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标签： Jamaica

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  • Teacher jailed in US for conspiring to provide guns to Trinidad-based gang

    Teacher jailed in US for conspiring to provide guns to Trinidad-based gang

    A 47-year-old Florida educator has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in an international weapons smuggling operation targeting Trinidad and Tobago. United States District Judge William Jung delivered the sentence of one year and one day imprisonment to Shannon Nicole Samlalsingh, following her June 2025 guilty plea to conspiracy charges involving false statements to firearm dealers.

    Court documents reveal that Samlalsingh, formerly employed as a high school teacher in Hillsborough County, systematically purchased seven firearms under false pretenses. She completed mandatory Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) documentation falsely claiming the weapons were for personal use, while actually transferring them to members of a Trinidad-based transnational criminal organization.

    The sophisticated smuggling operation unraveled in April 2022 when Trinidad and Tobago authorities intercepted a suspicious shipment at Piarco International Airport. Concealed within two punching bags were numerous weapons including eleven 9mm pistols, revolvers, a semi-automatic shotgun, and substantial ammunition. Forensic analysis confirmed Samlalsingh had purchased four of the confiscated firearms: a SAR-9 9mm pistol, Ruger-9 pistol, and two Taurus models.

    Judge Jung’s sentence included mandatory forfeiture of all firearms acquired through the criminal scheme. The complex international investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, including their Caribbean Attaché office, ATF agents, and collaborative support from Trinidad and Tobago Police Service alongside multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies.

  • Sandals donates buses to boost Jamaica Fire Brigade’s capacity

    Sandals donates buses to boost Jamaica Fire Brigade’s capacity

    Jamaica’s emergency medical response capabilities have received a significant upgrade following a strategic private-public partnership. Sandals Resorts International has donated two Foton buses to the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), a contribution formally presented during a ceremony at the Port Maria Fire Station in St Mary on March 13.

    The vehicles will undergo specialized retrofitting to serve as fully functional ambulances, enhancing the nation’s emergency medical infrastructure. The handover was facilitated through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, representing a concerted effort to strengthen national public safety measures.

    Minister Desmond McKenzie emphasized the evolving role of fire service personnel, noting that JFB teams increasingly function as first responders to accidents and medical emergencies beyond their traditional firefighting duties. He specifically highlighted road accident prevalence in St Mary and St Ann parishes as areas requiring enhanced emergency coverage.

    “This donation positions the brigade to significantly improve medical service delivery in this critical section of the island,” McKenzie stated, acknowledging Sandals Group’s sustained commitment to national initiatives. He praised the organization as “a prime example of what Jamaica is all about” in terms of corporate citizenship.

    Jeremy Jones, Managing Director of Sandals Resorts in Jamaica, framed the contribution within broader corporate social responsibility objectives. “For small island developing states, private sector involvement in supporting public initiatives is integral,” Jones explained, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing national needs.

    The donation was characterized as fundamentally “an effort to help save lives” by enhancing emergency medical response times and capabilities. State Minister Delroy Williams further contextualized the contribution within Jamaica’s disaster management framework, noting that resource building for the fire brigade directly impacts national preparedness and recovery capacities across all disaster phases.

  • FROM THE GROUND UP

    FROM THE GROUND UP

    In a historic leadership transition, 32-year-old Gabrielle Gilpin-Hudson has been elected president of the Realtors Association of Jamaica (RAJ), becoming the youngest leader in the organization’s six-decade history. Her election marks a significant generational shift for Jamaica’s real estate sector.

    Gilpin-Hudson brings a unique combination of legal expertise and practical industry knowledge to her new role. A licensed real estate dealer since age 28 and founder of her own law firm, Grant, Henry & Rhooms, she has built an impressive professional footprint across Jamaica’s development landscape. Her background includes leading operations and marketing for a transformative 425-home development in Hanover that brought the parish its first traffic light.

    Her ascent to the presidency represents the culmination of a deliberate progression through the RAJ’s ranks, having served as volunteer, committee member, director, committee chair, and vice-president. This comprehensive experience has provided her with an intimate understanding of the association’s strengths, challenges, and evolution needs.

    Unlike stereotypical millennial attributes of haste and disruption, Gilpin-Hudson demonstrates measured, thoughtful leadership. She describes her approach as fundamentally grounded in discipline and duty—values instilled during her education at Immaculate Conception High School, The University of the West Indies, Mona, and Norman Manley Law School.

    Her connection to real estate began in childhood, spending weekends on construction sites with her grandfather. These experiences taught her that real estate transcends physical structures, encompassing meticulous planning, coordination, and the vision required to create lasting developments.

