” After arguments in the press and in the courtroom the prosecution of Eyre finally faltered in 1868 The governor’s reputation remained tarnished and he lived the rest of his life in private Those who deprecated Eyre’s methods did not fundamentally disagree on questions of empire – Mill and his allies looked to liberty but they still saw black people as pupils in civilisation rather than equals The clash of celebrities quickly became the focus of journalistic (and later academic) attention on Morant Bay the respectable George Gordon – faded from the attention of Britons A century and a half after the rebellion and the foundation of the Jamaica Committee this Victorian controversy offers important lessons for our understanding of empire and liberal thought Eyre’s response underlines the role of violence The murder of hundreds of Jamaicans has often been listed alongside the cruelties of the Amritsar Massacre in India (1919) and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya (1952-60) as exceptions to the ‘rule of law’ in the empire but violence lurked in the foreground of imperial governance Gordon is now immortalised in the National Heroes’ Park of Jamaica and Paul Bogle is commemorated alongside him – reminding visitors of the broader struggle in post-emancipation Jamaica Richard Huzzey is a professor of modern British history at Durham University currently researching a new history of the abolition of the slave trade and slavery within the British empire He is also author of Freedom Burning: Anti-Slavery and Empire in Victorian Britain (Cornell UP This article was first published in the Christmas 2015 issue of BBC History Magazine Seven months before the rebellion, black Jamaican workers had articulated their grievances to their queen respectfully and peaceably. On 25 April 1865, the workers from Saint Ann parish petitioned Queen Victoria about their “great want at this moment from the bad state of our island soon after we became free subjects” When news of the rising reached British newspapers, many readers would probably have sided with the governor. Just a few years earlier, in 1857-58, Britons had broadly supported the punishment meted out to Indians rebelling against the East India Company when he warned that the Confederacy was fighting for slavery rather than national self-determination.The philosopher John Stuart Mill played a leading role in sharpening the committee’s response In July 1866, when moderate members flinched at this suggestion, Mill took over as chairman of the Jamaica Committee and the money was raised from supporters including biologists Thomas Huxley and Charles Darwin Now Carlyle employed his pen to defend Eyre and criticise the government, which “instead of rewarding their governor Eyre, throw him out the window to a small loud group” of “rabid Nigger-Philanthropists, barking furiously in the gutter”. This cause – if not the aggressive language – drew support from literati such as Charles Dickens who had been his allies in previous public controversies.This is not to say that the critics of Eyre were anti-racists or anti-imperialists The murder of hundreds of Jamaicans has often been listed alongside the cruelties of the Amritsar Massacre in India (1919) and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya (1952-60) as exceptions to the ‘rule of law’ in the empire This article was first published in the Christmas 2015 issue of BBC History Magazine you are agreeing to site title terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Just over a week after the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) launched its operations in St Thomas Transport Minister Daryl Vaz revealed plans on Tuesday to redevelop the Church Street Transport Centre in Morant Bay This redevelopment aims to create a more convenient and safe space for public passenger vehicles including the newly introduced JUTC buses to efficiently pick up passengers.The announcement comes as the parish continues to adjust to the new bus service with four buses assigned to the Morant Bay-to-Kingston and Yallahs-to-Kingston routes Vaz emphasised the need for adjustments to the current layout of the transport centre He highlighted the importance of creating a functional and organised space to support the JUTC’s operations and facilitate a smoother commuter experience in terms of some adjustments of the layout,” said Vaz He highlighted the importance of ensuring that the transport centre can handle not only the new JUTC buses but also other public passenger vehicles president of the St Thomas Taxi Association Louis Milwood said taxi operators were not using the transport centre which causes congestion on the road during busy periods “If the police are not on the road in the mornings then the taxis don’t come into the park and I would like to see a difference in that especially going into this festive season; we want to have more space on the road and less congestion,” he said during the tour by Vaz Milwood suggested that an improved centre would encourage more taxi operators to make use of the space provided for them “I would like you to look at the bathroom facilities because when the JUTC bus comes in there will be an influx of customers coming in so I would like you to look at the bathroom facilities so we can have enough space,” he said which serves as the terminus for buses in Morant Bay as well as serving people travelling to the eastern parts of the parish “A lot of emphasis needs to be placed on that one because it is a road being transformed into a bus park and there is a lot of work to be done there it needs a lot of lighting and all of those trees need to be cut down because when I talk about safety I speak about the safety of the children,” he said “We need to get all the taxis moved from the front because when the fire trucks have an emergency and are coming down [those taxis] poses a problem and we don’t want any form of accident pertaining to the fire department and the taxi operators; we just need a smooth transition of things around there,” he added Vaz expressed concerned that the area has no transport centre despite having several public passenger vehicles operating in the town He said discussions will begin to have a space for public vehicles to pick up passengers “Member of Parliament James Robertson has indicated that there’s a