分类： society

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A wave of retaliatory violence triggered by the brutal murder of a four-year-old girl has plunged communities south of Mandeville into a state of heightened tension and fear. The fatal shooting of Saniyah O’Brien last month has unleashed a devastating ripple effect, culminating in a double homicide over the weekend that police describe as a direct reprisal.

Superintendent Carey Duncan, head of the Manchester police, addressed the escalating crisis during a community walkthrough in Heartease on Monday. He pointed to the February 8th attack in Land Settlement, Royal Flat, where gunmen targeted Saniyah and her father, as the catalyst for the ongoing cycle of violence. In a powerful condemnation, Superintendent Duncan decried the perpetrators as subhuman for their willingness to fire upon children.

Law enforcement authorities are now investigating a potential international dimension to the local violence. A prevailing theory suggests that recent killings in Land Settlement may be orchestrated by Jamaican criminals now residing overseas. Superintendent Duncan issued a direct appeal to local youth, urging them to resist the manipulative influence and material incentives offered by these offshore figures. He emphasized the senselessness of embracing a violent path for short-term gains, such as motorcycles or alcohol, and instead encouraged them to pursue the positive opportunities available within their communities.

The latest incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at approximately 3:50 p.m. in Land Settlement. Two men, identified as 21-year-old Damien Edwards of Melrose Gardens and 30-year-old farmer Yakieni Shaw of Comfort, were at a local bar when a vehicle approached. An assailant emerged and opened fire, striking both victims multiple times. Both men succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

In response to the attack and the palpable community tension, police have significantly increased patrols throughout Land Settlement and its surrounding neighborhoods in an effort to prevent further bloodshed and restore a sense of security.

NEGRIL, Westmoreland — A wave of optimism has swept through Negril’s business community following the official launch of the Negril Carnival, unveiled at Kenny’s Italian Café last Saturday. The festival is positioned as a critical economic catalyst for the renowned Jamaican resort destination, which has faced recent challenges including the departure of major events and tourism setbacks from Hurricane Melissa.

Scheduled for Sunday, April 5th at Long Bay Beach Park, the carnival will showcase a vibrant road march and an expansive beach party featuring live entertainment. The event has garnered significant corporate backing, with industry leaders emphasizing its importance for local recovery.

Jerome Walters, Brand Manager for Campari Group, articulated a strong commitment to both the event and the broader revitalization of Negril. “Entertainment never truly departed from Negril,” Walters stated. “Our mission is to invest substantially in this Carnival to guarantee a massive, enjoyable, and atmospherically rich experience. Campari has a storied history with Carnival celebrations, and we are dedicated to ensuring this iteration is monumental. With projections of up to 5,000 attendees, we are investing to deliver an unparalleled patron experience. This partnership is about giving back and fueling a resurgence that sees hotels at full capacity and local entrepreneurs thriving.”

Kenny Johnson, the lead promoter for Negril Carnival, highlighted the event’s long-awaited return and its potential community impact. “The staging of a Carnival has been absent from Negril for an extended period,” Johnson noted. “This initiative is designed to generate substantial economic benefits for the area through increased hotel occupancy and job creation. I urge widespread participation and support from residents, particularly those in Westmoreland, to make this a success for our entire community.”

The initiative received formal endorsement from Damian Salmon, President of the Negril Chamber of Commerce, who praised the aligning energies. “The current vibe in Negril is exceptional, and introducing a Carnival fits this momentum perfectly,” Salmon remarked. “This event will be instrumental in reactivating our local economy, maintaining our vibrant energy, and encouraging the return of visitors who hold a deep affection for Negril. We extend our gratitude to Kenny Johnson and his team for their visionary leadership in this endeavor.”

The launch event also served as a demonstration of cross-sector collaboration, with prominent figures from Campari Group, J Wray & Nephew Limited, and executives from Princess Hotels and Royalton Hotels & Resorts in attendance, signaling a unified front for Negril’s economic and cultural renewal.

The Commonwealth of Dominica has officially confirmed an outbreak of lethal yellowing disease, a devastating pathogen that poses a severe threat to the nation’s coconut palm population and agricultural economy. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy announced that laboratory verification from the University of Florida, completed last month, confirmed the presence of the disease following coordinated diagnostic testing with the Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit.