    Since assuming office, Gilpin-Hudson has initiated a comprehensive modernization of the RAJ’s operations, digitizing processes and developing new technological infrastructure including a website and online payment system. Her administration has strengthened advocacy across education, ethics, governance, and technology.

    Notably, she assumed the presidency while eight months pregnant with her second son, viewing both events as ‘long-awaited dreams and blessings’ rather than conflicting responsibilities.

    Judy Benjamin, RAJ’s first vice-president, acknowledges that Gilpin-Hudson’s leadership style represents a new era for the organization, particularly valuable as it addresses critical issues affecting industry professionals and Jamaicans nationwide.

    As the RAJ celebrates its 60th anniversary, Gilpin-Hudson envisions an association that remains a pillar of national development, maintaining credibility, ethical standards, and global respect while unlocking Jamaica’s significant real estate potential. She notes that Jamaica offers some of the Caribbean’s lowest real estate prices per square foot, presenting considerable opportunities for sustainable growth and untapped value.

  • ‘One Battle After Another’ dominates Oscars

    ‘One Battle After Another’ dominates Oscars

    HOLLYWOOD — In a stunning culmination of awards season, Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged thriller “One Battle After Another” emerged as the undeniable victor at the 96th Academy Awards, securing six Oscars including the prestigious Best Picture honor. The film triumphed over Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed “Sinners” in what industry insiders are calling the most competitive Oscar race in recent memory.

    Anderson, previously nominated eleven times without a win, finally broke his Oscar drought with a remarkable triple victory for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. The auteur filmmaker delivered heartfelt acceptance speeches, revealing he created the film as an apology to his children for “the housekeeping mess we’re handing off to them” while expressing hope that their generation would “bring us some common sense and decency.”

    The film features Leonardo DiCaprio as a cannabis-affected former revolutionary struggling against Sean Penn’s terrifying Colonel Lockjaw—a performance that earned Penn the Best Supporting Actor award. The production additionally claimed honors for Best Editing and the newly established Casting award.

    Despite falling short in the Best Picture category, “Sinners” delivered impressive results with four Oscars. The blues-infused vampire fable earned Michael B. Jordan Best Actor for his dual portrayal of gangster twins Smoke and Stack, while Ryan Coogler took home Best Original Screenplay. The film also secured victories for Ludwig Göransson’s score and Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s groundbreaking cinematography—marking the first time a woman has won in that category.

    Warner Bros. celebrated an extraordinary night as their productions claimed twelve of the evening’s twenty-four awards, following a intense studio bidding war between Paramount and Netflix.

    In other major categories, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in “Hamnet,” emotionally dedicating her win to mothers everywhere on Ireland’s Mother’s Day. Amy Madigan received Best Supporting Actress for her performance in horror film “Weapons,” while Norwegian drama “Sentimental Value” won Best International Feature and “KPop Demon Hunters” claimed both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

    The ceremony featured poignant tributes to late legends Rob Reiner and Robert Redford, with Barbra Streisand delivering a rare performance in honor of her “Way We Were” co-star. Host Conan O’Brien maintained his signature satirical humor throughout the evening, offering political commentary that included a joke about an “alternate Oscars hosted by Kid Rock” for those uncomfortable with the show’s content.

  • Mount Pleasant to field full squad in Concacaf clash with Galaxy

    Mount Pleasant to field full squad in Concacaf clash with Galaxy

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mount Pleasant Football Academy (MPFA) is rallying for nationwide and regional support ahead of their crucial Concacaf Champions Cup return match against LA Galaxy this Thursday. The appeal comes after an extraordinary administrative crisis disrupted the first leg in Los Angeles, where ten of the club’s essential players were barred from entering the United States due to last-minute visa rejections.

    In an official statement, team owner Peter Gould expressed profound disappointment but unwavering resolve. “Although deeply disheartened that nearly a third of our squad was unable to compete in California, our spirit remains unbroken,” Gould stated. He emphasized that the club was founded on communal values and a conviction that Caribbean football talent deserves international recognition.

    “The incident in LA was a significant hurdle, but the match in Kingston represents our chance to demonstrate true resilience and capability,” Gould added.

    The second leg of the Round-of-16 tie is scheduled for 6:00 PM at Jamaica’s National Stadium. In a turnaround from the previous fixture, MPFA confirmed the full squad will be available—including all ten players initially denied entry to the U.S.

    Gould framed the upcoming game as more than a contest—it is a symbol of perseverance and regional pride. He called on Jamaican and Caribbean football enthusiasts to pack the stadium, creating an intimidating atmosphere of blue and white to energize the home team. “Let our collective voice be the wind driving our players forward,” he urged.

