ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary — Law enforcement authorities have taken two local individuals into custody and filed criminal charges against them following an alleged attempt to sneak unauthorized contraband into the Annotto Bay police detention facility earlier this week. The accused pair, identified as 19-year-old hairstylist Ikyalia Richards — who holds listed addresses in both Heywood Hall, St Mary and Exchange, St Ann — and 30-year-old construction worker Romero Forbes, a resident of Ebony Hall, Highgate, were taken into custody on Tuesday. The incident unfolded when officers stationed at the Annotto Bay police station compound spotted unusual, suspicious behavior connected to the two individuals outside the lock-up perimeter. As responding officers moved in to investigate the suspicious activity, they witnessed detainees inside the facility attempting to pull the contraband package through a cell window from the outside. During the attempted transfer, the package slipped from the detainees’ grasp and fell to the ground outside the lock-up, where it was recovered by investigating officers. A search of the recovered item revealed it was a clear plastic bag holding six cigarettes, a banned item in the detention facility. Following an immediate on-scene processing, Richards and Forbes were placed under arrest and formally charged in connection with the smuggling attempt. A third individual implicated in the alleged plot managed to evade capture by fleeing the area before officers could secure the perimeter. Local law enforcement has confirmed that a manhunt is currently active for the outstanding third suspect, and investigators from the Annotto Bay Police Division are continuing to work through the details of the case to piece together the full scope of the smuggling operation.
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‘Kiss Of Judas Riddim’ tops iTunes charts
Veteran Jamaican music producer Kemar “Flava” McGregor is leveraging the breakout commercial success of his newest compilation project, *Kiss Of Judas Riddim*, to ignite a critical conversation about the modern trajectory of Jamaican music and the responsibility of creators to protect its cultural integrity for future generations.
Dropped May 8 via McGregor’s Billboard King Records imprint, the 12-track riddim compilation has quickly captured global attention, racking up more than half a million streams on Spotify just days after its launch and claiming the top spot on both the iTunes Reggae Albums chart and the platform’s overall all-genres album ranking. This early commercial momentum has cemented the project as one of the most talked-about reggae releases of 2024, defying expectations that substantive, message-driven music cannot compete in an algorithm-driven streaming landscape.
Rooted in the biblical narrative of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus Christ, the compilation weaves together core themes of disloyalty, steadfastness, survival, toxic envy, and spiritual struggle. Its evocative title and bold artwork intentionally frame the project as a piece of thoughtful social commentary, balancing the high-energy, bass-heavy sound that defines modern hardcore dancehall with intentional, introspective messaging crafted to resonate with diverse audiences across the globe.
to deliver this unique blend, McGregor assembled a star-studded cross-continental lineup of talent, ranging from iconic Jamaican dancehall and reggae figures like Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Etana, and Turbulence to American hip-hop heavyweight Rick Ross, alongside emerging and established independent artists including I-Octane, Ginjah, Honorebel, Prodigal Son, and Slimey Mojo, among many others.
For McGregor, however, the project’s significance extends far beyond its impressive chart numbers and streaming metrics. In an impassioned critique of current trends in Jamaican music production, he argued that too many emerging creators prioritize cheap, lewd, and morally empty content to chase quick viral fame, arguing that this trajectory erodes the genre’s global reputation and long-term appeal. In response, he intentionally built *Kiss Of Judas Riddim* to serve as tangible proof that Jamaican music can achieve international success while retaining substantive, values-driven messaging.
“I produced this project to show these new producers that Jamaican producers can still produce good music with morals and values,” McGregor explained. “I’m tired of all these songs that they’re putting out promoting social decadence and immorality. The success of this project is proof that the world is still hungry for good dancehall music. These young producers need to stop the nonsense and start producing music that will resonate with the international marketplace.”
In the weeks following its release, individual tracks from the compilation have continued to gain steady traction across streaming platforms, popular genre playlists, and social media, with listeners and critics alike praising McGregor’s tight, dynamic production work and the consistent lyrical depth across the project’s full tracklist. For the veteran producer, *Kiss Of Judas Riddim* is just one step in a larger mission to steer reggae and dancehall back toward a foundation of cultural substance, enduring value, and sustainable global appeal.
