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In a remarkable display of community solidarity, the Pentecostal Gospel Showers Family of Churches (PGSFoC) orchestrated a significant relief mission last weekend to aid families in Westmoreland, Jamaica, devastated by the catastrophic Hurricane Melissa in October. The Category 5 storm left many areas, including the remote York District, in dire straits, with damaged roads hindering access to essential aid.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the JN Group, in collaboration with local and corporate partners, has launched a vital initiative to offer psychosocial support to residents in southern Trelawny, Jamaica. The Category 5 storm left many grappling with emotional and physical devastation, prompting the JN Group to step in with comprehensive relief efforts.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South West, Floyd Green, collaborated with Tank-Weld Metals Ltd to spearhead a comprehensive relief initiative across seven severely affected communities. The operation, executed through the South West St Elizabeth Hurricane Relief Command Centre, involved the distribution of 700 care packages, over 75 cases of water, 500 high-quality sleeping bags, and 400 solar-powered lanterns. These supplies were sourced with the support of partners such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Waldron Wealth, while logistics and fuel assistance were provided by MJ Trucking and FESCO, respectively. The relief team traversed Newcombe Valley, Beacon, Galleon, Fyffes Pen, Cambridge, Oxford, and Compound, ensuring aid reached families grappling with housing damage, loss of belongings, and prolonged power outages. Minister Green emphasized the critical nature of the intervention, particularly in addressing the widespread devastation to the electrical system, including the Maggotty power generation plant. Sarah Bicknell of Tank-Weld Metals Ltd underscored the company’s commitment to aiding recovery with dignity and comfort. The effort was bolstered by a dedicated volunteer team, praised by Kenneisha Campbell, Coordinator of the Relief Command Centre, for their heart and teamwork. The initiative now moves into its second phase, focusing on rebuilding homes, clearing roads, and restoring stability to the constituency.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the Women Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean (WENC) Jamaica Chapter has unveiled its new board of directors for the 2025–2027 term. Established regionally in 2012 and formally operational in Jamaica since 2014, WENC is dedicated to addressing challenges faced by women-led micro and small enterprises, such as limited access to finance, mentorship, networks, and markets. The newly appointed board will guide the organization’s initiatives over the next two years, focusing on technology adoption, policy advocacy, and hurricane recovery efforts. The board includes Ethnie Miller Simpson as president, alongside vice presidents overseeing governance, technology, strategic partnerships, marketing, advocacy, membership, and finance. The secretary position remains unfilled. WENC has partnered with Pioneering Greatness, led by CEO David Archer Jr, and secured support from several companies for ongoing relief activities. The organization is advocating for a national recovery plan that prioritizes the needs of women and children in shelters and supports the rebuilding of women-owned businesses, including food stalls, bars, Airbnb rentals, and farms. Through its #womenfornationalrecoveryplan campaign, WENC plans to host town hall meetings, business restart seminars, and funding sessions for affected entrepreneurs. President Miller Simpson emphasized the critical role of small businesses, particularly those led by women, in Jamaica’s economic recovery. She highlighted the importance of smaller operators in the tourism sector and warned that natural disasters exacerbate gender inequality, disproportionately affecting women in informal sectors and increasing caregiving burdens. WENC remains committed to collaborating with partners to empower women entrepreneurs as they rebuild their businesses.

In Kingston, Jamaica, a man faced legal consequences for operating a jerk restaurant without the necessary food handler’s permit. Rohan Gayle appeared before Judge Paula Blake Powell in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, charged with selling jerked chicken in a jerk-themed establishment without proper authorization. Gayle admitted that he had applied for the permit on November 4th, but only after being caught violating the law on November 1st. Judge Blake Powell, while showing some leniency, emphasized the importance of food safety training, particularly in light of the recent Hurricane Melissa, which struck on October 28th and has raised significant health and safety concerns across the country. Gayle was fined $15,000, a fraction of the maximum penalty of $50,000, with the alternative of serving a 30-day jail sentence.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A police officer accused of using excessive force in an alleged baton assault will return to court in May 2026. Maurice Hylton appeared before Judge Paula Blake Powell in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, facing charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The incident, captured in a 2024 video, reportedly occurred on July 30, 2024, along Shortwood Road in St Andrew, where Hylton allegedly struck a man in the head with a baton. The Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) conducted an inquiry, leading the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to recommend charges against Hylton. Representatives from Indecom, along with two police witnesses and the complainants, were present in court. The case has been delayed due to a cross-case filing, where both Hylton and the complainants have lodged separate legal actions against each other. Hylton’s case, in which he is the complainant, has already proceeded to trial, scheduled for May 19, 2026, after mediation efforts failed. Judge Blake Powell has set the Indecom case for case management on the same date, with the trial judge expected to rule on the initial case before addressing the Indecom matter.