Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has expressed her lack of surprise over Venezuela’s decision to suspend gas agreements with Trinidad and Tobago (TT). In a recent interview with CCN TV6’s Morning Edition, Beckles emphasized the need for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to adopt a more measured tone in addressing the issue and to strengthen ties within the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The suspension was announced on October 27 by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who criticized Persad-Bissessar for her controversial remarks advocating violent measures against drug traffickers. This followed a US missile strike on September 2 that killed Venezuelans in international waters. Rodriguez also warned that TT’s economy would suffer without Venezuelan gas, accusing the US of attempting to control Venezuela’s natural resources. Beckles highlighted the economic implications for TT, where oil and gas remain critical revenue sources. She also questioned the government’s inconsistent stance on the Dragon gas deal, which was initially declared dead but later revived. Beckles urged the Prime Minister to clarify the nation’s position and stressed the importance of diplomacy, sovereignty, and maintaining the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. She reiterated Caricom’s commitment to conflict resolution and called for a reduction in inflammatory rhetoric.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Kingston airport could commence emergency flights on Thursday
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Transport Minister Daryl Vaz announced that the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston is expected to resume operations for emergency relief flights as early as Thursday. This decision follows consultations with PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), the airport’s operator, and the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA). Minister Vaz emphasized that Hurricane Melissa’s impact on the airport has been minimal, with the storm projected to leave Jamaica by Tuesday evening. PACKAL and JCAA will conduct inspections, clean-up efforts, and restore decommissioned equipment on Wednesday to ensure the airport’s readiness. The update was provided during a press conference at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Kingston. Meanwhile, the status of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay remains uncertain due to potential severe damage from the hurricane. As part of contingency planning, the Ian Fleming International Airport in St. Mary is being considered as an alternative for relief operations, given its accessibility for certain aircraft types and proximity to Montego Bay.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Digicel says 26% of mobile network offline — Vaz
KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica’s telecommunications infrastructure has faced significant disruptions, with Digicel reporting that 26% of its mobile network was offline as of Tuesday morning. The primary cause of this outage is the widespread power loss across the island. According to Daryl Vaz, Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, 209 mobile sites are currently operating on generators, while nine are relying on batteries. Additionally, 20% of fibre-to-home customers are offline due to power outages in their residences. Minister Vaz made these remarks during a special media briefing at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management’s operations center. He emphasized that Digicel’s teams are prioritizing the most severely affected areas and will continue to fuel generators until power is restored by the Jamaica Public Service. Digicel is also collaborating with the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) to enhance its spectrum bandwidth channels, leveraging lessons learned from Hurricane Beryl, which demonstrated that mobile infrastructure recovers faster than fixed infrastructure. In a parallel development, Minister Vaz announced that he had signed licenses at 3:00 am Tuesday to allocate additional spectrum to Liberty Caribbean, the parent company of Flow Jamaica. He expressed optimism about Flow’s commitment to Jamaica’s recovery, particularly through its innovative partnership with Starlink. This collaboration will introduce mobile connectivity via satellite, enabling 4G LTE customers to send SMS and text messages even when local networks are down. Minister Vaz lauded this initiative as a significant step forward in ensuring communication resilience during disasters.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Dangling power line on Red Hills Road
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica, residents of St Andrew took drastic measures to address a hazardous situation on Red Hills Road. On Tuesday, locals blocked a section of the thoroughfare near the Rubis gas station, using car tires and other materials to create a barricade. The action was prompted by dangling power lines, which posed a significant safety risk to the community. Residents reported that the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) had been informed of the issue. Hurricane Melissa struck the island earlier that day, making landfall in St Elizabeth, located in the southwestern region of Jamaica, at approximately 11 a.m. The storm’s passage has heightened concerns over infrastructure safety and emergency response capabilities in affected areas.
