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In a tragic turn of events, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard successfully recovered the body of a young boy from the Rio Cobre river in St. Catherine parish on Saturday afternoon. The operation unfolded after emergency responders received reports that a minor had disappeared in the waterway earlier that day.

According to official statements from the JDF, their specialized dive team from the 2nd District mobilized quickly upon receiving the search request. The divers commenced their operation in the designated area where the child was last seen entering the river around 2:00 PM local time.

After nearly four hours of intensive search efforts, the Coast Guard personnel located and retrieved the deceased child’s body at approximately 5:50 PM. The recovery occurred in the same section of the river where the boy was initially reported missing, bringing a sorrowful conclusion to the search operation.

The Jamaica Defence Force confirmed that the recovered remains were formally transferred to the Spanish Town Police Department, which will oversee the subsequent investigation and procedures. Law enforcement authorities have initiated standard protocols for such incidents, though specific details regarding the circumstances leading to the tragedy remain under investigation.

In an official communiqué, the JDF expressed profound sympathy and extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family members, acknowledging the devastating loss they are enduring. The incident has highlighted the ongoing water safety concerns in the region, particularly during the current period when seasonal rains have increased river currents throughout Jamaica.

ST JAMES, Jamaica — In a significant move to strengthen community-led security initiatives, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Delroy Chuck has commissioned 28 new Justices of the Peace (JPs) with a mandate to enhance collaborative crime prevention measures. The commissioning ceremony, held Friday at Grand-A-View Event Place, marked a strategic expansion of Jamaica’s community justice network.

Minister Chuck articulated a vision where JPs serve as critical intermediaries between law enforcement and citizens, leveraging their unique community positioning to facilitate intelligence sharing and public guidance. While clarifying that JPs won’t assume policing responsibilities, the minister emphasized their role in confidentially relaying credible information about criminal activities to authorities.

The justice minister framed crime reduction as a collective national endeavor requiring coordinated efforts between residents and security forces. He specifically urged the newly appointed JPs to utilize their influence to steer youth toward education and legitimate employment opportunities rather than criminal pathways.

Chuck’s address highlighted the dual role of JPs as both community confidants and law enforcement allies, noting their firsthand understanding of neighborhood dynamics makes them invaluable in bridging institutional gaps. The minister pointed to recent security improvements in St James as evidence that sustained partnership between community leaders and police produces tangible public safety benefits.

The commissioning ceremony represents Jamaica’s broader strategy to institutionalize community participation in crime prevention, recognizing that operational police work must be complemented by grassroots engagement to achieve lasting security gains.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican officials have declared the modernization of the nation’s adoption and foster care systems, along with enhanced support for children with special needs, a critical national priority aimed at improving outcomes for vulnerable youth.

Education, Skills, Youth and Information Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon emphasized the urgent need to reform Jamaica’s adoption legislation during her address at the 14th annual educational achievement awards ceremony. The event, organized by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), took place Thursday at Kingston’s Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel.

“We persistently discuss adoption reform yet haven’t achieved substantial progress. Revising our adoption law requires immediate attention,” Senator Morris Dixon asserted. She highlighted the necessity of streamlining procedures to accelerate children’s transition into permanent, nurturing family environments, noting that current processes must become “significantly simpler and more efficient.”

Regarding foster care, the minister advocated for family-based settings as the optimal environment for child development and called for expanded national participation in foster programs. “I firmly believe that a family home provides the best foundation for a child’s growth and wellbeing,” she added.

The minister also addressed significant gaps in support systems for children with special needs, particularly during their transition to adulthood. “We’re expanding ministerial programs to better serve the substantial population of children with special needs, but additional efforts are imperative,” Senator Morris Dixon stated.

Emphasizing inclusion and opportunity, she noted that children with special needs possess significant potential to contribute to national development when provided with appropriate support structures. Minister Morris Dixon concluded by stressing the fundamental importance of developing comprehensive national frameworks that ensure every child, regardless of circumstance or ability, feels valued, supported, and fully integrated into society.

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Jamaican authorities have formally charged former national football team member Hector Wright and his spouse, Jodi-Ann Wright, following a significant narcotics operation at their residence in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay. The incident occurred on the afternoon of January 29, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at the couple’s two-story property.

According to official reports, tactical units conducted a coordinated operation approximately at 1:15 pm, leading to the discovery of multiple containers holding substances suspected to be illicit drugs. Specialized investigators from the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) were immediately dispatched to the scene for evidence processing and analysis.

Forensic examination confirmed the seized material to be crack cocaine, with authorities reporting the confiscation of more than twenty individually packaged units of the controlled substance. The quantity and packaging method suggest potential intent for distribution rather than personal consumption.

Hector Wright, who previously represented Jamaica’s national football team (known as the Reggae Boyz) during his professional career and currently works as a football coach, now faces serious criminal allegations alongside his wife. Both defendants have been charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to supply cocaine.

The couple remained in custody following their arrest and have been formally processed through the Jamaican justice system. Their initial court appearance is scheduled for February 25, where they will answer to the charges before a magistrate. The case has drawn significant attention due to Wright’s status as a former sports celebrity in Jamaica.