标签： Jamaica

Half a year after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, a persistent buildup of cargo continues to clog port operations and warehouse spaces in Montego Bay, St. James, with consolidated containers that arrived on the island as early as February still waiting to be unpacked. This backlog was revealed this Wednesday by Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) President Professor Gordon Shirley during his appearance before the national Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), where he was scheduled to deliver a progress update on post-hurricane recovery for island port and storage infrastructure.

Shirley made the disclosure while responding to questioning from PAAC Chair Peter Bunting, confirming that many consolidated shipments that would have been cleared under standard operational procedures are still being held at the Montego Bay facilities. “We are acutely aware that customers have personal and commercial goods waiting in these containers, and our top priority is working through the backlog as quickly as possible to allow cargo owners to retrieve their items,” Shirley told the committee.

When asked whether cargo owners were facing unexpected extra costs from demurrage fees, Shirley clarified that the Jamaican government has waived all statutory fees related to the backlogged cargo, and terminal operators have also waived their storage charges. PAJ has additionally held ongoing discussions with major shipping lines to negotiate similar concessions for ocean freight charges.

Shirley emphasized that the congestion is not linked to full container load import or export operations, which have continued to run smoothly throughout the post-hurricane period. The backlog is concentrated exclusively in less-than-container load consolidated cargo, which typically consists of mixed pallets, household goods, and personal barrels that are deconsolidated at on- and off-terminal warehouses before being released to importers after customs clearance.

The PAJ president outlined a confluence of overlapping factors that created the current backlog, starting with the direct physical damage Hurricane Melissa inflicted when it hit Jamaica on October 28. During his presentation, Shirley shared photographic evidence showing extensive damage to terminal and warehouse structures in Montego Bay: one major warehouse building was so severely damaged that it requires full reconstruction, while the off-terminal Seaboard Warehouse — a critical facility for cargo deconsolidation and clearance — also suffered major structural harm that limited its operational capacity.

A sudden surge in relief shipments compounded the capacity shortage, and this influx coincided with Jamaica’s annual pre-Christmas peak cargo season. Shirley explained that Jamaican communities traditionally see a sharp rise in personal barrel shipments from overseas relatives between October and January, as families prepare for holiday gatherings. On top of this normal seasonal peak, relief organizations and private individuals rushed additional hurricane relief supplies into the country immediately after the storm, stacking an unexpected volume of cargo on top of already elevated seasonal shipments.

Misunderstanding around government relief cargo waivers created further delays. Shirley explained that after the government announced duty waivers for approved hurricane relief supplies, many cargo owners assumed any barrel containing even a small amount of relief goods would qualify for full exemption. When Customs clarified that only dedicated relief shipments qualified for the waiver, many cargo owners opted not to pay the required duties to clear their barrels, creating a processing logjam.

Compounding this issue, Shirley noted that the rate at which cargo owners have come forward to clear barrels since the start of 2024 has been far slower than historical averages, in both Montego Bay and the capital Kingston. Bunting echoed this observation, suggesting that many of the unclaimed barrels were abandoned by owners who expected full duty exemption and chose not to retrieve their cargo once they learned they would still be required to pay fees. Bunting warned that these abandoned barrels will continue to block critical storage space unless authorities implement a formal process to identify and dispose of unclaimed cargo after a set waiting period.

In response, Shirley outlined the multiple intervention measures PAJ and national authorities have rolled out to cut into the backlog. Extending terminal operating hours and securing additional temporary storage space have been core early steps, as authorities cannot yet distinguish between intentionally abandoned cargo and shipments that owners still plan to retrieve. In addition to the fee waivers and ongoing negotiations for discounted demurrage, these measures have already succeeded in significantly reducing backlogs in Kingston, Shirley reported.

Moving forward, authorities are planning to transfer a portion of the Montego Bay backlogged cargo to King’s Warehouse (previously named Queen’s Warehouse) in Kingston to free up limited local storage space. Officials are also preparing to follow statutory procedures to auction off any cargo that has remained unclaimed beyond the maximum waiting period permitted under Jamaican law, as a long-term solution to clear excess storage capacity.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — What began as a trivial disagreement over a block of ice devolved into a double fatal tragedy on the streets of downtown Kingston this Wednesday, leaving one woman dead at the hands of her accused attacker, who was himself shot and killed by police hours later.

Local law enforcement has identified the suspect as 35-year-old Davar Dacres, who went by the street name “Davy” and maintained a residence on King Street in central Kingston. His alleged victim was 50-year-old Katherine Wallace, widely known as “Kathy” from the nearby Fleet Street neighborhood. Surveillance camera footage from the area captured the entire stabbing incident, according to initial police reports.

