分类： society

A North Carolina court has delivered a landmark $1.75 million judgment against social media influencer Brenay Kennard, highlighting one of America’s rarest legal statutes: alienation of affection. The November verdict came after Akira Montague successfully sued Kennard for destroying her marriage through an affair with her then-husband, utilizing a centuries-old law that remains active in only six US states.

This legal framework treats marriage as a institution worthy of protection against external interference, with historical settlements reaching $30 million. The Kennard case took particularly egregious turns when the influencer faced additional charges last Thursday for violating a restraining order and continuing cyber harassment campaigns against Montague—even after marrying the man she allegedly stole.

Marriage counselor Annette Palmer-Lowe provided psychological analysis: “Some individuals seek relationships validating desirability over substance. Being chosen over a spouse temporarily boosts self-esteem, particularly for those grappling with insecurity or inadequacy. Frequently, the pursuit reflects rivalry with the wife rather than genuine interest in the man.”

The case has sparked national conversation about relationship boundaries, illustrated through firsthand accounts:

Bre-Ann (27) described how a church member positioned herself as emotional support for her fiancé while excluding her entirely. Kimmy (32) recounted a neighbor who claimed to believe her marriage had ended despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Kimari (26) observed how repeated “helping” scenarios created familiarity that led to infidelity.

Keisha (40) confronted inappropriate messaging disguised as harmless flirting, noting: “Secret interactions rarely prove innocent.” Lori (38) identified a “work wife” who seemed more interested in replicating her life than pursuing her husband. Most shockingly, Nordia (30) received the justification that “men are naturally unfaithful” when confronting her husband’s pursuer.

These narratives collectively demonstrate how marital interference often involves systematic boundary erosion, psychological manipulation, and complex emotional motivations beyond simple attraction.

A complex family legal matter has emerged regarding grandparent visitation rights following the death of a child’s father. The situation involves a mother who is resistant to allowing her deceased partner’s parents access to their grandchild, citing historically poor treatment during their son’s lifetime.

Legal expert Margarette May Macaulay, an attorney-at-law and children’s rights advocate, has provided crucial guidance on this sensitive issue. She emphasizes that Jamaican law recognizes grandparents’ legal standing to petition courts for access to grandchildren. Simultaneously, children maintain legal rights to develop relationships with both maternal and paternal grandparents, provided these relationships serve the child’s best interests.

Macaulay’s analysis reveals a critical legal reality: courts generally grant visitation orders to grandparents unless compelling evidence demonstrates such access would be undesirable or unsafe for the child. The attorney advises proactive legal engagement rather than waiting for the grandparents to initiate proceedings. By approaching the Family Court directly, the mother can seek a formalized arrangement that establishes specific visitation parameters aligned with her comfort level and the child’s welfare.

The legal process involves presenting comprehensive evidence to the court, including documentation of the grandparents’ previous behavior. This allows for the creation of a court-mandated visitation schedule that prioritizes child safety while acknowledging the importance of family connections. Macaulay stresses that court orders provide stronger protection than informal agreements, as violations constitute contempt of court with enforceable consequences.

The expert concludes that obtaining a formal visitation order through the Family Court—a free service—represents the most responsible approach to balancing familial relationships with child protection concerns. The process requires the child’s certified birth certificate and assistance from court clerks in drafting necessary documentation.

In the tranquil dawn hours at Sandals Dunn’s River resort, Peta-Gaye McLeary begins her daily transformation of natural spaces, serving as both senior landscaping supervisor and a pioneering figure in her field. As the sole woman in her department, McLeary represents a significant shift in gender dynamics within the traditionally male-dominated profession of landscape management.

Her professional journey stems from a profound childhood connection with nature, where plants captivated her imagination and design inspired her creativity. What began as personal fascination evolved into professional purpose when she recognized landscaping’s transformative power to shape human experiences through environmental design.

McLeary’s leadership philosophy emerged organically rather than through ambitious pursuit. At Sandals, she discovered the ideal environment to merge creative vision with technical discipline. Her approach to overcoming gender barriers focused on comprehensive mastery—from soil science to botanical selection—demonstrating capabilities through results rather than rhetoric.

The emotional dimension of McLeary’s work distinguishes her leadership style. She experiences genuine joy conducting educational nature walks and feels personal investment in environmental challenges, from drought periods to excessive rainfall. This emotional connection fuels her commitment to sustainable practices and immersive engagement with the landscape.

