Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday; Road Traffic Act; Ian Hayles; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday, January 26, 2023 House to pass Road Traffic (Reprieve and Nullification of Prescribed Notices) Act The Minister of Transport, Audley Shaw, will take the Road Traffic (Reprieve and Nullification of Prescribed Notices) Act through all its stages when the House of Representatives meets today. This comes just six days before the [new Road Traffic Act with its far more punitive fines]( for road traffic breaches takes effect. It also comes with just six days left for motorists with [outstanding traffic tickets]( to pay the existing fines to prevent them from being transferred to the new Traffic Ticket Management System (TTMS). On Monday, the Judiciary acknowledged concerns raised by members of the public who have complained that despite paying the fines for their traffic tickets, the tickets remain on the TTMS as unpaid. Court Administration Jamaica (CAD) said that in some instances, persons have indicated that these fines were paid in court. “The Judiciary will be moving swiftly to have this issue rectified, particularly in those circumstances where persons paid for their traffic tickets at court offices across the island,” the CAD said. Where persons have paid their traffic ticket fines at court offices and those tickets are still reflected on the TTMS as unpaid, those persons are being asked to do the following: -Persons who are still in possession of their receipts are asked to send copies of those receipts to customerservice@cad.gov.jm. The information on the receipt will go through a verification process and upon satisfactory completion of same, the TTMS will be updated to reflect the payment with an indication that the matter was disposed of. - Persons who are no longer in possession of their receipts are asked to email their names, TRNs, and where available, the month and year the ticket was paid for. Internal checks will be made and once the information is found, the TTMS will be updated to reflect same. Persons may also contact the CAD at 876-754-8337 for additional information on this matter. Big jump in fuel prices Motorists [will pay more for gasoline and diesel fuel]( when they fill up at the pumps, effective today, according to the latest ex-refinery costs from Petrojam, the state-owned oil refinery. With both grades of gasoline up by $4.50, 87-octane gasoline will be sold for $167.91 per litre while 90-octane gasoline will be sold for $171.89 per litre. Automotive diesel fuel will be sold for $213.34 per litre after an increase of $4.50 and ultra-low sulphur diesel will be sold for $221.26 per litre, also up by $4.50. Petrojam says kerosene increased by $4.50 and will be sold for $219.04 per litre. Propane liquid petroleum will be sold for $68.11 per litre, up by $3.06 and butane liquid petroleum will be sold for $76.20 per litre after an increase of $3.06. Marketing companies and retailers will add their respective mark-up to these prices. OUR hosts regional media workshop on electric vehicle market The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) in Jamaica will be putting the spotlight on the [growing electric vehicle market]( and considerations for its viability when it hosts a regional media workshop today. The virtual workshop, which will be held under the theme, “Electric Vehicle – the Road to a new Market?” aims to highlight the viable path for greater use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Caribbean as well as the mutual goals of governments, utilities, manufacturers and consumers, and regulators. Specialists and major stakeholders in the market will exchange views and ideas on their areas of expertise regarding a growth model for Caribbean E-mobility. Perspectives will be shared by the Consumer Advisory Committee on Utilities, OUR, Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, Mega-Power 365 (Barbados), Xergy and Flash motors (Canada) and NTCSgreenbee (Netherlands). Journalists will have an opportunity to interact with panelists. Topics to be discussed will include ‘The Obstacles and Opportunities to Investing in the EV market’, ‘The Regulatory Framework for EV charging’ and ‘The Role of Renewables in Achieving e-mobility targets throughout the Caribbean as well as the consumer perspective’. Advertisement Africa less safe, democratic than 10 years ago - report A new report on African governance finds much of the continent is “less safe, secure and democratic” than it was 10 years ago, citing a surge in military coups and armed conflicts. The democratic backsliding now threatens to reverse [decades of progress made in Africa]( according to an index of governance compiled by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation that notes 23 successful and attempted coups since 2012. “This phenomenon of coup d’etats that was common in the ’80s seems to have become fashionable again in certain parts of Africa,” said Ibrahim, a British billionaire born in Sudan who is using his fortune to promote democracy and political accountability in Africa. His foundation’s report cited eight successful coups just since 2019. Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso have seen two each during that time, further destabilising a part of the world already under siege by Islamic militants. The report’s authors also found overall security problems pervasive: Over the past decade, nearly 70 per cent of Africans saw security and rule of law decrease in their countries, they said. More than 30 countries declined in this category, according to the index. South Sudan ranked at the bottom, followed by Somalia, Eritrea, Congo, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Burundi, Libya and Equatorial Guinea. Australia could deny Ye entry over antisemitism A senior Australian government minister said Wednesday that rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, [could be refused a visa due to antisemitic comments if he attempts to visit Australia](. Education Minister Jason Clare was responding to media reports that the US celebrity intends to visit the family of new Australian partner Bianca Censori in Melbourne next week. Clare said he did not know if Ye had applied for a visa but that Australia has previously refused them to people with antisemitic views. "I expect that if he does apply, he would have to go through the same process and answer the same questions" as others who've aired such views, Clare told Nine Network television. Last month, Ye praised Hitler in an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Twitter later suspended Ye after he tweeted a picture of a swastika merged with the Star of David. Australia's Migration Act sets security and character requirements for non-citizens to enter the country. Any decision on whether Ye gets an Australian visa would be made by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, whose office said he could not comment on individual cases due to privacy reasons. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: Heavy police presence at Ocho Rios lock-up after standoff with inmates There was a [standoff between inmates and lawmen at the Ocho Rios police station]( in St Ann on Wednesday evening. Ian Hayles denies wrongdoing after being referred to police Former Hanover Western Member of Parliament, the People’s National Party’s Ian Hayles is [denying any wrongdoing]( after the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) referred him to the police for further investigation into fraud and conspiracy allegations. BOJ equipped for enlarged role, says Byles Central bank Governor, Richard Byles says the bank has the competence to take on its enlarged role, which involves [regulating non-bank financial entities alongside deposit-taking institutions]( (DTI). CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY President Clinton: 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman' On [this day]( in 1998, US President Bill Clinton says "I want to say one thing to the American people: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky". He acknowledges a relationship some months later. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.