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  • Lluidas Vale main road in St Catherine now cleared — police

    Lluidas Vale main road in St Catherine now cleared — police

    Authorities in St. Catherine, Jamaica, have officially reopened the Lluidas Vale main road after successful clearance operations. The critical transportation artery had been rendered completely impassable following a significant incident on Friday involving an overturned tractor-trailer. The accident occurred in the challenging terrain of the Mountain Pass vicinity, creating a major obstruction for local traffic and commuters.

    Law enforcement officials have now confirmed that the roadway is fully passable, marking a return to normalcy for the community. The Jamaica Constabulary Force issued a formal advisory to all motorists, lifting the previous travel restrictions for the area. This development concludes a multi-day effort to remove the heavy vehicle and ensure the safety of the road infrastructure. While the precise cause of the overturning incident remains under investigation, the swift resolution of the blockage demonstrates effective coordination between local authorities and emergency response teams. The reopening alleviates significant logistical challenges that had arisen for residents and commercial transport operations relying on this vital route through St. Catherine.

  • Sweet heist? KitKat robbery could cause Easter shortages, says Nestle

    Sweet heist? KitKat robbery could cause Easter shortages, says Nestle

    GENEVA, Switzerland – In a significant blow to seasonal confectionery supplies, a massive shipment of Nestlé’s iconic KitKat chocolate bars has been stolen while in transit across Europe. The Swiss food conglomerate confirmed the theft of approximately 12 tonnes of chocolate, comprising 413,793 individual units from its new product range.

    The sophisticated heist occurred last week during transportation between manufacturing and distribution facilities. The truck, which originated in central Italy with Poland as its final destination, vanished completely along its planned route through multiple European markets. Both the vehicle and its valuable cargo remain missing despite ongoing investigations.

    Nestlé’s KitKat division issued a statement expressing concern over potential retail shortages, particularly with Easter approaching—a period of peak chocolate consumption. The company humorously referenced its famous ‘Have a break’ slogan, noting that thieves had taken the message ‘too literally’ by making off with their enormous chocolate bounty.

    Authorities across multiple jurisdictions are collaborating with Nestlé’s supply chain partners to locate the stolen merchandise. The company has implemented tracking measures using unique batch codes printed on each chocolate bar, enabling identification if the products surface in unauthorized sales channels. Consumers and retailers are encouraged to scan suspicious batches, with protocols in place to report findings directly to KitKat’s security team.

    This incident highlights growing concerns about cargo security within Europe’s food distribution networks and may prompt increased security measures for high-value consumable goods during seasonal transportation peaks.

  • Rastas in Shashamane to pay tribute to Bunny Wailer, Flippins

    Rastas in Shashamane to pay tribute to Bunny Wailer, Flippins

    The Jamaican Rastafarian community in Shashamane, Ethiopia, will commemorate Rastafari Month with a special tribute event on April 10th at the Lily and Vernon Leach Lounge. This gathering serves dual purposes: honoring reggae icon Bunny Wailer, who passed in March 2021, and paying respects to Donald “Flippins” Leach, a foundational Jamaican figure in Ethiopia’s Rasta movement who died in 2012.

    The event will feature performances by Sydney Salmon, chairman of the Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community (JRDC), alongside artists including Orthodox Issachar, Teddy Dan, Iron Gad, Pat Joseph, and the Melody Sisters. Salmon, an East Kingston native who relocated to Ethiopia in 2001, has released several musical works including songs ‘Oh Lord,’ ‘Trees,’ and ‘Give To You,’ with his third album ‘Andromeda: Sign of The Times’ launched in November.

    In exclusive comments, Salmon revealed ambitious preparations for the 60th anniversary celebration of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I’s historic state visit to Jamaica. “I learned of his significance through Rastafarian elders while growing up,” Salmon reflected on the 1966 visit that occurred when he was two years old.

    The JRDC records indicate approximately 600 Jamaicans and their families currently residing in Ethiopia, many in Shashamane where Emperor Selassie I granted 500 acres of land in 1948 to members of the African Diaspora. This humanitarian gesture acknowledged international support during Ethiopia’s conflict with Mussolini’s fascist forces.

    Many Jamaican settlers belong to the Twelve Tribes of Israel organization, established by Vernon “Gad” Carrington in Kingston’s Trench Town in 1968. Salmon himself, a former banker who lived in New York for 15 years before moving to East Africa, represents this ongoing cultural exchange between Jamaica and Ethiopia that continues to thrive decades after Emperor Selassie’s death in 1975.

