6 Things You Need To Know Today

Your news in a nutshell

1. Pushback for PEP
2. Wheatley assistant was NESol signing officer
3. Bog Walk gorge closed
4. Chucky Brown trial: Top cop to be subpoenaed
5. New life for ‘Frog City’
6. Big boost for Ocho Rios

1. Pushback for PEP

The decision by the education ministry to push back the Performance Task component of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination until March 2019 is being praised by both parents and teachers. It was originally scheduled to be done in December. See full story on The Gleaner’s website.

2. Wheatley assistant was NeSOL signing officer

Sophia Deer, an assistant to former Energy, Science and Technology Minister Andrew Wheatley, and a director on the board of National Energy Solutions Limited (NESol), was a signatory for cheques to contractors for work done on behalf of the agency. See full story on The Gleaner’s website.

3. Bog Walk gorge closed

The Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine has been closed. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management says it made the decision to close the gorge for public safety reasons as rainfall continues in the hilly sections of St Catherine causing water levels in the Rio Cobre to rise. See full story on The Gleaner’s website.

4. Chucky Brown trial: Top cop to be subpoenaed

Justice Vivienne Harris, who is presiding at the trial for police constable Collis ‘Chucky’ Brown, today indicated she will be ordering that a subpoena is issued for the head of the Clarendon Police, Senior Superintendent Vendolyn Cameron-Powell, to appear in court. See full story on The Gleaner’s website.

5. New life for ‘Frog City’

The long wait for the construction of housing units in Maxfield Park, St Andrew on lands known as ‘Frog City’ is over as Prime Minister Andrew Holness along with Member of Parliament for East Central St Andrew Dr Peter Phillips today broke ground for the initial infrastructural work to facilitate the 210 housing solutions. See full story on The Gleaner’s website.

6. Big boost for Ocho Rios

After four years of operating in Jamaica, the Mexican entity Palace Resorts is to spend US$270 million to expand its footprint in the island. The hotel brand will design and construct a new property with an additional 750 rooms following the purchase of the Rooms on the Beach property in Ocho Rios, St Ann. See full story on The Gleaner’s website.