标签： Jamaica

BLACK RIVER, Jamaica — In a heartening display of community recognition, 89-year-old Marjorie Monteith, a lifelong volunteer from St. Elizabeth parish, was celebrated this Saturday for her decades of unwavering service to the most vulnerable residents, even as she herself recovers from damages inflicted by Hurricane Melissa.

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation honored Monteith during a targeted outreach initiative across the communities of Black River, Lacovia, and Kilmarnock. The event saw numerous residents receiving essential care packages and support, highlighting a symbiotic relationship between institutional aid and grassroots activism.

NCB CEO Bruce Bowen, present during the house-to-house distribution, praised Monteith’s enduring commitment. ‘For years, both before and during the hurricane, she has been a pillar of support, offering care and shelter to those in need,’ Bowen remarked. ‘Her work embodies the spirit of building a better Jamaica—not through grand projects, but through genuine human connection.’

Monteith, reflecting on her extensive involvement, recounted her earlier years managing a facility where the homeless could access meals, bathing facilities, and companionship. Although she now operates at a reduced capacity, her dedication remains unshaken. ‘It pains me when I cannot sit with them,’ she confessed. ‘I love the street people. I still visit, talk with them, and provide food, money, and clothes whenever possible.’

The outreach also drew commendation from Superintendent Coleridge Minto, head of the St. Elizabeth police, who acknowledged the NCB Foundation’s efforts in reaching remote and severely affected areas such as Kilmarnock. Minto emphasized the police force’s role in facilitating aid delivery and ensuring security for volunteer groups.

Bowen further recognized Superintendent Minto’s leadership in fostering community-police relations, noting the positive impact of collaborative efforts in disaster response and social support.

In a significant post-disaster recovery achievement, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has successfully restored electricity to the hurricane-ravaged town of Black River in St. Elizabeth, fulfilling its Christmas promise to the community. The coastal town, devastated by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa on October 28, witnessed the return of power along main transmission lines on Christmas morning, including the critical Black River Hospital—the final major medical facility to be reconnected since the catastrophic storm destroyed Jamaica’s power infrastructure.

The restoration milestone was announced by JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant during the commissioning ceremony of an innovative Emergency Mobile Power Generation Unit in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth on Christmas Eve. The declaration was met with enthusiastic applause from residents who had endured weeks without reliable electricity following the complete destruction of the transmission network that left no possibility of power transfer from generation plants to distribution systems.

Grant emphasized the role of strategic partnerships in achieving what many considered impossible: “Every commitment we have made, we have delivered on, through strong partnerships. Because of partnerships and innovation, Black River will have power by Christmas night.”

The power restoration effort has yielded impressive results across multiple parishes, with JPS exceeding its Christmas targets—95.2% of customers restored in Manchester (exceeding the 95% target) and 82.2% in Trelawny (surpassing the 75% goal). The emergency mobile generation unit represents a Jamaican technological first, temporarily powering approximately 1,000 customers across Treasure Beach and surrounding communities including Great Bay, Old Fort, Sandy Bank, Frenchman’s Bay, Calabash Bay, Billy’s Bay, and Fort Charles.

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz praised JPS’s restoration rate, now standing at 88%, declaring the achievement “miraculous” and comparable to first-world disaster response. Vaz highlighted the government’s support in facilitating additional linemen across the hardest-hit areas, noting this compassionate decision prevented economic stagnation.

Local officials and business leaders joined in commending JPS’s innovative approach. St. Elizabeth South Western MP Floyd Green endorsed the company’s restoration protocol that prioritizes commercial areas after essential services, calling the development “a day about innovation and hope.” Jason Henzell, chairman of Jakes Hotel, noted the critical importance of power restoration for community tourism, acknowledging the exceptional efforts of JPS teams in helping residents return to work and rebuild businesses.

In a landmark case testing religious freedoms in Jamaica, Westmoreland resident Troy Harrison successfully had drug charges dismissed under the nation’s Dangerous Drugs Act, only to face an unexpected bureaucratic battle with law enforcement over the return of his confiscated sacramental property.

The legal proceedings concluded on October 28, exactly one week before Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, when the Westmoreland Parish Court dismissed charges against Harrison for possession and dealing of approximately 45 pounds of ganja. The court’s decision rested on Section 7C(2)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which explicitly provides legal protection for Rastafarian community members to possess and use cannabis for religious purposes.

Despite this judicial victory, Harrison’s legal representatives have encountered persistent resistance from Jamaican police authorities who refuse to return the seized sacramental material. Marcus Goffe, the attorney representing Harrison, characterizes the situation as a fundamental violation of his client’s religious rights and property protections.

“The police continue to interpret the law according to their own preferences rather than judicial directives,” Goffe stated in an interview with the Jamaica Observer. “My client was supposed to receive his ganja back immediately following the court’s dismissal. Instead, we’ve encountered a bureaucratic runaround that has stretched for weeks.”

The conflict intensified when Harrison attempted to reclaim his property before Hurricane Melissa’s devastating arrival, only to be informed that additional court orders would be necessary. Post-hurricane attempts in November yielded similar results, with police officials claiming the original court dismissal didn’t explicitly mandate the return of confiscated materials.

Goffe emphasizes the significant investment of time, effort, and resources required to cultivate the 45 pounds of sacramental ganja, which has now been held by authorities for over six weeks without legal justification. The attorney has escalated the matter through formal channels, including a December 2, 2025 letter to the senior legal officer of the Jamaica Constabulary Force demanding immediate return of the religious materials.

The letter outlines broader concerns within the Rastafarian community regarding continued targeting and prosecution despite 2015 legislative amendments designed to protect their religious practices. Goffe references multiple communications from the Minister of Justice to the Police Commissioner specifically outlining Rastafarian ganja rights and requesting accommodation for sacramental practices.

Complicating resolution efforts, the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa has rendered Westmoreland’s courts inoperable, eliminating the possibility of seeking additional judicial orders in the foreseeable future. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between religious protections and law enforcement practices in Jamaica, where cultural attitudes toward cannabis continue to evolve within complex legal frameworks.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaican law enforcement has initiated a large-scale, coordinated operation targeting multiple locations in St Andrew and St James parishes in a significant development in the long-running Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) fraud investigation. The operation represents the most substantial tactical escalation since the probe began in 2023.

A joint task force comprising elite units from multiple agencies is currently executing simultaneous raids at four separate sites. The operation involves specialized teams from the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the Constabulary Financial Unit (CFU), and the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC). These units are receiving operational support from investigators of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA).

Authorities have confirmed the raids are directly connected to the ongoing SSL investment fraud case, which has drawn significant public attention since its emergence last year. The multi-agency approach demonstrates the complexity and seriousness with which authorities are treating the investigation.

In an official statement released to media outlets, law enforcement officials confirmed the active status of the searches and urged residents in affected areas to remain calm. The public has been advised to avoid the operational zones in both parishes to ensure their safety and to permit investigators to conduct their work without interference.

The tactical deployment marks a pivotal moment in the SSL investigation, representing the most visible law enforcement action taken to date in connection with the alleged financial fraud case. Authorities have indicated that additional updates will be provided as the operation progresses throughout the day.