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  • JPS assessing unexpected ‘cascading effect’ that caused blackout

    JPS assessing unexpected ‘cascading effect’ that caused blackout

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A sudden strike of lightning sparked an unforeseen cascading system failure that left the entire island of Jamaica without power from late Friday into Saturday morning, and the national power provider has launched a full probe to pinpoint the root causes of the unprecedented outage, company leadership confirmed Saturday.

    During a press conference held at the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) headquarters, Hugh Grant, JPS president and chief executive officer, detailed the sequence of events that led to the total grid shutdown. The initial lightning strike knocked out five critical transmission lines connected to a major substation serving Jamaica’s corporate area. Instead of being contained to the affected zone, the disruption spread uncontrollably through the power network in a cascading effect, which eventually shut down power generation facilities across the entire island, bringing the full national grid offline.

    Grant emphasized that this widespread cascading shutdown was an event the utility never anticipated. “This is not an outcome we expected to see from a localized lightning strike,” he said. “Our priority right now is unpacking exactly what went wrong to allow this cascade to spread across the entire grid. That is the key lesson we need to capture moving forward.”

    Despite the severity of the total blackout, Grant noted that backup contingency systems performed as designed. Within an hour of the grid going down, JPS technical crews were able to execute manual “black start” procedures to restart key power generators, restoring electricity to priority areas almost immediately. Phased restoration work continued through the overnight hours, and all customers had their service reconnected by late Saturday morning.

    Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz previously described the full island outage as “unacceptable” as JPS launched its phased restoration work. Speaking alongside Vaz at Saturday’s briefing was Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda, signaling the government’s close attention to the high-impact incident.

    Grant said the company would now move into a formal investigatory phase to map out every step of the outage, document key takeaways from the event, and implement concrete corrective actions to lower the risk of a similar widespread outage happening again. “We will not stop working until we get to the bottom of this incident,” Grant stated. “We are committed to full transparency around our findings, the lessons we learn, and the changes we will make to improve grid resilience going forward.”

  • 65,000 customers remain without water supply, says Samuda

    65,000 customers remain without water supply, says Samuda

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A full day after a widespread islandwide power outage swept across Jamaica overnight Friday and into early Saturday morning, approximately 65,000 domestic and commercial customers connected to the National Water Commission (NWC) still lack running water, accounting for 12 percent of the utility’s total customer base across the country.

    The update was delivered Saturday afternoon by Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda during a joint press briefing held at the headquarters of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), the nation’s primary electricity provider. Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz joined Samuda for the briefing on ongoing recovery efforts.

    Samuda outlined the core reason behind the lingering water access gaps, explaining that water system recovery follows a far slower timeline than power restoration. “The timing associated with charging an electricity line is a much shorter period than the timeline associated with backfilling water lines that ran dry because of the power outages that affected our power systems,” he told reporters.

    Initial damage and system assessments completed Saturday confirmed that the country’s largest water treatment facilities and primary pumping stations have successfully resumed operations, Samuda confirmed. However, full service restoration in multiple communities will be held up by residual electrical issues that continue to impact water infrastructure located in the parishes of Clarendon, St Elizabeth, and St James. Even though JPS managed to restore power to nearly all customers by early Saturday, unexpected inclement weather later that day triggered new, localized power outages in several regions, complicating recovery work.

    “While primary production facilities are rebounding quickly, our immediate priority is maintaining backup power systems and mobilising localised maintenance support to safely restart other systems and rebuild critical storage capacity in the lagging parishes,” Samuda said, adding that the government is prioritizing targeted support to hard-hit areas to speed up service returns.

    The minister also released a detailed, parish-by-parish breakdown of the current status of water infrastructure across the country:

    – Kingston and St Andrew (KSA): All major water systems are fully operational
    – St Catherine: Most regional networks are back online, with the key Spanish Town Treatment Plant running normally. The Old Harbour network has been hit by a secondary power outage that is disrupting service to both Old Harbour and New Harbour communities.
    – Manchester: Core water production facilities are operational, and storage and distribution tanks are currently being refilled. Gradual service restoration is expected for the Ingleside, New Green, Pusey Hill and Warwick re-lift stations, as well as the Perth Estate storage facility.
    – Clarendon: Persistent water outages remain in effect across southern parts of the parish, impacting residents in New Town, Preddie, Kemps Hill, Milk River and Longville Park.
    – St James: The Great River water system has been fully restored, while Terminal Reservoir and Appleton Hall tanks are in the process of being refilled. Temporary service disruptions are reported in Torado Heights, Rhyne Park, Cornwall Courts, Ironshore, Norwood, and Farm Heights.
    – Trelawny: The Martha Brae water system is fully operational.
    – St Elizabeth: All core systems have been restored, including the Benlomonds, Union, Bogue, Burnt Savannah, Hounslow, Content, and Southampton networks.
    – St Ann: The Bogue and Harrison Town networks are back online, while the Minard plant is still undergoing assessment after experiencing an electrical trip during the blackout.
    – Hanover: Maintenance crews are currently on-site carrying out repairs to the Shettlewood water system.
    – Portland: The Grant’s Level system is operating at just 30 percent of its normal output, running on temporary generator power. Minor secondary facilities are scheduled for maintenance work.
    – St Mary: Localized service disruptions are limited to the Iterboreale and Annotto Bay areas.
    – St Thomas and Westmoreland: Full on-site field assessments are still ongoing, with formal updates to be released once evaluations are complete.