  • Italy-US airbase in Kuwait hit by drone, no injuries

    Italy-US airbase in Kuwait hit by drone, no injuries

    ROME, Italy—A military base in Kuwait hosting international coalition forces, including Italian and American troops, was targeted by a drone assault on Sunday, according to an official statement from Italy’s defense authorities. The attack resulted in the destruction of an Italian remotely piloted aircraft but caused no casualties among personnel.

    General Luciano Portolano, Chief of the Defence General Staff, confirmed through the military’s official X account that the Ali Al Salem airbase had been struck. The drone attack specifically damaged a shelter containing operational assets of the Italian Task Force Air (TFA), completely destroying the unmanned aerial vehicle stationed there.

    The Italian Armed Forces emphasized that all personnel remained unharmed during the incident. In response to escalating regional tensions, the military had already implemented precautionary measures by reducing staff numbers at the base in recent days. Those remaining were described as essential personnel maintaining critical mission operations.

    This incident follows a similar attack last week against an Italian military installation in Iraqi Kurdistan, which also involved drone hostilities. Although no injuries occurred in that previous incident, Rome responded by temporarily withdrawing nearly 300 personnel who had been training local security forces in Erbil as part of an international coalition effort.

    The destroyed aircraft represented a significant operational asset for Italian forces in the region, having been maintained at the Kuwaiti base to ensure continuity of surveillance and security operations. Military officials indicated that the evolving security situation in the Middle East has prompted increased vigilance and adaptive deployment strategies among coalition partners.

  • From grief to giving

    From grief to giving

    Transforming personal tragedy into a catalyst for community aid, a Jamaican-American couple has established a charitable foundation to support regions devastated by Hurricane Melissa. Tameka and Donovan Case, alongside Tameka’s cousin Crystal Jones, officially launched the Golden Heartz Foundation in January 2026 as a direct response to the catastrophic damage witnessed in Jamaica’s Westmoreland parish.

    The initiative originated during a December 2025 visit to Jamaica for the funeral of Tameka’s father, who had passed away two months earlier. While initial impressions suggested normalcy in urban centers, their perspective shifted dramatically upon viewing a television report about Little Star Achiever Basic School in Savanna-la-Mar. The Category 5 hurricane had severely compromised the educational facility, forcing both students and teachers to operate in dangerously substandard conditions.

    Moved by the coverage, the Cases contacted the school’s principal to determine how best to provide assistance. This outreach evolved into a formalized humanitarian effort, culminating in last week’s delivery of 79 care packages containing essential school supplies alongside a substantial monetary donation to the institution.

    Tameka Case, serving as foundation president, revealed the deeply personal motivations behind the endeavor: ‘This foundation represents something that’s been in my heart for as long as I’ve known myself. My father was deeply committed to charity work through his Seventh-day Adventist church, and my late friend Audley Clark—who originally hailed from Westmoreland—had always aspired to establish such an initiative.’

    The foundation’s initial operations were funded through personal resources, though additional family members and friends subsequently contributed to expand their humanitarian capacity. During their assessment visit, the team discovered that despite preliminary damage assessments and promises of assistance, many residents remained in desperate circumstances five months post-hurricane.

    Donovan Case emphasized their philosophical approach: ‘We recognized we couldn’t solve everything, but believed we could chip off a small piece. It’s better late than never—people forget that long after the initial crisis, communities still need substantial support.’

    The foundation leadership plans to return to Jamaica in the coming months to host a back-to-school event and is developing additional aid strategies. They passionately encourage other diaspora Jamaicans to contribute regardless of perceived scale, noting that even modest assistance generates significant impact in struggling communities.

    Tameka concluded with an earnest appeal: ‘Give what you have without hesitation. The smallest contribution can transform someone’s circumstances, and the gratitude we received was overwhelming. Proper planning eliminates concerns about safety—the need here is genuine and urgent.’

  • Pope criticises those who invoke God to wage war

    Pope criticises those who invoke God to wage war

    VATICAN CITY — In a powerful address delivered during his pastoral visit to a Roman suburb on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV issued a renewed and impassioned plea for peace in the Middle East, delivering a stark condemnation of those who exploit religious doctrine to justify armed conflict. The Pontiff characterized warfare as an “absurd” solution to resolving human differences and explicitly stated that “God cannot be enlisted by darkness.

    The 70-year-old leader of the Catholic Church expressed profound sorrow for the immense suffering endured by countless individuals caught in the crossfire of violent hostilities. He extended his spiritual solidarity to all families who have lost loved ones, particularly highlighting the tragic consequences of attacks on civilian infrastructures, including schools, hospitals, and residential neighborhoods.

