分类： society

A high-profile Jamaican gang trial took a dramatic turn this week as a defendant accused of being a driver for the Tesha Miller faction of the Klansman Gang made explosive allegations against police officers. BJourn Thomas testified before the Home Circuit Division of the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston that members of the now-disbanded Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) subjected him to brutal treatment during his arrest in March 2023.

Thomas claimed that officers forced him to kneel beside the body of his fatally shot friend while issuing death threats and homophobic slurs. According to his statement, read into court record by an investigator from the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), the incident occurred during a police operation in North Avenue, Spanish Town, on March 5, 2023.

The defendant described being physically assaulted at the scene, sustaining a head injury from being struck with a water bottle and his foot being hit with a firearm. In a particularly unusual detail, Thomas alleged that the entire police team temporarily abandoned the scene to purchase ice cream from a passing truck before transporting him to custody.

These allegations directly contradict earlier testimony from a detective corporal who stated he shot Thomas’s acquaintance during a confrontation after the man raised a firearm. The defense team has aggressively challenged this narrative, accusing the detective—a skilled marksman with over 10 fatal shootings to his record—of executing the man in cold blood and then using intimidation tactics to coerce a star witness into fabricating evidence.

The Indecom investigator’s testimony inadvertently undermined Thomas’s account regarding surveillance cameras preventing his execution, as she confirmed no cameras were present on the premises and no video evidence was reviewed. However, she did corroborate that the prosecution’s star witness appeared “very distraught” and fearful during interviews, though she provided no specific details due to prosecution objections.

The trial, involving 25 alleged gang members facing 16 offenses allegedly committed between 2017 and 2022, continues before Supreme Court Justice Dale Palmer. This case represents the second faction of the Klansman Gang to be prosecuted through Jamaica’s judicial system.

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A substantial corporate contribution has accelerated hurricane recovery initiatives in vulnerable Jamaican communities, with tobacco company Carreras injecting $5 million (JMD) into Project STAR’s relief programs. This strategic donation enhances coordinated efforts to address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term economic stability in regions devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

The funding has enabled critical assistance for hundreds of households in Salt Spring, St James, and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland—communities that experienced severe infrastructure damage and livelihood disruption following the hurricane’s passage. Many residents faced acute food insecurity and income loss in the storm’s aftermath, making rapid intervention essential for community survival.

Project STAR Director Saffrey Brown emphasized the significance of targeted private-sector support aligned with specific community needs. “Hurricane Melissa created devastating consequences for families relying on small businesses and informal economic activities,” Brown stated. “Carreras’ timely support enabled us to deliver assistance efficiently through our established community networks while maintaining dignity and transparency in distribution.”

This latest contribution elevates Carreras’ total investment in Project STAR’s initiatives to $35 million, demonstrating a sustained commitment to community development and disaster resilience. Corporate Affairs Manager Imega Breese McNab characterized community resilience as a shared corporate responsibility, noting that “natural disasters don’t conclude when headlines disappear—their effects linger for families and small businesses. Our partnership reflects the belief that meaningful support must extend beyond emergency aid to rebuild livelihoods and strengthen future preparedness.”

Complementing financial support, Carreras recently hosted a Christmas outreach in Savanna-la-Mar, providing warm meals and gifts to over 200 residents during the holiday season. This initiative offered both practical support and emotional relief to families continuing to grapple with the hurricane’s long-term impacts.

Project STAR is now strategically transitioning from emergency relief to recovery and resilience-building programs. “Our next phase focuses on business restart support, helping entrepreneurs recover lost income, repair equipment, and re-establish operations,” Brown explained. This collaborative model between private sector resources and community-based organizations demonstrates an innovative approach to national resilience, ensuring affected communities not only receive immediate support but also develop capacity for long-term recovery and future shock absorption.

Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby has declared an immediate escalation in the removal of derelict and illegally parked vehicles throughout the Corporate Area, citing critical public health and safety concerns. The urgent appeal was made during Tuesday’s monthly assembly of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), where Mayor Swaby highlighted the severe strain on municipal resources and storage capacity.

Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Swaby revealed that January alone witnessed nearly 200 official notices issued for improper usage of sidewalks and roadways. This enforcement surge aligns with the broader Cleaner Kingston Initiative—a collaborative campaign between KSAMC and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) designed to revitalize urban areas through enhanced sanitation, waste management, and public space maintenance.