Authorities have reconstructed the timeline of the confrontation: shortly after 5:20 p.m., Dacres and Wallace were both drinking at a small, unlicensed corner bar near Love Lane, where the argument over ice first broke out. What started as a verbal shouting match quickly escalated into a violent physical clash, during which Dacres pulled a 6-inch ratchet knife and stabbed Wallace multiple times in her chest and upper torso. Bystanders rushed the injured woman to the nearest public hospital, but medical teams were unable to save her, and she was pronounced dead less than an hour after arrival.

By 11:25 p.m. the same evening, law enforcement had tracked Dacres to Hanover Street, just a 10-minute walk from the scene of the stabbing, and moved to intercept him. Police accounts confirm that Dacres, still carrying the same ratchet knife used in the attack, charged at responding officers when they ordered him to surrender and drop the weapon. After repeated warnings went unheeded, officers opened fire, striking Dacres multiple times. He was transported to the same hospital where Wallace had been pronounced dead, and he also succumbed to his injuries before emergency treatment could begin.

Superintendent Mischka Forbes, head of the Kingston Central Police Division, told reporters that the incident underscores a worrying shift in violent crime patterns across central Kingston this year. So far in 2025, this killing marks the third homicide recorded in the division, and the second to involve a knife as the murder weapon.

Forbes voiced growing concern over the changing face of violence in the area. “What we are seeing is a reduction in gang-related conflicts and a rise in domestic and interpersonal disputes since 2025,” she explained. While long-standing gang violence has dropped thanks to targeted enforcement operations, petty disagreements that turn deadly now account for a growing share of homicides, a trend police say they are working to counter.

In response to the uptick in knife-related violence, the Kingston Central Police Division has ramped up “Operation Blade”, a aggressive zero-tolerance initiative focused on rooting out illegal possession and use of offensive weapons across the district. “We will continue this operation alongside our community engagement efforts in partnership with key stakeholders aimed at promoting conflict resolution and discouraging violence,” Forbes said. The division is working with local churches, community groups, and mediation nonprofits to host public workshops on de-escalation and peaceful dispute resolution.

Forbes is urging all local residents to avoid resorting to violence when disagreements arise, and to reach out to trained community mediators or police to resolve conflicts before they turn deadly. In line with standard protocol for police-involved fatalities, the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) and the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) have launched independent probes into the shooting of Dacres to determine whether the use of force complied with national policing guidelines.

Following a string of high-profile bullying and assault incidents that sparked public scrutiny, the all-boys Jamaica College (JC) has announced a comprehensive multi-pronged strategy to boost student safety and address growing community concerns over campus violence.

In an official media statement released Wednesday, school leadership framed the new measures as an extension of its longstanding mission to nurture student growth and uphold institutional excellence. The reforms build on decades of work to maintain a structured, supportive learning environment for the school’s student body, located on Old Hope Road in St Andrew.

JC has dominated Jamaican education headlines in recent weeks for a mix of extraordinary athletic and academic achievement, and troubling campus violence. In March 2026, the school claimed the Mortimer Geddes Trophy as the top boys’ institution at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. Just days later, it ended a 39-year title drought by winning the 2026 TVJ Schools’ Challenge Quiz championship, marking a historic double win for the institution.

But the wave of celebration was quickly overshadowed by reports of violent incidents on campus. On March 24, one student was hospitalized with injuries following an assault, leading to the arrest of a second student on assault charges. Shortly after, a graphic video showing two JC students attacking a fellow classmate went viral across social media, prompting widespread public outcry. That incident also resulted in one student being arrested and charged.

“Jamaica College has consistently invested in programmes that support discipline, mentorship, and the overall development of our young men. While these efforts continue to have a positive impact, we recognise that even isolated incidents must be addressed decisively,” Principal Wayne Robinson said in the statement.

Robinson explained that the new reform package is designed to strengthen existing successful safety frameworks, while adding new layers of support and accountability to ensure every student feels secure on campus. The centerpiece of the reforms is a major overhaul of campus security and surveillance systems. The school will launch a full external security audit led by independent specialists to map out campus vulnerabilities and design an updated safety protocol. Upgrades will include expanded closed-circuit camera monitoring, increased on-campus security presence, and new early alert mechanisms to both prevent incidents and speed up response when issues arise.

Beyond security upgrades, the school is rolling out a mandatory school-wide Values and Behavioural Development Programme, integrated across all grade levels to reinforce the institution’s focus on character building. Officials noted the programme will be structured to avoid disruption for students preparing for external examinations, while still delivering targeted support for all year groups.

To strengthen community buy-in, JC will also expand parent engagement through a formal partnership with national parent advocacy organizations. The new structured engagement programme will improve cross-year communication, clarify shared accountability, and build stronger partnerships between families and school leadership.

