Carib Scope

标签： Jamaica

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  • God ‘does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war’, says pope

    God ‘does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war’, says pope

    VATICAN CITY — In a powerful Palm Sunday homily at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV delivered a profound theological condemnation of warfare, declaring that God “does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war.” The pontiff’s remarks came amid ongoing multi-front conflicts across the Middle East that have dominated global attention.

    The first American pope characterized the divine nature as fundamentally opposed to armed conflict, stating, “This is our God… A God who refuses war… who does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war.” His message emphasized the incompatibility between religious devotion and military aggression.

    Following the traditional Angelus prayer, Pope Leo specifically acknowledged the plight of Middle Eastern Christians, noting they “suffer the consequences of a terrible conflict and in many cases cannot fully live the rites of these holy days.” This recognition highlighted the particular challenges facing religious communities in conflict zones during Holy Week observances.

    The 70-year-old pontiff’s address built upon his earlier calls this week for an immediate ceasefire in the region, where he noted “more than a million people had been forced to flee their homes.” He has consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions, urging warring parties to engage in peaceful negotiations.

    Since the initiation of US-Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28 that escalated regional tensions, Pope Leo has maintained a carefully measured diplomatic approach. While repeatedly condemning violence broadly, he has refrained from specifically naming any particular nation or party in his appeals for peace, demonstrating the Vatican’s cautious navigation of complex international geopolitics.

  • Harbour City Mall changing real estate landscape

    Harbour City Mall changing real estate landscape

    Montego Bay’s commercial landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation, spearheaded by the innovative approaches implemented at Harbour City Mall just two years after its inauguration. This waterfront development is redefining property utilization through substantial investments in renewable energy and dual-purpose urban design.

    The mall’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through its massive solar installation, recognized as the largest at any commercial center in St. James. The system comprises 2,000 panels delivering 1.3MW hours of power, supplemented by an additional 200-panel setup. According to CEO Shifu Huang, this significant investment in renewable energy reflects the long-term strategic vision behind Harbour City’s development and operational philosophy.

    Beyond its environmental initiatives, the property showcases innovative spatial design with its one-acre plaza that serves contrasting functions throughout the day. While accommodating heavy pedestrian traffic between retail establishments during daylight hours, the space undergoes a remarkable metamorphosis into an open-air entertainment venue after sunset. From 7:00 pm to midnight, the plaza hosts ‘Sunday Souls’ events featuring rotating popular DJs delivering soul-stirring music performances.

    The transformation addresses a significant gap in Montego Bay’s entertainment ecosystem, as major nighttime events have traditionally been absent from the city’s large shopping centers. Huang emphasized that the plaza was specifically designed with this dual functionality in mind, incorporating appropriate infrastructure and permits from the initial construction phase. The venue has previously accommodated Reggae Sumfest events, demonstrating its capacity for large-scale productions while maintaining an intimate atmosphere.

    The development’s practical considerations include nearly 400 parking spaces—220 on a two-story rooftop facility and an additional 150 adjacent spaces—addressing one of the most frequent complaints about nightlife accessibility in Montego Bay.

    This innovative approach to commercial space utilization aligns with broader governmental initiatives. Culture Minister Olivia Grange recently indicated plans to designate specific entertainment zones across Jamaica, emphasizing the government’s intention to leverage existing infrastructure to enhance the profitability of the entertainment industry.

    Harbour City’s location within Montego Bay’s waterfront transformation corridor—stretching from Freeport to the Hip Strip—positions it as a key contributor to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s vision of creating a ‘seamless, world-class leisure, entertainment, and shopping corridor’ along this breathtaking Caribbean coastline.

    As Huang concluded, ‘Harbour City is a commercial property, but the ambition behind it goes further than that. Commerce, culture, and community all have a place here,’ signaling a holistic approach to urban development that merges economic, environmental, and social considerations.

  • Elderly woman found wandering in Yallahs, St Thomas

    Elderly woman found wandering in Yallahs, St Thomas

    Jamaican law enforcement officials have launched a public appeal to identify an elderly woman discovered disoriented in the Albion area of Yallahs, St. Thomas, this past Sunday. According to the Yallahs Police Station, the woman appears to be suffering from memory loss or cognitive impairment, rendering her unable to provide any identifiable information about herself or potential family members.

    The incident has raised concerns about vulnerable elderly populations and community support systems. Police describe the woman as having no personal documents or distinguishing items that might facilitate identification. Local authorities have implemented standard protective procedures, ensuring her immediate safety while investigations continue.

