分类： society

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A serving police inspector delivered unexpected testimony Wednesday in the murder trial of Constable Noel Maitland, expressing profound astonishment at the charges against his former subordinate. The inspector, currently stationed at Rockfort Police Station in the Kingston Eastern Division, appeared as a defense character witness in the high-profile case.

The court heard how the veteran officer characterized Maitland as a dedicated professional who displayed no indicators of violent tendencies. “I was very surprised. This came as a shock,” the inspector testified. “Nothing in his behavior and general character suggested that he was a person who could have done something like that.”

Maitland faces charges of murder and preventing the lawful burial of his girlfriend, Donna-Lee Donaldson, who vanished from the Chelsea Manor Apartments in St. Andrew on July 12, 2022. The apartment was Maitland’s registered residence at the time of Donaldson’s disappearance.

Under cross-examination by Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson, the inspector elaborated on his perception of typical murder suspects. He suggested such individuals often demonstrate visible signs of rage, uncontrollable behavior, and violent outbursts – particularly during high-stress public interactions. These traits, he maintained, were completely absent in Maitland’s professional conduct.

The inspector portrayed the accused constable as an exemplary officer who required minimal supervision and demonstrated exceptional reliability in his duties. “He was serious about his work so he would arrive early. He would always be on top of things to be done,” the witness told the seven-member jury.

Testimony revealed Maitland primarily handled prisoner transport operations, responsible for transferring detainees between facilities including Constant Spring, Red Hills, Lawrence Tavern, and Grants Pen. His supervisor described him as “very vibrant” and sociable, noting he often became “the center of attention” in social settings due to his outgoing personality.

The prosecution challenged the witness’s familiarity with Maitland’s private life, prompting the inspector to acknowledge he had no knowledge of Maitland’s relationships with either Donaldson or Kathanya Smith, the mother of Maitland’s child. The inspector also confirmed providing an earlier statement to prosecutors, technically making him a Crown witness despite his defense testimony.

With the defense resting its case after this testimony, the trial proceeds to closing arguments from the prosecution team on Thursday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—A transformative workforce development program is launching across four Jamaican parishes to address both unemployment and hurricane recovery needs. The Building Resilience and Inspiring Development through Guided Experience (BRIDGE) initiative will provide comprehensive construction training to 200 unemployed individuals from St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, and Hanover.

Education, Skills, Youth and Information Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon unveiled the program during a ceremonial event held in partnership with the Jamaica Society for the Blind. The initiative represents a strategic response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, targeting communities that suffered severe impacts.

Participants will gain practical expertise through immersive on-site training at active reconstruction projects. The curriculum encompasses essential construction disciplines including roof repair techniques, steel reinforcement installation, and masonry work. Instruction will be delivered by HEART/NSTA Trust-certified trainers supplemented by international technical experts through global partnerships.

Beyond skill development, the program provides financial support through monthly stipends of J$65,000 to enable participation. Minister Dixon specifically emphasized inclusive programming, urging administrators to actively integrate persons with disabilities into the training cohort. “We need to ensure disabled community members can participate meaningfully in such developmental programs,” she stated, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to equitable access.

The BRIDGE program represents a dual-purpose intervention addressing both workforce development and disaster recovery objectives while promoting social inclusion in Jamaica’s rebuilding efforts.

As the calendar turns, millions worldwide embrace the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, viewing January 1st as a psychological clean slate for personal transformation. Yet statistical evidence reveals a stark reality: most well-intentioned commitments unravel within weeks, despite initial enthusiasm.

Observer Online’s comprehensive analysis identifies ten perennial resolutions with notoriously high failure rates, examining both their collapse timelines and underlying causes. Fitness aspirations top the list, initially fueled by post-holiday motivation but typically abandoned by mid-February due to unrealistic expectations, repetitive routines, and perceived slow progress.

Entrepreneurial ambitions follow a similar trajectory, with approximately 80-90% of new business ventures faltering within weeks as financial pressures and strategic uncertainties emerge by March. Financial resolutions—including debt reduction and savings goals—commonly disintegrate during Q1 when unexpected expenses disrupt rigid budgeting systems.

