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WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — A strategic partnership between the Sandals Foundation and RUBiS Energy Jamaica has injected critical resources into hurricane-ravaged fishing communities, offering a lifeline to more than 100 local fishers. The joint donation valued at $3.5 million JMD comprises 120 rolls of specialized fishing wire and 6,720 liters of UltraTec 90 gasoline, directly addressing the operational paralysis caused by Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage.

The comprehensive relief initiative saw immediate implementation with distribution events commencing Friday. The fishing wire allocation enables artisans to construct approximately 600 replacement fish pots—essential equipment for sustainable harvesting. Simultaneously, RUBiS Energy Jamaica’s fuel contribution provides each fisher with 56 liters of high-quality gasoline, effectively restarting marine operations after weeks of forced inactivity.

Diego Salmon, management lead at Whitehouse Fish Sanctuary, contextualized the disaster’s psychological toll: “The hurricane’s aftermath presents constant reminders of our collective loss. While the reconstruction needs remain enormous, our fishing communities demonstrate remarkable resilience. This support represents more than material aid—it symbolizes hope and tangible progress toward normalcy.”

Corporate leadership emphasized the strategic importance of livelihood restoration. RUBiS Energy Jamaica CEO Michel Malatino stated: “Our involvement targets economic reactivation through sustainable means. Helping fishers return to their traditional occupations stimulates household stability and community rebuilding through multidimensional recovery.”

Local fisher Oneil Smith confirmed the intervention’s practical impact: “With our boats and equipment destroyed, income generation became impossible. This assistance provides the necessary foundation to restart commercial activities and support our families.”

The Whitehouse Fish Sanctuary, established in 2013 as a marine conservation initiative, has dramatically expanded its role post-hurricane. Beyond its ecological mandate, the organization now coordinates distribution of emergency supplies, provides free ice for food preservation, and maintains solar-powered charging stations alongside newly installed street lighting for enhanced community safety.

The Sandals Foundation has integrated psychological support into recovery efforts through partnerships with Kahle Journey and the Jamaica Psychological Association. According to Executive Director Heidi Clarke: “Community strengthening remains central to our mission. By restoring fisheries—a dual source of income and nutrition—we activate crucial recovery mechanisms while honoring our commitment to sustainable development.”

Future recovery phases will prioritize environmental rehabilitation. Salmon outlined forthcoming priorities: “After achieving personal sustenance, we’ll conduct comprehensive reef assessments and initiate coral replanting programs. Our sanctuary serves as the cornerstone for both ecological and economic restoration.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a groundbreaking collaborative effort, Jamaica’s three premier law enforcement agencies have unveiled an innovative public awareness initiative designed to intensify the nation’s battle against financial criminal activities. The Financial Investigations Division (FID), Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have established a strategic alliance to deploy coordinated time-signal messages across major radio networks.

The comprehensive campaign, scheduled to run from December 1, 2025, through August 30, 2026, will broadcast on Irie FM and Zip 103 FM, specifically engineered to reach diverse audiences nationwide. These audio segments will serve as persistent reminders for citizens to report any suspicious behaviors linked to fraud schemes, scamming operations, money laundering activities, or to seek assistance if they have fallen victim to financial crimes.

This innovative approach originated from a high-level teleconference conducted on November 17, where agency leadership collectively identified time-signal messaging as both cost-efficient and maximally impactful for sustained public engagement. The partnership operationalizes existing Memoranda of Understanding between the organizations, demonstrating their reinforced dedication to preserving the integrity of Jamaica’s financial infrastructure.

Colonel Desmond Edwards, MOCA’s director-general, emphasized the operational advantages: “This unified approach significantly enhances our capacity to disrupt organized financial criminal networks. Public cooperation through timely reporting enables quicker response times, more intelligent investigative actions, and broader protection for Jamaican citizens.”

Dennis Chung, FID’s chief technical director, highlighted the societal implications: “Financial crimes create tangible victims across our communities. These radio messages represent an accessible yet powerful medium to reach citizens in their daily environments, reminding them that vigilant reporting directly contributes to familial and community security. This campaign marks another progressive phase in our inter-agency collaboration to promote national safety and economic stability.”

Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake affirmed the JCF’s commitment: “Our unified support for this initiative underscores our institutional priority. Every citizen report provides invaluable intelligence that strengthens our investigative capabilities and facilitates the dismantling of criminal enterprises that endanger national security.”