  • Two derbies headline JFF Championships this weekend

    Two derbies headline JFF Championships this weekend

    The Jamaica Football Championships resume this weekend with a compelling slate of return-round fixtures, highlighted by two intense parish derbies that promise to deliver thrilling football action across the island.

    In Zone A, league leaders Sakka Club BrownsTown (19 points from 8 matches) face a critical test against third-place Lime Hall Academy (14 points with a game in hand) at Drax Hall. The matchup carries added significance as BrownsTown seeks redemption for their opening-day defeat against their local rivals.

    Meanwhile, the Westmoreland derby at Llandilo Sports Complex features Roaring River and Reno FC separated by just one point in the standings. Following their 1-1 draw in the first round, Reno FC (16 points) and Roaring River (15 points, both from 8 games) will battle for crucial points in the tightly contested zone.

    Zone B leaders Humble Lion host Duncans United at Effortville, looking to improve upon their previous 1-1 stalemate. Simultaneously, a resurgent Falmouth United travels to face STETHS Elite FA, recalling their explosive 2-2 first-round encounter in Trelawny.

    The weekend schedule includes seven matches across various venues:

    Saturday Fixtures:
    – Tru-Juice vs Jamaica Defence Force at Dinthill
    – Sakka Club BrownsTown vs Lime Hall Academy at Drax Hall
    – Meadforest FC vs WiFi United at Bell Chung Oval
    – Grays Inn SC vs Baptist Alliance at Grays Inn
    – STETHS Elite FA vs Falmouth United at STETHS
    – Humble Lion FC vs Duncans United at Effortville
    – Petersfield FC vs St Bess United at Petersfield
    – Roaring River FC vs Reno FC at Llandilo

  • Frazsiers Whip and Arnett Gardens seek fourth straight in JWPL

    Frazsiers Whip and Arnett Gardens seek fourth straight in JWPL

    The Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) is set for a thrilling Saturday of football, headlined by a doubleheader at the JWN Anthony Spaulding Complex. The spotlight falls on the league’s two dominant, undefeated forces: three-time defending champions Frazsiers Whip FC and the formidable Arnett Gardens. Both squads, boasting perfect records from their first three outings, aim to secure a fourth consecutive victory.

    Frazsiers Whip enters its match against Mile Gully FC as the clear favorite. Despite Mile Gully breaking their scoring drought with a recent win over Real MoBay AFC, they face a monumental challenge. They must penetrate a staunch Frazsiers defense that has conceded a mere one goal this season. Conversely, containing Frazsiers’ explosive offense, spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Christine Salmon and Shanel Spence—who have collectively netted seven of the team’s ten goals—poses an even greater task for Mile Gully.

    The second marquee matchup pits Arnett Gardens against Cavalier SC in a clash of last season’s semi-finalist and finalist. While current form favors the home team, Arnett Gardens, historical context adds intrigue; the two sides drew both of their encounters last season. Arnett arrives with the league’s most potent attack, having scored a remarkable 12 goals, largely thanks to standout Shikira Douglas. Cavalier, in a transitional phase after losing several key players, has struggled for consistency, securing only one win and scoring three goals in their three games.

    Elsewhere, Springers United seeks to rebound from a halted winning streak as they host Federal United at Irwin High in St. James. Under the guidance of Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, the more organized St. James outfit aims to capitalize on Federal’s two-game losing skid and improve upon last season’s results against them (a draw and a loss).

    Additional Saturday fixtures feature Los Perfectos, another former semi-finalist, traveling to face winless Real MoBay AFC at Jarrett Park in a battle for positioning in Zone B. Meanwhile, Real Mona FC, fresh off a resounding 5-0 mid-week victory, journeys to Carder Park to challenge WiFi United in pursuit of back-to-back wins. The day’s action concludes with a bottom-of-the-table encounter at the UWI Bowl, where both UWI Women and Proven Girls will be desperately hunting for their first victory of the campaign.

    **Full Saturday Schedule:**
    * UWI Women vs Proven Girls – UWI Bowl
    * Arnett Gardens FC vs Cavalier SC – Anthony Spaulding Complex
    * WiFi United vs Real Mona FC – Carder Park
    * Real MoBay AFC vs Los Perfectos – Jarrett Park
    * Springers United FC vs Federal United – Irwin High
    * Frazsiers Whip FC vs Mile Gully FC – Anthony Spaulding Complex

  • Anti-Trump protests launch on ‘No Kings’ day in US

    Anti-Trump protests launch on ‘No Kings’ day in US

    MINNEAPOLIS (AFP) — Millions of demonstrators mobilized across the United States and international cities on Saturday in the third major wave of “No Kings” protests, expressing profound opposition to President Donald Trump’s governance style and recent foreign policy decisions. The movement, which has evolved into the most visible resistance force since Trump’s second term began in January 2025, now directs its outrage toward the administration’s joint military campaign with Israel against Iran, characterized by ambiguous objectives and fluctuating timelines.