    This case highlights the critical role of community-police collaboration in addressing social welfare challenges. Law enforcement agencies have established multiple contact channels for information sharing, emphasizing the importance of public vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable citizens. The Yallahs Police Station can be reached directly at 876-982-7366, while alternative reporting options include the national emergency number 119 or any local police precinct.

    Social services organizations have been notified to provide specialized assistance if needed. The search continues as authorities work to determine whether the woman is a local resident or potentially displaced from another parish, examining recent missing person reports across the island.

  • SPARK project ignites Greenwood residents’ fury

    SPARK project ignites Greenwood residents’ fury

    Residents of the Greenwood community, straddling the border of St James and Trelawny parishes in Jamaica, are confronting severe infrastructural and environmental challenges stemming from a protracted road rehabilitation initiative. The project, executed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) under the government’s SPARK program (Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network), has instead become a source of profound distress for the local population.

    Returning residents who invested in the area are now questioning their decisions. Denise Wray Burns lamented the state of the neighborhood, describing it as ‘a mess’ and a ‘ghetto,’ a stark contrast to the peaceful residential environment she anticipated. The core of the grievance lies with the storage of heavy machinery and construction materials directly within the residential zone, leading to constant noise, pervasive dust, and further degradation of the already poor roadways from the movement of heavy trucks.

    The ramifications extend beyond mere inconvenience. Sheldon Gayle, a local educator, reported a discernible drop in school enrolment, attributing it to parents’ refusal to navigate the hazardous road conditions. The health impact is equally alarming; villa operator Christopher Smith detailed employees requiring medical leave due to respiratory issues exacerbated by the incessant dust. His wife, Christy, highlighted the damage to Jamaica’s tourism reputation, noting that international and celebrity guests are given a negative first impression, often needing to take detours to avoid the dangerous potholes.

    While the roadwork is a recent development, residents like Donnette Hill, a 30-year community veteran, assert that underlying issues like illegal dumping are long-standing grievances that have been ignored for years. The collective frustration has been directed at local officials, including Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon and Member of Parliament Edmund Bartlett, demanding immediate intervention.

    In response, Councillor Anthony Murray for the Rose Hall Division acknowledged the legitimacy of the concerns but framed them as temporary setbacks. He attributed the significant delay primarily to Hurricane Melissa from October of the previous year, which complicated the final 15% of the project—a section below sea level requiring a meticulously designed drainage system to channel rainwater to the sea. Murray assured that the municipal corporation is investigating the complaint regarding CHEC’s equipment storage within the community.

  • ‘Project Hail Mary’ tops North America box office for second week

    ‘Project Hail Mary’ tops North America box office for second week

    LOS ANGELES — Ryan Gosling’s interstellar adventure ‘Project Hail Mary’ continues its impressive box office trajectory, securing the top position in North American theaters for the second consecutive weekend. The Amazon MGM production garnered an estimated $54.5 million in ticket sales, demonstrating strong audience retention following its successful debut.

    Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film features Gosling as a science educator unexpectedly transformed into an astronaut tasked with preventing a catastrophic solar event that threatens Earth’s survival. The project marks another successful literary adaptation for Weir, whose previous work ‘The Martian’ achieved both critical and commercial success in 2015.

    Disney-Pixar’s animated feature ‘Hoppers’ maintained its second-place position with $12.2 million in earnings. The innovative film explores themes of environmental conservation through its protagonist, a wildlife enthusiast who utilizes advanced technology to inhabit a robotic beaver form for enhanced animal communication.

    The weekend’s notable newcomer, Warner Bros.’ horror-comedy ‘They Will Kill You,’ debuted in third position with $5 million. Featuring Zazie Beetz, Tom Felton, and Patricia Arquette, the film follows a hotel employee investigating mysterious disappearances in a New York establishment. Industry analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research noted the film’s respectable performance given its moderate production budget and genre expectations.

    Completing the top five were Hindi-language thriller ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ ($4.75 million) and Universal’s romantic drama ‘Reminders of Him’ ($4.7 million). The former, which continues the story of an Indian intelligence operative infiltrating Pakistani criminal organizations, has generated international controversy resulting in its prohibition across certain territories.

    The weekend’s remaining top performers included ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ ($4M), ‘Scream 7’ ($2.6M), ‘GOAT’ ($2.2M), ‘Undertone’ ($1.65M), and ‘Forbidden Fruits’ ($1.2M), illustrating diverse audience preferences across multiple genres.

