标签： Jamaica

Jamaica’s hurricane recovery efforts received substantial reinforcement Sunday as 72 specialized utility vehicles arrived at Freeport in Montego Bay to bolster the Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) grid restoration operations. The shipment included critical equipment such as bucket trucks, diggers, pole trailers, and pickup trucks destined for deployment with recently arrived Holland Power Services crews.

According to a Monday news release from JPS, these assets will be primarily allocated to Westmoreland and other severely impacted regions in western Jamaica where Category 5 Hurricane Melissa inflicted catastrophic damage to electrical infrastructure on October 28, 2025. This delivery brings the total number of specialized vehicles imported since the hurricane to approximately 160 units.

Detommie Fuller, JPS Manager for Business Continuity Resiliency and Contract Management, emphasized that the additional fleet will ensure newly arrived linemen are fully equipped to collaborate with Jamaican, Caribbean, and international crews. Their mission: restore power to the remaining 12% of JPS customers still without electricity.

The engagement of Holland Power Services represents part of JPS’s proactive business continuity strategy initiated in February 2025 before hurricane season. Another firm, Tempest, was similarly contracted, with team members arriving days before Melissa’s landfall to enable immediate response once government authorization was granted.

Following the revelation of the hurricane’s unprecedented devastation, JPS expanded its contractor lineup to include Greystone. Both Greystone and Holland crews have received logistical support from the Jamaican government to accelerate recovery operations through additional personnel deployments.

The Jamaican media landscape is grappling with the unexpected loss of distinguished sports journalist Donald Oliver, who passed away suddenly on Tuesday morning at age 40 after experiencing chest pains. The award-winning broadcaster and producer had recently joined the Jamaica Observer Media Group as audiovisual manager in August 2025 following the closure of SportsMax.

Oliver’s distinguished career spanned over two decades across Jamaica’s premier media houses, including CVM TV, TVJ and SportsMax, where he established himself as both a senior producer and prominent sports commentator. His professional excellence was formally recognized in 2015 when he received the Press Association of Jamaica’s Sports Journalist of the Year award.

Vernon Davidson, Executive Editor at the Jamaica Observer, memorialized Oliver as both a consummate professional and exceptional human being. ‘I never met Donald before he joined us earlier this year, but I immediately recognized his profound knowledge across multiple sports disciplines,’ Davidson reflected. ‘His analytical contributions were consistently insightful and informative, and I was thrilled about how his expertise would enhance our sports coverage.’

The news sent shockwaves through Jamaica’s close-knit media community. Colleague Leighton Levy, who collaborated with Oliver for nearly two decades, struggled to articulate his grief. ‘We were preparing for a Year in Review stream tonight,’ Levy revealed. ‘Just Sunday night we were testing equipment, sharing laughter and developing concepts together.’

Levy remembered Oliver as an extraordinarily creative force in sports journalism—a ‘genius producer’ whose documentary work, including a celebrated piece on swimmer Alia Atkinson, would endure as part of Jamaica’s sporting heritage. ‘Donald didn’t merely record history; he fundamentally shaped how we comprehended it,’ Levy noted, drawing parallels to the recent passing of fellow sports media icon Hubert Lawrence in 2024. ‘Two giants, gone far too soon. Their voices articulated the narrative of Jamaican sports with unparalleled heart, intelligence and grace.’

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant boost to post-hurricane recovery efforts, the NCB Foundation’s Grant a Wish initiative has allocated JMD $250,000 to Christine Haber Ministries International. The donation will specifically aid seniors and infants across communities severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Bishop Christine Haber, leading the relief operations, emphasized the critical needs of elderly residents who suffered extensive property damage. “Many seniors are unemployed and faced catastrophic roof losses during the hurricane,” Haber stated. “Roofing repairs represent a substantial financial burden that most cannot shoulder independently.”

The remaining funds will address urgent requirements for infants, encompassing nutritional supplies, clothing, and diapers. Haber highlighted the immediate nature of this support, noting, “Numerous infants are currently lacking essentials. We will procure and distribute these items directly within the communities we serve.”

Christine Haber Ministries International possesses extensive experience in disaster response, with outreach programs spanning church missions, community development, and international humanitarian aid. Haber referenced previous disaster engagements, including ground operations in Haiti post-Hurricane Matthew and recent psychosocial support and supply distributions across Jamaican parishes following Hurricane Melissa.