Dedicated communications teams from all three agencies will collaboratively produce audio content, continuously monitor campaign performance metrics, and adapt messaging strategies throughout the nine-month period to address evolving criminal trends and investigative requirements.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The University of the West Indies (UWI) has announced the prestigious promotion of five distinguished academics to the rank of full professor across its regional campuses. This significant academic recognition, effective October 8, 2025, honors scholars who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to their respective fields and Caribbean development.

Among the newly appointed professors is Jamaica’s renowned economist Dr. Andre Haughton, whose groundbreaking work in applied macroeconomics has substantially advanced the understanding of Caribbean economies within global financial systems. The promotions resulted from rigorous evaluation processes involving both internal and external academic assessors who scrutinized research output, publication quality, and professional impact.

The complete list of promoted scholars includes:
– Professor Angela T Alleyne (Cave Hill Campus) – Genomic Plant Pathology
– Professor Mahalia Jackman (Cave Hill Campus) – Economics and Inclusive Development
– Professor Andre Haughton (Mona Campus) – Applied Macroeconomics
– Professor Arvind Singh (St. Augustine Campus) – Intelligent Energy Systems and Sustainability
– Professor Sreedhara Rao Gunakala (St. Augustine Campus) – Mathematics

University officials emphasized that these appointments reflect not only individual scholarly excellence but also the institution’s commitment to addressing critical regional challenges. The professors’ research portfolios encompass vital areas including macroeconomic theory, agricultural resilience, women’s health, and sustainable energy solutions.

Professor Haughton’s distinguished career merits particular recognition, with assessors describing his methodological sophistication and policy-relevant findings as groundbreaking contributions to macroeconomic literature. His accolades include the IMF Distinguished Academic Fellowship (2017), multiple UWI research excellence awards, and the Allied Academics Distinguished Research Award (2012).

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican authorities have issued an urgent public alert regarding a sophisticated employment scam operation proliferating on social media platform TikTok. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has identified fraudulent activities originating from the account @mr.agent.clarke, which has been illegally utilizing official videos featuring Minister Pearnel Charles Jr.

The deceptive scheme involves the repurposing of authentic ministerial and ministry footage to create false advertisements promoting overseas employment opportunities. These fabricated posts falsely claim authorization to recruit Jamaican workers for international positions, specifically targeting citizens seeking legitimate foreign employment through government-sanctioned programs.

According to official statements, the ministry has received multiple reports confirming the fraudulent entity’s activities, which authorities have condemned as both ethically reprehensible and legally prohibited. The operation particularly preys on vulnerable job seekers aspiring to participate in Canada’s Overseas Farm Worker Programmes, which fall exclusively under the MLSS’s jurisdiction.

The ministry emphasized that the implicated TikTok account does not appear on its monthly updated register of licensed overseas employment agencies. Officials have reiterated that the MLSS maintains sole responsibility for administering all foreign farm worker recruitment initiatives between Jamaica and Canada.

As protective measures, the ministry has directed citizens to consult its official website and verified social media channels for current listings of authorized recruitment agencies. The public advisory strongly recommends direct verification with ministry officials before engaging with any entity claiming to offer overseas employment services.

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — In the wake of devastating flooding triggered by Hurricane Melissa, local Councillor Mario Mitchell has issued a formal appeal for assistance. Representing the Bellefield Division under the People’s National Party, Mitchell has reached out to both corporate and governmental entities to address a critical housing crisis in the Content area of Manchester.

The councillor confirmed he has submitted an official written request to UC Rusal Alumina Jamaica, operating as Windalco, urging the company to allocate adjacent lands near the Williamsfield and Content zones. This land would serve as a relocation site for approximately 15 households whose homes were rendered uninhabitable by weeks of persistent groundwater inundation.

Mitchell further amplified his plea by calling on the Jamaican Government to intervene through its Social Housing Programme or other disaster relief initiatives. He emphasized the urgent need to provide structured support for citizens who are now too fearful to return to their damaged properties, despite the recent reopening of the Content main road.

The situation stems from the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which caused severe flooding that submerged numerous houses. This has created a protracted humanitarian issue, with residents expressing a collective willingness to evacuate the vulnerable area permanently if provided with a safe alternative. Mitchell’s public statements highlight a coordinated effort between local representation and potential private-public partnerships to forge a long-term solution for the displaced community.