标签： Jamaica

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Law enforcement authorities have detained an individual connected to a mass shooting that erupted at Brown University’s campus on Saturday, leaving two students dead and nine others injured. The violent incident, which unfolded during final examinations, triggered an extensive lockdown and manhunt before authorities announced a breakthrough in the early hours of Sunday.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed the detention of a person of interest during a press conference, subsequently lifting the shelter-in-place order that had paralyzed the Ivy League institution. “I want to offer my profound thanks to all the hardworking men and women in law enforcement who worked through the night to be able to get us to this point,” Smiley stated.

According to police reports, the shooting occurred in Barus and Holley Engineering Hall, where examinations were underway. Surveillance footage captured the suspect, seen from behind, walking briskly along a deserted street after opening fire inside a first-floor classroom. Police Colonel Oscar Perez indicated that authorities are “not at this point” seeking additional suspects in connection with the attack.

Of the nine wounded victims, all confirmed to be students, one remains in critical condition, seven are stabilized, and one has been discharged from medical care. The university has postponed all final examinations scheduled for Sunday.

Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of terror and confusion. Katie Sun, a student who was studying nearby, reported hearing gunfire from classroom areas. “It was honestly quite terrifying. The shots seemed like they were coming from where the classrooms are,” she told the Brown Daily Herald, recounting how she fled without her belongings.

Lydell Dyer, another student working in the campus gym, described sheltering with 154 others in darkness. “We had to go gather everybody, bring them up to the top floor, turn off the lights, and put down the blinds,” he told CNN.

The shooting represents the latest in America’s ongoing crisis of gun violence, with more than 300 mass shootings recorded nationwide this year according to the Gun Violence Archive. Mayor Smiley emphasized the tragic abnormality of such events: “This should not be normal. This should not be the case that every community needs to prepare for something like this to happen.”

University President Christina Paxson confirmed the tragic loss of two students in a letter to the community, expressing profound grief over the “devastating gun violence” that struck the campus of approximately 11,000 students.

The university’s emergency alert system activated at 4:22 PM local time, instructing students to “lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice.” First responders discovered clothing and blood on sidewalks near the engineering building, according to local news reports.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, which he described as a “terrible thing,” while offering prayers for the victims. The incident revives painful memories of previous campus shootings, including the deadliest such event at Virginia Tech in 2007 that claimed 32 lives.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Housing Trust (NHT) has disclosed concerningly low application rates for its hurricane relief initiatives, with only 667 grant requests and a mere 7 loan applications processed thus far for victims of Hurricane Melissa. Managing Director Martin Miller presented these figures during Wednesday’s parliamentary session of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).

The disaster relief program, designed to provide financial support to contributors and other affected groups who sustained property damage, offers grants of up to $500,000 per property. Miller expressed concern over the sluggish application rate, revealing that the Trust has deployed multiple field teams into communities to accelerate registrations. ‘Grant applications are slow coming in. We have split into several teams working directly in communities, and we anticipate a significant increase over the coming week,’ Miller stated.

Regarding the minimal interest in loans, Miller explained that most affected residents explicitly prefer grants over debt-based assistance. During eligibility assessments, the Trust identified only 11 grant applicants whose financial circumstances might enable them to service loans instead.

In a significant expansion of eligibility criteria, the NHT has extended loan access beyond direct contributors to include immediate family members applying on behalf of relatives. This flexible approach aims to broaden the program’s reach amid recovery efforts.

Separately, the Trust has received 1,567 notifications of intent to file insurance claims, with 357 completed submissions including damage evidence and repair estimates. These claims represent approximately $823 million in preliminary assessed damages. Miller detailed the collaborative assessment process involving external assessors and NHT project officers working alongside insurance brokers.

The managing director confirmed that initial insurance payments have already commenced, noting that the Trust’s partial self-insurance model would accelerate settlements for a portion of claims. Miller projected that ‘within the next two weeks, we will see a large portion of the 357 claims moving through the payment process.’