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St Mary Central MP questions delays and budgeting under SPARK programme
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A sitting Jamaican lawmaker has launched sharp criticism of the national government’s flagship SPARK infrastructure initiative, flagging systemic problems ranging from delayed timelines and mismatched budgeting to flawed road selection that have left key communities stranded in unsafe, unnavigable conditions. Omar Newell, the Member of Parliament representing the St Mary Central constituency, laid out his grievances in a dedicated press briefing held Tuesday, branded “Uncovering the Facts on the SPARK Road Programme”, where he detailed years of broken promises that have eroded public confidence in the government’s development commitments.
Designed to upgrade Jamaica’s crumbling road network and align with the administration’s broader economic growth and social development targets, the SPARK programme is structured into four large-scale construction packages focused on expanding and rehabilitating transportation infrastructure across the island. But for St Mary Central, Newell argues, the initiative has failed to deliver on even its most basic pledges, leaving multiple long-suffering communities stuck with deteriorating roadways that cripple daily life.
Among the hardest-hit areas are Islington, Marlborough, Essex and Tremolesworth, where unsafe road conditions have brought everyday activity to a near standstill. “These communities are dying. Islington has a high school, one of two high schools in the constituency, and three primary schools. There is no safe way in and no safe way out,” Newell told reporters.
The lawmaker recounted the timeline of unmet promises stretching back more than two years. During a public SPARK consultation held in May 2024, local residents were told that 10 roads across the constituency would be selected for rehabilitation under the programme. Newell left that meeting expecting key corridors including Thompson Town Road, Esher Avenue and Albion Mountain to be upgraded alongside several other critical routes.
After Newell was confirmed as the St Mary Central parliamentary candidate, he was invited to name liaison officers for two prioritized road projects. Construction work on those projects kicked off in March 2025, with heavy excavation equipment and work teams mobilizing to begin overhauls.
But the progress quickly ground to a halt over unresolved infrastructure issues, Newell claims. In April 2025, the liaison officer for the Kilancholly corridor flagged that contractors were preparing to lay asphalt without addressing long-standing leaking water pipe problems that had damaged the road foundation for years. Fed up with repeated complaints that went unanswered by officials, local residents grew increasingly frustrated and threatened to reach out to independent media to highlight the issue.
According to Newell, when media did begin to inquire about the problems, Robert Morgan, the minister responsible for public works, told reporters in May 2025 that piping upgrades had always been part of the Kilancholly project scope, and the issue would be resolved. More than a year later, however, residents still face major disruptions and unsafe conditions.
“We are now in May 2026, and up to last week, people were still driving into Kilancholly and into Tremolesworth experiencing significant delays because of a ridiculous amount of mud on the road,” Newell said. It was only after the MP issued a public press release last week that a work team was dispatched to the community on the following Saturday, he added. Even that intervention did little to repair public trust, Newell noted, as residents have become accustomed to repeated starts and stops on the project with no sustained progress.
Newell pushed back against attempts by the works minister to claim credit for SPARK’s successes across other parts of the country, arguing that Morgan must also take accountability for the failures in St Mary Central. Beyond the execution delays, the MP also raised serious questions about the programme’s budgeting for the constituency. When he took office, Newell said, he learned that the estimated total cost to rehabilitate the 10 promised roads exceeded 800 million Jamaican dollars — yet the total SPARK budget allocated to St Mary Central sits at just 272 million dollars.
The gap between promises and available funding has led Newell to question whether the initial commitments were made for political gain rather than genuine development. He warned that the mishandling of the programme is doing lasting damage to public confidence in government. “If you can’t trust the word of your Government, you can’t trust anything,” he said.
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Land titling to be modernised under $1.42 billion Korea-Jamaica partnership
KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a landmark step toward strengthening property rights and driving inclusive national development, the Government of Jamaica has formalized a new partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to launch a $1.42 billion initiative focused on transforming the country’s outdated land administration framework.
