分类： society

The Dominican Republic has successfully restored electricity to nearly the entire national grid following a widespread blackout that plunged much of the country into darkness and sparked protests in several cities. The power outage, caused by a failure in transmission lines on Tuesday, affected key areas including the capital Santo Domingo and the popular tourist destination Punta Cana. Energy Minister Joel Santos Echavarria confirmed in a statement that all power generation plants are now operational, with the electrical transmission system functioning at full capacity and meeting 96% of national demand. The blackout led to severe traffic disruptions and the suspension of metro services in Santo Domingo, forcing passengers to evacuate. Protests erupted in Santiago and San Pedro de Macorís, with residents burning tires in frustration over the prolonged lack of electricity. Local media reported several arrests during the unrest. The Energy Ministry has launched an investigation into the cause of the outage, with the minister cautioning against premature conclusions of sabotage. Frequent power cuts remain a persistent issue in the Dominican Republic, often attributed to inadequate maintenance, system breakdowns, and illegal connections.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has initiated its Hurricane Melissa Relief Response, delivering essential care packages to severely affected communities in St Elizabeth, including Treasure Beach, Pondside, Carisbrook, and Black River. This first phase of the national recovery effort was made possible through the collaboration of major sponsors Wisynco, Honey Bun, and National Bakery, who provided bottled water, Powerade, baked goods, and other necessities.

Jamaica’s Agriculture Minister Floyd Green delivered a sobering report to Parliament on Tuesday, revealing the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa on the nation’s agricultural sector. The Category 5 hurricane, which struck on October 28, caused an estimated $29.5 billion in damages, affecting 41,390 hectares of farmland and over 70,000 farmers across the country’s most productive regions. The devastation included the destruction of 32,400 hectares of vegetable crops, significant losses in banana and plantain production, and the death of approximately 1.25 million animals. The fisheries sector also suffered a $5.76 billion blow, with 25% of the national fishing fleet damaged or destroyed. Minister Green, however, expressed unwavering resolve, stating that recovery efforts have already begun. He announced the reactivation of the Agricultural Disaster Recovery Task Force and the reallocation of $450 million from the Production Incentive Programme to emergency recovery. Immediate measures include the importation of essential food items like tomatoes, lettuce, and cabbage, as well as chicken, fish, and eggs, to stabilize the food supply. On the ground, seeds, fertilizers, and other critical inputs are being distributed to farmers, with a focus on early planting in less-affected areas such as Eastern Jamaica and agro-parks. Support for the fisheries sector includes clearing debris to reopen beach access and repairing damaged vessels. For livestock farmers, the Veterinary Services Division is implementing a recovery program to stabilize animal health and reduce further losses. Looking ahead, Minister Green emphasized the need for climate-smart agricultural practices and improved infrastructure resilience. He concluded with a rallying call, urging private sector partners to remain committed and praising the resilience of the nation’s farmers and fishers, stating, ‘We shall rise again.’

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has initiated a pioneering region-wide student census, marking a historic milestone in educational development. This comprehensive initiative aims to directly influence the future of education by capturing the voices of every student from kindergarten to secondary level across the OECS member states. Dr Didacus Jules, the OECS Director General, emphasized the transformative potential of this effort, stating, ‘For the first time anywhere in the world, every student will participate in a single, region-wide census. This is not a sample or a survey of a few, but a true census ensuring every child is heard.’

The census, described as a ‘student-voice census,’ is designed to provide accurate, up-to-date insights into the needs and aspirations of students. Sisera Simon, head of the Human and Social Division at the OECS Commission, highlighted its significance, noting, ‘This initiative empowers us to make informed decisions, close gaps, and unlock the full potential of our young people.’ The data collected will directly inform the new 10-Year OECS Education Sector Strategy (2027-2037), ensuring it is grounded in the lived experiences of students.

Students from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla are invited to participate anonymously. Their honest feedback on learning, teaching, and school life will provide critical insights for education leaders to improve classroom environments, teaching methods, and overall education systems. The OECS Commission has assured that all data will remain confidential, enabling students to express themselves freely and safely.

This initiative represents a bold step toward creating more inclusive, equitable, and student-centred education systems across the region. By amplifying the voices of over 100,000 learners, the OECS Student Census aims to address the true realities of students today and shape a brighter future for education in the Eastern Caribbean.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Renowned reggae artist Buju Banton has raised concerns over the theft of containers filled with relief supplies intended for victims of Hurricane Melissa at the port. In a recent Instagram post, Banton expressed his frustration, stating, ‘The things are being stolen at the very port. Look at this. Why. Why. Why.’ His message was accompanied by a photo of a half-filled barrel, illustrating the extent of the issue. Other social media users have echoed similar complaints, reporting that their barrels and containers have either gone missing or arrived partially empty. The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) had introduced the Contactless Clearance Project in 2023 to combat theft and enhance the handling of goods. This initiative mandates that customs officers wear body cameras while processing packages. Project Manager Kingsley Henry explained, ‘We are changing the process. Your shipping agent submits the documentation to Customs for duty assessment, and once you pay the customs charges, your cargo can be inspected. You can track your shipment using our website or mobile app.’ Despite these measures, attempts to obtain a comment from the JCA regarding the recent thefts were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Two weeks after Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has successfully restored electricity to 64% of its customers, according to JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant. Speaking at a government-organized press briefing on Tuesday, Grant described the progress as a “solid achievement” given the extensive damage caused by the storm. Over 300,000 customers have been reconnected since the hurricane left large parts of the island without power. Grant emphasized that the on-ground devastation was far more severe than aerial assessments suggested, particularly in the western region, which requires extensive rebuilding rather than simple repairs. To accelerate restoration, JPS has deployed over 200 additional overseas line workers and is bringing in specialized equipment, including bucket trucks and hole-digging vehicles. The company has prioritized restoring critical services such as hospitals, water pumps, and economic hubs. Notable successes include the restoration of power to Cornwall Regional Hospital, St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Ocho Rios Port, Dunn’s River Falls, and Sangster International Airport. Grant also highlighted creative solutions, such as rerouting power from Manchester to supply St Elizabeth. Despite challenges, JPS remains committed to transparency and aims to provide detailed restoration timelines for all affected areas by the end of the week.

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A tragic incident unfolded in the Rio Cobre, Bog Walk Gorge, St Catherine, on Wednesday afternoon, prompting investigations by the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) and the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom). The victim, identified as 73-year-old Melton Smith, a farmer from Mickelton Meadows, Linstead, was a suspect in an alleged abduction and carnal abuse case. According to police reports, Smith was being transported from Linstead to Spanish Town around 1:00 pm when he reportedly leaped from the police vehicle near the Flat Bridge area, plunging into the Rio Cobre. Despite efforts by the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Fire Brigade to rescue him, Smith was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised questions, leading to a thorough probe by the authorities.

Jamaica’s northern and western regions, still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, may face further challenges this week as adverse weather conditions threaten to disrupt ongoing relief operations. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has forecast intermittent showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds from Tuesday through Thursday, potentially hampering recovery efforts in several parishes. Alvin Gayle, Director General of ODPEM, emphasized that even moderate rainfall could complicate relief work, particularly in northern parishes where many homes remain roofless. During a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Gayle detailed the expected weather patterns, noting that isolated thunderstorms and gusty winds would likely affect western parishes as well. In preparation, ODPEM and its partners have distributed over 80% of the 45,000 tarpaulins available on the island to provide temporary shelter. Gayle highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to address immediate shelter needs while supporting long-term recovery goals. Despite these efforts, the forecasted weather could slow progress in areas still recovering from the hurricane’s devastation.