作者： admin

A contentious political dispute has emerged in Jamaica regarding the future of hurricane-displaced families currently sheltering at Petersfield High School, just days before students are scheduled to return for the new academic term.

The conflict pits opposition parliamentarian Dwayne Vaz against Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, with both officials presenting starkly different narratives about the government’s intentions toward more than 50 families who have been residing at the educational facility since Hurricane Melissa devastated the region on October 28.

Vaz, the Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, has raised urgent concerns about what he characterizes as the government’s inadequate planning for vulnerable residents. He maintains that despite previous ministerial commitments guaranteeing no family would be left without accommodation, many shelter residents have received no confirmation of alternative housing arrangements. The opposition legislator emphasized that the shelter population includes minors and other vulnerable individuals who require protected status, noting that no formal eviction authorization has been presented through judicial channels.

In a swift and forceful response, Minister McKenzie categorically denied allegations of planned evictions, labeling them as ‘misinformation’ and ‘fake news.’ The minister outlined a detailed transition plan that would relocate current shelter residents to a different section of the school compound to minimize educational disruption while maintaining shelter provisions. McKenzie emphasized that the government’s primary focus remains developing both temporary and permanent housing solutions through coordinated efforts with humanitarian organizations.

The government’s current strategy involves collaboration with Food For the Poor to establish temporary housing on identified land parcels, though officials acknowledge this solution will require additional time to implement. For long-term housing needs, the administration plans to utilize the New Social Housing Programme to provide sustainable accommodation for those who lost their homes during the hurricane.

Minister McKenzie concluded with a sharp condemnation of opposition critics, accusing them of exploiting vulnerable populations for political gain and engaging in what he described as ‘vulgar’ and ‘despicable’ misinformation tactics.

As the final hours of 2025 dwindled, downtown Kingston’s waterfront became the stage for a profound natural spectacle. A solitary observer stood witness to the year’s concluding sunset, its diminishing amber glow casting elongated reflections across the water’s surface. The celestial event unfolded as a seamless transition from diurnal radiance to crepuscular tranquility, with the sun’s descent marking both an astronomical occurrence and a symbolic passage of time.

The atmospheric conditions collaborated to create optimal viewing circumstances, with scattered cirrus clouds amplifying the chromatic intensity of the twilight panorama. This daily phenomenon carried exceptional significance as the ultimate solar disappearance of the calendar year, attracting both contemplative individuals and casual observers to the urban shoreline. The gradual dimming of luminosity paralleled the metaphorical closing of another annual cycle, offering a moment for collective reflection amid the bustling city’s gradual shift to evening activities.

Urban environmental specialists note that such waterfront vistas provide unique opportunities for atmospheric appreciation within municipal settings. The convergence of natural beauty and urban infrastructure in Kingston creates a distinctive tableau where residents can engage with celestial events without departing city limits. This intersection of the built environment and natural phenomena represents an increasingly valued aspect of metropolitan living, particularly during culturally significant moments like annual transitions.

The observed sunset adhered to precise astronomical calculations while simultaneously serving as an informal civic ceremony. Meteorological data indicates optimal visibility conditions prevailed throughout the Greater Kingston area, allowing unobstructed observation of the solar disk’s disappearance below the topographical horizon. This event concludes a yearly cycle of approximately 365 sunrises and sunsets, each possessing unique meteorological characteristics but none carrying the symbolic weight of this ultimate diurnal conclusion.

Jamaica’s media landscape is mourning the loss of two iconic figures this week, with veteran broadcaster and educator Alma Mock Yen passing away on Wednesday at age 97. Her death comes just one day after the sudden passing of sports broadcaster Donald Oliver, creating a profound sense of loss within the nation’s media community.

Mock Yen, who had been in declining health, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy spanning broadcast journalism, education, politics, and the arts. Tributes poured in from across Jamaican society recognizing her multifaceted contributions to national development.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange celebrated Mock Yen as “a woman of class who distinguished herself in all of what she did for the many years that she spent in public life.” Her remarkable career began exceptionally early, with Mock Yen becoming one of Jamaica’s youngest school teachers at just 14 years old, instructing English language and literature at Merl Grove High School.

Her broadcast journalism career was pioneering, but perhaps her most enduring impact came through her leadership of The University of the West Indies Mona Campus Radio Unit, where she mentored generations of media professionals. “Her contributions were instrumental in shaping the landscape of media education and practice in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean,” Minister Grange emphasized.

The Press Association of Jamaica memorialized Mock Yen as “a respected and pioneering figure in the media landscape, known for her calm authority, incisive interviewing style, and unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity.” The association noted she set high standards for broadcast journalism and served as a role model particularly for women entering the profession.

Beyond media, Mock Yen broke barriers as one of Jamaica’s pioneering women in politics, serving as a parish councillor for the Jamaica Labour Party from 1981-1986. She was also an accomplished dancer who led her own dance troupe and received national honors including the Musgrave Medal and the Order of Distinction.

Colleagues and former students remembered her exacting standards and dedication. Veteran journalist David Geddes noted she “epitomised the adage ‘the word is mightier than the sword,’” while former KLAS FM head Neville James called her “a legend” whose influence on Jamaican media would endure through the countless practitioners she trained.