作者: admin

  • US donates computers to Tobago school

    US donates computers to Tobago school

    In a significant demonstration of international educational partnership, the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has provided substantial technological resources to Roxborough Anglican Primary School in Tobago. The donation, valued at $25,000 USD, was formally presented on December 5th through the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain as part of SOUTHCOM’s Humanitarian Assistance Program.

    The comprehensive educational package included ten complete computer workstations with desktop computers, desks, and chairs, accompanied by uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) to ensure consistent operation. The contribution further encompassed a printer, ten whiteboards, a refrigerator, microwave oven, and various stationery supplies designed to enhance the learning environment and promote digital literacy among students.

    U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz personally delivered the equipment to School Principal Verlene John during a ceremony held at the Union Street institution. The event was attended by multiple dignitaries including Dale Hercules (representing Tobago East’s Member of Parliament), School Manager Fr. Shaquille Charles, Parent-Teacher Association Vice President Michelle Duke, along with faculty members and students.

    Dr. de Ortiz emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative, stating: “This contribution strengthens the enduring partnership between our nations while investing directly in Trinidad and Tobago’s future. Education serves as the fundamental building block for opportunity and prosperity, and we take pride in supporting the empowerment of coming generations.”

    Principal John expressed profound gratitude for the donation, confirming that the computer systems would be integrated across all grade levels, significantly expanding digital access and learning opportunities for the entire student body. This outreach initiative represents ongoing efforts by SOUTHCOM to support educational development and strengthen international relations through humanitarian assistance programs.

  • Robert Minott gains buzz with ‘Link Up’ on Pretty Little Baby instrumental remake

    Robert Minott gains buzz with ‘Link Up’ on Pretty Little Baby instrumental remake

    Jamaican-American reggae performer Robert Minott is experiencing a remarkable resurgence as his newest single ‘Link Up’ generates substantial buzz across American music markets. The track, built upon a reinterpretation of the classic 1960s ‘Pretty Little Baby’ rhythm instrumental, has sparked particular enthusiasm in major urban centers including Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

    Minott attributes the song’s accelerating popularity to multiple factors: ‘The phenomenal response stems from both the recognizable rhythm pattern—previously utilized in Elephant Man’s remake of Connie Francis’s hit—and strategic support from TikTok content creators who have incorporated the sound into their viral content.’

    The original 1962 Connie Francis composition has experienced a contemporary revival through Instagram’s social media landscape, where users create nostalgic visual montages featuring vintage fashion aesthetics and family-oriented content. This digital resurgence has created an ideal environment for Minott’s musical offering.

    In response to the growing demand, Minott has accelerated production plans for a complementary music video. The artist recently delivered a performance at California’s Cali Radfest in Vista, backed by a live reggae ensemble alongside notable acts including Indica Roots, Tafari Watkiess, The Shroomz, and The Hidden City.

    With deep roots in reggae’s legacy as nephew of the late Sugar Minott, Robert brings substantial credibility to the contemporary scene. Born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, before relocating to the United States in 1974, he released his debut album ‘All I Have Is Love’ in 1988. Throughout his career, Minott has shared stages with iconic reggae figures including Burning Spear, Shaggy, Maxi Priest, and Ziggy Marley.

    His previous successful singles include ‘Right Man Fi Yuh’, which achieved notable chart performance on New York and South Florida reggae rankings, and a collaborative rendition of ‘Silver Words’ featuring rapper Kirkie KBZ that expanded his audience in Jamaica. The 2014 album ‘Splendid Woman’ represents his most recent full-length project prior to this current viral breakthrough.

  • Trump reignites ‘soccer vs football’ debate at World Cup 2026 draw

    Trump reignites ‘soccer vs football’ debate at World Cup 2026 draw

    WASHINGTON — In a notable departure from diplomatic protocol, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited the transatlantic linguistic debate surrounding the world’s most popular sport during the World Cup 2026 drawing ceremony at the Kennedy Center. The occasion marked Trump’s recognition as the inaugural recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize, where during an on-stage Q&A session, he challenged America’s conventional naming practices.

    Trump articulated his perspective with characteristic directness: “The United States seems to never call it that because we have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that’s called ‘football.’ But when you think about it… shouldn’t it really be called—I mean, this is football. There’s no question about that. We have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff. It really doesn’t make sense.”

