标签： Jamaica

A marital crisis has emerged after a third party disclosed an extramarital affair to a wife of ten years, prompting serious divorce considerations despite professional counseling advice urging careful deliberation.

The situation unfolded when a woman approached the wife, revealing she was engaged in a relationship with her husband, a bus driver by profession. The informant claimed the husband had proposed fathering a child with her while allegedly boasting about substantial assets that actually belong to the wife’s family. The couple has no children together despite attempts, with the wife maintaining she has no fertility issues while her husband has refused medical examination.

Surprisingly, the wife expressed minimal anger toward her husband, acknowledging she had previously contemplated ending the marriage. Her response shocked the other woman, who clarified she sought no long-term commitment. Rather than confronting her husband immediately, the wife is now prioritizing securing her financial future and personal wellbeing.

Professional counseling intervention emphasized the necessity of direct communication with the husband before making permanent decisions. The counselor referenced biblical principles requiring multiple witnesses to establish truth, questioning whether the informant might be acting with malicious intent. The response highlighted that ten years of marital investment shouldn’t be discarded based solely on one person’s allegations without proper investigation.

The advice recommended addressing fertility frustrations separately through professional help and suggested participation in an upcoming marriage seminar focusing on critical marital vulnerabilities: intimacy, communication, and finances. While acknowledging the marriage needs intervention, the counselor cautioned that divorce isn’t always the optimal solution, advocating instead for developing new relational skills.

The counsel ultimately urged prudent patience and thorough verification of allegations, emphasizing the ethical obligation to both her past self who chose marriage and her future self who might question whether sufficient effort was made to preserve the relationship.

South Florida’s vibrant Jamaican community has produced another distinguished figure recognized for his cultural contributions. Audley Rollen, a multifaceted artist, broadcaster, and spiritual leader, was recently celebrated by the City of Tamarac as one of its five 2026 Black History Month honorees. The ceremony, held at Tamarac City Hall on February 11, featured Mayor Michelle J. Gomez presenting the award to Rollen in recognition of his lifelong dedication to cultural preservation and community leadership.

Rollen’s journey to South Florida began over two decades ago when he relocated from Philadelphia, bringing with him an established musical career that originated in Jamaica. His artistic roots trace back to September 3, 1959, when he and his brother achieved national recognition as All Island Champions on the prestigious Vere Johns Opportunity Hour. This early success laid the foundation for a career that would span continents and decades.

Since settling in South Florida, Rollen has maintained his musical pursuits while expanding his influence through multiple channels. He operated a record store in Miami, continued recording music, and evolved into broadcasting and spiritual leadership. Today, he co-pastors Wisdom Sabbath Ministry in Plantation with his wife Dawn Marie Wisdom, while simultaneously hosting several programs on WAVS 1170 AM radio.

The Tamarac award holds particular significance given Rollen’s cultural background as a former committed Rastafarian whose early music included tracks like ‘Repatriation is A Must’ and ‘Hallelujah.’ This acknowledgment represents an international appreciation of his work that began on Jamaican soil 67 years ago. Rollen expressed feeling ‘deeply honored and humbled’ by the recognition, noting that it validates his decades of commitment to cultural preservation, mentorship, and spiritual leadership.

The 2026 Tamarac Black History Month recipients cohort includes other distinguished community figures such as attorney Kaysia Earley, Cheryl Holtz, choreographer Jimmy Locust, and entrepreneur Jimmy Pinchinat, collectively representing the diverse contributions of Black leaders in the South Florida community.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A comprehensive perception survey conducted by the Downtown Kingston Redevelopment Initiative (DKRI) reveals significant progress in urban revitalization efforts, with measurable improvements in cleanliness, safety, and business confidence across key downtown sectors. The six-month assessment, covering areas from Orange Street to East Street and Ocean Boulevard to Tower Street, demonstrates the tangible impact of targeted interventions in transforming the city’s commercial core.

