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JAMAICA: Canines, Worthy Partners in Fighting Crimes

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#Jamaica, April 30, 2018  – Kingston – It is said that a dog is a man’s best friend, and for the police they are also worthy partners in the fight against crime.  Dogs have become a critical part of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) crime management strategy, particularly in the detection of illegal narcotics, firearms, and ammunition.

In recognition of the important role these animals play in this and other areas, the Government has moved to boost the capacity of the JCF’s Canine Division, having acquired 16 additional dogs between November 2017 and April 2018. This now brings the complement of highly trained dogs to 61.

Head of the Division, Superintendent of Police, Dalton Wright, boasts that the dogs, along with their human counterparts, “have been doing a tremendous job”.

“We have found (many) firearms, and illegal drugs (such as cocaine and ganja) and we have been doing (various activities) for safety purposes,” he tells JIS News.

He explains that the Division, which comprises 50 per cent dogs and the other half humans, also specialises in carrying out search and rescue operations, as well as a cadaver service, which involves locating human remains.

“Our cadaver dogs have been working marvellously, in the sense that they have been finding a lot of human remains that are connected to various crimes. So they help in the crime-fighting machinery that we have in Jamaica, and will continue to do so,” he assures.

He notes that operations are normally carried out at both international airports in Kingston and St. James; the Central Sorting Office; the Kingston Wharf; and the Kingston Freeport Terminal Ltd.

“We also do commercial checks at cruise-ship piers, (and offer) Very Important Person (VIP) protective services,” he says, adding that the dogs of the Labrador, German Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel  and Golden Retriever breeds, are also trained to locate explosives.

Between January 1, 2011 and April 21, 2018, the division’s numerous operations led to the arrest of 193 foreigners and locals.

“The persons were arrested for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act, and the cases were brought before the court and disposed of,” Superintendent Whyte informs.

There were 224 drug detections, including cocaine amounting to 378.7lb; marijuana – 8,480.47lb; hashish – 292.75 ounces; hash oil – 656 ounces; and liquid cocaine – 14 quarts.  Also, during the period, the Division seized cash totalling $328,505 in local currency; and United States currency valuing US$32,520. Two motor vehicles were also seized.

In 2015, the division carried out 48 operations that led to the discovery of 117 weapons and several rounds of ammunition. These included 116 A1 rifles; one Smith and Wesson handgun; fourteen 5.56 cartridges; three .38 cartridges; 53 nine millimetre cartridges and two 9 millimetre magazines.

In terms of search and rescue operations, in 2016, the canines were instrumental in recovering the bodies of two American missionaries in a shallow grave. The men were allegedly murdered in St. Mary.

“The drugs, firearm and ammunition found were sent to the Government Forensic Laboratory for testing… (and) the contraband was destroyed in accordance with Force Policy,” Superintendent Whyte explains.

Newly appointed Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says he is impressed with the work of the Division and pledged further support.

“It is a well-run unit. I think the officers in charge are capable (and) competent,” he told journalists during a tour of the facility at its Deanery Road location in Kingston on April 20.

The Minister informs that there are plans to import additional dogs to ensure there is an adequate number to carry out all the Division’s operations.

“We will have to expand the number… . We need a squad of about 82 trained dogs, organised between narcotics and firearm detection skills,” he says.  He notes that this is necessary given that the techniques being used by criminals involved in arms and drugs are getting more sophisticated.

Seven of the recently acquired dogs were sourced through dog-training company based in the United States of America (US), Stellar K-9.  Stellar K-9 trainer Steven Thompson tells JIS News that the dogs, which were brought in from Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, were trained in detecting firearms, ammunition, and spent-shell casings.  Other dogs housed at the Division were also sourced from Colombia and the US.

“They’ll be able to go into a homicide scene or a scene-of-crime and detect spent shells from a shooting (for example) that the detectives weren’t able to find,” he says.  He notes that the company will be bringing in two more dogs that will be trained in criminal apprehension, human tracking and firearm detection.

During the tour, Mr. Thompson and his partner gave a comprehensive demonstration on the expertise of what he termed “dual purpose” dogs.

“We demonstrated patrol work, which is criminal apprehension and complete obedience.  Each dog needs to be trained on full obedience in order to get to the next level of training,”

The dog kennels at the Division were refurbished and expanded at a cost of $11.7 million last year.  The expansion will increase the capacity of kennels from 70 to 105 and is to be completed this year.

Minister Chang was joined on the tour by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dianne McIntosh; Commissioner of Police, Antony Anderson, and other JCF personnel.

 

By: Alecia Smith (BIS)

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New Tilapia Hatchery Slated for Completion Later This Year

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#Kingston, Jamaica, March 27, 2024 – The new tilapia hatchery under construction in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, is slated for completion towards the end of 2024.

The 12,000 sq. ft. facility, being built at a cost of approximately $574 million, is intended to address the major issue of shortages in good-quality seed stock for fish farmers islandwide.