Sheree Martin, Director of NCB Foundation, described the selection of Haber’s organization as both strategically timed and personally significant. “When evaluating trusted, organized partners capable of rapid and effective response, Christine Haber was the immediate choice,” Martin explained. “Having known Christine since we were 18, I recognize this work as her life’s mission. Their operational structure and community reach perfectly align with Grant a Wish’s objectives during this critical period.”

Current relief activities are concentrated in multiple parishes including Middle Quarters (St. Elizabeth), Mile Gully (Manchester), Liverpool (Trelawny), and rural St. James. The NCB Foundation’s Grant a Wish program remains accessible to all Jamaican residents until December 31, 2025, with nominations accepted online at www.jncb.com/grantawish or at NCB branches nationwide.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican media community is grappling with the unexpected loss of distinguished sports broadcaster Donald Oliver, who passed away suddenly on Tuesday morning at age 40 after experiencing chest pains.

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) issued an official statement expressing profound sorrow over the tragic demise of the respected journalist. Oliver built an exemplary career as a commentator, presenter, and producer, earning widespread recognition for his meticulous approach to sports storytelling and his infectious enthusiasm for regional athletics.

Throughout his tenure in media, Oliver became particularly renowned for his exceptional coverage of football and cricket, becoming a trusted voice that brought sporting events to life for countless audiences. His innovative approach to sports journalism significantly raised professional standards across the region and inspired emerging broadcasters to pursue excellence in athletic reporting.

Oliver’s exceptional contributions to journalism were formally recognized through multiple national awards, including the prestigious Best Television Feature/Documentary Award and the Hugh Crosskill/Raymond Sharpe Award for Sports Journalism. These accolades underscored his commitment to quality storytelling and his impact on the profession.

The PAJ’s statement highlighted Oliver’s dual legacy, noting his significant contributions both during live event coverage and through his behind-the-scenes development of sports media infrastructure. The association emphasized how his work consistently elevated the quality of sports broadcasting throughout Jamaica and the broader Caribbean region.

In addition to honoring his professional accomplishments, the PAJ extended heartfelt sympathies to Oliver’s wife, family members, media colleagues, and extensive network of friends. The statement also acknowledged the profound connection Oliver had established with viewers and listeners who had welcomed his voice into their homes for years.

In an audacious Christmas holiday robbery that echoes cinematic crime capers, thieves successfully infiltrated a Sparkasse savings bank vault in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, making off with an estimated €30 million ($35 million) in cash, gold, and jewelry. The meticulously planned operation saw perpetrators utilize industrial drilling equipment to access the underground vault from an adjacent parking garage during the extended festive closure period.

Law enforcement authorities revealed that the criminals methodically breached over 3,000 safety deposit boxes—approximately 95% of the bank’s total—in what appears to have been a multi-day operation. The crime remained undetected until Monday when triggered fire alarms prompted emergency responders to discover the sophisticated breach entry point.

Eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage captured several masked individuals carrying large bags through the parking complex stairwell between Saturday and Sunday nights. Investigators are tracking a black Audi RS 6, whose stolen license plate was originally registered in Hanover, seen departing the scene early Monday morning.

Police spokespersons characterized the operation as ‘exceptionally professional,’ noting the requirement of significant technical knowledge and criminal sophistication to execute. The heist’s timing during extended holiday closures provided optimal conditions for the extensive vault penetration.

Hundreds of distressed customers gathered outside the bank branch Tuesday, with many reporting losses substantially exceeding their boxes’ insured values. The bank has established dedicated customer support channels and is collaborating with insurance providers to process claims while maintaining branch security following threats against employees.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidadian authorities have confirmed the tragic discovery of a murdered firefighter whose abduction from his residence was captured on surveillance footage. The victim, identified as 46-year-old Bruce Lezama, was reported missing after failing to report for duty on December 27. His last confirmed sighting dates back to Christmas Day.

According to official police reports, closed-circuit television evidence reveals a harrowing sequence of events in which two unidentified males intruded into Lezama’s property. The footage shows the assailants physically assaulting the fireman, restraining him with bindings, covering his head with a hood, and forcibly transporting him in his own vehicle, which was later recovered abandoned.

Financial investigations uncovered that TT$2,500 had been illegally withdrawn from Lezama’s bank account following his disappearance. After an extensive overnight search operation conducted by fellow firefighters, Lezama’s body was ultimately located at the three-mile mark on Tuesday, culminating a multiday investigation that has shaken the community.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has launched a comprehensive homicide investigation but has not yet disclosed potential motives or suspects in the case. This incident has prompted widespread concern regarding violent crime targeting public servants in the region.