Michael McMorris, DKRI Committee Chair and former Jamaica Chamber of Commerce President, characterized the findings as a definitive turning point for downtown Kingston. “The empirical data validates our on-ground observations: enhanced urban cleanliness directly influences public perception, mobility patterns, and commercial vitality. Environmental improvements catalyze economic confidence, which remains fundamental to revitalizing Kingston’s historic business district,” McMorris stated.

The dual-survey methodology captured perspectives from both business leaders and community stakeholders—including shoppers, residents, vendors, and workers—providing a holistic view of the initiative’s impact. Key metrics demonstrate remarkable progress: public cleanliness ratings surged from 39.6% to 58% within six months, while reports of environmental challenges plummeted from 48.6% to 23.3%.

Infrastructure and safety indicators showed equally promising trends. Business approvals of street lighting improved dramatically from 28.6% to 53.3%, while public safety confidence jumped from 49.5% to 73%. Confidence in policing effectiveness reached 81%, up from 72.3%, and positive perceptions of the overall business environment climbed from 45.5% to 61%.

Although the survey identified persistent sanitation issues, including localized sewage overflows, the report interprets these findings as evidence of heightened public expectations amid overall conditions improvement. McMorris emphasized that such feedback provides actionable intelligence for phase-two interventions.

The DKRI—a collaborative partnership between the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and Kingston Restoration Company, with funding from VM Building Society, Pan Jamaica, Scotiabank, and GraceKennedy—has launched the ‘Keep It Clean’ campaign to sustain momentum. This corporate citizenship initiative recognizes businesses demonstrating exceptional environmental stewardship through maintained shopfronts and sidewalks.

Approximately 30 enterprises have joined the campaign, including Broadbent’s Duke Street branch. Manager Karine Chuck noted, “Our participation reflects our corporate responsibility to enhance Kingston’s aesthetic appeal. The new receptacles and murals already create a more inviting atmosphere that attracts visitors and customers.”

Sherina Whyte, co-founder of Waah Gwaan Café, echoed this sentiment: “Community improvement directly benefits business vitality. We encourage broader participation—a superior environment advantages commerce, community, and national development alike.”

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — A 63-year-old Jamaican man previously charged with cocaine possession found himself facing additional drug trafficking allegations in St James Parish Court last Wednesday. Gregrie Excel, who was already navigating the legal system for a prior drug offense, now stands accused of transporting four pounds of cocaine.

The case unfolded on February 15 at approximately 10:00 am when law enforcement officers, acting on received intelligence, intercepted a blue hatchback vehicle near Queens Drive close to the airport roundabout. The driver, identified as Excel, complied with police instructions to stop. During subsequent searches of both his person and vehicle, authorities discovered a brown shopping bag concealed beneath the spare tire in the trunk.

Upon examination, the bag revealed a black rectangular object which, when inspected, contained two packages holding a white powdery substance. Field testing confirmed the material to be cocaine. During police questioning, Excel allegedly made several revealing statements, claiming he was transporting the drugs for a businessman acquaintance who operated a restaurant. He further explained that he expected payment of approximately $3 million Jamaican dollars to settle fines related to his existing court case.

The defendant’s legal representative, attorney Martyn Thomas, contested certain aspects of the prosecution’s narrative while advocating for bail. Thomas emphasized his client’s ties to the community and argued that Excel posed no flight risk, suggesting conditional release would allow him to organize his affairs pending trial.

However, prosecution officials strongly opposed bail, citing Excel’s previous bail status at the time of the alleged offense and expressing concerns about potential reoffending. The court clerk noted the substantial evidence against Excel, including his own alleged admissions and his connection to the individual who supposedly enlisted him for drug transportation.

Presiding Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton expressed particular concern about the possibility of Excel committing additional offenses if released. The court has remanded Excel in custody until March 18, when a formal bail hearing will convene. Several evidentiary documents, including forensic certifications and chain of custody statements, remain outstanding in the developing case.