Throughout her career, McLeary transformed gender-based skepticism into professional motivation. Rather than confronting prejudice directly, she elevated her technical expertise and project execution, allowing her work to validate her position. She consciously integrates feminine perspectives—creativity, emotional intelligence, and nuanced design thinking—into her leadership approach, enhancing traditional landscaping methodologies.

For women considering non-traditional career paths, McLeary advocates confident perseverance, technical mastery, and resilient presence. Her story demonstrates how professional passion can dismantle gender barriers while creating more inclusive workplace environments. Beyond her supervisory role, McLeary embodies transformative leadership that redefines industry standards and expands opportunities for women in historically male-dominated fields.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark event for Jamaica’s cultural education, 18-year-old Dante Saunders has become the inaugural recipient of the Oliver Samuels Foundation scholarship. The ceremony, held at the prestigious Edna Manley School for the Visual and Performing Arts on January 14, marked a significant milestone in supporting emerging artistic talent from underserved communities.

Saunders, an Arts Management student from Kingston’s inner city, credits community organization YARD Empire for transforming his educational trajectory. ‘My journey began when I attended musical classes offered by YARD Empire,’ Saunders revealed during his acceptance speech. ‘It became both an escape and an opportunity to transcend my environment while connecting with diverse individuals.’

The young scholar specifically acknowledged mentor Terri Salmon (‘Aunty Terri’) for her persistent encouragement. ‘She consistently reinforced that higher education was accessible to me, even when completing high school seemed unimaginable,’ Saunders recounted.

Beyond academic support, YARD Empire’s mentorship program provided performance opportunities that exposed Saunders to various arts careers and professional pathways. This comprehensive support system ultimately enabled his transition to formal arts education.

Representing Minister of Gender, Culture, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, Permanent Secretary Deanroy Bernard praised the foundation’s vision. ‘This initiative demonstrates commitment to nurturing Jamaica’s next generation of cultural leaders and strengthening our creative future,’ Bernard stated. He emphasized that the scholarship represents more than financial support—it constitutes ‘a national declaration that arts education matters and young creatives deserve investment.’

Foundation namesake Oliver Samuels expressed profound satisfaction with the rapid impact of the initiative, launched merely months earlier in November 2025 with Chairman Jeff Browne. ‘This foundation embodies my dedication to giving back to Jamaica,’ Samuels declared. ‘We plan to award four annual scholarships, recognizing the arts as vital for national progress.’

The foundation’s primary mission remains dismantling financial barriers to arts education, ensuring artistic careers become accessible to all Jamaicans regardless of socioeconomic background.

PETERSFIELD, Westmoreland — A stark discrepancy exists between official statements and on-the-ground reality in this hurricane-ravaged Jamaican parish. Despite claims by the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd (JPS) of significant progress in restoring utilities, residents across multiple communities report ongoing struggles more than two months after Hurricane Melissa’s devastation.

The Category 5 storm, which struck in October, severely damaged critical infrastructure throughout Westmoreland, one of the five hardest-hit parishes. The interconnected nature of utility services means that without electricity to power water pumps, residents simultaneously lack both power and piped water from the National Water Commission (NWC).

JPS announced Friday that it had successfully energized power lines leading to the NWC treatment plant in Roaring River—a crucial facility serving the parish—claiming this achievement had stabilized water supplies and restored electricity to residential areas in Petersfield, Waterworks, and Shrewsbury. The company stated subsequent testing confirmed active supply, offering what appeared to be promising news for the disaster-stricken region.

While resident Randy Martin from Shrewsbury acknowledged improved water consistency following the plant reconnection, he clarified that electricity has not yet reached actual homes in his area, despite visible infrastructure repairs including newly planted poles in nearby housing schemes.

Contrary to JPS assertions, numerous residents report completely dry taps and absent electricity. Audley, a Waterworks resident located on the Roaring River line, revealed he continues transporting water via motorcycle from Dean’s Valley to meet basic household needs.

The restoration appears highly localized according to community members. Reds Don from Petersfield noted that while two housing schemes in Waterworks have electricity, surrounding areas remain without power. He further contradicted plant restoration claims, stating, ‘The plant, we hear that it got current, but there’s no water in the pipe.’

Builder Roy Bruce echoed these sentiments, indicating that power service seemingly terminates at Waterworks without reaching the broader community. He emphasized the water crisis remains paramount: ‘They say they [are] going to set up the plant but only a few people [are] getting the water. Only a few pipes [are] getting the water right now.’

