分类： society

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant relief measure for educational institutions grappling with post-hurricane recovery, organizers of the upcoming JAAA/Puma/Jamalco track meet have announced substantial support for schools from western Jamaica. The February 7th event at Jamalco Sports Club will feature waived entry fees and complimentary lunch provisions for participating athletes from regions devastated by Hurricane Melissa last October.

The organizing committee revealed on Monday that all registered schools from five severely impacted western parishes would receive full exemption from participation costs along with nutritional support. “Each registered institution will receive up to 15 lunches for their competing athletes,” stated the official announcement, emphasizing their commitment to equitable access despite ongoing recovery challenges.

This initiative comes as western Jamaican communities continue rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Melissa caused extensive infrastructural damage to nearly all educational facilities in October. The catastrophic weather event also damaged homes of numerous students and educators, creating substantial obstacles in athletic preparation for the 2026 track and field season.

The track meet organizers’ decision aligns with broader educational support measures recently implemented across Jamaica. Last week, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) waived academic grade requirements and attendance qualifications for western schools participating in national track and field championships, responding to formal requests from affected institutions.

This coordinated response between sporting organizations and educational authorities demonstrates an evolving approach to disaster recovery, recognizing how natural catastrophes create multifaceted challenges beyond immediate physical damage. The measures aim to preserve normalcy in youth athletic development while communities address fundamental rebuilding needs.

A historic and expansive Arctic weather system continues to grip the United States, creating life-threatening conditions for millions of citizens and overwhelming infrastructure from the southern states to the Northeast. The aftermath of a colossal winter storm has left over 780,000 households without electricity, paralyzed transportation networks, and is being blamed for at least 21 fatalities, according to local media reports.

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) described the event as particularly dangerous due to its vast geographic scope. An estimated 190 million Americans remained under extreme cold alerts, with temperatures plummeting to a brutal -23°F (-30.6°C) in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, where wind chills made it feel as cold as -50°F (-45.6°C). The storm deposited massive snowfall, with New Mexico’s Bonito Lake recording a national high of 31 inches (78.7 cm), while New York’s Central Park received 11.4 inches (29 cm), breaking a single-day record that had stood since 1905.

The crisis has been acutely felt across southern states like Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where communities are ill-equipped for such intense winter weather. NWS expert Allison Santorelli highlighted the unique challenge: recovery efforts are hampered because northern states, typically more resilient to such events, are also overwhelmed and unable to share resources and equipment with their southern counterparts. This has left many areas without the necessary means to clear roads and restore power swiftly.

Compounding the problem is the nature of the snowfall, described by NWS meteorologist Dave Radell as ‘very dry’ and ‘fluffy,’ which allows powerful winds to create massive drifts and severely reduce visibility. The storm’s origin is linked to a distorted polar vortex, a phenomenon some scientists suggest may be occurring with increasing frequency due to climate change, though the issue remains a subject of ongoing research.

With freezing temperatures forecast to persist along the Gulf Coast through the week, at least 20 states and Washington D.C. have declared states of emergency to mobilize emergency personnel. Municipalities have initiated warming centers for vulnerable populations, and authorities nationwide are pleading with residents to remain indoors as the nation confronts this protracted and dangerous deep freeze.

The Jamaican Government has initiated a targeted financial intervention to address energy poverty in communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed the allocation of J$165 million specifically for relief efforts in Westmoreland, representing a strategic reallocation within the broader national energy project budget of J$1.1 billion.

Minister Vaz, speaking at the launch of Jamaica Public Service’s emergency mobile power generation unit in Westmoreland, explained the government’s prioritization strategy: “We have temporarily suspended projects in less affected parishes including Portland, St. Thomas, St. Mary, St. Catherine, and Kingston-St. Andrew to redirect resources toward the five western parishes most severely impacted.”

The allocated funds will facilitate critical support services including electrical house wiring, infrastructure remedial work, and government certification through electrical regulators. The specialized project timeline extends from December 2025 through March 2026.

In parallel developments, JPS CEO Hugh Grant reported significant progress in power restoration, with 60% of Westmoreland customers now reconnected to the electricity grid. The newly launched emergency mobile generation unit will provide interim power to affected communities while permanent network infrastructure undergoes reconstruction.

According to Minister Vaz, the Bethel Town power plant is scheduled for commissioning by the end of next week. Local MP Dr. Dayton Campbell welcomed these initiatives, stating: “I appreciate the innovative solutions being implemented to benefit our residents and anticipate the successful activation of the Bethel Town generator.”

Jamaica’s Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA), in collaboration with UNICEF, has conducted a comprehensive two-day training initiative focused on enhancing child justice protocols within the nation’s law enforcement and judicial systems. The specialized seminar, held at Moon Palace hotel in Ocho Rios, St Ann, brought together 76 police officers and numerous justices of the peace from across the island to reinforce proper procedures for handling cases involving minors.

