标签： Jamaica

Renowned reggae artist Jah Cure, whose real name is Siccature Alcock, has been handed a significantly extended prison sentence by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. The court sentenced him to eight years and four months in prison for the 2021 stabbing of Dutch concert promoter Nicardo ‘Papa’ Blake. The incident occurred following a business dispute over payment for a performance in Amsterdam. Jah Cure allegedly waited for Blake at Dam Square and stabbed him in the stomach in broad daylight. The court found that the act was premeditated, based on voice messages sent by Jah Cure to a friend, in which he expressed his intent to stab Blake. Initially, Jah Cure was acquitted of attempted murder but convicted of attempted manslaughter in March 2022, receiving a six-year sentence. However, Dutch prosecutors appealed the acquittal, leading to the recent ruling. Jah Cure has been in pre-trial detention since 2022, awaiting the outcome of the appeal. His lawyer has also appealed the attempted manslaughter conviction, maintaining that the act was not premeditated.

In response to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, the Golden Krust restaurant group has spearheaded a significant relief campaign in the United States, aiming to raise over US$250,000. This initiative supports on-the-ground relief efforts coordinated by The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ). Golden Krust, the first Caribbean-owned business in the U.S. to secure a franchise license, has mobilized its network of over 100 restaurants to establish a relief fund, kickstarted by a US$10,000 contribution from the company. Customers dining at Golden Krust locations can also contribute by adding donations of $1, $3, or $5 at checkout, with all proceeds directly aiding Hurricane Melissa relief. The fundraising campaign will continue until the end of the year. Additionally, Golden Krust has introduced the ‘Boxes of Hope’ initiative, enabling customers to donate essential relief goods, which will be shipped directly to affected areas in Jamaica. Steven Clarke, Vice President of Marketing at Golden Krust, emphasized the company’s commitment to community and compassion, values rooted in its Jamaican heritage. He stated, ‘In collaboration with AFJ and our partners, we are dedicated to providing meaningful support and hope to those devastated by Hurricane Melissa.’ The campaign unites Golden Krust, AFJ, and a coalition of trusted organizations, including the NCB Foundation, Food For The Poor, Global Empowerment Mission, Sanmerna Foundation, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, JetBlue, and Dennis Shipping, to deliver comprehensive aid to Jamaica.

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Attorney Thomas Levene has issued an urgent plea for the relocation of 65 prisoners currently detained at the Black River Police Station, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The hurricane has left the station’s lower section completely flooded, creating inhumane conditions for both detainees and police personnel. Levene highlighted the dire situation, stating that the prisoners lack access to basic necessities such as food and clean water. He emphasized that the crisis extends beyond the police station, with the entire Black River community facing severe distress. Residents are grappling with flooding, water shortages, and a lack of shelter, prompting Levene to call for a potential evacuation of the area. The attorney urged authorities to act swiftly to relocate the prisoners and provide emergency relief to affected residents, stressing the need for immediate intervention to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.

In a decisive move to bolster recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the Jamaican government has announced a temporary suspension of Import Duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT) on a wide range of essential goods. This tax relief initiative, effective from October 29 to November 28, aims to streamline the importation and distribution of critical supplies to those impacted by the disaster. The suspension applies to both individual and organizational importers, covering items such as cleaning products, clothing, mattresses, toiletries, and non-perishable food items. Additionally, the list includes emergency equipment like generators, tents, and water purification kits, though some items may require pre-approval or permits. Jamaica Customs emphasized that goods imported before October 29 are ineligible for this relief, and other fees such as the Environmental Levy and Customs Administrative Fee remain applicable. This measure is designed to alleviate the financial burden on affected communities and expedite the delivery of much-needed resources during this challenging period.

The historic town of Falmouth in Jamaica has suffered catastrophic damage following the onslaught of Hurricane Melissa, a category five storm that struck the island on Tuesday. Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie revealed the extent of the destruction during a media briefing on Friday, after finally establishing contact with Falmouth Mayor Colin Gager. The mayor’s report painted a grim picture of the devastation, describing widespread destruction of key infrastructure and public facilities. Among the severely damaged structures are the municipal building, infirmary, courthouse, fire station, and markets. The drop-in center, which served as a shelter during the hurricane, was flooded and rendered unusable. Similar destruction was reported in other parishes, including St James and St Elizabeth, where municipal buildings, infirmaries, and fire stations were also heavily impacted. Communication remains a critical issue in the five worst-hit parishes—St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St James, Trelawny, and Hanover—with authorities planning to deploy Starlink technology to restore connectivity. Additionally, the hurricane has severely disrupted the revenue base of municipal corporations, prompting an urgent assessment to mitigate the financial fallout.