possibility that there may be a site at the old market in Yallahs which he’ll have discussions with the minister of local government and the municipal corporation to see whether or not that could actually serve a dual purpose – both as a market and transport centre,” he said the Member of Parliament for St Thomas Western echoed the importance of the redevelopment plans He noted that this effort is part of a broader vision for the development of St Thomas The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says a comprehensive report on the progress of removing garbage from the Morant Bay landfill in St Thomas to the Riverton landfill in St Andrew is expected to be delivered by March Speaking during the St Thomas Municipal Corporation’s monthly sitting in Morant Bay on February 13 informed that “the project is ongoing and a comprehensive report will be provided at our next meeting” “We have implemented all suggestions made in the last sitting and there have been no safety incidents and [there has been] minimal disturbance to the neighbouring community,” he further advised Approximately 500 truckloads of waste are being transferred from the Morant Bay site to the Riverton dump “[This is] due to the implementation of our night collection [schedules] in some communities even reaching a [point] where there are no reported backlogs,” Grossett said He indicated that efforts are also under way “to better inform the communities about the night collection operation including generating and sharing a night collection schedule with the selected communities” View the discussion thread. The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) has opened a new regional office in St further expanding its capacity to provide timely and accurate government information to citizens islandwide aims to strengthen the agency’s presence in eastern Jamaica and improve the delivery of public information services It will serve as a hub for regional communication community leaders and stakeholders in the parishes of St Mary are better represented and informed about government programmes emphasised the significance of this development in the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all Jamaicans have access to essential information Thomas marks a significant step in our efforts to expand information services making it easier for residents to connect and receive updates on policies services and projects that affect their daily lives,” she said “Being on location within the community will allow the JIS to produce responsive content that is relevant and up to date We look forward to the stories of the people of eastern Jamaica being shared through the multiple platforms that the JIS uses to share information across the globe,” Minister Morris Dixon added then Minister with Responsibility for Information announced plans to expand the JIS’s services to the island’s eastern parishes With several major projects under way to transform St Thomas into a mecca of social and economic progress the JIS is positioned to bring critical real-time information to the people of Jamaica Thomas office will also serve as a space for increased collaboration with local media civic organisations and government agencies By bringing the JIS’s services closer to the people the Government is fostering greater transparency citizen engagement and participation in national development by localising communication needs and solidifying the agency’s presence Thomas Regional Office include the provision of media coverage and public service announcements public outreach programmes and community engagements and access to government publications and multimedia materials Thomas office further aligns with the JIS’s broader strategic efforts to enhance the accessibility of government information across all parishes contributing to a more informed and engaged public Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has reminded that all Jamaicans have the responsibility to carry forward the legacy of opportunity and equity for all “Each one of us is called upon to be a hero of our time — to work tirelessly for a Jamaica that is peaceful where every citizen lives with pride and dignity Let us shape the future that our heroes envisioned — a future where every Jamaican can thrive,” Holness said in his National Heroes’ Day Message on Monday we stand on the shoulders of giants — our national heroes — whose sacrifices have paved the way for the progress we now celebrate as a nation We stand on their shoulders to see the vision for our country And from the ruins of history we will build a successful and prosperous country in fulfilment of the vision of our forefathers and our national heroes,” he added Highlighting the outstanding legacy of each hero “Nanny of the Maroons fought for the freedom of the Maroons with strategic brilliance; Sam Sharpe led his people with intellect and compassion to stand up for their rights; George William Gordon advocated tirelessly for social and economic empowerment; Paul Bogle demanded dignity and a better life for all Jamaicans “Norman Manley laid the foundation for political independence; Sir Alexander Bustamante passionately championed the poor and working class and the economic development of the country; and Marcus Mosiah Garvey inspired us to think and act positively striving for economic independence and self-empowerment “Their legacies are a reminder of our responsibility to carry forward their mission,” Holness said He said that in honouring our national heroes we must work to transform Jamaica noting that the Morant Bay Urban Centre in St Thomas it represents a bright future for St Thomas and Jamaica as a whole The development reflects our Government’s commitment to building a prosperous and equitable society has the access to the opportunities to fulfil their dreams and aspirations,” he said is now rising as the beacon of Jamaica’s renaissance adding: “St Thomas is no longer overlooked; it is at the heart of our nation’s transformation.” He said the transformation of the Old Courthouse in Morant Bay where Paul Bogle “ignited the flames of justice during the Morant Bay Uprising” modern courthouse in the Morant Bay Urban Centre is fulfilling the vision of Bogle for a prosperous and just society including the new highway stretching from Harbour View to Port Antonio we are opening