  • Couple’s painful start to parenthood

    Couple’s painful start to parenthood

    A Jamaican first-time father has come forward with disturbing allegations of medical negligence at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), claiming that institutional failures resulted in his fiancée enduring nearly 20 hours of labor and their newborn requiring three weeks of neonatal intensive care.

    The anonymous father recounted that they arrived at UHWI at approximately 1:00 PM on Wednesday when his partner was in active labor. Despite reaching 8cm dilation, progress stalled, requiring medical intervention. Critical medication was never administered after the assigned nurse reportedly ended her shift at 11:00 PM without completing the handover. Throughout the night, medical staff conducted checks but failed to provide the necessary treatment.

    The situation reached a critical point the following morning at 8:00 AM when a doctor discovered the delayed birth and finally administered medication. The newborn subsequently required immediate NICU admission due to oxygen deprivation and a bacterial infection, conditions medical experts later linked to the prolonged labor period.

    Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Shantell Neely James, while not commenting directly on the case, confirmed the medical validity of such concerns. ‘With extended cervical dilation, the sterile uterine environment becomes compromised,’ she explained. ‘This creates potential pathways for bacterial transmission from the vaginal canal, increasing infection risks for both mother and child.’

    The traumatized parents have endured three weeks of emotional and financial strain, with the father describing his son as once being ‘the sickest baby in the unit’ according to medical staff. The experience has been so profoundly damaging that the father expressed reluctance about future childbirth, particularly at UHWI.

    This case has sparked broader criticisms of Jamaica’s healthcare infrastructure. The father directly challenged recent government appeals for increased birth rates, citing inadequate resources and variable staff attitudes. ‘People shouldn’t be having kids in a hospital like this,’ he asserted. ‘The resources are lacking, and some staff perform only minimum duties.’

    While acknowledging the dedication of NICU staff, he emphasized that systemic improvements in resources and training are essential for proper maternal care. The government maintains its commitment to enhancing neonatal and maternal health services, recently implementing updated medical protocols at Spanish Town Hospital aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  • War in the Middle East: latest developments

    War in the Middle East: latest developments

    The Middle East conflict has entered a perilous new phase marked by diplomatic defiance, escalating military actions, and severe humanitarian consequences. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon is refusing to depart the country despite being declared persona non grata and ordered to leave by Sunday, according to an Iranian diplomatic source. This diplomatic standoff unfolds against a backdrop of intensified violence.

    Military engagements have expanded significantly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to further expand a security zone in Lebanon, where the health ministry reports 1,238 fatalities since conflict with Hezbollah reignited on March 2. Cross-border strikes continue with Kuwait’s defense ministry reporting 10 service members wounded in a camp attack attributed to Iran.

    University facilities in Iran’s central city of Isfahan suffered a second U.S.-Israeli airstrike since the war began, while Israel targeted a key ballistic missile production facility in Tehran. The Israeli military reported possible missile shrapnel impacts in the Ramat Hovav industrial zone, with television footage showing thick black smoke billowing over southern Israel’s Negev desert.

    Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has now persisted for 30 days, severing millions from information and communication networks. Media operations face direct threats as Qatari news channel Al Araby reported its Tehran office building was struck by an Israeli missile, wounding 10 people according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

    Regional diplomacy efforts intensified as foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey convened talks with Islamabad mediating between the U.S. and Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian officials issued stark warnings, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accusing the U.S. of secretly planning a ground attack despite public diplomacy, and Navy Chief Shahram Irani threatening to target the USS Abraham Lincoln if it enters range.

    The human toll extended to journalists as Lebanon held funerals for three reporters killed by an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. Israel claimed the strike targeted a Hezbollah operative working as a correspondent. Religious figures also faced restrictions as Israeli police blocked Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, citing safety concerns.

  • US offering millions plus possible relocation as reward for information on Haitian gangs

    US offering millions plus possible relocation as reward for information on Haitian gangs

    The United States Department of State has announced a substantial financial incentive program targeting the economic foundations of two Haitian criminal organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, Washington is offering up to US$3 million for intelligence that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms supporting Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif gangs, including potential relocation for informants.

    Viv Ansanm, established in September 2023 through the merger of Haiti’s two dominant gang factions (G-9 and G-Pép), has been identified as responsible for systematic violence against governmental institutions, including coordinated attacks on prisons, police stations, hospitals, and Port-au-Prince’s international airport. This campaign of organized terror directly contributed to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry in April 2024. The alliance stands accused of mass murder, collective rape of Haitian civilians, and violence against American citizens, financing operations through arms trafficking, forced recruitment of minors, and systematic extortion networks.