  • A ‘Forte’ for justice

    A ‘Forte’ for justice

    Jamaica’s legal community is mourning the loss of one of its most respected judicial figures, former Court of Appeal President Justice Ian Forte, who passed away at his home early Friday at the age of 89. Tributes have flowed from across the country’s justice ecosystem, honoring Forte’s decades of trailblazing service, transformative leadership, and enduring contributions to Jamaican and Caribbean jurisprudence.

    Forte’s decades-long career at the pinnacle of Jamaica’s legal system established him as a foundational figure in the nation’s judicial framework. He first joined the appellate bench in January 1988, before rising to the presidency of the Court of Appeal in 1999, a post he held until his retirement in 2005. Beyond his leading role in Jamaica’s highest court, Forte also earned regional acclaim, serving on the Court of Appeal for the Cayman Islands and extending his legal influence across the Caribbean and beyond. During his tenure, he was awarded the Order of Jamaica, the nation’s recognition of extraordinary distinction in national life. Forte is survived by his wife, Marlene Malahoo Forte, a sitting Jamaican parliamentarian.

    In a joint statement released Friday, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, the current head of Jamaica’s judiciary, and current Court of Appeal President Marva McDonald-Bishop expressed profound sorrow at the passing of the legendary jurist.

    Sykes, who counted Forte as a personal mentor, offered a deeply personal tribute, highlighting Forte’s far-reaching impact on both the national legal system and his own career. “Justice Forte was a jurist of exceptional ability whose contribution to the development of the law and the administration of justice in Jamaica and the region, including Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude,” Sykes said.

    Recalling a formative conversation that changed the trajectory of his professional life, Sykes shared that Forte reached out decades ago to ask if he had ever considered a judicial career. “It was a simple question, posed in his characteristically quiet and courteous manner, but it caused me to reflect seriously on a path that I had not previously contemplated. In many respects, that conversation planted a seed that would eventually grow into a lifelong commitment to judicial service,” Sykes reminisced.

    As a young attorney appearing before Forte, Sykes noted that the late judge embodied the highest standards of judicial practice. “He was a judge who was invariably prepared, punctual, and thoroughly aware of the details of every case before him. He listened carefully to counsel and, importantly, he was persuadable. He approached each matter with an open mind and a genuine willingness to be guided by sound legal argument. That is one of the highest qualities a judge can possess,” Sykes added. He described Forte as soft-spoken and unfailingly respectful to all, but noted that his gentle demeanor hid a formidable legal mind and unshakeable commitment to justice. “His example left a lasting impression on me and on many others within the profession,” Sykes said, adding that Forte remained revered across generations of legal professionals and the general public alike for his wisdom, humility, and devotion to public service.

    McDonald-Bishop, who now occupies the post Forte once held, echoed Sykes’ praise, highlighting Forte’s enduring legacy and transformative mentorship. As the eighth president to lead the Jamaican Court of Appeal, Forte brought steady, principle-centered leadership to the institution, strengthening its operations and bolstering public trust in the judiciary’s work, she said.

    “His judgments reflected careful scholarship, sound reasoning, and an abiding commitment to fairness which will endure for generations to come,” McDonald-Bishop said, noting that she personally benefited from Forte’s guidance throughout her own career. “As one who now occupies the office he once held with such distinction, I am especially grateful for his mentorship and exemplary leadership, the confidence he expressed in my ability to lead the Court of Appeal, and his never-failing encouragement and inspiration. I am deeply mindful of the enduring influence of his leadership and the example he set for those who have followed, which I sincerely hope to emulate,” she added.

    Jamaica’s Justice Minister Delroy Chuck also released a statement honoring Forte’s legacy, calling him a towering figure in the nation’s justice system whose decades of public service shaped Jamaica’s modern legal framework. Forte previously served as director of public prosecutions before ascending to the appellate bench, a role where he set a lasting standard of integrity and commitment to the public interest that continues to inspire prosecutors today, Chuck noted.