    This intervention revives a centuries-old discussion that has divided sports enthusiasts across English-speaking nations. Contrary to popular belief that Americans independently ‘Americanized’ the term, historical research presented in the New York Post indicates the term ‘soccer’ actually originated in 19th century England as Oxford slang for ‘association football’ before crossing the Atlantic.

    University of Michigan sports management professor Stefan Szymanski, a noted authority on football terminology, has documented how both terms coexisted in Britain until approximately the 1970s, when ‘football’ became dominant in the UK while ‘soccer’ established itself firmly in North American vernacular. The linguistic divergence represents more than mere terminology—it reflects cultural identity, historical development, and global sporting perspectives that continue to evolve as the sport grows in American popularity.

  • JLP Central Executive to discuss intensifying Hurricane recovery efforts

    JLP Central Executive to discuss intensifying Hurricane recovery efforts

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) convened its Central Executive meeting Sunday morning at the party’s Belmont Road headquarters in St Andrew, marking the first gathering of the party’s highest decision-making body since the September 3 general elections.

    The emergency session, chaired by Party Chairman Robert Montague, Member of Parliament for St Mary West, focused primarily on developing enhanced strategies to support citizens devastated by Hurricane Melissa. JLP Communication Taskforce Chairman Senator Abka Fitz-Henley addressed media representatives prior to the closed-door meeting, emphasizing the urgency of the recovery efforts.

    Despite progress in restoring basic services—with approximately 70% of the population regaining access to running water and 80% having electricity reconnected—Senator Fitz-Henley acknowledged that statistical improvements provide little comfort to those still without essential utilities. The destruction of numerous small businesses has compounded the crisis, requiring immediate and comprehensive intervention.

    The governing party recognizes the particular significance of accelerating recovery efforts with Christmas and New Year celebrations approaching. Fitz-Henley stated the JLP’s commitment to ‘bringing as much convenience to the lives of our people as is possible’ during this challenging period.

    Prime Minister and JLP Leader Dr. Andrew Holness delivered the keynote address at the meeting, outlining the government’s roadmap for helping Jamaicans ‘build back stronger’ from the natural disaster. The party leadership emphasized that conventional political operations must yield to prioritized disaster response, recognizing their institutional responsibility to stand in solidarity with citizens facing adversity.

  • MP calls for end to ‘overcrowding’ at Annotto Bay lock-up amid death of inmate

    MP calls for end to ‘overcrowding’ at Annotto Bay lock-up amid death of inmate

    Jamaican parliamentarian Christopher Brown has issued a forceful appeal for immediate governmental intervention following a reported fatality at the Annotto Bay Police Station lock-up in St Mary. The Member of Parliament for St Mary South Eastern characterized the incident as a direct consequence of a severe and long-ignored overcrowding crisis within the detention facility.

    In an official statement released on Saturday, Brown emphasized that while he awaits a comprehensive briefing from investigators, any loss of life under state custody is profoundly alarming and demands urgent rectification. He revealed that the station’s lock-up, originally designed to humanely accommodate a maximum of 12 individuals, has been housing nearly 50 detainees—a staggering 400% beyond its intended capacity.

    Brown condemned the prevailing conditions as ‘unsafe, unsanitary and unacceptable,’ warning that such extreme congestion inevitably escalates tensions, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of both those detained and the police officers on duty. The environment, he argued, creates a tinderbox for conflict and fails to meet basic standards of human dignity.

    Beyond calling for a transparent and immediate investigation into the specific death, the MP outlined a three-pronged demand for systemic reform. This includes urgent measures to decongest the Annotto Bay facility, a thorough review of national detainee housing protocols, and the formulation of a clear, actionable improvement plan from authorities to prevent future tragedies.

    Expanding his critique to a constituency-wide infrastructure crisis, Brown also pressed the Ministry of National Security to address the dilapidated state of other police stations, specifically citing the Belfield Police Station as being in ‘a state of total disrepair’ and raising concerns about the Richmond Police Station. He urged the ministry to allocate necessary resources to ensure all policing facilities provide safe and humane environments for personnel and detainees alike.

    The incident has prompted parallel investigations by both the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB), underscoring the seriousness of the allegations.

  • JPS named CACU utility provider of the year

    JPS named CACU utility provider of the year

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) has received the prestigious Utility Provider of the Year award, marking the first presentation of this honor by the Consumer Advisory Committee on Utilities (CACU) in collaboration with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).

