分类： society

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican law enforcement authorities are calling upon the nation’s most wanted fugitives to voluntarily surrender following the peaceful apprehension of a high-profile gang leader this week. The appeal comes after Courtney Ashley, alias ‘Bloodstain’—a prime suspect on the Area Four police Most Wanted list—was captured without incident during a tactical operation in Portmore, St Catherine.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps publicly commended Ashley’s compliance during the arrest, which occurred within the gated community of Phoenix Park. According to official reports, members of the St Catherine South Special Operations team confronted Ashley alongside another male individual and a female associate at approximately 7:10 PM on Monday. Although Ashley and his male companion initially attempted flight, security forces promptly intercepted and detained all three individuals.

Investigators subsequently conducted a thorough search of the premises, resulting in the seizure of multiple evidentiary items including electronic devices such as laptops and cellular phones, a card reader, and substantial quantities of both Jamaican and United States currency.

ACP Phipps emphasized the operational benefits of peaceful surrender, stating: ‘Ashley’s cooperative disposition eliminated any necessity for forceful engagement. We strongly urge other high-risk targets and wanted persons to emulate this example when confronted by security personnel.’

The police commander further issued a stern warning to civilians against harboring fugitives, indicating that the detained woman faces potential prosecution for providing refuge to a wanted individual. Ashley himself remains in custody facing multiple charges including homicide and organized violence allegations linked to his purported leadership of the Bottom Marverly Gang.

In a powerful demonstration of institutional accountability, Jamaica’s Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) has declared that neither official badge nor military rank provides immunity from legal prosecution. This stern warning follows the recent arrests of both a police detective and a soldier on serious narcotics and firearms charges, signaling an aggressive, unbiased campaign against corruption and organized crime.

Superintendent Patrae Rowe, head of FNID, emphasized the division’s commitment to pursuing all individuals engaged in criminal activities, irrespective of their professional or social standing. “We go where the investigation takes us,” Rowe stated in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, underscoring a philosophy of impartial justice.

The recent cases highlight FNID’s determined approach. Detective Inspector Martin Walker, 51, from the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch, was charged with cocaine possession, trafficking, and conspiracy after an alleged seizure of 5.8 kilograms of cocaine in Kingston, valued at approximately $3.5 million. Simultaneously, Odeen Lawrence, a 36-year-old member of the Jamaica Defence Force, was arrested and charged in connection with one of the largest illegal weapons seizures in the country’s history—28 firearms and over 6,000 rounds of ammunition intercepted at the Kingston Logistics Centre in December 2025.

Superintendent Rowe also highlighted FNID’s record-breaking operational performance in 2025, which included the confiscation of 1,201 illegal firearms—the highest in Jamaican history—and over a billion dollars worth of narcotics. The unit boasts a remarkable 95% conviction rate, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most effective branches within the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Rowe assured the public that FNID continues to collaborate with local and international agencies to target arms and drug traffickers, encouraging citizens to come forward with credible information, confident that it will be pursued rigorously.

Over a devastating 20-year period spanning from 2006 to 2025, Jamaica witnessed a staggering total of 7,420 road fatalities, equating to an average of one death per day. This harrowing statistic presents a profound public safety challenge for the Caribbean nation, which maintains a population under three million within its compact 4,244 square-mile territory.

Official data released by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) reveals an annual average of 371 deaths, or approximately 31 fatalities monthly. The figures across this two-decade timeline demonstrate alarming volatility, culminating in a record-shattering 488 deaths in 2022. The year 2012 marked the last instance where fatalities remained below 300, with 260 recorded deaths.

The most recent five-year period from 2019 to 2023 proved particularly catastrophic, claiming 2,273 lives through traffic collisions. The annual breakdown shows: 440 deaths (2019), 433 (2020), 487 (2021), 488 (2022), and 425 (2023). While 2024 and 2025 saw a moderate decline with 365 and 374 deaths respectively, the numbers remain critically elevated.

ITA analysis identifies five primary categories of road users disproportionately affected: motorcyclists, pedestrians, pedal cyclists, private vehicle occupants (both drivers and passengers), and pillion passengers. These groups collectively represent the most vulnerable participants in Jamaica’s transportation ecosystem.

Detailed examination of the 2020-2025 period reveals motorcyclists suffered the heav losses with 814 fatalities (averaging 135 annually), followed by 500 pedestrian deaths (83 annually). Private motor vehicle drivers accounted for 451 fatalities (75 annually), while their passengers numbered over 300 deaths. Pedal cyclists recorded 141 deaths during this span, averaging 23 per year.

Public passenger vehicle operators, frequently criticized for hazardous driving practices, experienced 50 fatalities (8 annually), though their passengers fared considerably worse with 88 deaths (15 annually).

The ITA has pinpointed five predominant causes of traffic collisions: excessive speed without regard to road conditions; failure to maintain proper lane discipline; pedestrians walking or standing in roadways; careless right-turn maneuvers; and improper overtaking practices.

From 2020-2025, speeding contributed to 670 fatalities, while lane indiscipline resulted in 509 deaths. Pedestrian positioning caused 195 fatalities, with improper right turns and overtaking accounting for 122 and 147 deaths respectively. An additional 913 fatalities were classified under ‘other’ causes, potentially including infrastructure deficiencies such as potholes and inadequate lighting.

