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MANCHESTER, Jamaica—The administration of Manchester High School in Mandeville has renewed its appeal for the safe return of Jayden Smith, a 12-year-old student who has been missing since Friday. The school’s principal, Jasford Gabriel, expressed deep concern in an audio statement released on Sunday, emphasizing the anxiety gripping the school community and the wider Jamaican diaspora.

Jayden was last seen leaving school on Friday evening after prayers, reportedly spotted in Mandeville around 5:00 pm. However, conflicting reports from the Alligator Pond police suggest he was last seen at home earlier that morning, dressed in his khaki uniform and brown shoes. The police have since activated a high alert and are urging the public to assist in locating the boy, described as having a dark complexion, slim build, and standing approximately 152 centimetres (5 feet) tall.

Principal Gabriel described Jayden as a quiet yet brilliant student who had recently joined Manchester High School with an exceptional primary exit profile average of over 90%. He emphasized the school’s efforts to collaborate with law enforcement and other agencies to ensure Jayden’s safe return. The principal also called for national and international support in the search efforts, expressing hope and faith in Jayden’s safety.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Alligator Pond police at 876-224-3113, the police emergency number 119, or the nearest police station. The community remains united in its prayers and efforts to bring Jayden home safely.

Residents of McNeil Land in Westmoreland, Jamaica, are grappling with severe and recurrent flooding exacerbated by heavy rainfall, prompting urgent calls for intervention from local authorities. The community, situated in a flood-prone area, has been inundated for months, with water levels reaching waist height in some instances. This has disrupted daily life, hindered transportation, and threatened livelihoods, including livestock farming. One resident lamented the inability to access their property to feed their pigs due to the overwhelming water levels. Despite repeated appeals to local councillor Ian Miles, residents claim their concerns have gone unaddressed. Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland, Ian Hayles, has pledged to escalate the issue to central government agencies, including the National Works Agency and the Ministry of Local Government, to implement a permanent solution. Hayles acknowledged the community’s frustration and inconvenience, emphasizing the need for immediate action to alleviate the crisis.

In a tragic incident near the Manchester/Clarendon border in Jamaica, 26-year-old Lavar Malcolm, a resident of Kintyre district in St Andrew, was fatally shot by an armed assailant on Sunday. Malcolm, who was also known as ‘Jamie Warlock’ on TikTok, was among a group of patrons at a section of the St Toolies River when the attack occurred. According to police reports, the gunman demanded Malcolm’s belongings, but Malcolm resisted, leading to multiple gunshots to his upper body. Law enforcement officials discovered five Blaze Luger 9mm spent casings at the scene. A senior police source suggested that the killing might be connected to an ongoing feud in the Papine area. The incident has sparked widespread attention on social media, where Malcolm was recognized as a popular influencer.

In a groundbreaking move to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property, UNESCO unveiled a virtual museum on Monday, showcasing hundreds of looted artefacts. The initiative aims to raise global awareness about the criminal trade that robs communities of their heritage. The digital platform, designed by acclaimed Burkina Faso-born architect Diebedo Francis Kere, features nearly 250 stolen items, including a Zambian ritual mask, a pendant from ancient Palmyra in Syria, and a painting by Swedish artist Anders Zorn. These objects, however, represent only a fraction of the estimated 57,000 items currently in circulation, according to Interpol’s database. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay emphasized the museum’s unique role in educating the public about the devastating impact of this trade, which erases cultural memory, disrupts generational links, and impedes scientific progress. The platform allows visitors to explore the artefacts through detailed stories, testimonies, and photos, tracing their origins and significance. Sunna Altnoder, head of UNESCO’s unit for combating illicit trafficking, highlighted the broader mission: to eventually close the museum as stolen items are recovered and returned to their rightful communities. The initiative also seeks to foster collaboration among law enforcement, the judiciary, the art market, member states, and civil society to dismantle the criminal networks driving this trade.