标签： Jamaica

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Berbice High Court has scheduled January 6, 2025, for the sentencing of Deonarine Dookhoo, a Guyanese national convicted of murdering his mother in a tragic 2021 incident. The sentencing date was formally set by Justice Sandil Kissoon following a trial that concluded with a unanimous guilty verdict from a 12-member jury.

Court proceedings revealed that Dookhoo, also known locally as Dinesh, perpetrated the fatal assault on his mother, Teshwattie Jaglall, at her West Coast Berbice residence between June 30 and July 1, 2021. The prosecution established that Dookhoo, who resided with Jaglall alongside his two children, had a documented history of alcohol abuse that frequently led to domestic tensions.

Evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that the defendant used a cutlass (a traditional machete-like weapon) to attack his mother after she confronted him about his persistent drinking habits. The violent assault resulted in Jaglall’s immediate death, creating shockwaves through the small Berbice community.

The four-year judicial process included extensive investigation into the family’s background, revealing patterns of alcohol-related domestic strife. Justice Kissoon’s court examined numerous witness testimonies and forensic evidence before delivering the conviction. The upcoming sentencing hearing will determine the appropriate punishment for this severe crime under Guyana’s legal system.

A domestic dispute in Montego Bay, Jamaica, triggered by post-hurricane recovery efforts, has resulted in serious criminal charges after allegedly escalating into a violent machete attack. Gavin Seaton, the accused, appeared before the St James Parish Court on Wednesday facing assault charges, though he maintains his complete innocence.

The incident originated on November 4 in Mount Zion, St James, when the complainant was discussing reconstruction assistance for her hurricane-damaged home with a male friend. Prosecutors state that Seaton, her live-in partner, became enraged upon witnessing this interaction. The confrontation quickly turned physical when Seaton allegedly seized the woman’s phone, grabbed her by the throat, and punched her in the torso and chest area.

According to court documents, the situation intensified dramatically when the victim attempted to flee. Seaton reportedly pursued her with a machete, forcing her to seek refuge in a neighbor’s residence. The attack culminated with Seaton allegedly thrusting the weapon through the neighbor’s window in a continued attempt to reach the victim.

Law enforcement subsequently arrested and charged Seaton with assault occasioning bodily harm and common law assault. During police interrogation, he reportedly made a statement suggesting the case would not proceed due to the victim’s affection for him. However, in court before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton, Seaton vehemently denied all allegations, swearing he never laid hands on the complainant.

The judicial process continues with prosecutors noting outstanding evidence including a medical certificate and neighbor’s statement. Seaton was granted bail set at $150,000 Jamaican dollars with up to three sureties. The case is scheduled for further mention on January 21, 2026.

Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has publicly acknowledged its insufficient staffing capacity to conduct independent verification of restoration data submitted by utility providers following Hurricane Melissa. This revelation emerged during a tense session of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers expressed deep concerns about the reliability of self-reported recovery statistics.

Committee members confronted the regulatory body regarding its continued dependence on unverified restoration figures from major service providers including Flow, Digicel, National Water Commission, and Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). The disclosure comes amid persistent complaints from numerous communities still lacking essential services despite official claims of widespread restoration.

St James Southern MP Nekeisha Burchell challenged the OUR’s methodology, questioning how the regulator could credibly assess national recovery efforts without ground-level verification capabilities. “Data coming from self-reporting can sound as good as you want them to sound,” Burchell noted, emphasizing the particular challenges faced by rural constituencies where satellite data proves inadequate.

OUR Director General Ansord Hewitt conceded the organization’s limitations, explaining that while occasional spot checks are conducted and company-reported information is posted online for public scrutiny, these measures remain insufficient for comprehensive verification. Hewitt revealed that the OUR has occasionally questioned discrepancies in sequential reports but lacks resources for universal validation.

The regulatory head acknowledged that the suggestion to seek additional resources from the Office of the Prime Minister or the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had not been previously considered but would now be examined.

Manchester North Western MP Mikael Phillips challenged the OUR’s previous declarations of credible recovery after Hurricane Beryl, given the current admission of inadequate audit capabilities. Hewitt clarified that while post-restoration audits remain possible, real-time assessment during active disaster response exceeds current capacity.

St Andrew East Rural MP Juliet Holness reinforced these concerns by recounting her experience with fabricated restoration schedules after Hurricane Beryl. She advocated for a more coordinated long-term approach involving community representatives, parish councils, and political leaders who possess direct knowledge of affected areas.

The committee session highlighted systemic challenges in disaster response verification and raised fundamental questions about accountability mechanisms during national emergencies affecting utility infrastructure.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A sophisticated burglary operation involving a 14-year-old suspect from Gordon Pen, St. Catherine, has been dismantled by local authorities following an audacious rooftop break-in at a Greater Portmore residence. The incident, which occurred on November 24, reveals concerning trends in juvenile criminal activity and residential security vulnerabilities.

According to police reports, the homeowner had meticulously secured her property before departing for work at approximately 8:00 AM. Upon returning, she discovered her residence had been systematically ransacked. The investigation took a decisive turn when reviewing security footage, which captured the teenage suspect and multiple accomplices executing a coordinated entry through the roof structure.

The surveillance evidence detailed how the group navigated the rooftop, gained interior access, and removed numerous valuables before exiting through their original point of entry. The comprehensive video documentation proved instrumental in identifying the perpetrators.

Following formal police reporting, a breakthrough emerged when a family member of the primary suspect voluntarily surrendered the teenager to authorities this Tuesday. The 14-year-old now faces formal charges of house-breaking and larceny, while investigations continue to identify and apprehend the remaining participants in the criminal enterprise.

This case has prompted renewed discussions about juvenile delinquency patterns and the importance of advanced security measures in residential communities. Law enforcement officials emphasize that such bold criminal methodologies, particularly involving minors, represent a growing challenge for suburban neighborhoods across the region.

In a significant decision regarding post-disaster recovery, the Accompong Maroon community in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, has formally declined the Jamaican government’s offer to deploy military personnel for reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Chief Richard Currie, leader of the Accompong Maroons, announced the community’s position through social media channels on Thursday, following deliberations by the Maroon Full Council.

While expressing gratitude for Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s administration’s willingness to mobilize resources, including those of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the council determined that military presence would not align with the community’s cultural protocols and emotional needs. Currie specifically referenced concerns about armed personnel operating within their territory, noting that many community elders and women had experienced emotional trauma from the hurricane’s devastation.

The Maroon leadership emphasized their preference for civilian resources from both local and international partners, including technical sponsorships and volunteer engineering assistance coordinated through the Accompong Development Foundation. These established partnerships, developed over years of relationship building, provide what the council considers a culturally appropriate framework for reconstruction that honors their treaty-recognized indigenous status under the 1738 agreement with Britain.

Notably, the community did accept the government’s offer of materials and equipment necessary for recovery efforts, demonstrating a selective approach to cooperation. Currie stressed that the decision reflects neither a rejection of cooperation nor ingratitude for the humanitarian intent behind the government’s offer, but rather a commitment to maintaining “harmony and inclusiveness” according to Maroon laws and cultural way of life.

The Accompong Maroons maintain their commitment to peaceful engagement and transparent dialogue while asserting their governance responsibilities within the Cockpit Country territory, highlighting the complex intersection of disaster recovery, cultural preservation, and indigenous self-determination.