the whole eastern section of the island to a new frontier of economic growth and opportunity the section of the highway from Bull Bay to Morant Bay will be proudly named Paul Bogle Highway Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding highlighted the importance of Jamaicans honouring the legacy of their heroes “On each National Heroes’ Day we focus on and pay tribute to the courageous men and women who shaped our nation’s destiny and equality underpinned the struggles of our national heroes and on National Heroes’ Day we reaffirm our commitment to those everlasting principles,” he said Golding noted that the national heroes — who embodied the spirit of unity courage and determination — fought against injustice and their sacrifices changed the course of history in a positive direction towards emancipation and independence as a people “The stories of their lives highlight how we came to be the extraordinary nation we are The struggles and sacrifices they endured have gifted us our irrepressible resilience and our uniquely powerful creativity that is celebrated worldwide and love that create for us the unlimited opportunities of the present Their legacies continue to inspire us with hope in the greatness of our future,” he said Noting that social and economic justice are still elusive for many and the negative behaviours seen in the society reflect a lack of self-belief and self-love that still has to be overcome Golding noted that these challenges demand that we continue the work of our heroes ensuring a Jamaica where social and economic justice is a reality for all “We must honour our national heroes by rising above these challenges ensuring that all our people enjoy access to quality education and health care and economic opportunities for personal advancement We must honour their legacy by protecting the rights and dignity of every Jamaican,” he said Golding further urged Jamaicans to continue to honour their legacy by “confronting the lingering relics of colonialism including our head of State and our final appellate court.” “It is time to assert our full independence embracing the great institutions that we have helped to create as we build a future rooted in our own sovereignty and guided by our common history and shared vision as a region,” he said Voters in the Morant Bay and Aenon Town Divisions in St will head to the polls on November 22 to elect new Councillors This follows the deaths of former Morant Bay Councillor The announcement was made today (October 30) during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House by Minister of Local Government and Community Development who was accompanied by Mayor of Morant Bay Councillor Louis Chin and Mayor of May Pen McKenzie informed that Nomination Day for the bi-elections will be on November 6 The Minister urged electorates in both divisions to “go out and cast their votes” Jamaica — Tension between lawmen and political supporters in the Morant Bay Division remains inflamed as election day comes to an end An officer of the Jamaica Constabulary Force was again seen arguing loudly with green-clad Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters late Friday The ongoing issue between the JLP and People’s National Party (PNP) supporters and police is reportedly fuelled by a disagreement over where people are allowed to congregate Heated words were exchanged between some supporters and police with other voters forced to step in to urge calm READ : JLP supporters clash with police in Morant Bay Voting ended at 5:00 pm across all divisions and counting is expected to begin soon Chairman of the Morant Bay Urban Centre Development Managing Director of Factories Corporation of Jamaica Jamaica — Jamaica Labour Party councillor candidate for the Morant Bay Division Winston Downie was nominated at the Morant Bay Methodist Church on Queens Street in St Thomas on Wednesday for the November 22 by-election Downie went through the nomination process under the watchful eyes of party supporter Sophia Wynter and Returning Officer for St Thomas Eastern Dennis Cowie He was also flanked by party colleagues including Daryl and Annmarie Vaz The Morant Bay Division has been without a councillor since the death of Rohan Bryan on May 1 this year The voter turnout for the by-elections in Morant Bay Trelawny Southern and St Andrew North Western ranged from 2.65 to 19.01 per cent up to 11:00am on Friday which is being contested by the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Suzette Barton and the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Delroy Dawson has the highest voter turnout so far of 19.01 per cent The other local government by-election in St Thomas Eastern where the Jamaica Labour Party’s Winston Downie and the People’s National Party’s Rosemarie Shaw are battling it out for the Morant Bay Division which has been without a councillor since May this year the voter turnouts in the two parliamentary by-elections which the People’s National Party has boycotted are very low – 9.43 per cent in Trelawny Southern where the JLP’s Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert is expected to cruise to an easy victory and 2.65 per cent in St Andrew North West where the JLP’s Duane Smith is also expected to win The National Water Commission (NWC) is committed to ensuring a reliable water supply to Morant Bay and the growing town of East Prospect in St Thomas Eastern says Member of Parliament (MP) the NWC has identified key infrastructure improvements including rehabilitation of the relift station and upgrading of the distribution network This will involve the installation of new 200 millimetre (mm) and 250 mm pipelines from the Springfield facility to the Stanton tank,” she informed Charles pointed out that the relift station’s rehabilitation will include repairing the storage tank and supplying and installing new relift pumps for Morant Bay along with the addition of a generator and motor control centre The MP was making her contribution to the 2024/25 State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives recently Charles advised that several initiatives were undertaken to alleviate chronic water supply issues that plagued the Stanton Housing Scheme for a number of years included the allocation of more than $7.5 million to address pipeline defects and replace sections of