Carib Scope

标签： Jamaica

牙买加

  • Health sector not at crisis level, says Tufton

    Health sector not at crisis level, says Tufton

    MANDEVILLE, Jamaica — Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has acknowledged severe overcrowding at Jamaican hospitals while explicitly avoiding the term ‘crisis’ to describe the situation. During a Friday tour of Mandeville Regional Hospital, which he characterized as a ‘rescue centre’ for western Jamaica, Tufton addressed the critical capacity issues facing the healthcare system.

    The minister revealed that Mandeville Regional Hospital is operating at 78% above its 250-bed inpatient capacity and 50% above outpatient capacity, with approximately 350-360 inpatients currently receiving treatment. This surge has forced medical staff to treat patients in makeshift areas including hallways and temporary privacy corners, creating significant logistical challenges.

    Tufton attributed the overcrowding to multiple factors, primarily the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa which devastated infrastructure last October. Black River Hospital, normally equipped with 150 beds, currently operates with only 30-40 beds due to hurricane damage. The minister warned that overcrowding conditions are likely to persist until March when reconstruction of damaged hospitals is completed.

    In response to the crisis, Tufton announced immediate measures including construction of a new ward at Mandeville that will accommodate 30-40 additional patients. He also emphasized enhancing primary healthcare services through increased home visits, extended health center hours, and improved field vigilance to reduce hospital visits for non-emergency cases.

    The minister made a direct appeal to Jamaicans to utilize primary healthcare facilities instead of hospitals for non-urgent matters and to maintain medication regimens to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. He praised healthcare workers for going ‘beyond the call of duty’ while acknowledging the tremendous stress on medical staff.

    Tufton’s hospital tour continued through the weekend with visits to Black River, Savanna-La-Mar, Noel Holmes, Cornwall Regional, and Falmouth hospitals to assess conditions firsthand and coordinate emergency response efforts across the region.

  • Gunmen kill 11 in attack at Mexican football match

    Gunmen kill 11 in attack at Mexican football match

    SALAMANCA, Mexico — A community football match in central Mexico descended into horrific violence Sunday when armed assailants stormed the pitch and opened fire on spectators, leaving 11 dead and 12 wounded in a region increasingly paralyzed by organized crime. The attack occurred in Salamanca, a modest industrial city of 160,000 in Guanajuato state, immediately following a local game.

    According to municipal authorities, ten victims died at the scene while another succumbed to injuries at a medical facility. Among the wounded were a woman and a child, highlighting the attack’s indiscriminate nature. Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto issued an urgent plea to federal authorities for intervention, stating his community faces a ‘grave moment’ and ‘serious social breakdown’ as criminal organizations challenge governmental authority.

    The football pitch shooting represents merely the latest episode in a brutal weekend for the region. Just one day prior, authorities discovered four bags containing human remains in Salamanca. Simultaneously, six individuals were killed in two neighboring communities. These incidents follow a bomb threat last week at a local refinery operated by state oil giant Pemex.

    Despite being a prosperous industrial zone and popular tourist destination, Guanajuato consistently ranks as Mexico’s deadliest state due to relentless turf wars between criminal syndicates. Official homicide statistics attribute much of the violence to conflicts between the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, known for oil theft operations, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations.

    This surge in violence creates a stark contrast to claims by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who recently asserted that homicides have dropped to their lowest level in a decade under her security strategy. Many security experts remain skeptical of these official figures.

    Mexico’s prolonged security crisis, predominantly linked to drug trafficking, has resulted in over 480,000 deaths since the government initiated its military crackdown on cartels in 2006. An additional 120,000 persons remain missing, with many presumably forced into cartel service or abducted. The discovery of mass graves and dismembered remains has become tragically routine across the nation.