    This distinguished accolade celebrates JPS’s comprehensive dedication to superior customer service, technological advancement, and unwavering national support. The evaluation framework for this new award category assessed utility companies across multiple critical dimensions: customer experience, service reliability, operational fairness, and strategic technological implementation.

    Selection methodology incorporated both public voting participation and empirical data gathered during the OUR’s extensive 10-week mystery shopping investigation conducted earlier this year.

    Pia Baker, Senior Vice President for Customer Experience and Commercial at JPS, emphasized that this recognition validates the company’s systematic modernization initiatives aimed at revolutionizing customer interactions. “This acknowledgment holds profound significance for our organization. We have deliberately pursued transformational changes in customer service delivery — expanding self-service capabilities through the MyJPS App, enhancing accessibility via the MyJPS Care Hub, minimizing customer wait times, and elevating service quality across all communication channels,” Baker stated.

    Baker specifically commended JPS frontline personnel for maintaining exceptional professionalism and empathy during challenging circumstances, particularly following Hurricane Melissa’s devastation. “While many customers experienced understandable distress during the hurricane aftermath, our teams demonstrated remarkable patience and dedication while simultaneously managing their personal recovery situations,” she observed. Baker additionally recognized business process outsourcing partner iTel for providing crucial support in maintaining voice contact operations.

    The utility executive framed the award not as a final achievement but as inspiration for continued customer-centric evolution. “We express gratitude to our customers who consistently provide feedback, voice concerns, and push us toward daily improvement. Customer service represents an ongoing journey of adaptation, listening, and progressive development,” Baker concluded.

    JPS continues to disseminate operational updates through its official website, social media channels, and traditional media outlets. Customers can monitor post-Hurricane Melissa restoration progress via the company’s dedicated restoration portal at https://www.jpsco.com/hurricane-melissa-restoration-updates/.

  • Dealing with holiday grief: Tips for survivors struggling during the festive season

    Dealing with holiday grief: Tips for survivors struggling during the festive season

    As the festive season unfolds across Jamaica, a complex tapestry of emotions emerges in the shadow of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation. Communities both on the island and throughout the diaspora are confronting unprecedented challenges, balancing traditional holiday cheer with the profound grief stemming from loss of life, property, and livelihoods. This Christmas period presents a unique psychological landscape where joy and sorrow intersect, creating what mental health experts recognize as a necessary duality of human experience.

    The psychological impact of major natural disasters often manifests most acutely during traditionally celebratory periods. For those affected by Hurricane Melissa, the holiday season has become an exercise in emotional flexibility—where moments of sadness may naturally transition into feelings of comfort or gratitude without contradiction. Mental health professionals emphasize that there exists no prescribed method for navigating grief during festivities, though several evidence-based approaches can provide meaningful support.

    Seven strategic pathways offer guidance for coping during this difficult period:

    Emotional acknowledgment stands as the foundational step, with grief recognized as a multifaceted response to various losses beyond human life—including pets, economic stability, and personal possessions. Experts recommend permitting oneself to fully experience associated emotions like anger, jealousy, or anxiety without judgment, acknowledging their validity while avoiding excessive fixation.

    Advanced planning emerges as another critical strategy, particularly for those experiencing fresh grief. Establishing holiday arrangements beforehand alleviates decision-making pressure regarding celebrations, menus, and social engagements, creating mental space for necessary rest and reflection.

    Physical activity provides both physiological and psychological benefits, with daily movement—whether neighborhood walks, visits to meaningful locations, or simple social interactions—serving as therapeutic intervention. For those in severely damaged areas, consciously noting signs of resilience like budding vegetation or wildlife returning offers psychological anchoring.

    Memorialization practices create healing opportunities through remembrance rituals. Whether reviewing archival photographs, handling meaningful objects, or establishing new traditions, these acts can transform painful memories into sources of comfort and connection.

    Alcohol consumption requires particular vigilance during emotionally vulnerable periods. Mental health authorities warn against using alcohol as emotional avoidance mechanism, noting its potential to establish destructive patterns. Engaging accountability partners provides protective monitoring of consumption habits.

    Traditional flexibility remains essential, with permission granted to modify or abandon customary celebrations according to emotional capacity and practical circumstances. From solitary reflection to community service alternatives, the essence of holiday spirit demonstrates remarkable adaptability.