Detailed operational data shows proactive measures by the City Inspector’s Department, including 170 encroachment notices last month. These targeted 62 derelict properties, 6 illegal structures, 14 street-side garages, and 88 abandoned vehicles, culminating in the removal of 25 cars from public thoroughfares. The mayor specifically identified neighborhoods such as Stony Hill, Cross Roads Market, and Olympic Way as priority zones for the ongoing operation.

Historical context underscores the persistence of this issue, with KSAMC having issued over 1,000 public health and road nuisance notices related to abandoned vehicles and properties in 2024. The current drive will also focus on high-density areas including Lemington Avenue, Hagley Park Road, and Padmore Drive, alongside illegal garages in Lyndhurst Close and Standpipe Lane.

Complementing the vehicle removal efforts, authorities have cleared 605 unauthorized event and party signs since January to uphold public order. Mayor Swaby concluded with a renewed call to action for all residents, businesses, and stakeholders to contribute collectively to preserving Kingston’s cleanliness, accessibility, and aesthetic appeal.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A pioneering youth volunteer program developed in response to Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact has received international acclaim from UNESCO as a benchmark model for education in crisis situations. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization formally recognized the Jamaican initiative during its International Day of Education observance, placing it among select emergency education interventions from conflict and disaster zones worldwide.

The devastating Category 5 hurricane struck Jamaica’s western regions on October 28, 2025, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and communities. In its aftermath, attorney and youth advocate Christina Williams spearheaded a coordinated volunteer mobilization effort to address both immediate relief needs and long-term recovery challenges.

Williams’ program has successfully engaged over a thousand young volunteers through strategic partnerships with organizations including JN Foundation, Jamaica Automobile Association, and St. John’s Ambulance Children’s First. The initiative initially focused on emergency response but has evolved into a comprehensive support system providing homework assistance, psychosocial support through peer-to-peer counseling, and emergency psychological first aid training.

The innovative approach addresses a critical gap in post-disaster coordination by effectively organizing youth volunteers while avoiding duplication of efforts. ‘Within that same population of people affected, there’s also a lot of strength and value that can be harnessed,’ Williams noted, challenging conventional perceptions of youth as merely victims in crisis scenarios.

Since November 2025, the initiative has conducted more than 15 missions, transitioning from immediate relief to sustained recovery operations. The program now focuses on rebuilding educational institutions and providing ongoing assistance to affected families and children.

Williams emphasized that while the emergency phase has passed, the need for specialized skills and continued support remains critical. The initiative continues to welcome volunteers who can contribute various expertise and encourages remote support through information sharing or directed donations to partner organizations.

The UNESCO recognition places Jamaica’s youth-driven model alongside crisis response initiatives from Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting its significance as a replicable framework for global emergency education efforts.

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has announced a major infrastructure initiative, dedicating $220 million from the Parochial Revenue Fund to address the critical state of roadways across all 40 divisions of the municipality. Mayor Andrew Swaby confirmed the allocation during the monthly KSAMC meeting, framing it as a direct response to persistent complaints from residents and commuters regarding potholes and deteriorating road surfaces.

The comprehensive rehabilitation program will encompass a variety of techniques, including patching, resurfacing, and targeted repairs to the most damaged sections. Mayor Swaby emphasized that the funds are being channeled through the Divisional Allocation Fund to ensure community-specific needs are met. However, he simultaneously expressed significant concern over the financial constraints facing the corporation, stating that the allocated sum is insufficient to fully address the extensive repairs required across the entire road network under its jurisdiction.

Mayor Swaby contextualized the current funding challenge within a broader, ongoing struggle for adequate financial support from the central government. He revealed that the KSAMC receives approximately $75 million per month for road maintenance, a figure he described as a ‘drop in the bucket’ compared to the scale of the task. He contrasted this with the separate budgetary allocations available to the National Works Agency (NWA), which does not have to compete for funding between road maintenance and other critical activities like drain cleaning.

Despite these constraints, Mayor Swaby assured councillors that the KSAMC remains committed to maximizing the impact of the available funds. The corporation will adhere to strict procurement guidelines to ensure compliance and secure the best possible value for every dollar spent. While this injection of $220 million will provide tangible relief in the coming weeks, the mayor reiterated that a sustainable, long-term solution is dependent on a significantly increased and dedicated budget from central government sources.