  • Second Jamaican signs up for Enhanced Games

    Second Jamaican signs up for Enhanced Games

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican track athlete Denae McFarlane has officially committed to participate in the inaugural Enhanced Games, marking the second Jamaican competitor to join the controversial sporting event scheduled for May 24 in Las Vegas. McFarlane’s participation was confirmed through the Games’ official Instagram announcement, which revealed five new athletes across track and field and swimming disciplines.

    The Enhanced Games, which openly permits athletes to use performance-enhancing substances, has generated significant controversy within the international sports community. McFarlane joins fellow Jamaican sprinter Shockoria Wallace, who became the nation’s first athlete to sign with the competition several weeks prior.

    Notable additions to the roster include Guyanese track athlete Jasmine Abrams and swimmers Antani Ivanov (Bulgaria), Miguel De Lara Ojeda (Mexico), and Emily Barclay (Great Britain). The event will be hosted at Resorts World Las Vegas, with organizers promising substantial financial incentives, including world record bonuses reaching $1 million.

    The competition’s radical approach to doping has drawn vehement opposition from major sporting bodies including World Athletics and World Aquatics. These organizations have implemented bylaws prohibiting athletes who participate in unsanctioned events that permit banned substances from competing in their officially recognized competitions. The Enhanced Games positions itself as an elite sports competition and performance products company, challenging conventional anti-doping protocols that govern traditional athletic competitions.

  • Controversy looms over Diaspora elections

    Controversy looms over Diaspora elections

    NEW YORK, United States — Significant controversy has emerged surrounding the upcoming 2026 elections for the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and its youth counterpart (GJDYC), scheduled to commence on January 28, 2026. Prominent diaspora leader Patrick Beckford, former head of the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board for the North-East United States and founding member of the original advisory body, has called for a complete boycott of the electoral process.

    Beckford advocates for establishing an entirely independent diaspora-controlled organization that operates autonomously without government ministerial connections or oversight. He contends that the current GJDC structure has deviated from its original purpose, transforming into what he describes as a ‘ministerial extension’ rather than remaining accountable to the diaspora community itself.

    The election process, running through February 20 with results announced four days later, faces additional scrutiny due to historically low participation rates. The 2023 elections saw merely 3,000 voters casting ballots across the global Jamaican diaspora community.

    Beckford has found support from other influential diaspora figures, including Dr. Rupert Francis, who echoed concerns about Jamaican government involvement in diaspora affairs. Both critics have particularly questioned candidate eligibility requirements that prohibit those with criminal convictions or bankruptcy declarations from seeking representation.

    According to Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, forty-four candidates across the United States and Canada will contest the elections. Notable changes include outgoing southern region representative Peter Gracey not seeking re-election, while Michelle Tulloch-Neil aims for a second term representing the North-East region.

    Following the elections, successful representatives will begin planning for the 11th GJDC Biennial Conference scheduled for June 14-18, 2026, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The 2023 conference attracted over 1,000 participants, with organizers anticipating increased attendance this year for discussions on trade, investment, and diaspora engagement matters involving both government and private sector participants.

  • SAINT Int’l models star in new Casablanca and Level Shoes campaigns

    SAINT Int’l models star in new Casablanca and Level Shoes campaigns

    Jamaican modeling agency SAINT International continues to demonstrate its global influence as two of its signed models, representing Jamaican and Nigerian heritage respectively, have secured prominent positions in international fashion campaigns. The achievements highlight the agency’s enduring impact on the fashion industry a quarter-century after its establishment.

    Nigerian model Aworo Mayowa, discovered through Instagram and signed in 2018, features prominently in Casablanca’s newly released Beach and Resort 2026 collection. The Paris-based luxury brand, celebrated by Town and Country Magazine as the preferred label for the Gen Z elite and endorsed by celebrities including tennis star Coco Gauff and supermodel Bella Hadid, showcases Mayowa in an array of sophisticated resort wear. The collection includes monogram sleeve silk shirts, elegant dresses, workwear jackets, and swimwear, drawing inspiration from Los Angeles where Casablanca recently inaugurated its first American retail location on Santa Monica Boulevard.