The disease, transmitted by the plant hopper (Myndus Crudus), causes rapid deterioration and mortality in coconut palms within three to six months. Field investigations initially detected the pathogen in the Woodford Hill area within the North East Agricultural Region, prompting immediate submission of plant samples for analysis.

This confirmation triggers significant concern as lethal yellowing has previously caused substantial economic damage across multiple Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Guadeloupe. The ministry emphasized the critical importance of coconut cultivation to Dominica’s agricultural framework and rural economy, noting its status as one of the country’s ‘5 C’s’ priority crops that supports diverse economic activities from nut sales to agro-processing and traditional cuisine.

In response to the emergency, authorities have activated a comprehensive action plan including the establishment of a localized eradication and management protocol specifically for the Woodford Hill area, which has been designated a non-removal red zone. Enhanced surveillance and monitoring measures are being implemented in affected and surrounding communities, alongside targeted crop destruction and sanitation procedures for infected and suspected palms.

Public awareness campaigns and consultations are underway to ensure national cooperation, with citizens being urged to report any unusual symptoms including premature nut dropping, blackening of inflorescence, or crown loss to their nearest agricultural office. The ministry has also restricted the movement of coconut planting materials from affected areas without official authorization, emphasizing that early detection and rapid response are crucial for controlling and ultimately eradicating the disease from the island nation.

Jamaica’s judicial system has reinforced its stance on child sexual assault cases as the Court of Appeal decisively rejected a convicted rapist’s attempt to overturn his guilty verdict. The offender, currently serving a 15-year sentence for raping a five-year-old girl, had challenged his conviction based on claims of insufficient evidence regarding penetration and unreliable testimony.

The case originated in December 2022 when the Clarendon Circuit Court jury found the man guilty after he was discovered in the act by the victim’s grandmother. The shocking incident occurred in the family’s living room where the grandmother encountered the assailant positioned atop the child with both their lower garments removed. The court imposed the statutory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment in January 2023, mandating that he serve at least 10 years before parole eligibility.

In his appeal, the convicted man argued that the trial judge improperly rejected a no-case submission and provided inadequate jury instructions, claiming these errors resulted in an unfair trial. However, a three-judge appellate panel thoroughly examined the trial transcripts and legal arguments during hearings on March 2-3 before delivering their unanimous decision.

The appellate court emphasized the clarity and competence of the victim’s testimony, noting that the eight-year-old child at the time of trial demonstrated sufficient intelligence and understanding of truth-telling obligations. Her explicit description of the assault—stating the man put his ‘private part’ into her ‘vagina’—provided unambiguous evidence of penetration, which the court noted requires only the slightest degree to constitute rape under Jamaican law.

While medical evidence showed no bruising, bleeding, or swelling, and revealed the child’s hymen was not intact, physicians testified that such findings are variable in child sexual assault cases. The court highlighted that the grandmother witnessed both the assault in progress and subsequent distress, including the child crying during bathing and the presence of fluid on her underwear.

The judiciary affirmed that the jury had reasonable grounds to convict based on the totality of evidence, including the eyewitness account and victim testimony. The appeals court determined no miscarriage of justice occurred and ordered that the conviction and sentence stand unchanged, with the incarceration period calculated from the original sentencing date of January 25, 2023.

FALMOUTH, Jamaica — In a significant boost to ongoing hurricane recovery efforts, the Lake Group of Companies has initiated a major relief program by donating 100 emergency cots to the Trelawny Municipal Corporation. This contribution represents the first phase of a broader initiative that will ultimately distribute 1,000 cots across Jamaican communities still recovering from Hurricane Melissa’s devastation.

The catastrophic hurricane made landfall on October 28, 2025, unleashing widespread destruction across Jamaica’s western regions, with Trelawny Parish among the hardest hit areas. The donation comes as residents continue the challenging process of rebuilding their homes and livelihoods seven months after the disaster.

Lisa Lake, Group Chief Executive Officer, revealed that this donation marks the beginning of a comprehensive assistance program. “The Trelawny Municipal Corporation is the inaugural recipient of our larger relief initiative,” Lake stated. “We are allocating one hundred cots to our own team members affected by the hurricane, with an additional eight hundred units destined for distribution island-wide.”

