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Jamaican law enforcement has dismantled a sophisticated criminal operation, charging three individuals—including a medical doctor previously reported as missing—in a sprawling multimillion-dollar fraud case targeting financial institutions across the island.

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), in collaboration with the Financial Investigations Division (FID), announced the arrests following coordinated operations spanning multiple parishes between January 13-16. The accused include Dr. Chloe Douett, 30, from Cherry Garden, St. Andrew; Ivana Campbell, 29, an executive assistant from Cedar Grove, Portmore; and Dwayne Pitter, 44, unemployed, of Olympic Gardens, St. Andrew.

According to investigative sources, the alleged fraud scheme may have reached approximately $600 million (JMD) during its operation between January 2023 and April 2024. The sophisticated conspiracy involved the submission of fraudulently obtained genuine documents and counterfeit identification materials to bypass security protocols at multiple financial institutions.

Dr. Douett faces multiple charges including uttering forged documents, demanding property on forged documents, conspiracy to defraud, and firearm storage violations. Campbell and Pitter have been charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Larceny Act, Forgery Act, and Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) Act, in addition to common law conspiracy to defraud.

The investigation revealed that the suspects employed unprecedented identity manipulation techniques, assuming the identities of numerous individuals across various professions to circumvent institutional security measures. Authorities have confirmed the seizure of a motor vehicle connected to the operation.

Major Basil Jarrett, MOCA’s communications director, described the scheme as “one of the most elaborate, complex, and brazen fraud schemes we have seen to date.” The breakthrough follows an intensive 18-month investigation involving multiple agencies, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch and local police divisions.

Jarrett indicated the investigation remains ongoing, noting that “financial crime networks of this nature and magnitude are rarely limited to a single set of actors.” He emphasized MOCA’s commitment to pursuing complex financial crimes regardless of their sophistication.

The case took an unusual turn when it was revealed that Dr. Douett, who had been reported missing on social media, was already in police custody at the time these reports surfaced.

The world-renowned Bath Fountain Hotel and Spa in St. Thomas, Jamaica, faces a severe operational crisis as aggressive informal tour operators increasingly undermine its operations and reputation. According to the hotel’s recently tabled 2021/22 annual report, former chairman Michael McLeod detailed how pandemic conditions exacerbated a long-standing problem with unlicensed touts whose numbers swelled to approximately 120 by December 2021.

During the COVID-19 lockdown periods, these operators became notably more assertive in their attempts to solicit business, employing destructive strategies that included intercepting potential patrons as far away as Port Morant. They systematically disseminated misinformation claiming the hotel’s mineral waters were reheated rather than naturally sourced, or falsely stating that bath facilities were closed with only restaurants and rooms operational.

The touts operate primarily from the hotel’s overflow parking lot, diverting visitors to an unregulated ‘bush spa’ behind the property where they perform unauthorized massages, mud baths, and foot scrubs while aggressively haggling over prices. This uninsured, price-gouging operation has created significant liability issues for the hotel, as dissatisfied customers increasingly seek redress from the establishment for their negative experiences with unauthorized vendors.

McLeod emphasized that despite the hotel’s successful adaptation to pandemic protocols—including hosting a group of volunteers within COVID-19 guidelines in June 2021—the proliferation of touts threatens to destroy the historic facility’s goodwill. While the Ministry of Tourism under Edmund Bartlett developed strategies to support the tourism sector during the pandemic, the informal operators exploited these circumstances to their advantage.

Despite temporary revenue recovery through extended group bookings, the fundamental challenge persists. Historical records indicate this problem has plagued Bath Fountain for over a decade, with visitors documenting similar experiences as early as 2011. Recent observations confirm the situation remains unresolved, with touts continuing to intercept potential visitors traveling considerable distances to reach the attraction.

The University of the West Indies Chapel hosted a poignant memorial service on Saturday honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of sports broadcaster Donald Oliver, whose sudden passing on December 30, 2025, profoundly impacted Jamaica’s media landscape and regional sports community. The ceremony became a powerful testament to a career defined by relentless pursuit of excellence rather than fame, as articulated by colleagues, family, and government officials.

Dr. Colleen Beckles of Love 101 FM delivered a moving eulogy anchored in biblical metaphor: “He sleeps, yet he speaks.” She elaborated that Oliver’s voice continues to resonate through memories, professional legacy, and every aspiring broadcaster who dares to believe in their potential. Dr. Beckles traced Oliver’s media journey to its beginnings in 1994 on ‘The Small People Show’ on Love 101 FM, where he evolved from a curious child with a compelling voice into the program’s 1996 champion—a progression she described as “right, earned, and inevitable.”

Colleagues universally praised Oliver’s distinctive approach to sports commentary. Journalist George Davis, formerly of SportsMax and now with Nationwide News Network, characterized him as “God’s gift to football commentary,” emphasizing his meticulous preparation and linguistic mastery. “Donald walked with a bag of words,” Davis noted, “filled during hours of preparation, never needing to dig too deep to find the perfect phrase for describing spectacular sporting moments.”

Oliver’s widow, Norretta, provided intimate insights into his professional dedication, revealing that sports journalism was “not just a job but a calling.” His preparation for matches resembled studying for final exams, involving comprehensive analysis of players’ statistics, patterns, and even aliases. This commitment extended to promotional work, where he would record segments countless times until achieving his auditory vision. Beyond professional excellence, Norretta highlighted their deep personal connection spanning from childhood in Allman Town to parenthood, describing Oliver as an extraordinary father to their daughter Zabella-Rameen, with whom he shared a special bond despite geographical separation.