    “His unwavering commitment to the rule of law, judicial excellence, and the fair administration of justice helped shape and strengthen the foundations of our legal system during some of its most transformative years,” Chuck said. “For more than three decades Justice Forte stood at the forefront of the administration of justice, influencing legal thought, strengthening judicial institutions, and helping to ensure that the courts remained a trusted guardian of the rights and freedoms of the Jamaican people.”

    Chuck added that Forte’s reputation for scholarly excellence and unassailable integrity earned him respect across the Caribbean. “As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate a life of exceptional achievement and service. Jamaica has lost one of its most accomplished legal minds but his legacy will endure through the institutions he helped build, the jurisprudence he helped develop, and the countless lives he touched throughout his distinguished career,” Chuck said.

  • ‘Help us to help them’

    ‘Help us to help them’

    Across Kingston Jamaica’s Corporate Area, two small early childhood institutions serving children with disabilities and developmental differences are facing overlapping crises of growing demand and storm-related damage, pushing their leaders to issue a public plea for urgent financial and material assistance. Both Marie Atkins Early Childhood School and Maranatha Early Childhood Basic School have seen a steady rise in parental requests to enroll special needs students, but lack the dedicated space and upgraded infrastructure to create the inclusive, supportive learning environments these children require.

  • 7-year old child murdered, pensioner injured

    7-year old child murdered, pensioner injured

    A brutal early-morning attack has left a 7-year-old boy dead and a 72-year-old female pensioner hospitalised in the Essequibo region of Guyana, with local law enforcement launching a full criminal investigation into the alleged murder and attempted murder.

    The incident unfolded at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Friday, 5 June 2026, at a residence in Phase 3 of the Zeelugt New Housing Scheme, located along the East Bank Essequibo. Both victims reside at the same address, authorities confirmed.

    According to initial investigative details, the young victim, identified as Adriel Aftab Mohamed, lived at the property with extended family members. Roughly 20 minutes after the alleged attack, a relative arrived at the home and made the grim discovery: the 72-year-old woman suffering from visible injuries, and the young boy unresponsive inside the property.

    Emergency responders quickly transported the injured pensioner to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital for urgent care. As of the latest update, her condition has been classified as stable, and she remains admitted for ongoing treatment.

    Members of the Guyana Police Force’s Regional Division #3 responded promptly to the scene, launching a forensic sweep to collect evidence. Investigators documented visible injuries on the child’s body, and recovered a bladed weapon suspected to be the weapon used in the attack, which has been taken into police custody as evidence.

    The child’s body was transferred to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital, where a duty doctor officially pronounced him dead on arrival. It has since been moved to Ezekiel Funeral Home, where it will remain until a post-mortem examination is conducted to determine the official cause of death.

    As part of the ongoing investigation, law enforcement has interviewed multiple persons of interest connected to the case. Investigators have also confirmed that closed-circuit television cameras are operational in the area surrounding the attack site, and footage from these devices is currently being reviewed to identify potential leads. Police are currently working to track down the suspect responsible for the violence, with the investigation still active and evolving.

  • UWP Senator calls for national reflection on raising boys

    UWP Senator calls for national reflection on raising boys

    In the wake of the fatal killing of local woman Joy St Omer, a senior opposition politician in Saint Lucia has sparked urgent public debate, arguing that outdated and inadequate socialization practices for boys and young men are a root contributor to the nation’s ongoing crisis of femicide and gender-based violence.

    United Workers Party Senator Elisha Norbert, a former educator with a Christian upbringing, laid out his perspective on the drivers of violence against women in an exclusive interview with local outlet St Lucia Times. Drawing on decades of both personal experience and professional observation working with young people, Norbert connected patterns of male violence against women to systemic gaps in how boys are taught to process emotion, cope with setbacks, and respect women.

    Raised in a devout Christian household, Norbert noted his upbringing instilled a core value of care and protection for women. “The Bible teaches us to care for women like fine china,” he explained, adding that women’s innate tendencies toward love, forgiveness, and compassion are too often twisted and exploited by emotionally stunted men in abusive relationships. It is a devastating sight, he said, to watch women continue extending kindness and support to partners even as they endure repeated harm.

    Drawing on his years as a classroom teacher, Norbert pointed to shifting parenting norms that shield boys from the healthy, age-appropriate experience of failure. He cited a common modern example: parents pushing back against coaches for raising their voices at young players during football matches, depriving children of the chance to process disappointment on the field.