Michael Lake, Director of Caribbean Resources and the Lake Group of Companies, expressed the organization’s commitment to supporting recovery efforts. “We take great satisfaction in delivering these one hundred cots to the Trelawny Municipal Corporation as our tangible contribution to helping rebuild the lives of Trelawny’s residents,” he affirmed during the handover ceremony.

The donation was formally received by Falmouth Mayor Councillor C Junior Gager, who conveyed gratitude on behalf of both the municipal government and parish residents. “We extend heartfelt thanks to the Lake family for this generous donation,” Mayor Gager stated. “These cots will reach individuals across multiple affected communities, demonstrating that they remain in the thoughts of caring organizations committed to improving their current living conditions.”

Following the Trelawny donation, the Lake Group representatives continued their relief mission in Montego Bay, presenting a similar contribution to the St. James Municipal Corporation. The Lake Group of Companies, as the parent organization of Restaurant Associates Limited, holds franchise rights for several major international food brands operating in Jamaica, including Burger King, Popeyes, Little Caesars, and Krispy Kreme.

In a notable shift from typical vendor-municipality dynamics, the leadership at Constant Spring Arcade has expressed conditional support for a potential increase in vendor fees. Carlene Spencer, President of the Vendors’ Association, stated that such an increase would be welcomed provided the additional revenue is directly allocated by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) toward critical infrastructure improvements at the facility.

The endorsement came during a consultation meeting held Friday, which also served as the reopening ceremony for newly refurbished bathrooms. Spencer specifically cited these upgrades as a tangible reason for her support, noting, “I’m okay with the increase, I welcome an increase—because of changes, because we get two brand new bathrooms.” She identified running water and the development of a dedicated car park as the next essential projects to enhance vendor comfort and operational efficiency.

Acknowledging the economic pressures of the present time, Spencer demonstrated a pragmatic understanding of the KSAMC’s financial constraints. She referenced the mayor’s point that current operational overheads at the arcade surpass the revenue collected from fees. “We can understand that… We were here preparing to hear we are going to have to pay more. As for me, I am anticipating that,” she remarked, adding a philosophical perspective: “Things and time change. So if we have to pay more, we pay more.”

Beyond infrastructure, Spencer praised the consultative forum for providing a platform to voice concerns. She expressed profound gratitude for the bathroom renovations, describing their previous state as “deplorable” and labeling the completion of the project as genuine “progress.”

The association president also addressed internal challenges within the vendor community. She highlighted an issue where some individuals retain shop spaces they no longer actively use due to slow sales, thereby preventing new, eager entrepreneurs from accessing prime business locations. Concluding her remarks, Spencer issued a call to action for her fellow vendors, urging them to consistently meet their rental obligations on time to ensure the arcade’s sustained viability.

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Northern Caribbean University (NCU) is preparing to host its second annual SheLeads forum on Tuesday, March 17, with this year’s theme focusing on ‘Empowering Her Odyssey Through Entrepreneurship.’ The event will showcase innovation and business development as pathways to female empowerment.

The evening will feature a distinguished panel of successful young entrepreneurs including Jénine Shepherd, Letesha Whyte, Amanda Samuels, and Nyoka Manning, all of whom have established thriving business ventures. The discussion will be moderated by Patrice Kissoon, who will leverage her professional expertise to facilitate the conversation. The forum is scheduled for 5:00 PM at Robinson Hall’s Lecture Theatre on the NCU main campus.

SheLeads represents one of three flagship initiatives operated by The Roundtable Foundation, which is supported by NCU’s Careers and Employment Services department. The program series aims to foster youth engagement in civic matters through structured programming:

– SheLeads: Dedicated to women’s empowerment through mentorship and leadership development
– HeLeads: Concentrates on promoting positive masculinity and responsible leadership among men
– WeLead: Provides a collaborative platform for students and change-makers to develop solutions and enhance skills

Building upon the achievements of last year’s inaugural forum, which featured panelists sharing valuable insights on leadership development and barrier-breaking strategies, this year’s event promises to revitalize discussions surrounding entrepreneurial innovation. The initiative seeks to establish an environment conducive to mutual mentoring, meaningful dialogue, and comprehensive empowerment among emerging leaders.

The event receives substantial support from multiple sponsors including DBC Creative Co, The PR Dude, Monica’s Expressions, The Short One Productions (TSO), NICHE Media, The Rentorama, Morris Entrepreneurship Center, and Prestige Phone Accessories.