    Mayowa, who holds an English literature degree from Lagos State University, expressed enthusiasm about representing the innovative brand. Currently represented by Why Not Models in Milan and Wilhelmina in London, she praised Casablanca’s fresh vision and trend-setting womenswear pieces. Her international career launched with Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2019 show and has since included runway presentations for Alberta Ferretti, Roksanda, and Emilia Wickstead, alongside editorial work for Margaret Howell and ME + EM.

    Simultaneously, Jamaican model Romaine Dixon, originally from Sligoville, St. Catherine, has embarked on a new campaign with Dubai-based luxury footwear retailer Level Shoes. Now residing in New York and represented by Society Management, Dixon participated in a Manhattan-based photoshoot that combined studio sessions at the WSA Building with exterior shots along Water Street near the harbor. Level Shoes has gained recognition for its curated selection spanning accessible, luxury, and emerging brands including Brunello Cucinelli, Chloe, Dolce and Gabbana, and New Balance, with recent expansion beyond the Middle East through a new Florida logistics center.

    SAINT International CEO Deiwght Peters emphasized the significance of these bookings, noting they validate the agency’s lasting appeal and the professional dedication of its models. Both Mayowa and Dixon, scouted and signed in 2018, have developed substantial portfolios working with prestigious fashion houses including Dior, Fendi, and Hermes. Peters highlighted their focus and hard work as foundational to their continued success in the competitive global fashion market.

  • Agriculture ministry launches initiatives to address crop surplus

    Agriculture ministry launches initiatives to address crop surplus

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In response to a significant surplus of key agricultural products, Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to stabilize markets and support local farmers. Portfolio Minister Floyd Green announced the initiative during a press briefing at the ministry’s Hope Gardens headquarters, highlighting exceptional yields of sweet potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, Pak Choy, yellow squash, cauliflower, zucchini, and string beans that have created market imbalances.

    The ministry’s approach centers on three primary interventions: expanded market access, value-added processing, and enhanced storage infrastructure. Weekly farmers’ markets are being established across the island with organizational support from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). The inaugural market took place on January 23, with transportation assistance provided to ensure farmer participation.

    Concurrently, the ministry is engaging agro-processors to transform excess produce into juices, concentrates, and other value-added products. A buy-back program reminiscent of COVID-19 pandemic measures is in final development stages, where the government will purchase directly from farmers for redistribution.

    Critical infrastructure developments include three cold-storage facilities scheduled for operational rollout. The Flagaman facility in St Elizabeth, featuring two renewable-powered 20-foot containers, becomes operational within three weeks. The Essex Valley facility launches in early February with capacity for 22 containers of fresh produce, while the Kirkvine facility in Manchester will be completed in the next financial quarter.

  • Crime-fighting mandates outpace MOCA, FID manpower

    Crime-fighting mandates outpace MOCA, FID manpower

    Jamaica’s premier law enforcement agencies responsible for combating organized crime and financial offenses are grappling with severe staffing deficiencies while confronting increasingly sophisticated criminal networks. The Financial Investigations Division (FID) and Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) have disclosed alarming personnel gaps that threaten their operational effectiveness despite expanding mandates.

    At a recent Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange forum, FID Chief Technical Director Dennis Chung revealed his agency operates at merely 35% of authorized capacity. Despite ongoing recruitment efforts for financial investigators and legal professionals, the division functions with just over 20 investigators against a requirement of approximately 50 specialized personnel. This shortage proves particularly challenging given the highly technical nature of financial crime investigations, which demand specialized skills in transaction analysis, evidence gathering, and forensic accounting.

    Garth Williams, FID’s brand communications specialist, confirmed the agency has ‘punched above its weight’ by achieving substantial results with only 70 staff members compared to an established complement of 191 positions. This achievement comes despite growing complexities in financial crimes, including cyber fraud, digital scams, and advanced money laundering schemes that transcend traditional law enforcement methodologies.

