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KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s National Housing Trust (NHT) has initiated a comprehensive verification drive to bolster its security framework, requesting approximately 1,000 contribution refund applicants to resubmit their claims through enhanced channels. The move aims to reinforce system integrity and prevent fraudulent activities while ensuring accurate disbursement of funds.

During a recent JIS Think Tank session on February 5, Dwayne Berbick, Assistant General Manager for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at NHT, emphasized that the validation checks are critical for maintaining operational accuracy. “Our primary objective is to safeguard both the institution and our contributors from errors and malicious claims,” Berbick stated.

The NHT is actively encouraging applicants to utilize its official online portal for resubmission, citing improved convenience and heightened security measures. Berbick reassured contributors that processing times have been drastically reduced from 15 days to just four or five days, thanks to systemic upgrades and streamlined procedures. “We urge applicants not to feel discouraged. The resubmission process is now faster and more efficient, ensuring prompt refunds once verified,” he added.

Cameo Simmons Thomas, Supervisor for the Contributions, Refunds, Payments and Monitoring Unit, highlighted the importance of precise personal and banking details. She explained that even minor discrepancies—such as missing hyphens, spaces, or accent marks—can cause significant delays, as each application undergoes rigorous cross-verification with banking institutions. “Consistency across all documents is essential. The account must be primarily held by the applicant, and the registered name must exactly match NHT and bank records,” Thomas noted.

To date, the NHT has disbursed over $5 billion in refunds, demonstrating its commitment to both efficiency and fraud prevention. The organization continues to advocate for digital submissions to minimize errors and accelerate processing.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A targeted police operation in the Harbour View district culminated in a fatal exchange of gunfire early Saturday morning, resulting in the death of a local man and the seizure of an illegal firearm. The incident occurred at approximately 5:18 a.m. at a residence on Balkan Avenue in the Bayshore Park area. Law enforcement officials have tentatively identified the deceased as 37-year-old Troy Flannigan, also known by the alias ‘Junglist,’ a resident of the address. According to official reports, officers entered the premises and proceeded to a bedroom where Flannigan was allegedly sighted in possession of a handgun. The situation escalated when the suspect reportedly aimed the weapon and discharged rounds at the approaching police unit. The officers returned fire in what is described as an act of self-defense. Despite reportedly continuing to advance toward the law enforcement personnel while shooting, the suspect was ultimately subdued. Medical personnel transported Flannigan to the Kingston Public Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead by attending physicians. Authorities confiscated a Smith and Wesson Springfield pistol, along with its magazine containing five live .45 caliber rounds, from the scene. In accordance with standard procedure for incidents involving police fatalities, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A solemn gathering is taking place at Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew as community members, family, and friends assemble to honor the life and legacy of Barrington “Barry G” Gordon. The ceremony marks a poignant moment of remembrance following Gordon’s passing on October 29, 2025.

Gordon’s death occurred under tragic circumstances linked to Hurricane Melissa’s destructive path across Jamaica. The catastrophic weather event, which made landfall on October 28, unleashed severe damage throughout the island’s south-western territories. Gordon was hospitalized at Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland amid the storm’s aftermath, where he subsequently died.

The funeral service represents both personal mourning and community solidarity as attendees reflect on Gordon’s life while confronting the broader context of natural disaster recovery. Current reports indicate the hurricane resulted in significant infrastructure damage, emergency response challenges, and community displacement across affected regions.

This memorial event highlights the human impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable populations, underscoring the intersection of personal tragedy and public catastrophe. The gathering serves as a tribute to Gordon’s memory while drawing attention to the ongoing recovery efforts facing Jamaican communities in the hurricane’s wake.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Defying medical expectations, Zelpha ‘Mama’ Brown celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by multiple generations of her family at Vintage Gardens in Spanish Town. The remarkable milestone comes just one year after she suffered a severe stroke two days before her 99th birthday, an event that left her family uncertain about her survival.

Her daughter, Yvonne Brown Coley, expressed profound gratitude for her mother’s recovery. ‘We didn’t know that she would have made it,’ Coley recounted. ‘Now she can talk, although she has a slight speech impairment. Otherwise, she’s okay.’ The celebration represented an emotional victory for the family, particularly meaningful as Mama Brown has lived to see her fourth generation.

Born in Clarendon in 1925, Brown’s early life was marked by hardship and resilience. Orphaned at a young age, she left home at just 14 to work in Frankfield, where she earned minimal wages performing demanding domestic labor without proper footwear. ‘Me work with that lady and have 14 apartments to clean and carry water,’ Brown recalled in a documentary produced by her granddaughter.

Her circumstances gradually improved when she relocated to Spanish Town in her late teens. There she met and married her husband in 1952, describing him as a ‘loving and faithful’ partner until his passing in 1994.

Family members universally attribute Brown’s exceptional longevity to her unwavering faith, generous spirit, and relentless work ethic. ‘She’s a praying woman,’ Coley noted. ‘When she prays for her children and grandchildren, she calls everybody’s name, and she does it about three times per day.’

Her children described how Brown’s compassion extended beyond her family to the wider community. She regularly cared for sick neighbors, shared produce from her garden with the hungry, and responded to verbal abuse with quiet dignity and continued kindness.

Daughter Valda Martin shared formative lessons learned from her mother: ‘She always said, ‘Don’t go to bed angry with your husband.’ Silence breeds so many things.’ Martin also recalled a powerful demonstration of faith when her mother instructed her to prepare cooking equipment despite having no food in the house—provisions miraculously arrived minutes later.

Son Alan Brown highlighted his mother’s resourcefulness in providing for five children despite limited means. ‘She always found a way to feed us,’ he remembered. The family consensus emphasizes that Brown’s legacy encompasses not just longevity but profound values of hard work, dedication to family, and deep spiritual conviction.