作者： admin

A deadly industrial explosion at a garage connected to the headquarters of Guardsman Group-Beryllium Limited in Kingston, Jamaica has left one person dead and three others with life-threatening third-degree burns, prompting an emergency medical evacuation to specialized overseas treatment facilities. The blast, which occurred on Wednesday at the South Camp Road location, sent shockwaves through the local workforce, triggering a rapid coordinated response from the company and Jamaican burn care organizations.

On Thursday afternoon, as the three injured men awaited transfer at Norman Manley International Airport, Guardsman Group Chairman Kenny Benjamin reaffirmed the company’s commitment to prioritizing its employees amid the tragedy. “Our entire operation is rooted in people – that is the core of our business, that is how we succeed. Every member of our team matters deeply, so we came together immediately to do everything in our power to support them,” Benjamin said during his visit to the airport, where he led a corporate response team to check on the victims and coordinate immediate support.

Deputy Chairman Nicholas Benjamin expanded on the company’s response, noting that organizational leadership has guaranteed full coverage for all necessary medical care, regardless of whether that care is accessed locally or abroad. “We suffered a terrible incident at one of our on-site facilities, and tragically multiple workers suffered severe burn injuries. Working alongside Stephen Josephs and his team at the Burn Foundation, we are arranging emergency airlift to the United States to get these men the world-class specialized care they urgently need,” he explained.

Nicholas emphasized that rapid intervention is non-negotiable for severe burn patients, making the immediate evacuation the top priority for the response team. He also shared details on the four affected workers: the deceased victim and three surviving injured men worked in a range of roles at the facility, including garage manager, operations team member, welder, and air conditioning technician.

For Vivene Barret, mother of injured worker Damian Walters, the severity of her son’s injuries is overwhelming – she rated his burns as a 10 out of 10 in an interview with Jamaica Observer, speaking through tears. Even amid her fear and grief, however, Barret expressed sincere gratitude for the rapid, comprehensive support the company has extended to all those affected by the blast. “I can’t put into words how thankful I am for what they are doing, for my son and for every other person impacted by this,” she said.

Stephen Josephs, head of the Jamaica Burn Foundation, confirmed that the three airlifted patients will receive care at two leading U.S. burn treatment centers: one facility in California, and the specialized JMS Burn Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. As investigations into the cause of the blast continue, the company has reiterated that it will stand by all affected workers and their families through every step of recovery.

Against a backdrop of surging estate-related litigation across Jamaica, prominent local attorney Josemar Belnavis has issued a pressing call for Jamaicans to prioritize proactive estate planning, warning that widespread neglect of will preparation and asset organization has triggered devastating family conflicts, cripplingly expensive court battles and widespread property loss across the island.

Belnavis, a partner at Kingston-based Lindsay Law Chambers, delivered his remarks during a recent educational presentation focused on estate planning for members of the JN Circle Morant Bay Chapter, where he framed the practice as a critical intersection of personal wellness and long-term financial strategy.

Opening with a core definition, Belnavis explained that an individual’s estate encompasses every asset and legal entitlement they hold at the time of their passing: from real estate, bank holdings, investment portfolios and insurance policies to vehicles, fine jewelry, company shares, and even outstanding debts owed to the deceased. “One of life’s few unchanging certainties is that every person will eventually die,” he told attendees, emphasizing that accepting this reality makes intentional pre-planning through formal legal and financial arrangements non-negotiable.

Per an official statement from JN Circle, Belnavis drew attention to the sharp growth of estate disputes in Jamaica, noting that the national court system was forced to launch a dedicated Family and Probate Division specifically to manage the high volume of litigation tied to unplanned estates. He stressed that the vast majority of these conflicts stem from intestacy – the term for when a person dies without leaving a valid, legally executed will – leaving surviving relatives with no clear guidance for how assets should be distributed.

The consequences of this gap are often severe, Belnavis explained. Assets can sit frozen for years: properties are left abandoned, vehicles degrade beyond repair, and bank accounts remain locked while relatives battle through the court system. He also drew attention to the growing risk of adverse possession: when squatters or unauthorized occupants remain on a property after the owner’s death, they can legally claim full ownership after 12 years of continuous occupation.

To illustrate the scope of the problem, Belnavis shared multiple real-world examples of intrafamily conflict that erupt after a loved one’s passing. These range from bitter sibling disputes over multi-generational family homes to messy conflicts between long-term unmarried partners and adult children from previous relationships. In the most extreme cases, he noted, these disagreements escalate to physical violence, and nearly all drag on for years, draining entire families of their financial resources.