Internal support systems are also getting a boost: the offices of the Dean of Discipline and Dean of Student Affairs will receive additional resources, existing mentorship and rehabilitation programmes will be expanded, and new peer counselling initiatives will be launched to enable early intervention for at-risk students and reinforce positive behaviour norms. The school will also bring in external specialists in adolescent behaviour and violence prevention to train staff and lead targeted student interventions, ensuring all strategies are rooted in the latest evidence-based practices.

Robinson emphasized that the reforms are not a one-time response to recent negative headlines, but part of the school’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, building on its longstanding investments in discipline, mentorship, and whole-student development. “These actions further strengthen a culture of accountability, respect, and positive behaviour, ensuring the school continues to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students,” he said.

JC Board Chairman Lance Hylton echoed that sentiment, noting the institution has long prioritized proactive student development initiatives that have benefited generations of students. “These additional measures reflect our commitment to strengthening our systems even further and ensuring that Jamaica College remains a safe, disciplined, and nurturing environment,” Hylton said.

Moving forward, school administrators say they will maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders, including parents, Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, and the general public, providing regular updates through both traditional and digital media platforms. As an initial outreach step, the school will release a short public video featuring school leadership, faculty, and student representatives outlining the new safety measures and ongoing reform efforts.

In Montego Bay, St James, a long-running dispute over an unpermitted local restaurant has taken a positive turn for both the business owner and municipal authorities, bringing relief to a community-reliant establishment that employs dozens of local workers. Milton Russell, the sole owner and operator of the well-known Snappaz Restaurant, is no longer facing the imminent threat of demolishing the business he spent years building, after the St James Municipal Corporation (SJMC) pledged to collaborate with him and other Whitehouse community residents to bring informal developments into compliance with local regulations.

The conflict stretches back to February of this year, when a Jamaican court issued an order requiring Russell to demolish his restaurant. At that time, the business owner responded by directing his legal counsel to file an appeal against the ruling, a decision that has now been vindicated by the municipal corporation’s new approach. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Russell shared that the ordered demolition would have left him with nothing. He has lived on the same plot of land in Whitehouse for more than 35 years, and the restaurant was developed as an unplanned extension of his residence, far exceeding his initial expectations for success. As the 100% independent owner with no business partners, every asset he owns is invested in the restaurant, meaning full demolition would have resulted in total personal financial ruin.

The turning point came after recent closed-door discussions between Russell and SJMC representatives, which yielded a compromise that addresses the core safety concerns that triggered the original demolition order. Per a public statement from the SJMC, the agreement requires Russell to complete minor targeted adjustments to his building in the near term that will eliminate the risk the structure was said to pose to air traffic at the nearby Sangster International Airport. The key concern from authorities surrounded the height of the roof section directly above Russell’s personal bedroom, a modification Russell says he is fully willing to make, as long as requirements stay limited to that specific adjustment.

While Russell notes he has not yet received formal written guidance outlining his next steps from local government officials, he has expressed willingness to complete all reasonable corrective work to bring his property into compliance. He told the Observer that the broader issue of the restaurant operating without a formal construction permit has long been on his radar, and he initiated the regularization process back in 2022 by commissioning and submitting official floor plans to the municipality. Though he does not have standard official documentation like a submission receipt to prove the 2022 filing, he says he trusts the commitments made by SJMC Mayor Leintford Vernon, with whom he has negotiated for months, noting the mayor has kept every promise he has made during their discussions.

Vernon addressed broader concerns about the municipality’s enforcement actions in an April 21 press release, pushing back against claims that SJMC was specifically targeting low-income residents of the informal Whitehouse community. The mayor clarified that over the past 12 months, the corporation has issued cease-and-desist notices to unpermitted developers across hundreds of St James communities, applying enforcement evenly across all income groups and both informal and formal neighborhoods. He noted that unpermitted construction and expansion has been found in affluent, established communities including Bogue Village, Rosevale, Rhyne Park, Westgate Hills, and Cornwall Courts, where residents often complete major home extensions and alterations without securing the legally required approvals.

Vernon further explained that Snappaz Restaurant was granted a reprieve from full demolition specifically because of its substantial positive impact on the local St James economy and community. The popular eatery has seating for nearly 300 guests and currently employs 47 local workers, making it one of the largest private employers in the area. Now that the immediate threat of full demolition has been lifted, Russell says he is relieved to put the legal dispute behind him and refocus on his work as a community-focused business owner.

“I’m very happy to put it behind me. I will continue to do the good work that I’ve been doing, helping the community a lot,” Russell told the Observer. “Snappaz is not just about Milton Russell, it’s about providing jobs, it’s about helping the community and being a responsible business.”