    Earlier that day, during his traditional weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square, the Pope had already set a somber tone, praying for the victims of what he described as “atrocious violence of war” and fervently advocating for the immediate resumption of diplomatic dialogue as the only viable path forward.

    With specific concern, Pope Leo highlighted the rapidly deteriorating situation in Lebanon, voicing the anxieties of Middle Eastern Christian communities and all people of goodwill. He directly appealed to those in positions of power and influence over the conflict, demanding an unequivocal and immediate cessation of hostilities. “Cease fire! Let paths of dialogue be reopened!” he implored, asserting that violence is incapable of delivering the justice, stability, and peace that populations desperately seek and deserve.

  • Where is the money?

    Where is the money?

    A comprehensive government audit has revealed widespread financial irregularities throughout Jamaica’s public sector, exposing critical weaknesses in fiscal management and internal controls. The findings, documented in the Government of Jamaica Audit Committees’ Annual Report for FY2024/25, were presented to the House of Representatives last Thursday, painting a concerning picture of financial governance across multiple ministries.

    The Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills, and Information emerged as particularly problematic, with auditors identifying $185 million in salary overpayments resulting from payroll system failures and administrative control breakdowns linked to salary restructuring. Additionally, $23 million in funds remained completely unaccounted for, while $21.03 million in payments were processed without adequate supporting documentation, raising serious questions about financial oversight mechanisms.

    The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (formerly Economic Growth and Job Creation) faced scrutiny over $99.28 million in unverified project expenditures and $50.43 million spent on incomplete projects. The report cited deficient project and contract management leading to significant delays, cost overruns, and unexpended project funds exceeding $136 million. Auditors also flagged $69 million in payments processed without proper verification.

    Even the Ministry of Finance and Public Service itself demonstrated vulnerabilities, specifically in asset management where $91.9 million in IT equipment and furniture lacked proper documentation. Manual asset registers contained numerous inconsistencies and errors, while IT disaster recovery procedures failed to meet global standards, potentially jeopardizing government operations.

    Other affected entities included the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport with $1.35 million in salary overpayments and the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) with $2.6 million in overpayments and $2 million in short payments.

    The audit committees attributed these issues to systemic weaknesses in internal controls, particularly in cash management, procurement procedures, asset tracking, and supervisory oversight. Compounding these concerns, the report noted a significant decline in management responsiveness to audit findings, dropping from 52% to 33% year-over-year.

    The Internal Audit Directorate emphasized the urgent need for senior management intervention to implement corrective measures and strengthen financial governance systems across all government entities.

  • Over 100 students from ZOSO schools compete in national math finale

    Over 100 students from ZOSO schools compete in national math finale

    KINGSTON, Jamaica—In a significant educational initiative, Merl Grove High School served as the host venue for the culminating event of the 2026 Mathematics Problem-Solving Competition on March 12. The finale brought together over 100 exceptional students from primary and secondary institutions across Kingston, St James, and Westmoreland parishes.

    This academic competition featured participation from 37 schools strategically selected from communities within seven designated Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs)—areas identified as vulnerable and high-risk regions. Participants received extensive recognition through trophies, plaques, medals, and specialized mathematics manipulatives designed to foster active learning, enhance student engagement, and deepen conceptual mathematical understanding.

    The competition operates under the Inter-Ministerial School Support Strategy, with funding provided through the Violence Prevention Programme. This collaborative effort partners with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office alongside the British High Commission to address broader social challenges.

    Dianne McIntosh, Executive Director of Citizens Security at the Ministry of National Security and Peace, revealed to JIS News that since its 2020 inception, the initiative has demonstrated measurable positive impacts within targeted communities. “The approach integrates multiple agencies to address violence and crime through educational interventions,” McIntosh explained. “Strategic priorities focus on psychosocial activities that help youngsters manage emotional wellbeing, process trauma, and simultaneously address literacy and mathematical gaps.”

    Dr. Lamar Edghill, Senior Education Officer in the Ministry’s Standards Development Unit, emphasized the program’s alignment with national efforts to promote STEAM/STEM disciplines. “We are in the fifth revolution requiring innovative technological approaches,” Edghill stated. “STEAM/STEM represents the optimal pathway forward, moving beyond traditional career preparation toward developing adaptable skills for uncertain futures.”

    The initiative forms part of Jamaica’s broader crime reduction strategy, with educational improvement serving as a critical component. Edghill noted that enhanced academic performance, particularly in problem-solving mathematics, directly supports reduced crime rates within ZOSO communities.

    This competition coincides with National Mathematics Month observances throughout March, organized under the theme: ‘Mathematics for All: Building Communities, Confidence, Competence, and Creativity.’ The Ministry of Education is coordinating numerous mathematics-focused activities across participating schools to reinforce these objectives.