Police probe bold Scotiabank ABM cash theft in Portmore

Police have launched a major investigation into what appears to be a sophisticated theft at the Scotiabank automated banking machine servicing room on Britain Parkway in Portmore, St. Catherine. Investigators believe the break-in occurred sometime between 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.

A security guard patrolling the compound reportedly found the access door to the servicing room open and alerted management. Surveillance footage allegedly shows several men dressed in black arriving in a grey Nissan Latio sedan with its licence plate obscured. The men are said to have entered the room, used security access codes to open four ABM safes, and removed an undetermined sum of cash. Preliminary checks found no signs of forced entry.

Access to the servicing room is restricted to specialist staff from Beryllium, the firm responsible for servicing the machines; banking staff do not have entry. Investigators have determined that only the cash cassettes holding larger denominations, along with the cassette containing US currency, were emptied. Each safe is reportedly capable of holding more than $20 million. The suspects allegedly wore gloves during the operation.

In Clarendon, police are searching for a man in connection with the fatal stabbing of shop operator Errol Nelson, 67, of Brandon Hill, Kellits. Reports are that about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nelson was at his shop playing dominoes and gambling with the suspect when an argument escalated. During the dispute, the suspect allegedly used a sharp object to stab Nelson before fleeing the scene.

Jamaica Environmental Trust founder Diana McCauley is pushing back against any consideration of nuclear technology as a solution to the country's energy crisis, as Jamaica explores options to address its energy challenges. The Government has said nuclear technology could form part of the future energy mix within the next 10 years, alongside changes to the Jamaica Public Service licence. McCauley cited concerns about radioactive waste, long construction timelines, the limited global deployment of small modular reactors, and the need for strong regulation and enforcement—areas where she believes Jamaica has shown weaknesses. She contends that, at the country's current stage of development, nuclear is not suited to the island and that renewable energy should sit at the centre of the strategy, pointing to falling solar and wind costs and their ability to be decentralised when storms leave parts of the island without power for weeks or months.

Residents of several communities in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, are calling on the National Water Commission to address what they describe as a water crisis. They say supply problems have persisted since Hurricane Beryl struck nearly three years ago and that Hurricane Melissa has made matters worse. Some report receiving only a trickle in recent days, with difficulties dating back to 28 October last year. Despite repeated visits and calls to NWC offices, they say they have been met with promises but no lasting fix. Residents add that they have been forced to buy water or depend on neighbours while still receiving monthly bills, including one account cited at $37,000 with no service. Senior citizens among those affected say the lack of reliable water is also raising sanitation concerns.

The Accident and Emergency unit at Falmouth Hospital is expected to reopen in about another month, according to Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton. He made the disclosure after touring facilities in western Jamaica hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa. Tufton said ward space should be fully ready at that time, with the team reporting about 20 beds—down from roughly 147 before the hurricane and 77 when he took office. He suggested total capacity could reach about 160 to 165 beds once additional work is complete. Meanwhile, the Catherine Hall Health Centre is operational again. Tufton said about 90% of services have been restored, with the facility serving up to about 90 patients per day, and that dental care should resume within another week or two once a chair is installed.