“When a family turns against each other over an estate, the simple truth is that no one walks away a winner,” Belnavis said.

Outlining the core purpose of a will, Belnavis explained that the legal document serves three key functions: it names the beneficiaries who will receive the deceased’s assets, appoints a trusted party to manage the estate through the probate process, and designates guardians for minor or dependent family members. “It is your voice, even after you are gone, to make sure your wishes are followed,” he emphasized.

Beyond the core importance of wills, Belnavis walked attendees through key legal concepts in estate planning, including testacy (having a valid will at death), intestacy, and the distinct roles of executors and administrators. He also issued a critical warning: even people who have taken the step to draft a will often leave their families vulnerable if the document is not properly executed or updated to reflect changing life circumstances, a mistake that can trigger just as much legal conflict as dying without a will at all.

Belnavis urged Jamaicans to seek guidance from qualified legal and financial professionals rather than relying on informal, unregulated advice from friends or family members. While many people avoid professional planning to save money on legal fees, he argued that cutting corners in this area creates far larger financial burdens for surviving relatives. “You try to save a small amount of money up front, and end up creating a problem that costs your family millions down the line,” he said.

The attorney also highlighted a key role for Jamaican financial institutions in expanding access to estate planning, noting that customer education programs, dedicated legacy and wealth planning services, and community outreach initiatives can help normalize proactive planning for all income groups. He added that organized, up-to-date financial records and clear asset documentation drastically simplifies the process for families to settle an estate after a loved one’s passing.

In closing, Belnavis encouraged Jamaicans to take additional proactive steps, including planning for early asset transfers and creating a centralized, accessible system for storing important legal documents, online account passwords and full financial records. “Having a system in place where your trusted executor or a family member can easily access all your information if you become incapacitated or pass away makes all the difference,” he said. “This can be critical in an emergency, and it ensures your estate is accounted for properly.”

He stressed that estate planning should not be misframed as a morbid exercise focused only on preparing for death, but rather as an essential component of lifelong financial wellness that protects the security of future generations.

As the countdown to June 21 ticks on, anticipation is rapidly building across Jamaica for the upcoming *Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity* – a one-of-a-kind fundraising gala that brings some of the nation’s most prominent public figures out of their professional roles and onto the stage. Scheduled to kick off at 7:00 pm at the Jamaica College auditorium in Kingston, rehearsals are already in full swing, with participants from the country’s political sphere, private sector, and civil society refining their performances ahead of the big night.

The roster of talent continues to expand, with new high-profile additions joining the lineup in recent weeks: Miss Jamaica World 2026 Nevaeh Allen, opposition culture spokesperson Nekeisha Burchell, and renowned designer and radio host Karen Booker are the latest names confirmed to take the stage. They join an already star-studded cast that includes House Speaker Juliet Holness, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, whose acts are teased to leave audience members stunned.

Event executive producer Cordel Green shared that attendees can expect a dynamic, surprise-filled program that showcases little-known, hidden talents of these leaders and influencers far beyond their usual work in government offices and boardrooms. “This isn’t just a show – it’s a chance to see the people who shape our country in a completely new light,” Green explained, noting that the event will also feature representation from Jamaica’s western region, with veteran Montego Bay-based journalists Lloyd B Smith and Janet Silvera, fresh off her successful Jill Stewart Memorial Run, joining the performance lineup.

For the event’s long-time beneficiary, the Mustard Seed Communities, this annual gala has become a transformative source of support. Over the history of the *Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity* show, the initiative has raised more than JMD $80 million for the organization, which provides care and housing for nearly 500 children impacted by HIV and abandoned youth across 12 facilities islandwide. All proceeds from this year’s event will continue to fund this critical outreach work.

Organizers have made the event accessible to both in-person attendees and remote viewers, including Jamaicans living in the diaspora. Adult tickets are priced at JMD $4,000, with tickets for children under 12 available at JMD $2,000. Physical tickets can be purchased at any Fontana Pharmacy location across the country, including outlets at Loshusan, Sovereign Centre, Tropical Plaza, Sovereign Village Portmore, and Montego Bay, while digital tickets are available for purchase online via touchstonelink.com. For those unable to attend in person, the show will be broadcast via pay-per-view through the Alive Podcast Network, with a second streaming platform expected to be announced in the coming days.