    Too many boys today grow up never learning that setbacks are a normal part of life, he argued. They never get the opportunity to lose a game, sit with their frustration, and be guided to process that emotion in a healthy way—learning that it is okay to not win every contest. Over time, this lack of emotional practice leaves men without the regulation skills to handle rejection, conflict, or unmet expectations in adulthood.

    “Honestly, I believe society is raising weak men,” Norbert said. “We’ve lost a lot in the way we raise our men, and I think we’re reaping the rewards of that. It’s detrimental to the stability of a man’s emotional regulation, and they lash out with their might and their strength and their rage that has never been controlled.”

    To reverse this trend, Norbert is calling for a broad, nationwide conversation in Saint Lucia focused on rethinking how boys are raised and educated. The core priority, he says, must be redirecting greater investment and attention to building boys’ emotional intelligence from an early age, equipping them to handle life’s challenges without turning to violence.

  • Trouble in prison after inmates miscalculate SoE’s end

    Trouble in prison after inmates miscalculate SoE’s end

    A wave of inmate unrest sparked by widespread misinformation about the expiration of a national state of emergency forced authorities to suspend all public and legal visits at Trinidad and Tobago’s Eastern Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre (ECRC) on Wednesday, multiple official and institutional sources have confirmed.

    The chaos erupted shortly after scheduled visiting hours kicked off at 9 a.m., when dozens of detainees became increasingly agitated after learning they would not be released as they had expected. The incorrect belief that the ongoing state of emergency (SoE) would end on June 3 had spread through informal channels among the inmate population, leading many to anticipate imminent release. When that expectation went unmet, detainees launched repeated disruptive actions that derailed normal facility operations for hours.

    Prison insiders told local media outlet the Express that the unrest unfolded in at least two to three separate outbursts throughout the morning. Inmates engaged in escalating disorderly conduct, including sustained loud commotion and the throwing of human waste, as tensions climbed across the facility. Administration officials made multiple attempts to restore order and resume pre-scheduled visits, but each effort was met with renewed unrest.

    By 1 p.m., with safety risks mounting for both visiting members of the public and on-duty correctional staff, prison management made the call to suspend all visitations indefinitely. The suspension extended even to confidential meetings between defense attorneys and their incarcerated clients, a rare step that underscored the severity of the situation.

    In an official statement released the same day, the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), the union representing correctional staff across the country, confirmed it had been notified of the unrest immediately after it began. “Our understanding is that a number of detainees, believing they were due to be released today (Wednesday), became agitated and engaged in disruptive behaviour at various times throughout the day,” the association said.

    The POA voiced full backing for the decision to halt visitor access, framing the move as an unavoidable step to protect all people inside the facility. “In the interest of maintaining order and ensuring the safety of all concerned, prison management took the decision to suspend visits to the facility. We support this decision as the safety and security of both detainees and visitors must remain the primary consideration during any period of unrest within a correctional institution,” the statement read.

    The union also praised on-duty officers for their measured response to the volatile situation, commending their “professionalism and restraint in managing a challenging situation and for their continued commitment to maintaining the security and stability of the institution.”

    When contacted for comment by reporters on Wednesday, acting Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Corraspe confirmed he had received initial updates about the unrest but had not yet received a full formal report from ECRC leadership. “At this point in time, I have been given some information about it, but nothing confirmed. I am still awaiting final reports across the ECRC and the other prisons,” Corraspe said.

    Investigations into the unrest quickly traced the root of the misinformation to false claims circulating widely on social media platforms, which claimed the SoE was scheduled to end on June 3. In a corrective statement released Wednesday, the Office of the Attorney General clarified that the state of emergency will actually remain in effect until midnight on June 17, 2026, putting an end to the false release expectations that triggered the disturbance.

  • Fatal love triangle ends in acquittal

    Fatal love triangle ends in acquittal

    After more than a decade of pre-trial detention, a former Trinidadian prison officer has been cleared of all criminal charges connected to the fatal stabbing of a co-worker, following a jury verdict that accepted his claim of acting in self-defense.

    The case centered on Jevon Atiba Sylvester, now 35 years old, who stood accused of murdering Dominique Bernard, a 37-year-old fellow prison officer, in June 2014. The fatal confrontation grew out of a romantic dispute between the two men, both of whom had been romantically linked to the same female prison officer, who occupied an apartment in Claxton Bay where the incident took place.

    Court documents lay out a steady escalation of tensions between the two rivals. The day before the killing, Sylvester made an unplanned visit to the woman’s apartment and found Bernard already there. The following day, Sylvester returned to the property to recover a mobile phone he had left behind during his first visit, with his mother waiting for him in a parked car outside the building. What followed was a physical altercation that left Bernard with multiple stab wounds, which ultimately proved fatal. Sylvester fled the scene immediately after the encounter but turned himself in to local law enforcement officers later the same day.