The situation highlights the complex challenges of post-disaster infrastructure recovery and the communication gap between utility providers and affected communities still grappling with essential service shortages months after the hurricane.

Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has documented a significant reduction in custodial fatalities during 2025, with 22 deaths recorded across prisons and police detention facilities. This represents a notable decrease from the 32 deaths documented in the previous year.

Historical data spanning 2021-2025 reveals 116 total custodial deaths, with prisons accounting for 74 cases and police lock-ups responsible for 42 fatalities. The Tower Street Adult Correctional Center reported the highest incidence with 44 deaths, followed by St. Catherine Adult Correctional Center (17) and Tamarind Farm facility (11).

Deputy Commissioner Yanique Taylor Wellington attributed most deaths to natural causes while acknowledging ongoing examinations into alleged medical negligence. Although suicides and homicides contributed to the mortality figures, Wellington emphasized that insufficient evidence exists to conclude systematic mishandling caused the fatalities.

The commissioner highlighted persistent institutional challenges, particularly regarding overcrowding in police detention facilities. She noted correctional officers frequently lack adequate training and resources to properly care for detainees with chronic medical conditions, potentially delaying critical treatment and affecting health outcomes.

While no criminal charges were filed relating to 2025 custodial deaths, INDECOM continues investigating allegations of medical attention failures. The commission operates under statutory mandate requiring automatic investigation of all custody-related deaths and injuries pursuant to Section 11 of the INDECOM Act.

Wellington reinforced urgent calls for addressing systemic issues in the new year, stating: “Lock-ups cannot provide requisite medical attention, particularly when overcrowded. Continuing to detain medically vulnerable individuals in such conditions contradicts national progress aspirations.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Jamaican government has initiated a comprehensive national program to upgrade emergency shelters and reinforce disaster preparedness infrastructure before the approaching 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season. This decisive action follows critical assessments revealing systemic vulnerabilities exposed during Hurricane Melissa in October of last year.

Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, announced that enhancing the condition, safety, and operational readiness of shelters is now a paramount priority. The minister’s statements came during a site visit to the new infirmary in Falmouth, Trelawny, on January 15, where he emphasized the urgent need for improvements.

Minister McKenzie revealed plans to convene a high-level strategic meeting within the next fortnight, bringing together key agencies including the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Social Development Commission (SDC), and municipal corporations. This collaborative effort will conduct an extensive evaluation of existing shelter infrastructure across the island nation.

The ministerial agenda will focus on identifying structurally sound facilities, determining necessary repairs, and planning potential replacements. The SDC has already completed a nationwide survey of community centers, many of which are candidates for conversion and remodeling into certified emergency shelters.

Concurrently, the ministry has finalized a damage assessment of municipal infrastructure—including markets and cemeteries—that suffered impacts during recent extreme weather events. Minister McKenzie indicated that a detailed submission will be presented to the Cabinet, outlining the full scope of required repairs and necessary upgrades. He acknowledged that addressing the widespread damage and fortifying the nation’s infrastructure will demand substantial budgetary allocation.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued a stern public warning to citizens applying for the government’s hurricane relief housing program, alerting them to sophisticated scams that seek to exploit vulnerable beneficiaries. The caution was delivered during the official launch of the Shelter Recovery Programme (SRP) at the Office of the Prime Minister on January 15.

The Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) initiative, a cornerstone of the SRP, offers tiered financial grants of J$75,000, J$200,000, and J$500,000 to homeowners based on the assessed damage from recent hurricanes. With an initial funding pool of J$10 billion, the program is designed to restore safe and habitable living conditions for those affected.

In his address, Prime Minister Holness highlighted the growing threat of fraudsters using advanced technological means, including artificial intelligence, to create deceptive scenarios. He specifically warned against intermediaries falsely offering to ‘help’ citizens secure the grants for a fee. “We have to be absolutely careful that there is no hijacking of a programme like this,” Holness stated, emphasizing that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is the sole administrator of the grants and does not employ any external agents or intermediaries.

Eligibility for the ROOFS program requires official assessment and verification by the Ministry. To streamline this process, a self-reporting tool has been introduced, allowing citizens to alert the ministry directly and expedite damage assessments. The first grant disbursements are scheduled to begin by the end of January.

The government urges all applicants to disregard any unsolicited offers of assistance on social media or in person and to report such attempts directly to the authorities.