分类： society

LACOVIA, St Elizabeth — Fed up with weeks of unaddressed flooding that has destroyed homes, ruined livelihoods, and upended daily life, hundreds of residents from multiple districts in this south-central Jamaican parish took collective action on Tuesday, closing the Lacovia main road with protest placards to demand immediate clearing of the area’s clogged drainage networks. The roadblock was dismantled quickly to restore traffic flow connecting Lacovia to eastern and western hubs including Holland Bamboo and Santa Cruz, but the deep-rooted anger over the ongoing crisis remains unaddressed.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As Jamaica continues to grapple with persistent public safety challenges, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake has emphasized that strategic investment in frontline police personnel stands as the cornerstone of more effective national crime reduction efforts. Speaking at a recent graduation ceremony hosted by the Faculty of Criminal Investigation Training at Jamaica’s National Police College, Blake detailed how targeted new professional development programs are being rolled out to upgrade the investigative capabilities of officers across the force.

Two key credential programs currently being delivered mark intentional steps to formalize and professionalize the JCF’s investigative division: a diploma in supervisory management for criminal investigation, and an advanced diploma in professional detective practice. The foundational supervisory diploma is crafted to reshape the approach of seasoned officers, turning them into more capable team leaders and investigators by centering core competencies in cross-unit coordination, transparent accountability, and strategic leadership. Building on this base training, the advanced diploma equips participating officers with specialized high-demand skills ranging from forensic case administration and evidence-based interviewing protocols to modern criminal data analysis and complex specialized investigation techniques.

Beyond skills training, Blake also shed light on ongoing structural reforms within the JCF’s crime and security portfolio. These overhauls include the establishment of a dedicated centralized forensic services branch, and the integrated alignment of intelligence gathering and investigative operations under a new focused deterrence strategy designed to disrupt criminal networks more proactively.

According to the commissioner, these training and structural changes represent just one component of a broader, organization-wide effort to modernize the JCF. The entire modernization initiative is rooted in three core priorities: ongoing investment in personnel development, the implementation of consistent nationwide quality standards for investigative work, and the expanded integration of digital and forensic technology into daily operations.

Blake stressed that upgrading investigative capacity is non-negotiable for advancing broader public safety outcomes across Jamaica. When law enforcement can consistently gather robust admissible evidence, close out open cases successfully, and secure court convictions, he explained, this track record does more than remove criminals from communities—it also strengthens public trust in policing and creates a powerful deterrent that discourages future criminal activity.

In closing remarks delivered directly to the graduating officers, Blake noted that the newly trained cohort carries a critical responsibility for upholding the JCF’s commitment to investigative integrity across all operations. He urged each graduate to leverage their new skills with rigor and precision as they step into expanded leadership and operational roles within the force.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — For most people reaching their seventh decade, retirement and slowing down are the expected next steps. But for 72-year-old Clinton Christie, a widower from St Catherine, Jamaica, life is only just beginning a new chapter. After decades of physically grueling work as a plumber to support his six children, age and fading health have forced him to step back from the trade that sustained his family for generations. Now, following the recent loss of his wife to cancer, he is building an entirely new future in poultry farming, driven by one clear, heartfelt goal: to help his youngest daughter finish her education and build her own career as a forensic accountant, and provide stable care for his two grandchildren.

Christie, who has never shied away from hard work or new challenges, said when reflecting on his transition, “I am not afraid of trying something new.” The path forward was not easy to walk alone, however. To turn his small business dream into reality, he applied for support through the NCB Foundation’s 2025 Grant-a-Wish initiative, a program designed to lift up vulnerable Jamaicans by funding practical, community-focused personal projects. His proposal stood out among more than 45 submissions from across the island, earning him a $100,000 grant to construct a fowl coop and purchase chickens to raise for commercial sale.

Perrin Gayle, chief executive officer of NCB Foundation, explained the decision to select Christie’s application in an official release shared Wednesday. “Mr Christie submitted a practical proposal with clear potential to support his family over time,” Gayle said. “This initiative is about meeting people where they are and giving them a real opportunity to move forward.”

