News Briefs

US$284m loss in queen conch earnings

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing of queen conch has cost the country an estimated US$284 million over the past 20 years.

This has also resulted in the decline of Jamaica’s queen conch population, which led to a two-year closure of the fishery at Pedro Bank, contributing to annual losses of approximately US$6 million in direct export earnings and the haemorrhage of 5,500 jobs.

The disclosure was made by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw during his address at the Meeting of Ministers responsible for Fisheries and Blue Economic Growth on IUU Fishing and Organized Crime on Monday.

Spiny lobsters, which earns Jamaica US$6 million annually, were also identified as another heavily targeted area by foreign poachers. Approximately 4,000 Jamaicans are employed in the industry.

“Estimates based on an analysis of the catch of spiny lobsters from illegal foreign fishing vessels apprehended indicate that berried spiny lobsters constitute an average of 10 per cent of their catch,” Shaw said.

Police still yet to get dozens of used cars

At least 30 used cars or $100m in refunds are still due to the police, four years after a botched contractual arrangement between the Ministry of National Security and O'Brien's International Car Sales and Rentals.

The company was contracted to supply 200 vehicles to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Acting chairman of Parliament's Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), Fitz Jackson, slammed the Government on Tuesday for “allowing taxpayers' money to be squandered” when millions were paid to O'Brien's to acquire the vehicles.

The startling revelation came from Courtney Williams, permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security, when representatives from the ministry appeared before the PAAC.

The committee is examining the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure that is now before the House of Representatives.

US fugitive fined

American fugitive Garfield Sewell Jr was, on Tuesday, fined $8,000 or face the threat of one month's imprisonment for overstaying his time in Jamaica.

He was sentenced in the St Ann Parish Court.

Sewell arrived in Jamaica on a cruise ship on September 13 under the name Eric Lott.

He was held in Brown's Town, St Ann, on September 25.

In court Tuesday, it was established that his real name is Garfield Antonio Michael Sewell Jr and not Eric Lott.

Sewell, who was born in Rochester, New York, told the court that he wished to return to the US and was expected to pay the fine.

The 20-year-old, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, is to remain in custody until he is able to return to the US where authorities say he is wanted for murder.