    Parallel challenges affect MOCA, operating at 61% staffing capacity according to Director General Colonel Desmond Edwards. The agency has confronted fundamental shifts in criminal patterns since its inception, particularly the explosion of cyber-enabled offenses requiring specialized investigative capabilities. In response, MOCA has established dedicated cyber investigation units through internal resource reallocation, though technical expertise development remains prioritized over mere numerical expansion.

    Both agencies emphasize that modern criminal investigations necessitate advanced capabilities in digital analysis, forensic accounting, and intelligence-driven operations beyond conventional policing skills. Technology integration, particularly artificial intelligence and analytical tools, has become essential for supplementing human resources and managing escalating case volumes and complexities.

    While inter-agency collaborations with the Jamaica Constabulary Force provide operational support during major interventions, both organizations stress that sustainable effectiveness requires strategic investments in both technological infrastructure and specialized human capital to combat Jamaica’s evolving criminal landscape effectively.

  • Legendary drummer Sly Dunbar dies at 73

    Legendary drummer Sly Dunbar dies at 73

    The global music community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Lowell ‘Sly’ Dunbar, the iconic Jamaican drummer who formed one-half of the revolutionary production duo Sly and Robbie. The legendary musician, 73, passed away unexpectedly at his residence on Monday morning, according to reports from Observer Online.

    Dunbar’s death marks the end of an era for reggae music, coming just two years after the passing of his musical partner Robbie Shakespeare in 2021. Together, they established themselves as the rhythmic backbone of Jamaican music, crafting an unparalleled legacy that spanned five decades. Their innovative ‘rockers’ drumming style became synonymous with the evolution of reggae and dancehall.

    Tributes from across the musical spectrum have flooded social media platforms, highlighting Dunbar’s extraordinary influence that transcended genres and generations. British radio personality David Rodigan hailed him as “one of the greatest drummers of all time,” emphasizing how reggae had lost a true icon. In an emotional Instagram post, Rodigan noted Dunbar’s remarkable versatility, having produced and performed with an astonishing array of artists from Bob Dylan and Madonna to Bob Marley and The Rolling Stones.

    Jamaican artist Mr Vegas remembered Dunbar as his “greatest teacher/producer,” while sound system pioneer Rory Stone Love described the loss as a “sad day” for Jamaica and reggae music worldwide. The overwhelming response from the international music community underscores Dunbar’s monumental impact on global soundscapes.

    Beyond his performing credentials, Dunbar’s production genius helped shape countless hit records, establishing him as both a creative force and technical innovator. His work with Robbie Shakespeare revolutionized recording techniques and rhythmic patterns that would influence multiple genres beyond reggae, including pop, rock, and hip-hop.

    Observer Online has indicated that further details regarding this developing story will be forthcoming as the music world continues to process this significant loss.

  • Project START launches initiative to help entrepreneurs recover after Hurricane Melissa

    Project START launches initiative to help entrepreneurs recover after Hurricane Melissa

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a strategic pivot from emergency relief to sustainable recovery, Project STAR has launched its comprehensive Business Re-start Initiative to assist micro and small entrepreneurs in rebuilding their livelihoods across Jamaica’s most hurricane-devastated communities. The program represents a significant shift toward long-term economic stabilization following the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

    The initiative has commenced by distributing grants to nine businesses spanning critical sectors including poultry farming (encompassing both egg and chicken production), beauty services (barbers, hairstylists, nail technicians, and eyelash technicians), and a cleaning supplies manufacturing enterprise. These funds are specifically allocated for replacing damaged equipment, replenishing destroyed inventory, and resuming daily operations.