Acting Commissioner of Police McArthur Sutherland, overseeing the Area Two police division, emphasized the critical timing of this refresher course for Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) members. He noted that while officers previously received training on children’s issues, daily policing priorities often shift focus toward severe crimes like murders and shootings. “This training will help to pull on some of the minor crimes against children and ensure we have some reductions there,” Sutherland explained, highlighting how the program would rebalance enforcement attention toward protecting vulnerable youth.

Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison articulated the seminar’s broader societal mission, stating, “No child was born a criminal or murderer—it is the environment that creates the monster.” She stressed the importance of early intervention to redirect children from criminal pathways, warning that without proper guidance, neglected youth could evolve into serious offenders. The training specifically addressed methods to reduce criminogenic behavior and attitudes among young people, aiming to prevent the development of senior criminals.

Justices of the peace participating in the event expressed strong support for the initiative. Trudy-Ann Philp from Highgate, St Mary, described the seminar as “very beneficial” for enhancing her competency in legal procedures when serving at police stations. Omar Bourne from Kingston applauded the OCA’s efforts and advocated for ongoing educational opportunities to expand expertise among law enforcement and judicial officials.

The partnership between OCA and UNICEF represents a significant investment in Jamaica’s future social stability. Gordon Harrison concluded by emphasizing collective responsibility: “The OCA alone cannot do it—we see it as a participatory effort that all stakeholders in the justice sector must play a part in.” This training initiative marks a proactive approach to child justice reform, recognizing that proper handling of youth cases requires specialized knowledge and coordinated effort across multiple disciplines within the justice system.

Jamaica’s premier law enforcement agencies responsible for combating organized crime and financial offenses are grappling with severe staffing deficiencies while confronting increasingly sophisticated criminal networks. The Financial Investigations Division (FID) and Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) have disclosed alarming personnel gaps that threaten their operational effectiveness despite expanding mandates.

At a recent Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange forum, FID Chief Technical Director Dennis Chung revealed his agency operates at merely 35% of authorized capacity. Despite ongoing recruitment efforts for financial investigators and legal professionals, the division functions with just over 20 investigators against a requirement of approximately 50 specialized personnel. This shortage proves particularly challenging given the highly technical nature of financial crime investigations, which demand specialized skills in transaction analysis, evidence gathering, and forensic accounting.

Garth Williams, FID’s brand communications specialist, confirmed the agency has ‘punched above its weight’ by achieving substantial results with only 70 staff members compared to an established complement of 191 positions. This achievement comes despite growing complexities in financial crimes, including cyber fraud, digital scams, and advanced money laundering schemes that transcend traditional law enforcement methodologies.

Parallel challenges affect MOCA, operating at 61% staffing capacity according to Director General Colonel Desmond Edwards. The agency has confronted fundamental shifts in criminal patterns since its inception, particularly the explosion of cyber-enabled offenses requiring specialized investigative capabilities. In response, MOCA has established dedicated cyber investigation units through internal resource reallocation, though technical expertise development remains prioritized over mere numerical expansion.

Both agencies emphasize that modern criminal investigations necessitate advanced capabilities in digital analysis, forensic accounting, and intelligence-driven operations beyond conventional policing skills. Technology integration, particularly artificial intelligence and analytical tools, has become essential for supplementing human resources and managing escalating case volumes and complexities.

While inter-agency collaborations with the Jamaica Constabulary Force provide operational support during major interventions, both organizations stress that sustainable effectiveness requires strategic investments in both technological infrastructure and specialized human capital to combat Jamaica’s evolving criminal landscape effectively.

In an extraordinary fusion of spiritual fervor and law enforcement resolve, Inspector Junior Roswess—a police officer who also serves as a pastor—issued a stark warning to criminals during a powerful sermon at God Family Ministries International Church in St Andrew. Addressing members of the St Andrew North Police Division at a special unity service, Roswess declared that those who refuse to surrender their weapons must be prepared to “bite rock stone,” a Jamaican proverb meaning to face severe consequences.

Roswess framed the police’s mission through a theological lens, quoting Romans 13:4 to emphasize that law enforcement officers are “ministers of God” tasked with executing justice against evildoers. He outlined a four-part strategy—Engage, Educate, Empower, and Enforce—as the division’s guiding principle. “We will educate you when we see you doing wrong. We will educate the gangs to turn in their weapons of mass destruction,” he stated. “If you don’t take heed, we have the responsibility to take required actions.”