The study reveals consistent psychological patterns across resolution types: overly ambitious targets, inadequate planning structures, and underestimation of required time investments. Skill-based resolutions like learning instruments or languages peak in engagement during January before declining sharply around February’s end, as initial excitement gives way to frustration with plateauing progress.

Even seemingly straightforward commitments like reading more books or improving work-life balance succumb to predictable pitfalls. Digital distractions and workload creep typically override these intentions by March, highlighting the tension between aspirational self-improvement and ingrained behavioral patterns.

Notably, travel plans and academic improvements demonstrate seasonal collapse patterns, failing mid-year due to financial constraints or during exam periods due to poor time management. Nutrition goals face particular challenges from social obligations and restrictive dieting approaches that prove unsustainable beyond February.

The analysis concludes that successful resolution-keeping requires systematic support mechanisms—measurable milestones, accountability partnerships, and flexible frameworks—rather than relying solely on January’s motivational surge.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—In a decisive move to combat the persistent issue of praedial larceny, Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has reinforced its strategic approach through amplified enforcement mechanisms and the widespread implementation of traceability technologies across the agricultural value chain.

Kalecia Hall, acting director of the Praedial Larceny Prevention Coordination Branch, articulated the government’s comprehensive strategy during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank session on January 14. Hall emphasized that the specialized branch, originally established as a unit in 2015, has evolved into a multifaceted operation targeting five critical domains: enforcement, public education, institutional collaboration, traceability infrastructure, and legislative modernization.

Significant legal advancements have been achieved through the 2023 amendments to the Agricultural Produce Act, which dramatically elevated financial penalties for agricultural theft—from a mere $200 to a staggering $3 million. These reforms also mandated compulsory dealer registration, now administered by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). Complementary revisions were simultaneously enacted across multiple statutes including the Malicious Injuries to Property Act, Lawful Possession of Property Act, Country Fires Act, and Trespass Act.

The institutional framework has been strengthened through sustained partnerships with RADA, the Veterinary Services Division, and the Jamaica Agricultural Society. These collaborations facilitate the implementation of sophisticated traceability instruments such as farmer registration databases, cattle identification passports and tags, and standardized receipt books—all synchronized with enforcement initiatives.

A pivotal development in enforcement capabilities emerged two years ago with the creation of the dedicated Agricultural Protection Division within the Jamaica Constabulary Force. This specialized police unit has contributed to a substantial increase in arrests and successful prosecutions, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated enforcement and monitoring systems.

Hall clarified that the traceability infrastructure serves dual purposes: protecting legitimate farmers while identifying bad actors within the supply chain. “These systems are engineered to monitor agricultural producers while simultaneously ensuring accountability among intermediaries and end consumers,” she stated, noting that compliance inspections and random spot checks frequently reveal illicit activities that often go unreported through formal channels.

The Branch, in concert with its institutional partners, will conduct a series of farmer sensitization workshops to enhance stakeholder awareness and promote regulatory compliance throughout the agricultural sector.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican media community will gather to pay final respects to Donald Oliver, the acclaimed sports journalist whose sudden passing last month sent shockwaves through the nation. A formal funeral service has been scheduled for Saturday, January 24 at the University of the West Indies Mona Chapel, commencing at 11:00 am.

Oliver’s untimely death on December 30 at just 40 years old prompted an extraordinary outpouring of tributes from across Jamaican society. The profound impact of his loss was felt from the highest levels of government to opposition parties, sports organizations, and countless social media users who celebrated his contributions to sports journalism.

At the time of his passing, Oliver served as audiovisual manager at the Jamaica Observer Media Group, a position he had held since August 2025 following the closure of SportsMax. His distinguished career spanned over two decades, during which he established himself as a prominent figure in Jamaican media through previous roles at CVM TV and TVJ. Oliver was widely recognized as both a senior producer and high-profile commentator, earning numerous awards throughout his prolific career in sports broadcasting.