分类： society

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The $231 million Troy Bridge project in Trelawny is progressing as planned and is expected to be completed by December 2025, according to Robert Morgan, the Minister responsible for works. During a site visit on Wednesday, Minister Morgan expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing construction, emphasizing the bridge’s critical role in alleviating the challenges faced by residents since its collapse in 2021.

Minister Morgan highlighted the significance of the project, stating, ‘I’m happy that Jamaica can see the work that we’ve done. While there is still some work left, we are confident that the people of this area will be very proud once the project is finished.’ He also announced that road rehabilitation on both sides of the bridge is slated to begin in January 2026, further enhancing accessibility for residents, students, and local businesses.

The collapse of the Troy Bridge in August 2021, during Tropical Storm Grace, had a severe economic impact on the region. Minister Morgan underscored the bridge’s importance as a vital economic hub for Trelawny, Manchester, and St Elizabeth. ‘For the past four years, the absence of this bridge has been devastating. We are committed to rehabilitating the roads to support farmers, students, residents, and businesses, aiming to reinvigorate Troy,’ he added.

The minister also emphasized the government’s dedication to modernizing Jamaica’s infrastructure. ‘This bridge dates back to the 1800s, which illustrates the immense task we face in rebuilding and rehabilitating our infrastructure. However, the government is fully committed to this mission,’ he concluded.

LOS ANGELES, United States — A significant breakthrough has been made in the investigation of the devastating Palisades Fire that ravaged an upscale Los Angeles suburb earlier this year. Authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of a 29-year-old man, Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is suspected of igniting the blaze. Rinderknecht was apprehended in Florida and faces charges of destruction of property by means of fire. Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, ‘The complaint alleges that a single individual’s reckless actions led to one of the most catastrophic fires in Los Angeles history, causing loss of life and extensive damage in Pacific Palisades.’ The fire, which erupted in January, left a trail of destruction in its wake, highlighting the severe consequences of such incidents. The arrest marks a critical step in holding those responsible accountable and providing some measure of justice to the affected community.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed on Wednesday that approximately 680,000 children in Haiti have been displaced due to escalating gang violence, marking a near doubling of the figure from the previous year. The agency emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to address the humanitarian crisis engulfing the Caribbean nation. In a stark report, UNICEF highlighted that over 3.3 million children are in dire need of humanitarian aid, describing their plight as a ‘daily struggle for survival.’ Roberto Benes, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, underscored the severity of the situation, stating, ‘Haiti is at a breaking point. This generation cannot keep waiting for help to come.’ The UN has documented over 2,269 grave violations against 1,373 children in 2024 alone, including killings, injuries, sexual violence, and forced recruitment by gangs. Alarmingly, UNICEF estimates that 2.7 million people, including 1.6 million women and children, reside in gang-controlled territories, constituting nearly a quarter of Haiti’s population. The report warned that without immediate restoration of protection services, an entire generation risks growing up in a perpetual state of fear, violence, and exploitation.