    Professional support serves as the final safeguard, with immediate assistance recommended for those experiencing overwhelming distress or potential harm. Jamaica’s mental health hotline (888-NEW-LIFE) stands available alongside existing therapeutic relationships for crisis intervention and coping strategy development.

  • Grange hails Jamaica bobsleigh team for strong North American Cup performance

    Grange hails Jamaica bobsleigh team for strong North American Cup performance

    Jamaica’s bobsleigh teams are generating significant momentum on the international circuit with multiple podium achievements in North American Cup competitions. The squad has demonstrated remarkable prowess in both men’s two-man and four-man events, capturing attention with their technical skill and competitive determination.

    Cultural Minister Olivia Grange publicly commended the athletes for their exceptional performances, particularly highlighting the four-man team’s gold-medal victory in Park City, Utah. Minister Grange emphasized how the team overcame substantial technical obstacles to claim the top position, describing their achievement as a testament to Jamaican resilience and athletic excellence.

    The success has positioned Jamaica favorably for qualification to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Brakeman Tyquendo Tracey expressed strong confidence in the team’s Olympic prospects, specifically praising pilot Shane Pitter for his consistent performance and exceptional speed, which have been crucial factors in the team’s recent accomplishments.

    Adding to the optimistic outlook, Olympian Audra Segree confirmed that Jamaica’s women’s team is similarly positioned to qualify in the two-woman event as preparations intensify for the upcoming Winter Games.

    Minister Grange connected the current team’s achievements to Jamaica’s storied bobsleigh heritage, noting that their determination reflects the legacy of the nation’s historic 1988 Olympic debut that inspired the beloved film ‘Cool Runnings.’ This ongoing success story continues to demonstrate Jamaica’s capacity to excel in winter sports despite geographical limitations, maintaining the country’s prominent position on the international athletic stage.

  • St Mary inmate dies in police custody; IPROB and Indecom launch investigations

    St Mary inmate dies in police custody; IPROB and Indecom launch investigations

    Authorities in Jamaica have initiated parallel investigations following the death of a detainee in police custody in St Mary over the weekend. The Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) alongside the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) are examining the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.

    The deceased has been identified as 34-year-old Eraldo Francis, also known as “Nagram,” a contractor from Tremolesworth, Highgate. Francis was being held on serious charges including murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a prohibited weapon, and unauthorized possession of ammunition.

    Preliminary reports from law enforcement indicate that the incident occurred at approximately 12:20 pm on Saturday when Francis became involved in a physical confrontation with fellow inmates. The altercation resulted in injuries that necessitated medical attention. Francis was subsequently transported to a medical facility where he was officially pronounced dead.

    While the St Mary Criminal Investigations Branch continues its routine inquiry into the matter, the involvement of both IPROB and Indecom signifies a comprehensive review of custodial procedures and incident response protocols. The dual investigation aims to ensure transparency and accountability in determining the factors that contributed to the fatal outcome.

  • Five arrested; gun and ammo seized in Manchester

    Five arrested; gun and ammo seized in Manchester

    MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Law enforcement authorities in Manchester parish conducted a comprehensive security operation on Saturday resulting in significant weapon seizures and multiple arrests. The coordinated police action led to the recovery of two M-16 rifle magazines, a 9mm pistol, and the detention of five individuals on various charges.

    According to Operations Officer Luhas Daniels, who confirmed the operational details, the early morning initiative commenced around 3:30 am in Greenvale. Officers reported observing a man behaving suspiciously who subsequently dropped a 9mm firearm before fleeing the scene. Despite an ongoing investigation to apprehend the suspect, the weapon was successfully recovered by police personnel.

    Approximately one hour later, police units extended their operation to Scotts Pass in Clarendon, which falls under Manchester police jurisdiction within the Porus policing area. During a targeted raid on a premises, authorities discovered two M-16 magazines concealed within a bag. While no arrests were made specifically in connection with the weapon magazines, police apprehended four individuals—including two women—on allegations related to lottery scamming operations.

    In a separate but related incident within northern Manchester, law enforcement officials detained a fifth individual also connected to lottery scamming activities. One of those arrested has already been formally charged with violations under the Law Reform Act, signaling the seriousness with which authorities are addressing these security matters.