pipelines to restore service to customers who have been without water for decades Charles said these interventions have enabled the Stanton Housing Scheme to now be supplied by the Spring Garden facility which produces approximately 95,000 imperial gallons of water daily Commuters taking advantage of the new routes rolled out by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) in St Thomas will be able to sign up for SmartFare cards in Morant Bay this week following a similar opportunity in Yallahs in late November Speaking with JIS News on Monday (December 2) – the first day of the new service – Acting Managing Director of the JUTC said that based on the response to the SmartFare card signup in Yallahs there were enough Smarter Cards sold to justify sending three buses to Yallahs,” Mr He further noted that he is expecting a similar feedback this week when the promotion is rolled out it in Morant Bay and advised that the date for that event will be published in the media The two buses that will operate in the parish are the 701 and the 702 which will leave from Yallahs Bay and Morant Bay disabled persons and senior citizens with SmartFare cards is $50 All passengers without a SmartFare card are to pay $200 for this route disabled persons and seniors with SmartFare cards will pay $100 and adults with SmartFare cards will pay $200 A form of identification is needed for the creation or replacement of SmartFare cards St Thomas was the only parish without a town clock in the country it came as a relief for myself and other residents of the parish when former mayor of Morant Bay took the initiative to install a digital clock which displays the date and temperature in the heart of Morant Bay over the past few months the setting on the clock has shifted and it is no longer displaying the correct date and time and other residents of the parish have to pass by the clock during their daily commute While the clock adds to the aesthetics of the township I believe that those who are now in charge need to ensure that it is properly maintained for the benefit of our parishioners and visitors I am therefore calling on the current mayor of Morant Bay to set the correct date and time on the town clock because the remote to do so is stationed at the St Thomas Municipal Corporation Our town clock is a legacy for all residents of St Thomas and setting the time is a gesture that would be appreciated by the residents of the parish the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) began operating in the parish JIS News observed the 702 just outside Colonel Cove on Wharf Road at 5:00 a.m On that first ride among the commuters were Acting Managing Director of the JUTC Owen Ellington; General Manager for the Rockfort Depot Michael James; and Member of Parliament for St Ellington expressed delight at the rolling out of the service in the Eastern parish “I am feeling good for the citizens of Morant Bay We would like to really make a difference in terms of how they are transported from here to Kingston and back the JUTC outlined that both the 701 and 702 will depart from Yallahs and Morant Bay at 5:00 a.m The buses will run throughout the day up to 7:50 p.m it will leave from Wharf Road outside Colonel Cove and make another stop at the Morant Bay Bus Park on Church Street it will leave Yallahs Square and then make a pickup at Albion Ellington said that the company will be making its assessments to see if adjustments to the schedule are necessary “The only adjustment we may make is if the commuter demands [or] dictates that we adjust the time for earlier or later there are two buses committed to this route and judging by possible load was also optimistic about the service for St Keri Thompson of Prospect in the parish works in Kingston and has been utilising the public transportation system for some time She was one of the first passengers on the 5:00 a.m “I was glad because the whole aspect of saving a dollar counts Comparing the price range that we’re [used] to to what is now being offered… it’s really a saver for me so probably I can save up to buy a car,” she said The young professional said that there are many benefits to choosing the JUTC it is a difference compared to what we’re used to in terms of the packing of the bus to now having the comfort at an affordable price We will stop being miserable,” she told JIS News Adrian Gordon of Trinityville was also eager to have the service in the parish of his birth “This is a good look for the parish because now we have more options for transportation Thomas is forgotten but look at us now,” he told JIS News With the introduction of two new Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) routes in St the Government is assessing appropriate facilities to ensure the safe and comfortable offering of the service in the parish Chief among them is the Church Street Transport Centre in Morant Bay which was one of the locations toured by Minister of Science is to be adjusted to accommodate the buses “[We are] looking at how we can do some adjustments to the layout of this site to allow for the buses to be able to come in here and turn and also to mark and [create] signage for the other bus routes and taxi routes,” the Minister said All it really requires is some planning in terms of some adjustment of the layout,” he added and then makes a stop on Church Street outside of the Transport Centre While the Church Street facility is formal Vaz noted that the Wharf Road stop is informal and “does not have the facilities and poses a danger to safety and security so that also is something that we’re looking at” “This is a collaboration among the Municipal Corporation the Mayor and the Members of Parliament to work with the team to make sure that we come up with something that is doable and workable in the shortest possible time,” the Minister said Vaz expressed concern that the town does not have a transport centre “and it is quite a bit of public transportation in the township” has indicated that there is a possibility that there may be a site at the old market in Yallahs We’ll have discussions with the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Corporation to see whether or not that could actually be used as a dual purpose both as a market and transport centre,” Mr Get the latest news & updates from the JIS sent to your inbox.