A tragic domestic violence incident in Waterbury, Connecticut, has resulted in the arrest of a 25-year-old man for the alleged murder of his parents. The victims, identified as 51-year-old Carlene Williams and 55-year-old Marc Adams, were found with fatal gunshot wounds at their Beverly Avenue residence on Monday evening. Authorities were alerted to the scene, where the couple was pronounced dead. The suspect, Javan Adams, has been charged with multiple offenses, including murder with special circumstances, murder during the commission of a felony, larceny of a vehicle, and criminal use of a weapon. Javan is currently held on a $5 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. Reports indicate that the suspect has a lengthy criminal history, with over seven prior domestic violence offenses, underscoring the severity of the case. The incident has reignited concerns about domestic violence and its devastating consequences.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican government has introduced a landmark initiative to formalize and expand the nation’s cultural and creative industries, garnering bipartisan approval. The Green Paper on the National Policy for Culture, Entertainment, and the Creative Economy 2025–2035 was presented in Parliament on Tuesday by Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange. This comprehensive 10-year strategy aims to bolster a sector that already contributes over five percent of Jamaica’s GDP and nearly three percent of national employment. The policy outlines plans to establish new institutions, enhance intellectual property protections, and develop sustainable funding mechanisms to support artists, entertainers, and cultural practitioners. Minister Grange emphasized that the policy is a transformative framework designed to preserve Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage while unlocking the full potential of its creative sectors. She highlighted that the document was crafted after extensive consultations with cultural experts and industry stakeholders, aiming to place people and culture at the core of economic and social development. Opposition Spokesperson Nekeisha Burchell praised the initiative as a timely and necessary step, though she stressed the importance of including voices from smaller communities and traditional practitioners in the consultation process. Opposition Leader Mark Golding also commended the policy but called for a clear implementation blueprint, including timelines and governance structures. Meanwhile, MP Damion Crawford raised practical concerns, such as the low uptake of the entertainment registry and the need for stronger protections against the international exploitation of Jamaican cultural expressions. The policy has been widely welcomed as a critical step toward fostering national pride, social cohesion, and economic growth through Jamaica’s vibrant creative industries.

A Montego Bay man, Melbourne Forrester, is set to face trial after mediation efforts in a domestic violence case collapsed. Forrester, charged with unlawful wounding, allegedly struck his stepdaughter on the head with a pot during a heated argument, leaving her with a wound that required stitches. The incident escalated when Forrester reportedly brandished a knife, threatening to stab her, and later hurled stones, causing further injuries. A neighbor alerted the police, leading to Forrester’s arrest. Initially, Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton referred the case to mediation and restorative justice, but the process failed to yield a resolution. With the necessary medical certificate still pending, the judge scheduled a case management hearing for October 16 and extended Forrester’s bail. Meanwhile, tensions ran high in the St James Parish Court as another complex cross-case involving Angella Reid, Oshane McIntosh, and Ann Lawrence also saw mediation fail. Reid is accused of unlawful wounding against McIntosh, while McIntosh and Lawrence face charges of assault occasioning bodily harm against Reid. The court has set the next mention date for October 28, with all defendants’ bail extended.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—A groundbreaking initiative, the Agents for Transformation programme, has delivered life-changing outcomes for at-risk students at Charlie Smith High School in Trench Town. This collaborative effort between Sterling Asset Management Limited and the Joy Town Community Development Foundation, which ran from August 2022 to March 2023, targeted 30 third-form students at risk of expulsion, suspension, gang involvement, and other detrimental behaviors. Of these, 23 students successfully completed the programme, which integrated life skills training, academic support, counseling, case management, and parental engagement to foster positive change. Additionally, 13 parents received positive parenting training to reduce household violence and enhance support for their children. The results were transformative: the school’s pass rate in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) English exams surged from 13.1% to 75%. Michelle Valentine, AVP of Marketing and Communications at Sterling Asset Management, emphasized the programme’s dual focus on academic and real-world skills, equipping students to make better decisions and envision brighter futures. Students also engaged in career-focused life skills sessions hosted by the University of Technology (UTech), the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), and HEART/NSTA Trust, which broadened their horizons and inspired goal-setting. Camille Johnson, Programme Manager at Joy Town Community Development Foundation, highlighted the holistic impact on families and communities. Academically, students showed marked improvements in vocabulary, reading, comprehension, and mathematics, with 100% reporting enhanced reading skills and 90.5% valuing education more. Kasheina Allison, a 17-year-old graduate and President’s Award recipient, credits the programme with helping her manage anger and improve her grades. Now working in retail and preparing to study food and nutrition, Allison aspires to become a chef and serve in the JDF, urging others to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A tragic incident in the Mount Pleasant district of St Elizabeth has resulted in the death of a 60-year-old laborer, Jerome Laws, following a violent altercation on Saturday, September 20. Shamar Barnes, a 29-year-old farmer from the Lititz district, has been charged with murder and wounding with intent in connection with the fatal stabbing.