The inspector highlighted dramatic crime reduction achievements: a 50% drop in murders, 25% reduction in shootings, 35% decrease in rapes, and a significant decline in car thefts in 2025 compared to 2024. He attributed these successes to divine intervention and unwavering faith, revealing that mid-2025 saw crime trending negatively before a remarkable turnaround. Between January 1–17 this year, the division recorded zero murders versus two during the same period in 2025, while national murders fell by 18 year-over-year.

Roswess praised Superintendent Randy Sweeney for acknowledging God’s role in their efforts and urged fellow officers to view their badges not as mere plastic but as sacred commitments to place country above self. “You are ministers of order, justice, and peace,” he proclaimed, describing police as bridges between life and death, good and evil. The service culminated in officers raising hands in worship, embodying the unique integration of spiritual faith and civic duty driving their crime-fighting mission.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In response to a significant surplus of key agricultural products, Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to stabilize markets and support local farmers. Portfolio Minister Floyd Green announced the initiative during a press briefing at the ministry’s Hope Gardens headquarters, highlighting exceptional yields of sweet potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, Pak Choy, yellow squash, cauliflower, zucchini, and string beans that have created market imbalances.

The ministry’s approach centers on three primary interventions: expanded market access, value-added processing, and enhanced storage infrastructure. Weekly farmers’ markets are being established across the island with organizational support from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). The inaugural market took place on January 23, with transportation assistance provided to ensure farmer participation.

Concurrently, the ministry is engaging agro-processors to transform excess produce into juices, concentrates, and other value-added products. A buy-back program reminiscent of COVID-19 pandemic measures is in final development stages, where the government will purchase directly from farmers for redistribution.

Critical infrastructure developments include three cold-storage facilities scheduled for operational rollout. The Flagaman facility in St Elizabeth, featuring two renewable-powered 20-foot containers, becomes operational within three weeks. The Essex Valley facility launches in early February with capacity for 22 containers of fresh produce, while the Kirkvine facility in Manchester will be completed in the next financial quarter.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a strategic pivot from emergency relief to sustainable recovery, Project STAR has launched its comprehensive Business Re-start Initiative to assist micro and small entrepreneurs in rebuilding their livelihoods across Jamaica’s most hurricane-devastated communities. The program represents a significant shift toward long-term economic stabilization following the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The initiative has commenced by distributing grants to nine businesses spanning critical sectors including poultry farming (encompassing both egg and chicken production), beauty services (barbers, hairstylists, nail technicians, and eyelash technicians), and a cleaning supplies manufacturing enterprise. These funds are specifically allocated for replacing damaged equipment, replenishing destroyed inventory, and resuming daily operations.

According to Saffrey Brown, Director of Project STAR, the organization has consciously transitioned from immediate disaster response to addressing sustainable economic recovery. “Our relief efforts have now evolved toward revitalizing livelihoods and reactivating entrepreneurial activities,” Brown stated. “The hurricane completely obliterated equipment and stock for most business owners in these vulnerable communities.”

The program is initially targeting the western parishes of Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and St James—regions that suffered the most severe hurricane impacts. These areas have experienced substantial micro-enterprise losses, exacerbating economic fragility in already disadvantaged communities. Brown emphasized the program’s adaptive approach, noting that strategies will evolve based on emerging needs.

Early beneficiaries have reported transformative impacts. Levario White, a barber from Salt Spring, St James, described receiving his second grant as “critical to recovery,” expressing excitement about business improvement prospects. Beauty service providers like hairdresser Amisha Wright highlighted how the support arrived at a crucial juncture, enabling her to upgrade equipment and attract more customers. Wright revealed aspirations to pursue professional certification and eventually establish a salon chain.

For poultry farmer Nickoy Brady, also from Salt Spring, the storm destroyed his coop and killed numerous chickens, paralyzing his livelihood. Project STAR’s intervention provided what he called “a lifeline,” allowing him to restart operations and restore family income. “This support means everything—it’s how I provide for my family,” Brady shared.

Project STAR is prioritizing entrepreneurs who previously completed the organization’s entrepreneurship training, particularly those involved in food security sectors. “Accelerating community self-sufficiency in food production is absolutely essential,” Brown explained regarding this strategic focus.

The organization plans to progressively expand the initiative over coming weeks and months, with ambitions to directly support at least 300 micro and small entrepreneurs through grants, tools, materials, and mentorship. Broader objectives include reactivating local value chains across food, craft, services, and manufacturing sectors while promoting disaster-resilient business models and strengthening local economic networks.

As Jamaica progresses beyond the immediate emergency phase, Project STAR maintains its commitment to income generation and long-term community resilience. Brown confirmed the organization’s sustained focus on “revitalizing existing enterprises and supporting new entrepreneurs requiring alternative income sources” through the Livelihood Re-start Initiative, ultimately aiming to rebuild economic security and enhance community resilience in Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath.