Carib Scope

标签： Jamaica

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  • Lannaman’s Prep takes flight

    Lannaman’s Prep takes flight

    Lannaman’s Preparatory School has launched an innovative aviation education program as the centerpiece of its 50th anniversary celebrations, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s history. The initiative, formally unveiled on March 12 during week-long golden jubilee events, represents both a homecoming and a forward-looking educational advancement.

    The newly established Lannaman’s Prep Flight Academy was made possible through a generous donation from alumnus Rajeev Brown, class of 1998, who currently serves as chief operating officer at Flying Classroom—an educational organization engaging over 3,000 schools across the United States. The aviation program features state-of-the-art flight simulation technology, including Microsoft Flight Simulator setups equipped with professional flight controls and computer systems that provide students with immersive introductory flying experiences.

    Brown’s inspiration for the donation stems from his childhood fascination with aviation, nurtured during his daily commute past Tinson Pen airport. ‘I felt that for the 50th anniversary I personally wanted to bring back home a little piece of me—of that success, of that dream,’ Brown explained, emphasizing how the preparatory school helped shape his career trajectory.

    The program aims to broaden career horizons rather than exclusively produce pilots. Brown highlighted its purpose as exposure to non-traditional career paths, noting that even students with established professional aspirations might discover new passions through aviation experiences.

    Principal Trudy Hardy, who has led the institution for 25 years and is herself a former student, described the anniversary as profoundly nostalgic. She reflected on the school’s journey from its humble beginnings in 1975 when founder Marcia DeHaney started with just two students, through multiple relocations and challenges including a destructive fire that claimed kindergarten classrooms.

    Today, Lannaman’s Prep serves approximately 325 students with a comprehensive curriculum that now includes aviation studies alongside core subjects. The school boasts exceptional performance across academic and extracurricular domains, with notable achievements in music, dance, speech, drama, debate, and sports including football championships and track and field accomplishments.

    Principal Hardy expressed excitement about the aviation program’s potential and outlined expansion plans for the school’s physical infrastructure to accommodate more students while continuing to enhance technology-focused education. The anniversary celebrations culminated with a banquet at Jamaica Pegasus hotel honoring long-serving staff members, following a week of events including church services, balloon releases, student games, and talent showcases.

  • SheLeads second staging to spotlight entrepreneurship and innovation

    SheLeads second staging to spotlight entrepreneurship and innovation

    MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Northern Caribbean University (NCU) is preparing to host its second annual SheLeads forum on Tuesday, March 17, with this year’s theme focusing on ‘Empowering Her Odyssey Through Entrepreneurship.’ The event will showcase innovation and business development as pathways to female empowerment.

    The evening will feature a distinguished panel of successful young entrepreneurs including Jénine Shepherd, Letesha Whyte, Amanda Samuels, and Nyoka Manning, all of whom have established thriving business ventures. The discussion will be moderated by Patrice Kissoon, who will leverage her professional expertise to facilitate the conversation. The forum is scheduled for 5:00 PM at Robinson Hall’s Lecture Theatre on the NCU main campus.

    SheLeads represents one of three flagship initiatives operated by The Roundtable Foundation, which is supported by NCU’s Careers and Employment Services department. The program series aims to foster youth engagement in civic matters through structured programming:

    – SheLeads: Dedicated to women’s empowerment through mentorship and leadership development
    – HeLeads: Concentrates on promoting positive masculinity and responsible leadership among men
    – WeLead: Provides a collaborative platform for students and change-makers to develop solutions and enhance skills

    Building upon the achievements of last year’s inaugural forum, which featured panelists sharing valuable insights on leadership development and barrier-breaking strategies, this year’s event promises to revitalize discussions surrounding entrepreneurial innovation. The initiative seeks to establish an environment conducive to mutual mentoring, meaningful dialogue, and comprehensive empowerment among emerging leaders.

    The event receives substantial support from multiple sponsors including DBC Creative Co, The PR Dude, Monica’s Expressions, The Short One Productions (TSO), NICHE Media, The Rentorama, Morris Entrepreneurship Center, and Prestige Phone Accessories.

  • Negril Carnival seeks to turn tide

    Negril Carnival seeks to turn tide

    NEGRIL, Westmoreland — A wave of optimism has swept through Negril’s business community following the official launch of the Negril Carnival, unveiled at Kenny’s Italian Café last Saturday. The festival is positioned as a critical economic catalyst for the renowned Jamaican resort destination, which has faced recent challenges including the departure of major events and tourism setbacks from Hurricane Melissa.

    Scheduled for Sunday, April 5th at Long Bay Beach Park, the carnival will showcase a vibrant road march and an expansive beach party featuring live entertainment. The event has garnered significant corporate backing, with industry leaders emphasizing its importance for local recovery.

    Jerome Walters, Brand Manager for Campari Group, articulated a strong commitment to both the event and the broader revitalization of Negril. “Entertainment never truly departed from Negril,” Walters stated. “Our mission is to invest substantially in this Carnival to guarantee a massive, enjoyable, and atmospherically rich experience. Campari has a storied history with Carnival celebrations, and we are dedicated to ensuring this iteration is monumental. With projections of up to 5,000 attendees, we are investing to deliver an unparalleled patron experience. This partnership is about giving back and fueling a resurgence that sees hotels at full capacity and local entrepreneurs thriving.”

    Kenny Johnson, the lead promoter for Negril Carnival, highlighted the event’s long-awaited return and its potential community impact. “The staging of a Carnival has been absent from Negril for an extended period,” Johnson noted. “This initiative is designed to generate substantial economic benefits for the area through increased hotel occupancy and job creation. I urge widespread participation and support from residents, particularly those in Westmoreland, to make this a success for our entire community.”

    The initiative received formal endorsement from Damian Salmon, President of the Negril Chamber of Commerce, who praised the aligning energies. “The current vibe in Negril is exceptional, and introducing a Carnival fits this momentum perfectly,” Salmon remarked. “This event will be instrumental in reactivating our local economy, maintaining our vibrant energy, and encouraging the return of visitors who hold a deep affection for Negril. We extend our gratitude to Kenny Johnson and his team for their visionary leadership in this endeavor.”

    The launch event also served as a demonstration of cross-sector collaboration, with prominent figures from Campari Group, J Wray & Nephew Limited, and executives from Princess Hotels and Royalton Hotels & Resorts in attendance, signaling a unified front for Negril’s economic and cultural renewal.

  • BVI’s Hodge returns to competition after serving doping ban

    BVI’s Hodge returns to competition after serving doping ban

    The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has imposed a significant competitive ban on British Virgin Islands sprinter Adaejah Hodge, a promising talent in track and field. Announced on Monday, the ruling suspends the athlete for a period of two years, effective from August 30, 2024. However, a portion of this sanction—seven months—has been suspended, which ultimately sets her eligibility for return to competition on January 28, 2026.

    The suspension stems from anti-doping rule violations after Hodge’s samples tested positive for the presence of GW501516 sulfone and GW501516 sulfoxide, substances explicitly prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Following a thorough investigation, the AIU concluded that the ingestion of these substances was not deliberate on the part of the athlete, indicating an unintentional violation.

    As a direct consequence of the ruling, all competitive results achieved by Hodge since August 28, 2024, have been nullified. This includes the notable revocation of her gold medal in the 200m and her silver medal in the 100m, both earned at the 2024 World Junior Championships. This development casts a shadow over what had been a breakout year for the young sprinter.

    The timing of the announcement is particularly poignant, arriving just days after Hodge, now a freshman at the University of Georgia, showcased her formidable talent on a national stage. Over the past weekend, she secured a gold medal in the 200m and a silver in the 60m at the NCAA Indoor Championships, results that are not affected by the ban as they fall outside the disqualification period.

  • Audit flags possible fraud at JAS

    Audit flags possible fraud at JAS

    A comprehensive government audit has revealed significant financial irregularities and potential collusion within Jamaica’s agricultural sector, raising serious concerns about public fund management. The Internal Audit Directorate within the Ministry of Finance and Public Service documented these findings in the Government of Jamaica Audit Committees’ Annual Report for fiscal year 2024/25, which was formally presented to the House of Representatives on Thursday.

    The investigation uncovered that a senior manager allegedly diverted approximately $1.45 million in improper payments to third-party entities, suggesting possible coordinated misconduct within organizations under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining. The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) was specifically implicated in these transactions that indicate potential collusion among officials.

    Beyond the diverted funds, auditors identified substantial gaps in financial documentation practices. The Fisheries Division and Castleton Botanical Gardens showed accountability lapses exceeding $2.1 million due to missing critical records including lodgement slips and payment vouchers. These documentation failures prevented proper financial tracking and verification.

    The report further detailed systematic misuse of government subventions, with funds repeatedly allocated for purposes inconsistent with their intended objectives. Additionally, multiple breaches of employment guidelines were detected within the ministry’s operational framework.

    These specific incidents form part of a broader pattern of governance deficiencies across Jamaican government entities. The audit revealed that internal control violations and non-compliance with financial protocols have resulted in substantial fiscal losses, including salary overpayments exceeding $200 million and project cost overruns surpassing $136 million nationwide.

    Perhaps most concerning is the declining responsiveness to audit findings. The report noted that management response timeliness dropped significantly to 33% during the reviewed period, down from 52% in the previous fiscal year, indicating reduced accountability measures within governmental departments.

  • Iran, at UN, insists it will not submit to ‘lawless aggression’

    Iran, at UN, insists it will not submit to ‘lawless aggression’

    GENEVA — In a defiant address to the UN Human Rights Council, Iran’s ambassador Ali Bahreini declared his nation would not yield to what he termed ‘lawless aggression’ from the United States and Israel, asserting that 90 million Iranians face ‘immediate and grave danger’ from military strikes.

    The session, intended to examine Iran’s human rights record, transformed into a platform for geopolitical confrontation as Bahreini redirected focus toward external threats. He characterized the US and Israeli offensive launched February 28 as reckless militarism that endangered regional stability and civilian lives.

    UN experts meanwhile warned that Tehran’s domestic repression, particularly its deadly crackdown on protests beginning December 28, would likely intensify amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Special Rapporteur Mai Sato noted reports of over 7,000 protest-related deaths and expressed concern that ‘a very big crackdown’ could follow if the Islamic Republic emerges weakened from the war.

    Bahreini presented counter-allegations, accusing the US and Israel of attacking Iranian cultural heritage and massacring ‘innocent children at their school desks’ in Minab. He claimed 1,300 fatalities and 7,000 injuries in Iran since the strikes began.

    The diplomatic clash revealed deep international divisions. The Gulf Cooperation Council nations plus Jordan condemned Iran’s attacks on their territories as unjustifiable threats to regional security. Russia accused the US and Israel of seeking to ‘destroy this dissenting country,’ while China expressed grave concern and called for immediate ceasefire and dialogue. Western nations including Britain and France urged diplomatic solutions and warned against exploiting conflict to inflict violence on citizens.

    The session highlighted how geopolitical tensions have complicated human rights oversight, with both Iran and its accusers leveraging the platform to advance competing narratives of aggression and victimhood.

  • Child rapist loses appeal

    Child rapist loses appeal

    Jamaica’s judicial system has reinforced its stance on child sexual assault cases as the Court of Appeal decisively rejected a convicted rapist’s attempt to overturn his guilty verdict. The offender, currently serving a 15-year sentence for raping a five-year-old girl, had challenged his conviction based on claims of insufficient evidence regarding penetration and unreliable testimony.

    The case originated in December 2022 when the Clarendon Circuit Court jury found the man guilty after he was discovered in the act by the victim’s grandmother. The shocking incident occurred in the family’s living room where the grandmother encountered the assailant positioned atop the child with both their lower garments removed. The court imposed the statutory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment in January 2023, mandating that he serve at least 10 years before parole eligibility.

    In his appeal, the convicted man argued that the trial judge improperly rejected a no-case submission and provided inadequate jury instructions, claiming these errors resulted in an unfair trial. However, a three-judge appellate panel thoroughly examined the trial transcripts and legal arguments during hearings on March 2-3 before delivering their unanimous decision.

    The appellate court emphasized the clarity and competence of the victim’s testimony, noting that the eight-year-old child at the time of trial demonstrated sufficient intelligence and understanding of truth-telling obligations. Her explicit description of the assault—stating the man put his ‘private part’ into her ‘vagina’—provided unambiguous evidence of penetration, which the court noted requires only the slightest degree to constitute rape under Jamaican law.

    While medical evidence showed no bruising, bleeding, or swelling, and revealed the child’s hymen was not intact, physicians testified that such findings are variable in child sexual assault cases. The court highlighted that the grandmother witnessed both the assault in progress and subsequent distress, including the child crying during bathing and the presence of fluid on her underwear.

    The judiciary affirmed that the jury had reasonable grounds to convict based on the totality of evidence, including the eyewitness account and victim testimony. The appeals court determined no miscarriage of justice occurred and ordered that the conviction and sentence stand unchanged, with the incarceration period calculated from the original sentencing date of January 25, 2023.

  • ‘Buffy’ reboot cancelled, says Sarah Michelle Gellar

    ‘Buffy’ reboot cancelled, says Sarah Michelle Gellar

    LOS ANGELES — In a significant development for television revival projects, Hulu has officially terminated production on the highly anticipated “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot. The streaming platform’s decision to cancel “Buffy: New Sunnydale” was confirmed through social media channels by original series star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was set to reprise her iconic role as the demon-slaying protagonist.

    The project, which had garnered substantial fan anticipation since its announcement last year, would have marked a creative collaboration between Gellar and Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao. The reboot was conceptualized as a contemporary continuation of the supernatural drama that originally aired from 1997-2003, following Buffy Summers’ evolution from teenage vampire hunter to adult guardian against supernatural threats.

    Gellar expressed profound disappointment in her Instagram announcement, stating: “I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me first.” The 48-year-old actress-producer extended particular gratitude toward Zhao, noting the director’s unique ability to reconnect her with the character’s enduring legacy. “Thanks to Chloe, I was reminded how much I love her and how much she means not only to me but to all of you,” Gellar remarked.

    The cancellation news emerged concurrently with Zhao’s attendance at the Academy Awards, where her historical drama “Hamnet” was in contention for Best Picture. When questioned by Variety regarding the project’s termination, Zhao demonstrated philosophical acceptance, noting: “Things happen for a reason.” The director emphasized the production team’s primary commitment to honoring the original series’ legacy, stating they viewed themselves as “guardians of the original show” whose priority remained “being truthful to the show and our fans.”

    Industry analysts suggest this development reflects growing caution among streaming services regarding nostalgia-driven reboots, particularly those dependent on specific creative attachments. The decision leaves unanswered questions regarding potential future iterations of the Buffy franchise and demonstrates the evolving calculus behind content development in the competitive streaming landscape.

  • Reggae Garden Cultural Festival already on cards for 2027

    Reggae Garden Cultural Festival already on cards for 2027

    Organizers have confirmed the return of the Reggae Garden Cultural Festival as an annual event following its acclaimed inaugural showcase on February 27th in St. Andrew. The festival, hosted at the Reggae Garden Cultural Centre in Golden Spring, successfully blended emerging talents with reggae heritage, featuring performances by artistes Akupu, Zaudim, and Zale.

    The event’s programming included a special retrospective on dub music presented by veteran audio engineer Clive ‘Dubking’ Jeffrey, offering attendees a deep dive into the genre’s historical roots. Maresha Baxter, a key organizer, reported overwhelmingly positive feedback from the audience, who praised the event’s exceptional atmosphere, musical quality, culinary offerings, and overall venue ambiance.

    Despite its success, the festival encountered logistical challenges, with significant traffic congestion causing delays and resulting in a start time past the scheduled 9:00 pm commencement. The promotional efforts were spearheaded by Baxter in collaboration with Jah Over Evil, a roots collective from Vineyard Town recognized for their instrumental role in Jamaica’s roots-reggae revival movement over the past decade.

    The organizing team also included international expertise with Maarten Hostyn, a respected reggae connoisseur from Belgium. Based on the strong public response and audience demand for an annual event, Baxter has committed to making the festival a permanent fixture on Jamaica’s cultural calendar, with the next iteration already scheduled for February 2027.

  • Cuba hit by total blackout as US fuel blockade bites

    Cuba hit by total blackout as US fuel blockade bites

    A catastrophic nationwide power outage brought Cuba to a standstill on Monday, marking one of the most severe blackouts in recent memory. The state-owned electric utility, Union Nacional Electrica de Cuba (UNE), confirmed a complete collapse of the national grid, triggering immediate emergency efforts to restore electricity across the island nation. This incident represents the apex of a protracted energy crisis, fueled by a crumbling infrastructure and a critical shortage of fuel. Cuba’s antiquated power generation system, already operating at a fraction of its capacity, has been pushed to the brink. Daily power rationing, often extending to 20 hours in some regions, has become a grim reality for the 9.6 million citizens. The current crisis has been dramatically intensified by a de facto oil embargo enforced by the United States. Since January 9, not a single oil shipment has reached Cuban shores, a situation stemming from the Trump administration’s strategic pressure on the communist government. This fuel blockade has crippled not only the energy sector but also vital industries like tourism, forcing airlines to slash flights to the island. The political dimension of the crisis is unmistakable. President Donald Trump has openly expressed his objective of instigating regime change in Havana, citing an ‘extraordinary threat.’ The resulting hardships—prolonged blackouts, alongside severe shortages of food and medicine—are boiling over into public unrest. A new wave of protests has emerged, characterized by nightly pot-banging demonstrations and calls for ‘Libertad’ (freedom), with one recent incident involving the vandalism of a provincial Communist Party office. While President Miguel Diaz-Canel has acknowledged public ‘discontent’ over the blackouts, he has simultaneously condemned acts of violence. His administration, grappling with the need to ration gasoline and hospital services, has confirmed engaging in behind-the-scenes talks with the U.S., hinting at a potential, though uncertain, diplomatic resolution on the horizon.