标签： Jamaica

A multimillion-dollar coastal protection initiative in Annotto Bay, Jamaica, designed to shield the shoreline from erosion and rising sea levels, is now facing criticism for allegedly exacerbating flooding issues during heavy rainfall events. The $244-million project, part of the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, has come under scrutiny following significant flooding at the Annotto Bay Market last month.

Local officials including Port Maria Mayor Fitzroy Wilson and Councillor Hugh Bryan have identified the placement of offshore groynes as a primary concern. These structures, intended to slow wave action and accumulate sand to prevent erosion, are believed to have disrupted natural water drainage patterns. Mayor Wilson explained that during periods of high sea activity, water pushed back through drainage systems, carrying sand that ultimately blocked critical outflow channels behind the market.

The project, managed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) with funding from a World Bank loan and implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, was designed to protect three coastal towns from climate change impacts. However, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund has stated the flooded area falls outside their project footprint.

PIOJ Director General Wayne Henry acknowledged the longstanding flooding issues in Annotto Bay while clarifying that no groyne was placed behind the market by their contractors. He detailed that project engineers had actually created an improved drainage outfall through the revetment in May 2023 to address frequent blockages. Henry emphasized that this drainage channel requires regular maintenance to prevent debris and silt accumulation, noting that the high-water intersection point necessitates ongoing cleaning by relevant authorities.

Local vendors provided firsthand accounts of the flooding, describing thigh-high water levels that transformed the market area into “a natural sea.” They advocated for drain widening and improved maintenance, expressing particular frustration given the market’s recent $19-million renovation that concluded in mid-2025. This renovation included infrastructure repairs, bathroom facilities, and commercial shop construction.

Officials have recommended coordination between engineering authorities and the ongoing coastal project team, with Mayor Wilson suggesting future phases should extend further offshore to break waves before they approach the shoreline. Councillor Bryan additionally highlighted the need for attention to the Pencar River and dredging operations to comprehensively address the area’s flooding vulnerability.

Jamaica’s higher education landscape witnessed a historic milestone last Wednesday as 22-year-old Jamaela Record became the Caribbean Maritime University’s inaugural graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science. Her journey from childhood fascination with crime investigation television shows to becoming a national pioneer exemplifies dedication and transformative educational ambition.

Introduced in 2021 to bolster Jamaica’s counter-terrorism capabilities and investigative prowess, the forensic science program employs rigorous scientific methodologies including DNA analysis, toxicology, and digital forensics within criminal investigations and legal contexts. Record discovered the program through online channels and immediately enrolled, recognizing the opportunity to convert her lifelong interest into professional practice.

The academic path proved challenging as initial cohort numbers dwindled from approximately six students to just Record persevering through the four-year curriculum. She reframed these obstacles as investigative challenges, approaching each difficulty as evidence leading toward ultimate resolution rather than reasons for abandonment.

Hailing from Clarendon, Record describes her pioneering achievement as blending pressure, pride, and profound purpose. Without upper-level students to provide guidance or existing models to follow, she developed self-reliance and disciplinary rigor while recognizing her responsibility to establish benchmarks for future candidates.

Record acknowledged faculty advisors and lecturers as crucial supporters throughout her academic journey, alongside family encouragement and spiritual strength derived from her favorite biblical passage, Philippians 4:13. Her professional formation was further enhanced through an internship with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, providing hands-on experience with evidence handling and investigative procedures that emphasized the critical importance of integrity and confidentiality.

The graduate emphasized forensic science’s unique position at the intersection of scientific inquiry, justice administration, and societal impact. She characterized the field as fundamentally concerned with uncovering truths through meticulous evidence examination, requiring both technical expertise and unwavering ethical commitment.

Looking forward, Record aims to specialize in cyber forensics while contributing to public safety, national development, and law enforcement effectiveness. She encourages prospective students to embrace the program’s challenges, noting that forensic science transcends laboratory work to represent a deeper commitment to justice, accountability, and societal service through evidentiary storytelling.

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A wave of violence swept through this Jamaican parish overnight, leaving four men dead in three separate shooting incidents that authorities are now investigating. The Manchester police have officially identified the victims as Dejaune Hamilton, 22-year-old Raheem Ward (also known as Richie Rich), Adrian Reid, and David Brown.

Superintendent Carey Duncan, head of the Manchester Police Division, confirmed the tragic events occurred across multiple locations within the parish, specifically naming New Hall, Old England, and Ellen Street as the crime scenes.

According to police reports, the violence began approximately at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening when Hamilton was fatally shot in the New Hall area. The bloodshed continued hours later when Ward and Reid were both killed in the Old England community. The final incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, when Brown was gunned down on Ellen Street.

The consecutive shootings have raised serious concerns about community safety and criminal activity in the region. Police investigations are ongoing as authorities work to determine potential connections between the incidents and identify those responsible for the violence that has shaken this Jamaican community.

Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake has issued a stern warning to officers that internal misconduct risks undermining the organization’s recent progress and eroding public trust. In his weekly Force Orders column, Blake identified self-inflicted challenges as the primary threat to police integrity, particularly referencing the ongoing leadership crisis within the Police Officers Association (POA).

The commissioner’s comments follow criminal charges against POA Head Senior Superintendent Wayne Cameron, who faces five counts of fraudulent conversion and six counts of larceny as a servant for allegedly misappropriating association funds. This development occurs simultaneously with a legal battle concerning Cameron’s continued leadership of the organization.

Blake acknowledged previously constrained ability to address the matter publicly but emphasized that maintaining silence was no longer tenable given the seriousness of the credibility issues. “I would have been negligent to knowingly allow this to continue because of the fear of backlash and disapproval,” Blake stated, highlighting the complex balance between public expectations, internal procedures, and leadership demands.

The commissioner framed the situation as an organizational integrity crisis rather than merely individual misconduct, asserting that internal breaches pose greater danger to JCF’s advancement than external criticism. “These self-inflicted wounds provide the greatest risk of distraction and disappointment,” Blake wrote, noting they divert attention from ongoing operational and reform initiatives.

Addressing criticism of his handling of the POA controversy, Blake established unequivocal standards for leadership within the force: “There is absolutely no place in representation for persons who lack integrity, discipline, credibility, and honesty.” He particularly criticized those seeking leadership roles for self-preservation rather than organizational interest, declaring such individuals “better off staying away from leadership positions.”

Blake acknowledged his decisions sparked significant public debate and attribution of unpleasant motives but maintained that leadership requires making difficult decisions regardless of popularity. He concluded by urging JCF members to maintain discipline and focus, emphasizing that institutional credibility ultimately depends on individual conduct and that leadership should never serve as a platform for self-interest or grandstanding.