The cross-border collaboration between Seoul and Kingston is designed to deliver three core long-term benefits: formally secured land rights for more Jamaican homeowners, more robust governing institutions for land management, and accelerated sustainable development by making land ownership verification and transfers more accessible and transparent to the public.
Addressing attendees at the official signing ceremony, Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness emphasized the far-reaching socioeconomic impact of the project beyond administrative reform. “A land title is more than a document, it is a platform for opportunity. This project is about building that platform at scale,” he said, noting that formalized land ownership unlocks access to loans, home improvement investments, and economic mobility for millions of Jamaican households.
Scheduled for full implementation through 2030, the initiative centers on two key strategic upgrades to Jamaica’s land governance ecosystem. First, it will equip the National Land Agency (NLA), the country’s lead land management body, with cutting-edge digital infrastructure to cut processing times and reduce bureaucratic red tape. Second, it will establish a dedicated Land Administration Innovation Centre (LAIC) based at 84 Hanover Street in downtown Kingston, which will roll out targeted upskilling programs for local workers in geospatial planning and modern land management techniques.
Construction and operational setup of the LAIC will be carried out gradually across the full implementation period of the project, according to official project outlines.
Minister of Land Titling and Settlements Robert Montague shared context on the urgent need for reform, noting that Jamaica currently has roughly 900,000 distinct land parcels nationwide. As of today, only around 500,000 – just 55 percent of the total – have been formally titled, leaving nearly half of all land holdings undocumented and leaving owners without legal protections for their property.
Sook Jin Byun, Country Director of KOICA based in the Dominican Republic, expressed confidence in the project’s success during the ceremony. “With the strong leadership and cooperation of the National Land Agency of Jamaica and together with the expertise of our Korean team, I believe that this project will make a very meaningful contribution to the modernisation of Jamaica’s land administration system,” Byun said.
The initiative marks one of the largest bilateral development projects focused on land governance in Jamaica’s recent history, with expectations that it will lay the groundwork for years of more equitable economic growth.
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Plane crashes while en route to Grand Bahama
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In an update released Tuesday, the Bahamas Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) has confirmed that a small twin-engine turboprop aircraft carrying 10 people crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Florida’s Fort Pierce coast while on final approach to Grand Bahama International Airport.
The plane involved in the incident, a Beechcraft 300 King Air registered under the tail number HP-1859, departed earlier Tuesday from Leonard Thompson International Airport located on Abaco island in the Bahamas, according to AAIA’s official statement.
Midway through the planned flight, the aircraft’s pilot-in-command issued an emergency alert to regional air traffic control. Moments after the distress call, all communication with the plane was lost, the agency confirmed.
Immediately following the loss of contact, air traffic control teams at both Freeport and Nassau activated their full emergency response protocols. Key search and rescue stakeholders were notified right away, including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the United States Coast Guard, and the Bahamas Air Search and Rescue Association (BASRA).
Coordinated search operations led by the U.S. Coast Guard quickly located the wreckage of the downed aircraft in waters off Fort Pierce. All 10 people onboard were pulled from the ocean alive, with three individuals sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. The AAIA reports that the full investigation into the root cause of the crash is currently underway, with updates to come once preliminary findings are compiled.
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Dominican Republic renews U.S. access to Las Américas Airport and San Isidro Air Base
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The Caribbean nation has reauthorized temporary access for United States aircraft and military personnel to two key air facilities, Las Américas International Airport and San Isidro Air Base, as a core component of bilateral security cooperation under the multilateral Shield of the Americas initiative.
Under the terms of the renewed authorization, U.S. aircraft are permitted to conduct overflights, land, and park at the two sites, with all activity operating under the direct supervision of Dominican national authorities. Local security officials have emphasized that the agreement is designed to bolster cross-border and regional security capacity, boosting joint efforts including aerial surveillance operations, real-time intelligence sharing, specialized training programs for Dominican personnel, and targeted technical assistance.