    According to Saffrey Brown, Director of Project STAR, the organization has consciously transitioned from immediate disaster response to addressing sustainable economic recovery. “Our relief efforts have now evolved toward revitalizing livelihoods and reactivating entrepreneurial activities,” Brown stated. “The hurricane completely obliterated equipment and stock for most business owners in these vulnerable communities.”

    The program is initially targeting the western parishes of Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and St James—regions that suffered the most severe hurricane impacts. These areas have experienced substantial micro-enterprise losses, exacerbating economic fragility in already disadvantaged communities. Brown emphasized the program’s adaptive approach, noting that strategies will evolve based on emerging needs.

    Early beneficiaries have reported transformative impacts. Levario White, a barber from Salt Spring, St James, described receiving his second grant as “critical to recovery,” expressing excitement about business improvement prospects. Beauty service providers like hairdresser Amisha Wright highlighted how the support arrived at a crucial juncture, enabling her to upgrade equipment and attract more customers. Wright revealed aspirations to pursue professional certification and eventually establish a salon chain.

    For poultry farmer Nickoy Brady, also from Salt Spring, the storm destroyed his coop and killed numerous chickens, paralyzing his livelihood. Project STAR’s intervention provided what he called “a lifeline,” allowing him to restart operations and restore family income. “This support means everything—it’s how I provide for my family,” Brady shared.

    Project STAR is prioritizing entrepreneurs who previously completed the organization’s entrepreneurship training, particularly those involved in food security sectors. “Accelerating community self-sufficiency in food production is absolutely essential,” Brown explained regarding this strategic focus.

    The organization plans to progressively expand the initiative over coming weeks and months, with ambitions to directly support at least 300 micro and small entrepreneurs through grants, tools, materials, and mentorship. Broader objectives include reactivating local value chains across food, craft, services, and manufacturing sectors while promoting disaster-resilient business models and strengthening local economic networks.

    As Jamaica progresses beyond the immediate emergency phase, Project STAR maintains its commitment to income generation and long-term community resilience. Brown confirmed the organization’s sustained focus on “revitalizing existing enterprises and supporting new entrepreneurs requiring alternative income sources” through the Livelihood Re-start Initiative, ultimately aiming to rebuild economic security and enhance community resilience in Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath.

  • ‘You will bite rock stone’

    ‘You will bite rock stone’

    In an extraordinary fusion of spiritual fervor and law enforcement resolve, Inspector Junior Roswess—a police officer who also serves as a pastor—issued a stark warning to criminals during a powerful sermon at God Family Ministries International Church in St Andrew. Addressing members of the St Andrew North Police Division at a special unity service, Roswess declared that those who refuse to surrender their weapons must be prepared to “bite rock stone,” a Jamaican proverb meaning to face severe consequences.

    Roswess framed the police’s mission through a theological lens, quoting Romans 13:4 to emphasize that law enforcement officers are “ministers of God” tasked with executing justice against evildoers. He outlined a four-part strategy—Engage, Educate, Empower, and Enforce—as the division’s guiding principle. “We will educate you when we see you doing wrong. We will educate the gangs to turn in their weapons of mass destruction,” he stated. “If you don’t take heed, we have the responsibility to take required actions.”

    The inspector highlighted dramatic crime reduction achievements: a 50% drop in murders, 25% reduction in shootings, 35% decrease in rapes, and a significant decline in car thefts in 2025 compared to 2024. He attributed these successes to divine intervention and unwavering faith, revealing that mid-2025 saw crime trending negatively before a remarkable turnaround. Between January 1–17 this year, the division recorded zero murders versus two during the same period in 2025, while national murders fell by 18 year-over-year.

    Roswess praised Superintendent Randy Sweeney for acknowledging God’s role in their efforts and urged fellow officers to view their badges not as mere plastic but as sacred commitments to place country above self. “You are ministers of order, justice, and peace,” he proclaimed, describing police as bridges between life and death, good and evil. The service culminated in officers raising hands in worship, embodying the unique integration of spiritual faith and civic duty driving their crime-fighting mission.