Prime Minister Andrew Holness has sought to assure those concerned about tougher crime measures being contemplated by his administration, saying there's no intention to proceed unreasonably.

Jamaica Zoo has been ordered closed by the National Environment and Planning Agency, NEPA.

In a historic first, a jury sitting in the Supreme Court has convicted a lottery scammer in Jamaica.

The man, Kemar Townsend, was convicted this week in the St. Catherine Circuit Court of lottery scamming and money laundering.

The trial, which lasted two-weeks, was presided over by Justice Bertram Morrison.

The jury returned the unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for less than an hour.

Townsend was found guilty of the offences of Conspiracy to Obtain Money by False Pretence, Engaging in a transaction involving Criminal Property and Possession of Criminal Property.

The complainant, a seventy-two year-old United States citizen, testified that she received several telephone calls from at least two persons informing her that she had won the lottery: a total of US$682-million, three motor vehicles and $297,000.00 USD in refund.

She testified that she was instructed by one of the callers that the funds were being housed in Jamaica and therefore she had to send money to Jamaica to claim her prizes.

The complainant on 3 separate occasions sent money to a local bank account held by the accused, Kemar Townsend.

On December 14, 2017, the complainant sent US$9-thousand, on December 21, that same year the complainant sent US$10-thousand and on January 3, 2018, she sent $25-thousand to Townsend’s local bank account.

Townsend gave evidence that he thought the money received in his bank account were sent by his lover who resided in Switzerland as his lover would usually send large sums of cash to him.

He further testified that he did not know that these sums were sent by the complainant nor that they were criminal property.

He indicated that he was expecting funds from his lover around the same time that the complainant sent the money to his bank account.

LOCAL Government Minister Desmond McKenzie announced on Wednesday that his ministry will be spending $370 million to patch and rehabilitate roads in urban, high-traffic, and large residential areas, under a parochial road patching programme.

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang described Thursday’s killing of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) politician Lennox Hinds as a hit.

Hinds, who was councillor/caretaker for the Southborough Division in the St Catherine Southern constituency, was shot dead just as he was about to enter the Portmore toll road at the intersection of Marcus Garvey Drive in his Honda CRV.

Hinds, a major JLP organiser in Portmore and the wider St Catherine, was shot by men driving motorcycles. It is believed he was trailed by the motorcyclists.

The incident caused a massive pile-up of traffic entering the toll road as police processed the crime scene. Police later asked motorists who are heading towards Portmore, St Catherine, from Hagley Park Road in Kingston, to divert to Spanish Town Road.

Commenting on the murder on Twitter Thursday night, Government Senator Natalie Campbell-Rodriques said: “I am sad! I cannot believe that Lennox Hinds is gone. A life taken just like that. May his soul rest in peace.”

“Lennox Hinds. Jah Jah!!!!!!,” was the reaction on Twitter by Robert Morgan, the information minister.

Hinds was employed to the Island Traffic Authority as a motor vehicle examiner.

In 2007, he was charged with murder following the killing of a man and injuring of two other people in Portmore. The incident occurred during the run-up to the general election that year.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has confirmed that its ship “Harmony of the Seas” crashed into the Falmouth pier in Trelawny as it attempted to dock on Thursday.

In videos posted to social media, cruise ship passengers could be heard screaming as the ship made contact with the concrete mooring pylon.

“During arrival in Falmouth, Jamaica, Harmony of the Seas made contact with an extension part of the dock,” a statement from a Royal Caribbean representative read.

The spokesperson also reported that the ship sustained only minor injuries to its stern which was repaired the same day.

It’s unclear how much damage was done to the pier and what provisions would be made to repair it.

No injuries were reported.

The ship left Jamaica at approximately 4 pm Thursday as it continued its sailing schedule.

Harmony of the Seas is the third largest cruise ship in the world, weighing in at 226,963 tons and carrying up to 6,410 passengers.

The Port Authority of Jamaica said that they will be releasing a statement in short order.

 At least 50 bullets were fired by the gunmen who killed three people and injured two others during the attack in Rose Heights, St James on Wednesday.