These collaborative measures are focused on addressing persistent threats to the Dominican Republic and the broader Caribbean region, including illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized criminal networks, and other evolving cross-border security risks.
As an addendum to the broader bilateral security framework, the Dominican government also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding that creates a pathway for the temporary, exceptional entry of a small group of third-country nationals. The provision only applies to transiting travelers with no prior criminal records, and places strict limits on the number of individuals eligible for this arrangement.
In a parallel move to strengthen national security infrastructure, the Dominican government is currently rolling out modernization upgrades to airport and border security systems. The upgrades integrate cutting-edge biometric identification technologies and new digital verification tools, which officials say will not only enhance domestic and regional security but also lay the groundwork for improved air connectivity and growth in the country’s critical tourism sector in the long term.
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WHO chief says ‘work not over’ after hantavirus evacuation
MADRID, SPAIN – In the wake of a fatal hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise vessel MV Hondius that prompted a full evacuation of passengers and crew, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has emphasized that the global public health threat remains low, even as vigilance must be maintained to contain the rare virus. The incident, which has claimed three lives and left one French passenger in critical condition, has triggered international public health coordination, alongside diplomatic negotiations over repatriation and care for those exposed. As of this week, health authorities are working to prevent further spread, while stressing that the outbreak does not mirror the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three passengers have now died from the Andes variant of hantavirus, the only strain confirmed to transmit between humans. There are currently no licensed vaccines or targeted antiviral treatments for the pathogen, making monitoring and quarantine the primary public health interventions. As of Tuesday, an AFP compilation of official data places the total number of confirmed cases at seven, with one additional probable case, all among the ship’s passengers and crew. Exposed individuals hold citizenship from six nations: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
One French national over the age of 65 with pre-existing underlying health conditions remains in intensive care on mechanical ventilation, according to Dr. Xavier Lescure, speaking at a French health ministry press conference. The patient is classified as having a severe case of the rare disease, Lescure confirmed, without providing further personal or clinical details.
The full-scale evacuation of more than 120 passengers and crew from the MV Hondius was carried out over Sunday and Monday off Spain’s Canary Islands, after the vessel was denied entry to Cape Verde. It had previously anchored off Cape Verde’s capital Praia, where three infected people were airlifted to Europe for emergency care last week. After Spain agreed to allow the ship to anchor for evacuation, the regional government of the Canary Islands publicly and strongly opposed the decision, creating tension between national and regional authorities.
In a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held in Madrid Tuesday, following the completion of evacuation operations, Tedros pushed back against comparisons to the emergence of COVID-19. “There is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” he stated, though he cautioned that vigilance is far from over. “But of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”
All repatriated individuals are following public health protocols aligned with WHO guidance, which call for a 42-day quarantine period and continuous monitoring for high-risk contacts – a timeline matched to hantavirus’ maximum six-week incubation period. The Netherlands, which received 26 evacuees on the first repatriation flight Sunday, reported all passengers tested negative for the virus after thorough medical screenings. All 26 are still required to complete quarantine, per public health rules, and two subsequent flights carrying an additional 28 evacuees have also arrived in the country, with all passengers entering isolation.
Tedros noted that while the WHO encourages all nations to adopt the organization’s recommended guidelines, individual countries retain the authority to set their own public health measures. Speaking at a summit in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country has the situation fully under control, and called for strengthened coordinated action between European nations and the WHO to manage the outbreak.
The incident created unexpected diplomatic friction, as nations negotiated over responsibility for receiving the vessel and caring for exposed passengers and crew. In his remarks, Sanchez defended Spain’s decision to allow the evacuation off the Canary Islands, framing the choice as an act of global solidarity. “The world does not need more selfishness or more fear. What it needs are countries that show solidarity and want to step forward,” he said.
After the full evacuation was completed, the MV Hondius departed Tenerife Monday with only a minimal skeleton crew on board. It is scheduled to arrive in the Netherlands this Sunday, where it will undergo full disinfection protocols.