Professional acknowledgments came from Jamaica Observer Media Group Managing Director Dominic Beaubrun, who noted Oliver’s significant contributions during critical election preparation periods in August 2025. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, officially recognized Oliver’s two-decade career across major media networks including RJR, CVM, TVJ, and SportsMax, where he rose to senior producer. She particularly highlighted his recent documentary series on Hurricane Melissa’s human impact, which gave voice to Jamaican resilience and struggle.

In a lasting tribute to Oliver’s influence, former SportsMax colleague Tanya Lee Perkins announced the establishment of an annual bursary at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication, ensuring his legacy will continue inspiring future generations of journalists. The collective remembrances painted a portrait of a media professional whose analytical brilliance, linguistic artistry, and human warmth transformed sports broadcasting into storytelling artistry.

In a compelling call to action, Jamaican end-of-life specialist Patrice Dwyer is championing the normalization of death preparedness, emphasizing that financial secrecy and avoidance of mortality discussions are creating severe familial distress. As a certified death doula—a non-medical professional providing holistic support to terminally ill individuals and their families—Dwyer highlights how Jamaicans’ cultural reluctance to share financial details or discuss final wishes often culminates in crises when emergencies strike.

Dwyer observes that stringent privacy around bank accounts, PIN codes, and asset ownership frequently leaves families unable to access funds needed for medical care or funeral expenses, even when resources are available. This financial paralysis exacerbates emotional turmoil, often forcing relatives into debt to honor burial preferences that were never formally documented.

The absence of clear wills or advanced directives frequently ignites familial conflict over burial methods—whether traditional burial, cremation, or body donation to science—with disagreements stemming from unspoken personal beliefs and inadequate communication. Dwyer notes that these disputes are particularly painful when patients cannot communicate their wishes due to illness, underscoring the critical need for living wills and designated decision-makers.

Since her certification in 2021, Dwyer has assisted over 20 families in navigating end-of-life decisions and grief processing. She emphasizes that planning extends beyond wills to include setting up trusts, adding trusted individuals to financial accounts, and discussing preferences for medical facilities or funeral homes. Through Zoom sessions like ‘Let’s Talk Endings and Everything In Between,’ she creates safe spaces for conversations that many Jamaicans avoid due to superstitions about inviting death.

Dwyer warns that suppressed grief and unresolved end-of-life conflicts have long-lasting emotional impacts, urging Jamaicans to initiate frank family discussions to balance practical preparedness with compassionate closure.

The renowned Bath Fountain mineral spring in St Thomas, Jamaica, faces a growing crisis as aggressive informal tour operators systematically target visitors with pressurized services and questionable pricing practices. An investigative team from the Jamaica Observer documented firsthand how these touts operate kilometers from the attraction, pursuing tourists in vehicles and on motorcycles to offer guiding services, massages, and mineral treatments.

Multiple unregistered operators congregate at the spring entrance, aggressively marketing services including sulphur clay applications priced at J$1,000, with massage rates varying dramatically between J$3,500-7,000 for locals and US$70-100 for international visitors. The situation has escalated to concerning levels, with one reported incident involving a tourist being charged J$72,000 for services rendered to four individuals.

Bath Fountain Hotel management confirmed awareness of these practices, noting operators frequently block hotel gates, misinform patrons about facility closures, and provide inaccurate pricing information. The hotel administration revealed ongoing consultations with the Ministry of Tourism regarding the economic impact on legitimate operations and potential reputational damage to Jamaica’s tourism sector.

The informal guides defend their practices as traditional family heritage operations, claiming proper training through community programs. However, the unregulated nature of these services creates significant consumer protection issues, with reported incidents including confrontations that nearly turned violent when frustrated visitors felt exploited.

Despite repeated appeals to government authorities, police, and parish councils over several years, the problem persists with fluctuating operator numbers that peak during weekends and holiday periods. The hotel management acknowledges the economic importance of the spring to local communities but emphasizes its inability to absorb unregulated operators while awaiting official policy recommendations from ongoing governmental studies.

Jamaica’s premier law enforcement agencies are confronting a significant recruitment challenge as their exhaustive vetting procedures eliminate the vast majority of applicants seeking to join their ranks. The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) and Financial Investigations Division (FID) have disclosed that their stringent integrity assessments, including polygraph examinations and comprehensive background checks, result in exceptionally high rejection rates.

Colonel Desmond Edwards, Director General of MOCA, elaborated during a recent Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that approximately 20% of candidates immediately fail polygraph testing. Among those who initially pass, many are subsequently disqualified during meticulous background investigations and additional screening phases, despite possessing adequate academic credentials.

The screening protocol represents one of the most rigorous in Jamaican law enforcement. All MOCA personnel undergo ‘positive vetting’—a multilayered process involving initial polygraph tests, thorough background assessments, and annual polygraph re-evaluations for every agency member. The organization maintains a specialized polygraph unit with 16 certified examiners who provide integrity assurance services for MOCA personnel and other government entities including the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Edwards emphasized the necessity of these measures given MOCA’s sensitive mandate investigating organized crime, financial offenses, and corruption. “We suffer significantly with our capacity to onboard people quickly because sometimes they don’t make it through the process,” he acknowledged, noting that the agency typically must evaluate six to seven applicants before identifying one suitable candidate who meets both academic and integrity standards.

The FID reports parallel challenges. Chief Technical Director Dennis Chung revealed that background investigations frequently uncover disqualifying factors such as previous involvement in financial irregularities or scam-related activities. Chung indicated that despite strong applicant interest, only approximately 20% ultimately satisfy the comprehensive requirements for financial investigation roles.

Garth Williams, FID Brand Communications Specialist, clarified that the high attrition rate reflects the specialized nature of financial crime investigation rather than applicant quality or motivation. The agencies maintain that their exacting standards, while slowing recruitment, are indispensable for maintaining investigative credibility and public trust as financial crimes grow increasingly sophisticated and technology-dependent.