Papine Market murder probe, JCF body cameras and Integrity Commission court fight lead Jamaica news

Police in St. Andrew Central are questioning a suspect in Friday’s fatal shooting of Papine Market manager Colleen Bernard, also known as Sonia. The man, who was shot by an off-duty policeman while trying to flee, remains in hospital under police guard. Police said a Taurus pistol and a magazine with nine rounds were recovered from him.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Fipps, who heads Area Four, said the police presence around Papine Market helped officers respond quickly. He said investigators are interviewing the suspect to determine a motive and whether others were involved. Bernard was reportedly collecting market fees from shop operators about 3:50 p.m. when she was attacked and shot several times. The gunman was challenged by a policeman, and the exchange continued along Hope Road towards Hope Gardens, where he was wounded. Bernard and the suspect were taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where she died.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said the Government’s policy on body-worn cameras for the Jamaica Constabulary Force is settled, with plans to assign a camera to every police officer within three years. He said about 1,000 cameras are already deployed, another 1,000 are being procured, and more are being pursued. Holness said full rollout also depends on training, broadband, data storage and systems to protect footage for evidentiary use.

In another matter, the Government has gone to the Supreme Court to block the Integrity Commission from obtaining employment files from the Ministry of Health and Wellness during a corruption probe linked to the Jamaica-Cuba Eye Care programme. The case, filed on March 23, involves Attorney General representatives, Permanent Secretary Errol Green, the Integrity Commission and investigations director Kevin Stevenson.

The dispute concerns eight personnel files sought in an investigation into alleged irregularities in contracts for renovations of six Kingston apartments. The ministry provided procurement records but refused to hand over the files, citing privacy concerns. The matter was last heard on May 15 before Justice Sonia Wint-Blair and is to continue on June 11. The commission says the files are needed for possible handwriting samples, banking details and contact information, while the Government argues that disclosure could breach public officers’ constitutional privacy rights.