Hantavirus is naturally transmitted through contact with the urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents. The Andes variant is endemic to parts of South America, including Argentina, where the MV Hondius departed on its transatlantic cruise bound for Cape Verde on April 1.
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Haiti records sharp increase in rapes
In a stark new update from the United Nations, humanitarian officials have sounded the alarm over a dramatic and deeply concerning spike in gender-based violence (GBV) across Haiti in the first quarter of this year, as the Caribbean nation grapples with an already devastating, wide-ranging humanitarian crisis.
Farhan Haq, the United Nations Deputy Spokesperson, told reporters Tuesday that UN humanitarian partners working on the ground in Haiti have documented nearly 2,000 reported incidents of gender-based violence between January and March 2025 – averaging 21 reported cases every single day. What makes this surge even more alarming is the sharp rise in the proportion of cases involving the most extreme form of violence: rape. Data shows that over 70 percent of all recorded GBV incidents in the first three months of the year were rape, a major jump from the final quarter of 2024, when rapes accounted for 49 percent of total incidents.
The overwhelming majority of these recent rape cases were gang rapes, Haq confirmed, with armed groups identified as the primary perpetrators. Nearly all survivors are women and girls, reflecting a targeted pattern of violence against vulnerable communities in Haiti’s ongoing conflict. This jump in gender-based violence is not an isolated shift; it follows a consistent upward trend that began last year, when humanitarian partners recorded just over 8,000 total GBV incidents across the country – a 25 percent increase compared to 2024 figures.
As the crisis deepens, however, life-saving support services for survivors are facing crippling funding shortfalls that are putting lives at further risk. Haq emphasized that as of mid-year, only $1.2 million of the $15 million required to fund GBV response and support services has been secured by humanitarian groups – that equals just 8 percent of the total funding needed to meet existing needs.
This severe underfunding is already having direct, deadly consequences for survivors. Haq explained that the funding gap is drastically limiting survivors’ ability to access emergency medical care within the critical 72-hour window immediately following an assault, a window that is essential to preventing long-term health harm and providing life-saving interventions. It also restricts access to specialized psychosocial support, which helps survivors process trauma, and cuts off access to temporary emergency shelter for those forced to flee their homes after an attack.
While Haq noted that some survivors have still been able to access core services, including medical care, mental health support, and safe spaces for women and girls, through the limited resources currently available, he stressed that the scale of unmet need far outpaces what humanitarian groups can currently provide.
The United Nations and its partner organizations operating in Haiti have issued an urgent call for immediate action to scale up funding for critical services, including gender-based violence response, physical health care, protection programming, and psychosocial support. The call specifically prioritizes regions that have seen the highest concentrations of violence and displacement in recent months.
Gender-based violence is just one facet of the broader humanitarian catastrophe unfolding across Haiti. Haq confirmed that an estimated 1.45 million Haitians are currently internally displaced by ongoing conflict and insecurity, while close to 6 million people – half of the country’s total population – are currently facing acute food insecurity, with many struggling to access even basic daily necessities.
In response to the growing crisis, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has renewed its appeal for additional international funding, to both expand and strengthen support services for survivors of gender-based violence and scale up protection efforts in the areas of Haiti hardest hit by ongoing violence.
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Dominican Republic joins Caribbean plan to diversify cruise tourism
The global cruise industry has been grappling with mounting financial strain driven by soaring and unpredictable fuel prices, and three major Caribbean tourism destinations – the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the Bahamas – have teamed up to roll out a coordinated regional strategy designed to reinvent and strengthen the sector, industry outlet Travel And Tour World reports.
Fuel oil typically makes up between 15% and 25% of a cruise line’s total operating expenses, meaning the recent volatility in global energy markets has hit operator bottom lines disproportionately hard. To offset these rising costs and preserve profit margins, major cruise companies have already begun shifting their operational models: they are streamlining voyage routes, cutting back on the number of port stops per trip, and shortening average itinerary lengths. Traditional 7 to 10-day cruises that once dominated Caribbean offerings are increasingly being replaced by shorter 3 to 5-day getaways, a change that has forced regional destination providers to adapt to new industry norms.
