标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — YARD Empire, a pioneering organization, has harnessed the transformative power of music to positively impact the lives of inmates at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. Through its recently concluded summer program, the initiative introduced incarcerated individuals to music theory and methodology, yielding promising results in behavior and well-being improvements. Founder Iris ‘Terri’ Salmon highlighted the program’s success, noting reduced disruptive behavior and enhanced overall morale among participants. Facility staff also observed significant changes in the demeanor and conduct of those involved. While formal research is still pending, Salmon emphasized the positive anecdotal evidence supporting the program’s effectiveness. She underscored the importance of addressing underlying issues such as trauma and providing inmates with productive outlets for rehabilitation. Salmon also pointed to a broader societal shift in Jamaica’s approach to incarceration, focusing not only on serving sentences but also on equipping inmates with skills for successful reintegration into society. She explained that life behind bars often fosters survival mechanisms that hinder reintegration, making programs like YARD’s crucial for creating a classroom-like environment that prioritizes learning over survival. Salmon advocated for more educational and skills-based initiatives, citing a RAND Corporation study that links prison education and vocational training to reduced reoffending and increased post-release employment opportunities. YARD Empire’s summer program featured three key components: creative writing, reading music, and a course on gender-based violence led by instructors from the Bureau of Gender Affairs. By teaching practical skills and fostering genuine interests, such as music, the program aims to empower inmates for life beyond bars.

In a significant breakthrough for law enforcement in Jamaica, the St James police have arrested a woman believed to be the leader of a notorious robbery gang that has terrorized communities across the island. The suspect, known by the alias ‘Toots,’ was apprehended along with six of her associates on October 5 in Montego Bay, following a series of coordinated operations under ‘Operation Endgame.’ Launched on October 1, this initiative has already yielded substantial results, including the arrest of over 30 individuals linked to various crimes such as robbery, larceny, and drug offenses. Superintendent Lynroy Edwards expressed pride in the operation’s success, emphasizing that the capture of Toots marks a critical step in dismantling the gang’s operations. The police also seized a Toyota Axio, ammunition, ski masks, and stolen items during the raid. Additionally, ‘Operation Endgame’ has led to the interception of a car theft syndicate, with three suspects arrested and incriminating evidence recovered. The police remain committed to intensifying their efforts to ensure St James becomes one of the safest regions in the Caribbean.

In a disturbing incident in Westmoreland, Jamaica, a 26-year-old man has been formally charged with multiple serious offenses, including unlawful wounding, common law assault, and the use of a firearm to commit a scheduled crime. The accused, Renardo Adlam, also known by the alias ‘Pun Duss,’ resides in the York Mountain area of the Ashton district. The incident unfolded on the evening of Wednesday, August 27, when Adlam reportedly engaged in a heated altercation with family members at his residence. Following the dispute, Adlam departed on his motorcycle but returned shortly thereafter with an accomplice, both armed with firearms. Witnesses allege that the two men violently assaulted a complainant, repeatedly striking him in the face with their weapons, resulting in a severe bleeding wound. The assailants fled the scene on the motorcycle, prompting an immediate police report and subsequent investigation. Authorities have since taken Adlam into custody, and he now faces legal proceedings for his alleged involvement in the violent episode.

In a tragic turn of events, the decomposed body of 13-year-old Santina Sergeant, a student at Christiana High School, was discovered in a burnt-out refrigerator behind her family home in Baillieston, Clarendon. The grim discovery was made on Monday evening, October 6, by a search team from the Christiana Police Station. Santina had been reported missing by her father, Lawrence Sergeant, on Friday, October 3. The body, believed to be Santina’s, was found in an advanced state of decomposition. The Manchester police are now leading the investigation and are actively searching for Lawrence Sergeant, whom they believe may hold crucial information. Superintendent Carey Duncan, head of the Manchester police, confirmed that special units have been deployed to locate him. Meanwhile, the police are providing victim support and counseling to the Christiana High School community to help them cope with the shocking incident.