Manager for the Promoting Community-based Climate Resilience in the Fisheries Sector Project, Selena Ledgister, says the hatchery’s establishment is critical for securing a sustainable fisheries sector.

“Construction is on in earnest and we are looking before the year is out – which would be by around September or October – to complete the building part of it. The Project will be supporting the purchase and installation of the recirculating aquaculture system. This system will provide over five million advanced fries (young fish) per year, using the recirculating aquaculture system,” she told JIS News.

The bio-secure climate-resilient modular hatchery, being developed in partnership with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), will feature a solar standby generator, plumbing system, rehabilitated guard host and administrative building.

Mrs. Ledgister said the hatchery, to be built and operated under environmentally friendly conditions, will impact the lives of fish farmers islandwide.

“I believe we have over 120 aquaculture farmers, and that number is growing; so, this will benefit the industry significantly. The hatchery is also expected to cushion the demand for fish. Fish farmers will also get the supply of advanced fries to restock their ponds. This is a significant impact that the Climate Resilience Project, as well as JSIF, will be creating for the Jamaican fish farmers,” she said.

 

Contact: Twila Wheelan

Release: JIS

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Trust Fund for Poor Children Born On or After August 6, 2022

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#Kingston, Jamaica, March 27, 2024 – Children born on or after the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence, who are wards of the State or beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), will be eligible for the Jamaica 60 HOPE (Hope, Opportunity, Prosperity and Empowerment) For Children Trust Fund.

Jamaica celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on August 6, 2022.

In his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 21, Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, said the purpose of the Fund is to help to close the wealth gap and address the issue of intergenerational poverty by creating a trust account specifically catered to vulnerable children.

“The HOPE for Children Trust Fund will provide each eligible child with a long-term savings account funded through annual contributions from the Government. Parents, guardians or other donors will also be able to make deposits into the account for the future benefit of any specific child,” Mr. Holness said.

The accumulated funds, including interest, will be accessible on or after the child’s 18th birthday, for specific purposes such as education, purchase of a home or commercial property or investment in a business.

“The central idea behind the programme is to provide children with a lump sum to start them in life upon attaining adulthood. Our initial target is a lump sum of between $600,000 and $800,000, to be available on the 18th birthday of any eligible child,” Mr. Holness said.

He noted that the Government will also explore alternatives to establish and manage the Fund, adding that it could form part of the National Insurance Fund or be administered by private insurance companies.

“This is, I believe, a ground-breaking initiative to truly grapple with inequality in the society. From a historical perspective, there are many households who have no endowment in Jamaica, meaning that they can’t look towards anything bequeathed to them from their family. There is no asset being passed down to them from generation. The only way that they are able to create any wealth is through their labour, through the dint of their effort – literally pulling themselves up by their bootstraps,” Mr. Holness said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that as the economy grows, the Government has a responsibility to take instrumental and decisive steps to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and correct structural inequalities.

“The intention here is great, the amount may be considered small, but it is the first step in the right direction to truly create a more equitable society,” Mr. Holness said.

 

Contact: Judana Murphy

Release: JIS

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Port Royal Museum to Open in May

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#Kingston, Jamaica, March 26, 2024 – The long-awaited Port Royal Museum is expected to be opened in May of this year, with the first exhibit set to be unveiled at the event.

Construction of the two-storey facility, which will be the first fit-for-purpose museum erected in Jamaica, was done at a cost of $788 million with funding from the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ).

Major work on the building was completed in December 2023, with finishing touches and furnishings left to be done.

Director of the National Museum Jamaica (NMJ), Dr. Jonathan Greenland, told JIS News in an interview that the new museum will replace the older and much smaller facility at Fort Charles.

“It didn’t touch all the subject areas… so we lobbied for the Port Authority to collaborate with us and develop a museum in Port Royal, and so they’ve actually constructed a huge building with restaurant facilities, lots of parking, multifunctional space and meeting rooms, shops and everything that a modern museum should have,” he said.

The museum will also be fully accessible to members of the disabled community with wheelchair ramps and an elevator.

Dr. Greenland added that the location of the museum is also of notable significance to the history of the sunken city.

“Right on the spot where the museum is going to be, there was a rebellion of the enslaved workers from the dockyard. The leader of the rebellion or uprising was a skilled bricklayer and when you look at the walls around the whole area where the dockyard used to be, he was probably involved in building that,” he said.

He further pointed out that the museum will present a new opportunity for the NMJ to attract even more visitors and facilitate cultural tourism.

“We’re very excited…. and you know Port Royal is a very interesting place and the history is fascinating. We always had loads of visitors from all around the world without doing any marketing whatsoever, and this is going to be a whole different level of merchandising, marketing and tourism. This is fascinating history and it’s going to be quite dramatic,” Dr. Greenland told JIS News.

 

Contact : Jermi-Lee Nelson

Release : JIS

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