In response to this shifting landscape, the three participating nations are leaning into collective action to build long-term resilience for their shared cruise tourism sector. The multi-pronged strategy includes investments in new purpose-built cruise port infrastructure, upgrades to existing on-shore visitor attractions, and the implementation of aligned regional policies crafted to draw more cruise lines and retain passenger volumes. Proponents of the plan note that deeper cooperation will also give the region greater flexibility to adjust routes dynamically in response to ongoing fluctuations in the global energy market, a key advantage over individual uncoordinated adaptations.
Cruise tourism has long stood as one of the foundational economic pillars for Caribbean economies, generating billions in annual revenue, supporting hundreds of thousands of local jobs, and sustaining widespread small business activity across coastal communities. But the sector’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel-powered maritime transport leaves it uniquely exposed to external global energy shocks, a vulnerability that has underscored the urgent need for long-term structural change across the region.
For the Dominican Republic specifically, cruise activity is the lifeblood of key coastal tourism hubs including Puerto Plata and La Romana, where every ship’s arrival ripples through local economies, supporting everything from street vendors and tour operators to hotels and transportation services. Dominican tourism authorities have already prioritized expanding local visitor attractions and upgrading port facilities to keep the country competitive in a shifting market. Through its participation in this regional diversification push, the nation aims to lock in its status as a core stop on major Caribbean cruise routes, while building the flexibility needed to thrive amid a global operating environment defined by persistent energy uncertainty and rising maritime transportation costs.
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Jamaican attorney Tamar Hamilton announces bid for Florida judge post
A long-time South Florida resident with Jamaican roots, attorney Tamar N Hamilton has officially thrown her hat in the ring for the Broward County Circuit Court Judge seat in Group 52. Her announcement comes on the heels of the recent retirement of Michael G. Kaplan, who held the position for 24 years, leaving the vacancy that three candidates now seek to fill.
The upcoming election, scheduled for August 18, is a statewide judicial contest in Florida that will see voters select 20 new Circuit Court judges across the state. Originally hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, Hamilton has built her life and career in Florida over the past 25 years, establishing deep roots in the local legal and community landscape. Currently serving as a special magistrate, she maintains dual office locations in Cutler Ridge and Lauderhill, and previously held the role of president of the Jamaican American Bar Association. Interestingly, a run for the judicial seat was already on her agenda six years ago, when she first considered challenging the incumbent Kaplan.
Hamilton shared her motivations for entering the race in an interview with Observer Online, noting that her first serious consideration of a judicial run came in 2020, when she observed a growing gap in community engagement and public understanding of the U.S. legal system. “Through my work educating and supporting residents across Broward County, I developed a deep passion for serving from the bench, where I can ensure that every person who enters the courtroom is heard, respected and treated fairly,” she explained. Hamilton pointed to her multi-faceted professional background — spanning work as a special magistrate, adjunct law professor, practicing attorney, and community advocate — as comprehensive preparation for the demands of the judgeship.
Her academic journey began at Jamaica’s St. Andrew Technical High School, before she pursued higher education in Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary arts and humanities from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, followed by a Juris Doctorate degree with honors from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, where she still teaches as an adjunct professor today.
In Florida, Circuit Court judges are elected to six-year terms, with no term limits imposed on this non-partisan public office. These judicial positions carry broad responsibility, as judges preside over a wide range of legal matters including criminal proceedings, civil disputes, and family law cases. Hamilton emphasized that her decades of legal work have given her direct experience across all these core practice areas.
Outlining what she believes makes an effective judicial leader, Hamilton noted: “An effective Circuit Court judge is experienced, fair and committed to listening. It requires a strong understanding of the law, sound judgment, patience, and the ability to remain impartial in every case. Equally important is the ability to ensure that all parties feel heard and that decisions are made thoughtfully and respectfully, in accordance with the law.” As election day approaches, Hamilton will join the two other candidates in vying for voter support to claim the open Group 52 seat.