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Baptiste: National recruitment drive could inject up to $3b into economy
In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago’s economy, Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development Leroy Baptiste announced that the National Recruitment Drive, launched on October 19, has the potential to inject up to $3 billion into the nation’s economy. This revelation came during the Senate’s budget debate on October 27, where Baptiste emphasized the initiative’s potential to restore employment, stimulate consumption, boost GDP, and reduce poverty. The recruitment drive aims to fill 20,000 vacant positions in the public sector, with a second phase expected to address private sector vacancies. Baptiste highlighted the multiplier effect of job creation, estimating that 20,000 direct jobs could indirectly generate 30,000 additional jobs, resulting in a total of 50,000 new employment opportunities. He projected that even with modest salaries, this could add approximately $1.8 billion to the economy. Furthermore, Baptiste underscored the importance of business community support for the initiative, which he believes will contribute to economic stability and increased contributions to the national insurance framework. The minister also criticized the previous administration, attributing a decline in workforce participation and employment rates to their policies. The budget debate also saw criticism from Vishnu Dhanpaul regarding the government’s proposed ten per cent wage increase for public service employees, though Baptiste did not address this issue in his presentation.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Citizens urged to remain indoors during Hurricane Melissa’s passage
KINGSTON, Jamaica — As Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category Five storm, looms over Jamaica, authorities are issuing urgent warnings for all citizens, particularly the younger population, to remain indoors. The hurricane is anticipated to make landfall on Tuesday, bringing with it potentially devastating winds and rainfall.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Gov’t launches relief website to support recovery efforts
KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the wake of the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, the Jamaican Government has introduced a comprehensive online platform, supportjamaica.gov.jm, to centralize and streamline national relief operations. This initiative aims to provide real-time updates, facilitate secure donations, and enable efficient incident reporting for citizens affected by the hurricane.
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‘I am not uncaring’
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Dennis Gordon, Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Central, has been actively addressing the critical issue of a breakaway in the Sandy Gully affecting Cassia Park residents, despite being bedridden due to a knee injury. Gordon expressed his distress over being perceived as uncaring, emphasizing his commitment to resolving the issue even while incapacitated.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Be careful as crocodiles may be displaced, SERHA warns
The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) in Jamaica has issued a critical alert to residents of Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, and St Thomas, urging heightened vigilance as torrential rains and severe flooding linked to Hurricane Melissa have displaced crocodiles from their natural habitats. Rising water levels in rivers, gullies, and swamps are forcing these reptiles to seek dry ground, potentially bringing them into residential neighborhoods. SERHA has advised the public to avoid wading or playing in flooded areas, gullies, or rivers, and to keep children and pets away from floodwaters or locations where crocodiles have been spotted. The authority has also emphasized that individuals should not attempt to capture or harm any displaced crocodiles. Instead, sightings should be reported immediately to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) at (876) 754-7540. Additionally, residents are encouraged to clear debris from yards and drains to prevent stagnant water accumulation. SERHA has confirmed that hospitals are on high alert to provide emergency medical assistance, while all health centers remain closed until further notice.
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US kills 14 in strikes on alleged Pacific drug boats
In a significant escalation of its anti-narcotics campaign, US forces have killed 14 individuals in strikes targeting four suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday. This brings the total death toll from Washington’s operations to at least 57 since early September. The latest strikes, conducted on Monday in international waters, mark the deadliest single-day toll in the campaign so far. Hegseth stated that the vessels were identified by intelligence as transporting narcotics along known trafficking routes. A sole survivor was reported, with Mexican authorities taking responsibility for coordinating the rescue. The Pentagon released video footage of the strikes, which included two stationary boats and two others speeding across open water. Despite the US claims, experts argue that such strikes are illegal, even if targeting known traffickers, and Washington has yet to provide concrete evidence of drug smuggling. The US has significantly bolstered its military presence in Latin America, deploying seven Navy warships, F-35 stealth warplanes, and the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the region. This buildup has sparked regional tensions, with Venezuela accusing the US of plotting to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa hinted at the possibility of hosting a foreign military base in the Galapagos Islands, potentially involving the US, to combat drug trafficking and illegal fishing.