Notably, despite these alarming figures, Jamaica’s per capita fatality rate remains below the Caribbean and Latin American regional average of 19.2 per 100,000 population. Domestic statistics fluctuated between 10 per 100,000 inhabitants (2011) and 16 per 100,000 (2016), comparing favorably to the global average of 14.7 and significantly outperforming the European Union’s rate of 4.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.

In a decisive ruling on Monday, Supreme Court Justice Dale Palmer mandated that the high-profile trial of alleged Klansman faction leader Tesha Miller and his 24 co-defendants will commence on February 2, 2026. This conclusion follows a contentious adjournment application by the Crown prosecution, which had sought to postpone proceedings until June due to unresolved evidentiary materials.

Justice Palmer, presiding in the Home Circuit Division, expressed firm opposition to extended delays, stating that such a move would not ‘aid in the just disposal of the matter.’ He emphasized that the case had already been before the court for nearly two years, with a trial date originally set in April of the previous year. The judge acknowledged prosecution arguments concerning outstanding DNA results, forensic reports from the Communications Forensics and Cybercrime Division (CFCD), crime scene materials, and transcripts, but determined that a two-week preparation window would suffice.

The court’s decision incorporated considerations regarding prison access issues that have hampered defense attorneys’ ability to consult with their clients. Despite a April 2024 practice directive from Chief Justice Bryan Sykes authorizing electronic disclosure in criminal proceedings, defense counsel reported ongoing barriers in visiting incarcerated clients and sharing documentation. Justice Palmer noted these access issues were now being resolved, making the brief adjournment beneficial for defendant preparation.

Prosecutors plan to call 99 witnesses, with the court approving subpoenas for 50 civilian witnesses and requiring police witnesses to be formally warned to appear. Meanwhile, bail was extended for accused medical doctor Paul Robinson, while other defendants attending via Zoom were remanded into custody.

Miller, currently serving a 38-year sentence for orchestrating the 2008 murder of Jamaica Urban Transit Company Chairman Douglas Chambers, now faces additional charges under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act, commonly known as the anti-gang legislation. The defendants are accused of participating in numerous criminal activities between August 2017 and August 2022 in St. Catherine, including murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and firearms offenses.

Jamaica’s National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is intensifying its monumental effort to clear approximately 450,000 truckloads of debris remaining from Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage in October 2025. Executive Director Audley Gordon has confirmed the removal of 27,000 loads since deploying ten additional tipper trucks three weeks ago, acknowledging the scale of the challenge while assuring citizens of accelerating progress.

The agency has established a specialized Debris Management Unit comprising redirected managers and staff exclusively dedicated to hurricane cleanup operations. This temporary organizational structure aims to maintain efficiency in regular garbage collection while addressing the extraordinary post-disaster requirements. Gordon emphasized that the new trucks, though beneficial, represent only one component of a comprehensive strategy that includes contracting private heavy machinery operators with backhoes and front-end loaders.

Financial backing for the cleanup has been substantial, with the government allocating approximately $1.5 billion specifically for debris management since the Category 5 storm struck. Additional resources include a forthcoming commitment of ten more tipper trucks to bolster operational capacity.

Gordon has appealed for public patience, recognizing that visible progress may vary across communities. He pledged continuous day-and-night operations and committed to quarterly briefings to maintain transparency regarding cleanup timelines and achievements. The NSWMA emphasizes that partnership with private contractors remains essential to completing the task within a reasonable timeframe, as relying solely on agency resources would extend cleanup operations for years.

The high-profile murder trial of former Jamaican opposition party parliamentarian Jolyan Silvera will commence on February 2nd under strict privacy provisions that will exclude both media and public from proceedings. Silvera faces charges for the 2023 firearm-related murder of his wife, Melissa Silvera, with the case falling under specialized Gun Court jurisdiction that mandates in-camera hearings.

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, presiding over the case, clarified that while he personally doesn’t object to journalistic presence, the final decision rests with legal representatives from both sides. “If the lawyers agree, then we can come to some accommodation,” Justice Sykes stated during Monday’s proceedings, “but for the time being it is what it is.”

The privacy measures derive from Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of Jamaica’s Gun Court Act of 1974, which permits exclusion of the public and restricts trial reporting in interests of public safety and order. These provisions have governed firearm-related cases for five decades, allowing only court personnel, legal representatives, and specifically authorized individuals to attend proceedings.

The case involves grim details surrounding the November 2023 death of Melissa Silvera, initially reported as natural causes until autopsy revealed three bullet fragments inside the body of the 42-year-old chemical engineering graduate and petroleum company CEO. The mother of four boys—one deceased before her—was found dead in the couple’s Stony Hill residence.

Silvera, appearing noticeably slimmer and well-groomed in tailored clothing during Monday’s hearing, has been in custody since his January 2024 arrest. The former People’s National Party representative is defended by attorneys Peter Champagnie King’s Counsel and Patrice Riley, while prosecutors Dwayne Green and Latoya Bernard represent the state.

Jamaica’s Gun Court operates through three specialized divisions: the High Court Division for most firearm offenses (judge-only trials), Circuit Court Division for serious crimes like murder with firearms (jury trials), and Resident Magistrate’s Division for preliminary inquiries—all typically conducted privately.