    Simultaneously, Gran Grif, characterized as the largest criminal enterprise in Haiti’s Artibonite department, operates under the leadership of former Haitian legislator Prophane Victor. Since its formation in 2016, the organization has evolved from a politically-motivated armed group into a sophisticated criminal network. Their activities include direct assaults on Haitian National Police and United Nations-authorized security forces, notably a February 2025 attack that resulted in the death of a Kenyan MSS mission officer. The gang engages in widespread human rights violations including child recruitment, mass abductions, sexual violence against women and children, and agricultural theft.

    The reward initiative specifically seeks information regarding the gangs’ revenue streams, including business operations, bank accounts, investment portfolios, and financial facilitators. Washington is additionally soliciting intelligence on donor contributions, significant financial transactions benefiting these groups, front companies operating on their behalf, and details concerning arms, ammunition, and drone transfers. This comprehensive approach targets the entire financial ecosystem sustaining terrorist activities in Haiti.

  • Rastas in Shashamane to pay tribute to Bunny Wailer, Flippins

    Rastas in Shashamane to pay tribute to Bunny Wailer, Flippins

    The Jamaican Rastafarian community in Shashamane, Ethiopia, will commemorate Rastafari Month with a special tribute event on April 10th at the Lily and Vernon Leach Lounge. This gathering serves dual purposes: honoring reggae icon Bunny Wailer, who passed in March 2021, and paying respects to Donald “Flippins” Leach, a foundational Jamaican figure in Ethiopia’s Rasta movement who died in 2012.

    The event will feature performances by Sydney Salmon, chairman of the Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community (JRDC), alongside artists including Orthodox Issachar, Teddy Dan, Iron Gad, Pat Joseph, and the Melody Sisters. Salmon, an East Kingston native who relocated to Ethiopia in 2001, has released several musical works including songs ‘Oh Lord,’ ‘Trees,’ and ‘Give To You,’ with his third album ‘Andromeda: Sign of The Times’ launched in November.

    In exclusive comments, Salmon revealed ambitious preparations for the 60th anniversary celebration of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I’s historic state visit to Jamaica. “I learned of his significance through Rastafarian elders while growing up,” Salmon reflected on the 1966 visit that occurred when he was two years old.

    The JRDC records indicate approximately 600 Jamaicans and their families currently residing in Ethiopia, many in Shashamane where Emperor Selassie I granted 500 acres of land in 1948 to members of the African Diaspora. This humanitarian gesture acknowledged international support during Ethiopia’s conflict with Mussolini’s fascist forces.

    Many Jamaican settlers belong to the Twelve Tribes of Israel organization, established by Vernon “Gad” Carrington in Kingston’s Trench Town in 1968. Salmon himself, a former banker who lived in New York for 15 years before moving to East Africa, represents this ongoing cultural exchange between Jamaica and Ethiopia that continues to thrive decades after Emperor Selassie’s death in 1975.

  • #Champs2026: KC’s Itubo breaks second Champs record, rewriting 19-year mark

    #Champs2026: KC’s Itubo breaks second Champs record, rewriting 19-year mark

    The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships in Kingston witnessed an extraordinary display of youthful athletic prowess this Saturday, highlighted by multiple record-shattering performances in middle-distance events.

    Julius Itubo of Kingston College emerged as the standout performer, achieving his second championship record by demolishing a longstanding benchmark in the Class 3 800m. The phenomenal athlete clocked an impressive 1:57.52, decisively breaking Waqar daCosta’s 19-year-old record of 1:58.06 established in 2007. This remarkable achievement followed Itubo’s earlier record-breaking performance in the Class 3 1500m event during the same championships.

    The podium placement saw Jamaica College athletes securing both secondary positions, with Ajovi Williams capturing silver in 1:58.54 and Rickardo Lee earning bronze with 1:59.43.

    In the competitive Class 1 division, Edwin Allen’s Joel Morgan demonstrated significant improvement by converting last year’s silver medal into gold. Morgan delivered a personal best performance of 1:49.93, successfully holding off challenger Kiile Reid from STETHS who finished closely behind at 1:50.90. Malike Anderson, also representing Edwin Allen, completed the top three with 1:51.31.

    Adding to the day’s surprises, Denbigh High’s Markland Williams authored a compelling comeback narrative in the Class 2 800m. After failing to advance beyond the semi-finals in the previous championship, Williams claimed gold with a commanding time of 1:52.58. He outperformed Jamaica College’s Cavel Nooks (1:54.21) and Titchfield High’s Ratieo Walters (1:55.45) to secure the top podium position.