In a heartbreaking incident in Trelawny, Jamaica, one man has lost his life, and another is fighting for survival after inhaling toxic fumes from a standby generator. The deceased, identified as 40-year-old Gayon Dunbar, resided in Carey Park, Trelawny. The tragic event unfolded on Wednesday night when Dunbar and his companion were sleeping inside a furniture shop on 85 Market Street, Falmouth. Unbeknownst to them, the generator was operating within the confined space, leading to the fatal exposure. Early Thursday morning, a concerned friend discovered the two men in distress and rushed them to the Falmouth Public General Hospital. Dunbar was pronounced dead upon arrival, while his friend remains in critical condition. The community is in shock, mourning the loss of Dunbar, described as a quiet and hardworking individual who was a baker by profession and a devoted father of five. His sister, Cordia Moulton, expressed her grief, stating she is unable to break the news to their mother, who is currently a patient at the same hospital. Residents of 85 Market Street, also known as ‘Ghetto,’ are devastated, remembering Dunbar as a kind and helpful neighbor. The incident has left the community grappling with the sudden loss and the dangers of improper generator usage.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica on October 28, Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has expressed growing frustration with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) over its handling of the crisis. The storm caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the southwestern parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny, St James, Hanover, and Manchester, severely disrupting JPS infrastructure. However, even parishes less affected by the hurricane are experiencing significant power outages, leaving 462,000 of JPS’s approximately 700,000 customers without electricity as of Friday morning.

During a media briefing on Friday, Vaz emphasized the need for better communication from JPS, urging CEO Hugh Grant to adopt the approach used during Hurricane Beryl last year. Vaz criticized the lack of detailed updates, stating, ‘The communication that is coming out is not enough. Not enough to me and it’s not enough to those who’re affected. It’s not only about the amount of people who’ve been restored, it’s how many more are to be restored and what is the projection for them to be restored.’

Vaz highlighted the plight of residents in Kingston and St Andrew (KSA), where many remain without power. He stressed the importance of providing clear timelines for restoration, saying, ‘All they want to know, so that they can plan their business, is ‘what is the issue and when is it expected [to be resolved].’’

Grant assured Vaz that KSA would be fully restored by Sunday, but Vaz deemed this insufficient, demanding daily updates on restoration progress for all affected communities. He shared that KSA would be 90% restored by Sunday, St Thomas by midnight Sunday, and St Catherine by 75%. However, he called for more information on other parishes, including St Mary and Portland, where the majority of customers remain without electricity.

A detailed breakdown of outages shows alarming figures, with some parishes like Hanover, Manchester, St Ann, St Elizabeth, St James, St Mary, Trelawny, and Westmoreland experiencing 99% power loss. Vaz pledged to ensure JPS provides more detailed information and committed to overseeing full restoration in unaffected areas while developing a comprehensive plan for severely affected regions.

-Lynford Simpson

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the town of Black River in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, has been left in a state of devastation. Mothers in the area are now grappling with dire conditions as they desperately seek food, water, and essential supplies for their children. When Observer Online visited the town on Thursday, the scene was one of utter destruction—buildings reduced to rubble, and thick mud blanketing the once-bustling main roads.

Residents, including Jheanile Richards and Sashoya Wynter, were seen sitting quietly amidst the ruins, clutching bags filled with whatever belongings they could salvage. Richards, cradling her one-month-old baby, recounted her five-hour search for diapers and food. ‘It’s rough, man, rough. Hunger is killing us. We’ll have to make do with the little we have,’ she said, her baby crying in the background.

Wynter, who lost her home during the hurricane, is now sheltering in an unfinished building with her two children. ‘There’s no food, nothing! What about those who have nothing at all and those who won’t share?’ she lamented. Both mothers emphasized that their most pressing need, aside from food, is water. ‘We don’t have any water at all. I don’t even know how I’m going to bathe,’ Wynter said, looking down at her dirt-stained clothes.

The unfinished building where Wynter and others are staying offers little comfort. ‘We’re sleeping on wet plywood. It’s hard, and we’re constantly worried about someone breaking in,’ she shared. Despite the hardships, the group of eight people staying there remains hopeful, relying on their faith for strength. ‘We sleep with fear, but we also sleep with God. Right now, God is all we have,’ Wynter said.