The 2024 event boasts widespread support from a diverse group of corporate and community sponsors, including Tastee, Optimum, Kinematix, Bloozick Media Productions, Viva Events, Phase Three Productions, Alive Podcast Network, Jamaica National Bank, Bank of Jamaica, Digicel, LP Azar, Touchstone Productions Limited, Fontana Pharmacy, Josephs Holdings, New Levels Décor (Sireta Hammond), Rainforest Seafoods, TVJ, The Gleaner, RJR 94FM, IRIE FM, Kool FM, Nationwide News Network, Mello FM, Suncity Radio and Roots FM.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — What began as a company-wide volunteer drive turned 2026 Labour Day into a transformative day of community service for Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), the parent operator of iconic fast-food chains KFC and Pizza Hut across the island. The company coordinated hundreds of team members, building supplies, and catered meal support to upgrade eight primary and early childhood institutions across western Jamaica and St Catherine, delivering tangible improvements to learning spaces that serve local communities.

In an official press statement released Thursday, ROJ outlined that the initiative was intentionally structured around community needs already identified by its own employees. Rather than launching a disconnected corporate charity project, the company organized cross-location and cross-department teams to support schools located in the very neighborhoods where their team members live and work, grounding the effort in local connection.

The eight institutions that benefited from the drive span the region: Cornwall College, Howard Cooke Primary, Edward Basic, Granville Primary and Infant, Bridgeport Basic, Priory Primary, St Peter’s Early Childhood Institution, and Bogue Hill Primary and Infant School. ROJ covered all required material costs for the projects, donating multiple buckets of paint, along with brushes, rollers, paint pans, and native saplings for campus landscaping. To keep volunteer teams energized through the full workday, the company also provided hot meals from KFC and Pizza Hut, plus cold refreshments for every work site.

Across all participating schools, the core goal of the effort was simple but impactful: to create brighter, cleaner, more welcoming learning environments for both students and teaching staff. ROJ highlighted two sites in particular for their focused, community-integrated work: St Peter’s Early Childhood Institution in Falmouth and Bogue Hill Primary and Infant School in Montego Bay.

At both locations, ROJ volunteer teams worked side-by-side with school administrators, parent groups, teachers, and local community volunteers. Campus walls were repainted in fresh, vibrant hues, faded playground artwork was restored, new trees were planted across school grounds, and deep cleaning work was completed throughout every building. Even young students found small ways to contribute to the upgrades, joining in the collaborative spirit of the day.

For St Peter’s in Falmouth, the support went beyond cosmetic upgrades: ROJ’s team also completed critical repairs to the roof of a classroom that had sustained severe damage during Hurricane Melissa the previous season.

Michael Black, Restaurant General Manager of Pizza Hut Whitter Village and lead coordinator for the St Peter’s project, said the day perfectly embodied what ROJ’s Labour Day service model was designed to achieve. “This was all about meeting a demonstrated need in the community and bringing the right resources to get the job done,” Black explained. “St Peter’s is a core institution for this area, and after the damage Hurricane Melissa left behind, we knew this work would change daily life for the kids here. What impressed me most was how seamlessly team members from different restaurants and departments came together to pitch in. Everyone understood why we were there, and that made all the difference.”

Levene Sheriff, Marketing Officer at ROJ, added that the initiative allowed the company to support local community action in a way that felt authentic rather than performative, leaning into the existing connections ROJ employees already have with their home neighborhoods. “Across both of our brands, our team members are embedded in communities all over Jamaica, and many of them already volunteer for local causes on their own time,” Sheriff noted. “Labour Day gave us the chance to back that existing spirit of service with company resources — whether that’s building materials, catered meals, or extra volunteer hands. Our goal wasn’t to launch something new from the top down; it was to strengthen the work that was already happening in these school communities.”

For Gillian Brissett, Principal of St Peter’s Early Childhood Institution, the volunteer drive came as a much-needed boost after months of uncertainty following the hurricane. “We are truly grateful for every bit of support the ROJ team gave St Peter’s,” Brissett said. “They showed up ready to work from the minute they arrived, and it was so encouraging to see parents, teachers, and even our own students join in. The school looks completely different now, brighter than ever, and after everything we went through with Hurricane Melissa, this means more than we can say. Support like this reminds us that the wider community hasn’t forgotten us, and that we all have a stake in these kids’ education.”

By the end of the 2026 Labour Day, the effort had brought together more than 200 participants from ROJ, local schools, and the surrounding community, all united around the shared goal of building better learning spaces for Jamaica’s children. By leveraging its existing employee network to target local needs, ROJ was able to deliver impactful upgrades to multiple schools while keeping the work rooted in personal connection, practical action, and community-focused service.