    The protests transcended U.S. borders with coordinated demonstrations in European capitals including Amsterdam, Madrid, and Rome. Domestic rallies manifested from Atlanta to Washington, where participants braved sub-freezing temperatures in Michigan and marched across Potomac River bridges bearing signs declaring “Trump Must Go Now!” and “Fight Fascism.” One Atlanta protester’s placard captured the movement’s central anxiety: “We Are Losing Our Democracy.”

    Organizers reported planning over 3,000 events nationwide, including in remote locations like Kotzebue, Alaska, above the Arctic Circle. Minnesota emerged as a symbolic epicenter months after becoming the focal point of national debates surrounding Trump’s immigration policies. The state witnessed legendary musician Bruce Springsteen performing his protest ballad “Streets of Minneapolis” in St. Paul, commemorating two citizens killed during January immigration protests.

    The movement has demonstrated substantial growth since its inception on Trump’s 79th birthday in June 2025, when several million Americans protested during the president’s military parade. October’s demonstrations drew approximately seven million participants according to organizers, who aimed to exceed those numbers amid Trump’s sub-40% approval ratings and impending midterm elections.

    Naveed Shah of Common Defense, a veterans association aligned with the movement, articulated the protesters’ concerns: “This administration has dragged us deeper into war while citizens face militarized forces domestically. Families are torn apart and immigrant communities targeted—all in service of one man ruling like a king.” Critics cite Trump’s governance through executive decrees, weaponization of the Justice Department, climate change denial, dismantling of diversity initiatives, and abandonment of non-interventionist foreign policy as key grievances.

    Notably, organizers indicate that approximately two-thirds of Saturday’s protesters reside outside major urban centers—a significant increase from previous demonstrations suggesting the movement’s expanding geographical diversity.

  • More than 40 gang members killed this year — Haitian police

    More than 40 gang members killed this year — Haitian police

    PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The Haitian National Police (PNH) has released operational results revealing substantial progress in its campaign against armed gangs during the first quarter of the year. According to official statistics, security forces eliminated 43 gang members across 32 separate operations conducted in three key departments of the crisis-stricken nation.

    The comprehensive police operations yielded significant weapons confiscations, including 46 rifles, 19 pistols, six surveillance drones, and over 10,659 rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement authorities also reported seizing five communication radios, multiple Molotov cocktails, and two armored vehicles previously used by criminal elements.

    This disclosure comes amid heightened international scrutiny of Haiti’s security situation. The United Nations Human Rights Council recently convened to address the escalating crisis, with gangs systematically employing starvation tactics and extortion against the civilian population. According to data from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), gang-related violence has resulted in at least 5,500 fatalities and 2,600 injuries between March 2025 and January 2026.

    Disturbingly, UN reports indicate that 65% of these casualties occurred during security operations targeting gang members, with more than 20% of victims—including children—being struck by stray bullets in their homes or public spaces. Criminal organizations now control substantial portions of the capital city and are expanding their influence into suburban areas and northern regions including the Artibonite and Centre departments.

    In a separate operation codenamed ‘Goudougoudou,’ the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) achieved additional breakthroughs. The operation resulted in 50 prosecutions—including 11 women—and the seizure of 76 kilograms of cocaine and marijuana alongside significant cash reserves and 10 vehicles. Authorities successfully freed one hostage unharmed and fatally wounded seven armed criminals during the mission, which dismantled the criminal network led by Rodolphe ‘Chalè’ Louissaint.

    In related developments, immigration authorities faced internal corruption allegations with the arrest of 10 officials from the General Directorate of Immigration and Emigration. These suspects were transferred to the Port-au-Prince Prosecutor’s Office for interrogation regarding their alleged participation in a counterfeit passport distribution network.

  • Police searching for person of interest in praedial larceny case

    Police searching for person of interest in praedial larceny case

    Law enforcement officials in St. Mary, Jamaica have intensified their search for a local farmer identified as a crucial person of interest in multiple agricultural theft investigations. The Area 2 Agricultural Protection Branch (APB) has formally named 37-year-old Ricardo Bonner, also known by the alias ‘Tenna’, as someone who may possess vital information regarding recent praedial larceny incidents plaguing the parish.

