标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Authorities in Newport West have launched a public awareness campaign targeting an elaborate vehicle fraud scheme exploiting holiday shoppers during the peak Christmas season. Superintendent Rochelle McGibbon-Scott, commanding officer of the Newport West Police Formation, revealed criminals are leveraging social media platforms to advertise luxury vehicles at artificially depressed prices.

Law enforcement officials have documented a disturbing pattern emerging over the past half-decade where scammers post professionally produced videos of high-end vehicles near wharf areas on platforms like TikTok. These advertisements feature vehicles priced approximately 50% below market value—a deliberate tactic to lure bargain-seeking consumers during the festive spending period.

“When a vehicle normally valued at $5 million appears advertised for $2.5 million, that immediate price discrepancy should trigger public skepticism,” McGibbon-Scott emphasized during a security briefing. The sophisticated operation pressures potential buyers to rapidly commit to deposits through unverified digital transactions or risky cash meetings in port areas.

Police data indicates victims have lost between $250,000 to $500,000 Jamaican dollars in single transactions, with many being hard-working individuals losing their entire savings. The scammers’ methodology involves creating artificial urgency, discouraging proper verification procedures, and insisting on secluded meeting locations.

As protective measures, authorities recommend: refusing below-market offers without third-party validation, avoiding digital payments to unverified accounts, and rejecting meetings in isolated areas. Instead, the police encourage conducting transactions at the Newport West Police Station and utilizing official verification channels.

The Newport West Police have established dedicated communication lines (876-412-9210 via call or WhatsApp) for citizens to submit social media screenshots and transaction details for immediate legitimacy checks. Superintendent McGibbon-Scott reaffirmed the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s commitment to seasonal security while urging heightened public vigilance against financially devastating scams.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The investigation into Saturday’s deadly mass shooting at Brown University has entered its fifth day with no identified suspect or established motive, leaving authorities to pursue a critical witness who may hold vital clues.

Providence Police Department intensified their public appeal Wednesday, releasing surveillance images of an individual clad in a grey hoodie and dark overcoat who was reportedly ‘in proximity’ to the suspected gunman during the attack. Chief Oscar Perez emphasized this unidentified person likely possesses ‘relevant information’ crucial to advancing the case, noting they were ‘close enough’ to the suspect to warrant immediate questioning.

The tragic incident unfolded when an armed assailant stormed an examination hall at the Ivy League institution, fatally shooting two students before escaping. The victims have been identified as Ella Cook, vice president of Brown’s Republican Party association, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an aspiring neurosurgeon from Uzbekistan. Medical officials confirmed one survivor remains in critical but stable condition, while five others are stable and two have been released from hospitalization.

Complicating the investigation, the university’s security infrastructure has come under intense scrutiny. It was revealed that none of Brown’s 1,200 security cameras were integrated with police surveillance systems, prompting sharp criticism from former President Donald Trump and others regarding campus safety protocols. University administrators issued a detailed response acknowledging that camera coverage doesn’t extend to all areas of their 250-building campus.

This shooting marks one of more than 300 mass shootings recorded in the United States this year by the Gun Violence Archive, occurring against a backdrop of continued political gridlock regarding firearm access restrictions. Authorities have warned the public against circulating AI-generated images related to the case, which could potentially hinder investigative efforts.

Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring electricity to the majority of households impacted by Hurricane Melissa before Christmas, despite confronting severe infrastructural damage and logistical hurdles. Corporate Communications Director Winsome Callum confirmed the utility provider remains on schedule to energize most communities across multiple parishes by the holiday, with fewer than 50 customers expected to remain off-grid in regions including St. Catherine, Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Thomas, St. Mary, and Portland due to accessibility constraints.

Parish-specific restoration targets reveal a varied landscape of progress. Clarendon has already achieved its 95% power restoration goal, while Manchester is projected to meet a similar benchmark. St. Ann and Trelawny are targeted for 80% and 75% restoration rates respectively by Christmas Day. However, the western parishes of St. James, Hanover, St. Elizabeth, and Westmoreland—which sustained catastrophic damage—require specialized recovery strategies focused on commercial centers and critical services rather than percentage-based targets.

Notable restoration milestones have been reached in key economic zones including St. James’s Elegant Corridor, Hanover’s Lucea Town and Sandy Bay areas, St. Elizabeth’s Black River Hospital and Treasure Beach locations, and Westmoreland’s West End Negril and Savanna-la-Mar districts. Despite these achievements, outage rates remain critically high in the most affected regions: Westmoreland (88% without power), St. Elizabeth (50%), St. James (43%), Trelawny (39%), and Hanover (36%).

The restoration effort faces multifaceted challenges including extensive damage to transmission infrastructure surpassing typical pole and line repairs, with substations and high-tension towers requiring complete reconstruction. Terrain accessibility issues force crews to employ manual labor techniques in waterlogged areas where heavy equipment becomes immobilized. Compounding these difficulties are incidents of wire theft and vandalism that deliberately undermine progress, alongside recurring outages caused by motor vehicle accidents damaging recently repaired infrastructure.

To accelerate recovery, JPS is deploying over 200 international line workers who will work throughout the holiday period. This reinforcement aims to achieve 90% island-wide restoration by January 15th, prioritizing both speed and safety in returning electricity to affected communities.

Jamaica’s tourism sector has initiated a major housing recovery effort to support workers devastated by Hurricane Melissa. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett officially unveiled the Tourism Housing Assistance Recovery Programme (THARP) during a ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday, attended by sector stakeholders and the first group of beneficiaries.

The program’s immediate intervention involves distributing housing vouchers worth $100,000 each, funded by a $70 million allocation from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). These vouchers are structured into three targeted packages: Package A addresses roofing and minor repairs for quick home stabilization; Package B tackles significant structural damage including foundation issues; and Package C focuses on comprehensive building and interior repairs to restore full living conditions.

Minister Bartlett emphasized that THARP represents both immediate relief and long-term housing solutions. Following island-wide consultations, authorities have identified 100 initial beneficiaries, with approximately 700 workers expected to benefit from the first funding allocation. The minister reported strong early interest, with over 60 applications already submitted.

The program’s broader vision includes constructing fifteen permanent block and steel homes—five initially followed by ten additional units—for workers who lost everything in the hurricane. This initiative forms part of a larger $500 million social housing program announced in the national budget, with additional support coming from the Tourism Workers Pension Fund for workers lacking employer coverage.

THARP features a transparent digital application system through tef.gov.jm, allowing workers to apply online, select appropriate repair packages, and track their applications in real time. Eligibility extends to tourism workers aged 18-59, including permanent, contract, and self-employed individuals across all sectors—from hotels to craft vending, tour operations, and transportation services.

While covering all parishes, the program will prioritize areas most severely affected by Hurricane Melissa. Several beneficiaries expressed gratitude during the launch ceremony, sharing stories of destroyed roofs, flooded homes, and lost furniture. The initiative operates as a public-private partnership separate from national housing programs, with expectations to eventually assist up to 20,000 tourism workers nationwide.