Authorities in Jamaica have initiated a comprehensive investigation into a disturbing incident involving a teenage student who was reportedly ejected from a moving school bus operated by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). The event, which occurred on December 1, 2025, has raised serious concerns about student transportation safety protocols.

According to official reports from JUTC, the incident took place approximately at 12:10 PM on the Buff Bay to Highgate route in St. Mary. Preliminary findings indicate that the 14-year-old Marymount High School student sustained significant injuries to her knees and face, resulting in nearly two weeks of impaired mobility. Witness accounts suggest the victim was pushed from the vehicle while in motion.

The state-operated transportation company confirmed that bus personnel responded promptly to the emergency. The driver immediately halted the vehicle upon being alerted by fellow passengers and ensured the injured student received urgent medical attention. A JUTC dispatcher subsequently transported the adolescent to Annotto Bay Hospital for treatment and maintained communication with the student’s family throughout the process.

JUTC officials emphasized their commitment to passenger safety, noting that the matter was immediately reported to the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Island Traffic Authority. Technical examinations confirmed no mechanical defects in the bus door mechanism. Both law enforcement agencies and JUTC’s internal security team are conducting parallel investigations to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

The situation has drawn political attention, with People’s National Party Caretaker for Portland Western Doreen Campbell characterizing the event as ‘near-tragic’ and demanding transparency in the investigation process. Campbell alleged that overcrowding conditions may have contributed to the incident, with students reportedly standing on the vehicle’s steps. Unverified claims suggest another passenger may have activated the emergency door release mechanism, resulting in the student’s fall.

JUTC maintains that it continues to cooperate fully with investigative authorities while reinforcing its commitment to maintaining safe transportation services through collaboration with educational institutions, parents, and law enforcement agencies.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s transportation network has achieved an extraordinary recovery milestone following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, according to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz. The comprehensive restoration of operations across aviation, maritime, and energy infrastructure signals a robust response to the natural disaster.

During a post-Cabinet briefing at Jamaica House, Minister Vaz revealed that despite varying degrees of storm damage, all airports under the Airports Authority of Jamaica’s management have resumed normal operations. The recovery trajectory has been particularly impressive at Sangster International Airport in St. James, which endured the most severe hurricane damage. Relief operations commenced on October 30, with commercial flights reinstated by November 1—though complete restoration is projected to continue through February-March 2026.

In contrast, Norman Manley International Airport (Kingston), Ian Fleming International Airport (St. Mary), and domestic aerodromes experienced minimal disruption, achieving full operational status by October 30. The aviation sector’s performance metrics are particularly noteworthy: between October 29 and December 2, Jamaica processed over 3,000 flights, representing a 26% surge in activity within a mere two-week period.

The relief operation statistics underscore the scale of the achievement: 935 dedicated relief flights and more than 310 helicopter missions facilitated critical evacuations, medical transportation, and essential supply deliveries. Minister Vaz emphasized that all major airports were restored within 24-48 hours—significantly outperforming the 72-hour target. The sector has processed 212 expedited relief authorizations and moved approximately 5,000-6,000 metric tonnes of relief cargo.

Maritime operations have similarly adapted to support recovery efforts. Port communities implemented extended Saturday operations from November 15 through December 13, while Kingston Wharves expanded weekday gate operations until 6:00 PM through December 23. Additional warehouse openings on November 29, December 6, 13, and 20 further demonstrate the comprehensive approach to managing peak season volumes alongside hurricane relief shipments.

The energy sector remains stable, with Petrojam reporting secure fuel supplies. Since October 30, over 3,600 tankers have been loaded at Kingston facilities, while Montego Bay’s loading operations have normalized. Minister Vaz confirmed that national fuel inventories remain within the internationally accepted comfort range of 2-3 weeks’ supply, with regular shipments resuming following the November 30 completion of refinery maintenance.

This multifaceted recovery operation positions Jamaica’s transport infrastructure as a critical enabler of national rehabilitation efforts following Hurricane Melissa’s passage.