    Bonner, a resident of Arthur Lane in Annotto Bay, is urgently being asked to present himself voluntarily to the Area 2 APB headquarters to assist detectives with their ongoing criminal investigations. The agricultural thefts, which have targeted local farmers’ livelihoods, form part of a broader pattern of farm-related crimes affecting rural communities across the parish.

    Authorities have mobilized public assistance efforts, requesting that anyone with knowledge of Bonner’s current whereabouts immediately contact specialized investigators at 658-219-2063. Alternative reporting channels include the national police emergency hotline at 119 or any nearby police station. The APB’s public appeal underscores the seriousness with which Jamaican authorities are treating agricultural crime, particularly given its devastating impact on farming communities and national food security.

    This development occurs within Jamaica’s broader context of combating praedial larceny, which remains a persistent challenge affecting agricultural productivity and economic stability. The specialized Agricultural Protection Branch continues to employ targeted strategies to address these crimes that disproportionately affect small-scale farmers and agricultural enterprises across the island.

  • Tavares-Finson says Gov’t intensifying anti-crime push, chides Opposition for being ‘unsupportive’

    Tavares-Finson says Gov’t intensifying anti-crime push, chides Opposition for being ‘unsupportive’

    In a landmark address to the Senate, Government Senator Christian Tavares-Finson revealed that Jamaica has achieved its lowest homicide rate in 31 years, crediting the Holness administration’s strategic security policies for a dramatic 43% reduction in murders. The announcement came during the marathon debate on the Appropriations Bill, which concluded late Friday evening.

    Senator Tavares-Finson presented compelling statistics showing murders dropped from 1,147 in 2024 to 673 in 2025—the first time Jamaica’s murder toll has fallen below 700 in three decades. The momentum continues into 2025 with a further 29.4% reduction in murders recorded between January 1 and March 14 compared to the same period last year.

    The senator attributed this success to “sustained, intelligence-led security operations reinforced by deliberate legislative reform” and the systematic strengthening of Jamaica’s national security institutions. He emphasized that these results represent a “decisive break from the past” rather than incremental progress.

    In a sharp political critique, Tavares-Finson accused the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) of obstructing government efforts against crime rather than partnering in the initiative. “Our memories are not short,” he stated, recalling that the PNP had demanded a crime plan while simultaneously voting against the administration’s anti-crime measures.

    The government’s strategy has relied on strategic emergency measures that created operational space for security forces to build capacity while containing threats. Tavares-Finson highlighted investments in “superior intelligence, stronger communications, enhanced mobility, and advanced tactical capability” while insisting these capabilities operate “within the rule of law, with respect for human rights.

    Looking forward, the administration announced a major J$5 billion investment to establish the Camp Wareika Forward Operating Base across 100 acres—characterized not as mere infrastructure but as a “strategic investment in territorial dominance” for the Liguanea Plains region. This signals a transition from reactive crisis management to persistent strategic readiness against emerging threats.

  • Missing Cuba-bound aid boats located, crew reported safe

    Missing Cuba-bound aid boats located, crew reported safe

    In a successful search operation, the Mexican Navy has located two humanitarian sailboats that had lost communication during their voyage from Mexico to Cuba. The vessels, identified as Tiger Moth and Friend Ship, were spotted approximately 80 nautical miles northwest of Havana by a naval aircraft on Saturday.

    The sailboats, carrying nine crew members total, are part of the international ‘Our America Convoy’ initiative delivering critical humanitarian supplies to Cuba. This effort comes amid a severe energy and economic crisis on the island nation, exacerbated by U.S. fuel sanctions. The convoy has already transported 50 tonnes of medical equipment, food provisions, and solar panels through various channels.

    Mexican naval authorities confirmed establishing radio communication with both vessels and dispatched a ship to provide necessary support. While the exact cause of the communication breakdown remains unspecified, organizers expressed relief at the successful location of the crews and their continued journey toward Havana.

    The incident had drawn concern from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who had pledged full cooperation in search efforts. The development occurs against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, with former U.S. President Donald Trump recently reiterating threats toward Cuba during a public forum in Miami, suggesting potential military action.

    This humanitarian mission represents one of several recent aid deliveries to Cuba, including earlier shipments by air from Europe and the United States, alongside another converted fishing vessel that arrived earlier in the week after navigating challenging weather conditions and technical issues.