标签： Jamaica

JAMAICA — A significant blaze has inflicted substantial damage to the historic Outameni Experience cultural center in Coopers Pen, Trelawny, prompting an official investigation by local fire authorities. The incident occurred on Thursday morning, with emergency services responding to alerts approximately at 10:35 a.m.

Firefighting crews arrived at the scene to find active flames consuming portions of the structure’s shingle roof and wooden flooring. Through concerted efforts, they managed to contain the fire to these areas, preventing total destruction of the property. However, crews were compelled to return to the site around 8:00 a.m. on Friday to address persistent smoldering remnants.

The Trelawny Fire Department has initiated a comprehensive probe to ascertain the exact origin of the fire. Preliminary assessments suggest the blaze may have originated from nearby garbage burning activities. This theory gains credibility from the confirmed absence of electrical power connections from the Jamaica Public Service Company to the facility, effectively ruling out electrical faults as a potential cause.

The Outameni Experience, once a celebrated cultural heritage destination, offered visitors an immersive journey through Jamaica’s rich historical tapestry—from the indigenous Taino era to contemporary times—via vibrant performances of music, dance, and theatrical drama. Despite its cultural significance, the attraction has remained non-operational and shuttered for more than ten years.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant academic achievement, Professor Lahoma Thomas, a Jamaican-born criminology scholar at Toronto Metropolitan University, has been honored with the prestigious 2025 Early Career Researcher First Book Prize by Oxford University Press. This inaugural award recognizes exceptional scholars developing their first academic manuscript within six years of completing their doctorate or initial academic appointment.

Professor Thomas stands as the sole Canadian recipient of this distinguished international prize, which endorses her forthcoming work titled “Black Women and the Politics of Respect in Jamaica: ‘Seeing from Da Yaad.’” Scheduled for publication in 2027, the book presents a pioneering examination of how Black women in Kingston’s inner-city neighborhoods negotiate political authority, state power, and personal dignity within their communities.

The research breaks new ground by challenging conventional narratives that reduce Black communities to mere sites of criminal activity. Instead, Professor Thomas illuminates the complex political consciousness that emerges from everyday relationships and practices often overlooked by traditional political science. Her work particularly focuses on women’s support for community leaders in Jamaica’s garrison communities, arguing that such allegiance cannot be adequately explained through simplistic frameworks of coercion or financial incentive, but must be understood through deeper questions of legitimacy and respect.

Notably, the study analyzes the significant 2010 protest in Kingston where thousands of women dressed in white demonstrated against the extradition of former Tivoli Gardens leader Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke to the United States. This event serves as a critical case study in understanding how women navigate violence and uncertainty while simultaneously creating possibilities for survival and dignity.

Professor Thomas brings unique perspective to her research, drawing from her Caribbean heritage and her previous professional experience as a social worker supporting survivors of sexual violence. She describes the Oxford University Press award as both validation of her methodological approach and affirmation of the importance of understanding Black political life beyond formal institutions.

The forthcoming publication promises to make substantial contributions to multiple fields including Caribbean studies, political science, gender studies, and criminology by centering the experiences and perspectives of Black women in conversations about political authority and community resilience.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 200 young students from primary and basic schools will participate in an immersive climate awareness event this Saturday, March 14, organized by the Jamaica District’s Kiwanis Clubs divisions. The gathering, titled “Rally for the Climate 2026,” represents a significant educational initiative focused on environmental stewardship.

Hosted at the Hope United Church Hall on Old Hope Road from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, the event receives primary funding from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), a specialized organization dedicated to climate risk management in the region.

The program features multiple interactive learning stations designed to make climate education accessible and engaging for children. Activities include specialized awareness sessions, climate-themed song and dance performances, an educational treasure hunt with environmental clues, and various interactive games. A highlight of the event will be an environmental poster competition that encourages creative expression of ecological concerns.

The rally will culminate in a talent showcase and awards ceremony, recognizing participants’ contributions and achievements. Beyond entertainment, the initiative serves the substantive purpose of enhancing children’s comprehension of climate change phenomena, their civic responsibilities, and practical measures for environmental protection.

Additional support comes from several prominent Jamaican organizations including PACE Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited Group, Bellevue Hospital, Kremi, and Lasco, demonstrating cross-sector commitment to youth environmental education.

NEW YORK — In a significant development for cybercrime prosecution, a 40-year-old Ghanaian citizen, Derrick Van Yeboah, has entered a guilty plea for his central role in a sophisticated transnational criminal enterprise. The organization orchestrated elaborate romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) schemes, defrauding victims of over $100 million. The plea was formally accepted on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, characterized the operation as a ‘massive criminal scheme’ that deliberately preyed upon elderly individuals seeking companionship through digital platforms. Van Yeboah’s specific modus operandi involved crafting false online personas to impersonate romantic partners, building trust with victims before manipulating them into transferring substantial sums of money directly to the criminal network or assisting in laundering proceeds from other scams.

The criminal methodology extended beyond romance scams to include BEC attacks, where the conspirators deceived corporate entities into wiring funds to accounts they controlled. Following the successful acquisition of funds, a complex money laundering operation was executed to funnel the illicit profits back to West Africa.

Prosecutors have directly attributed over $10 million in stolen assets to Van Yeboah’s personal actions. As part of his plea agreement, he has consented to both restitution and forfeiture, each set at the precise amount of $10,149,429.17. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2026, where he confronts a potential maximum prison term of two decades.

This case has prompted a stark warning from law enforcement officials. Attorney Clayton urged the public, particularly users of dating websites, to exercise extreme vigilance and skepticism online, advising that individuals should never provide money to someone they have only met virtually and to remember that offers that ‘seem too good to be true, probably are.’