At a recent handover event attended by other program beneficiaries and NCB Foundation representatives, Christie shared his story of resilience, gratitude, and hope for what lies ahead. He noted that without the foundation’s support, launching this new venture would have been impossible. “I could not make a fresh start without the help of NCB Foundation,” he said. Today, Christie is hard at work building out his new poultry operation, working toward a sustainable income that will secure his family’s future and help his youngest daughter cross the graduation finish line. “As long as I can help my daughter to finish school, it would be a great improvement,” he shared, a quiet optimism underscoring his life-altering new beginning.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a testament to the power of grassroots leadership, five long-time residents of Kingston’s Rose Gardens neighborhood have received formal recognition from the social transformation initiative Project STAR for their extraordinary dedication, community leadership, and relentless work advancing local programs that are driving tangible, positive change across the area.

The honorees — Tenecia Cole, Kristoff James, Alaya Ferguson, Jason Longmore and Annette Hill — were celebrated during a public town hall gathering hosted recently at Kingston’s Pentab High School, an event that also gave Project STAR organizers an opportunity to share updates on the initiative’s ongoing efforts and cumulative impact in Rose Gardens.

As outlined in an official release from Project STAR, Hill, who serves as president of the neighborhood’s Community Transformation Board, has emerged as a foundational leader for local collective action. From the launch of Project STAR’s work in the community, her strategic coordination and relationship-building have been instrumental in cultivating trust between organizers and residents, creating an environment that encourages broad, consistent participation in local programs.

Beyond her governance work, Hill also leads coaching for Beyond the Hoop, a targeted netball programme designed to support positive behavioral development for girls between the ages of 8 and 18. Through the programme, she provides one-on-one mentorship to young female participants, helping them build self-assurance and develop the leadership skills that will serve them in future endeavors.

Reflecting on her early work building buy-in for community initiatives, Hill emphasized that trust is the bedrock of any successful grassroots effort. “When they saw me being a part of it, they knew it couldn’t have been about politics… It was about the people in this place,” she shared.

Tenecia Cole, the driving force behind the Rose Gardens Parenting Club, has centered her work on strengthening family support across the neighborhood. Under her leadership, the club has grown into one of the community’s most active and relied-upon support platforms, offering free counseling, interactive engagement workshops, and hands-on practical assistance for local parents navigating caregiving and economic challenges. The group completed its full strategic action plan in 2023 and has retained strong momentum, continuing to expand its reach to connect with vulnerable families that need support.

Cole has also played a key role in connecting residents to economic opportunity: she has mobilized hundreds of neighbors to sign up for production worker training programmes, opening pathways to stable employment for dozens of community members who previously faced barriers to work.

Kristoff James has been equally influential in boosting community participation since Project STAR first established a presence in Rose Gardens. He has been a vocal advocate for local involvement in training, job readiness, and skills development programmes, working to break down mistrust and encourage neighbors to take advantage of the opportunities available. James also leads youth engagement through the Kicking Forward Football Programme, where he mentors young men using organized sport as a tool to teach discipline, build life skills, and help young people find a clear sense of purpose. His steady, consistent outreach has helped cultivate a culture of participation across the neighborhood, particularly for young people navigating uncertainty and seeking direction.

For many Rose Gardens residents, Alaya Ferguson embodies the quiet reliability that keeps community initiatives moving forward. As a consistent, dependable volunteer, she contributes to nearly every Project STAR activity across the area, from community outreach campaigns and event coordination to supporting training sessions and initiatives run by Jamaica’s HEART/NSTA Trust job training programme. Her calm, steady presence ensures community events run smoothly, and that every resident who participates feels welcomed and supported, helping reinforce a growing culture of unity across Rose Gardens.

Jason Longmore has become a widely respected role model for young men across the neighborhood. He was an early mobilizer for Project STAR’s Nano Grants Programme, helping connect young entrepreneurs to small seed funding to launch their own local businesses, and continues to provide mentorship rooted in his own personal experience and faith-based values. Each summer, Longmore opens his personal home to host free hands-on carpentry training for local youth, teaching practical trade skills while instilling core values of discipline and mutual trust. Speaking about the visible changes reshaping his community, Longmore shared his optimism for what comes next: “I appreciate what I see… and the transformation that is coming,” he said, adding that Project STAR’s work aligns perfectly with his lifelong mission to lift up the next generation of Rose Gardens leaders.

Saffrey Brown, project director for Project STAR, offered high praise for the five honorees during the town hall, framing their work as the core of the initiative’s success in Rose Gardens. “These individuals represent the very best of community leadership. Their commitment, consistency, and willingness to serve are what make transformation possible. Project STAR can provide the support and structure, but it is champions like these who bring the work to life and ensure it has a lasting impact,” Brown said.