    During the weeks-long trial held at Port of Spain’s Hall of Justice, prosecution attorneys pushed the theory that the killing was premeditated. They argued that during the first encounter between the two men, Sylvester had explicitly threatened Bernard and brandished the same knife that was used in the fatal attack. However, Sylvester consistently denied ever issuing threats, testifying that he only used the knife to protect himself after Bernard launched an unprovoked attack against him.

    Lead defense counsel Dane Halls presented two key arguments to the 12-member jury. First, he emphasized that all available evidence corroborated Sylvester’s account of acting in self-defense. As an alternative, Halls urged that if the jury determined the force Sylvester used was disproportionate to the attack, they should consider returning a verdict on the lesser charge of manslaughter, given that his client had been provoked into the confrontation by the existing tensions. On Wednesday, after hours of closed deliberation, the jury delivered a full acquittal, clearing Sylvester of both murder and manslaughter charges before Justice Maria Busby Earle-Caddle.

    In comments to reporters following the verdict, Halls extended sincere condolences to Bernard’s family, acknowledging that no outcome in the case could bring back their loved one. “This is not a matter where anyone can be completely happy because a man lost his life,” Halls stated. He also used the moment to publicly condemn the excessive delays in Trinidad’s judicial system that kept his client behind bars for more than 10 years before his case ever went to trial. Following the jury’s decision, Sylvester was released from custody immediately. He had been held at Arouca’s Maximum Security Prison, and had appeared at the trial via remote video link from the facility.

  • Man Hospitalized After Stabbing During Dispute Over Wallet

    Man Hospitalized After Stabbing During Dispute Over Wallet

    A routine moment inside a downtown mobile phone outlet turned into a violent tragedy this week, after a dispute over a misplaced wallet left a young man hospitalized with serious stab wounds on St. Mary’s Street.

    According to initial law enforcement accounts, the victim was waiting inside the store when his wallet slipped from his pocket unnoticed onto the tiled floor. Moments later, another customer entering the retail location spotted the fallen item and picked it up, reportedly claiming it for themselves.

    Tensions flared when the victim noticed his wallet was missing and confronted the other patron, demanding the property be returned. Investigators say the thief refused to hand over the full wallet, instead pulling out the cash inside before attempting to exit the building.

    Refusing to let the suspect leave with his money and identification, the victim followed the individual out onto the public sidewalk. What began as a heated verbal argument quickly escalated into physical violence: during the chaotic confrontation, the suspect pulled a pair of scissors from their belongings and stabbed the young man multiple times. Immediately after the attack, the suspect fled the scene on foot, leaving the injured victim behind.

    First responders were called to the location within minutes and transported the victim to a nearby regional hospital, where he remains in care as of the latest updates. Law enforcement has launched a full investigation into the incident, and is currently reviewing store security footage and interviewing witnesses to identify and locate the fleeing suspect.

  • Police Probe Violent Attack on Crew Members Near Heritage Quay

    Police Probe Violent Attack on Crew Members Near Heritage Quay

    The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has launched an urgent manhunt for a group of male suspects connected to a violent early-morning attack and robbery that left two visiting vessel crew members hospitalized and injured. The violent incident unfolded at approximately 1:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, June 4, along Popeshead Street, a central thoroughfare located near the popular Heritage Quay cruise ship dock where the two victims were based.

    Preliminary investigative updates from the police’s Office of Strategic Communications outline that the two crew members were returning to their berthed vessel on foot when they were suddenly ambushed by the group of unidentified attackers. Both men sustained multiple wounds in the unprovoked assault. The first victim suffered cuts and bruises to the face and head, and received emergency medical care directly at the scene of the attack. The second victim was far more seriously injured, with deep lacerations across his head and arm, and was urgently transferred to the main public care facility, Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, for ongoing treatment. As of the latest police update, the second victim remains in serious but stable condition, with medical teams monitoring his progress closely.

    In addition to the physical harm inflicted on the two crew members, the attackers stole a backpack belonging to the victims that contained critical personal identification documents as well as a small sum of cash.

    Senior police administration has publicly condemned the unprovoked, senseless act of violence, emphasizing the force’s unwavering commitment to protecting both local residents and the international visitors that drive Antigua and Barbuda’s key tourism economy. Law enforcement officials are now appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed the attack, or hold any information that could help identify and locate the suspects, to come forward and assist with the investigation. Tipsters can reach the local Criminal Investigations Department directly at 462-3913 or 462-3914, or submit anonymous information via the independent Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477).