标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A prominent educator and former political figure has been penalized for violations of Jamaica’s integrity legislation. Roogae Kirlew, who serves as Principal of Spanish Town Primary School and is a former councillor for the People’s National Party (PNP), received a total fine of $200,000 in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court this Tuesday. The ruling came after Kirlew admitted guilt to multiple counts of failing to submit mandatory statutory declarations to the Integrity Commission (IC) for the years 2019, 2020, and 2022.

Presiding Judge Alwayne Smith oversaw the sentencing hearing where mitigating circumstances were presented by the defendant’s legal representative, Atiba Dyer. The defense counsel highlighted that Kirlew’s health complications during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 significantly impacted his ability to meet filing deadlines. Dyer further explained that procedural confusion regarding submission protocols during that period contributed to the oversight.

The court learned that all three outstanding declarations were eventually filed in 2022. Defense attorney Dyer appealed for judicial leniency, emphasizing his client’s contributions to society as a justice of the peace, religious minister, and educational leader. Kirlew’s parental responsibilities toward two dependent sons, aged 17 and 10, were also noted in the plea for consideration.

Dyer assured the court that his client has demonstrated corrective action by voluntarily engaging with the Integrity Commission upon learning about the allegations. Kirlew, who was overseas at the time, returned to Jamaica in October 2025 specifically to address the compliance issues and made himself available for legal proceedings.

The financial penalty was structured as $80,000 for the 2019 violation and $120,000 for the 2020 offense. For the 2022 breach, Kirlew received an admonishment and discharge, avoiding additional fines. The case underscores the ongoing enforcement of Jamaica’s integrity laws for public officials.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court has imposed a substantial financial penalty on Roogae Kirlew, a former People’s National Party councillor and current principal of Spanish Town Primary School, for violations related to statutory declaration filings. Presiding Judge Alwayne Smith ordered Kirlew to pay $200,000 in fines on Tuesday after the educator pleaded guilty to failing to submit mandatory integrity disclosures for multiple years.

The case centered on Kirlew’s failure to file required statutory declarations with Jamaica’s Integrity Commission for the reporting periods covering 2019, 2020, and 2022. Defense attorney Atiba Dyer presented mitigating circumstances, explaining that his client had experienced illness during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, which initially prevented timely compliance. Dyer further cited administrative confusion regarding submission procedures during the relevant period.

Legal representatives emphasized that all outstanding declarations were eventually submitted in 2022, demonstrating eventual compliance. The defense petitioned for judicial leniency, highlighting Kirlew’s contributions to society as a justice of the peace, religious minister, and educational leader who continues to support his two children, including one pursuing overseas education.

The court learned that Kirlew proactively engaged with the Integrity Commission upon learning of the allegations against him, despite being overseas at the time. He returned to Jamaica in October 2025 specifically to address the compliance issues and coordinated with legal counsel to ensure proper handling of the matter.

In its final ruling, the court imposed differentiated penalties: $80,000 for the 2019 declaration failure, $120,000 for the 2020 violation, and an admonishment and discharge for the 2022 oversight. The judgment underscores Jamaica’s ongoing enforcement of accountability standards for public officials and educators.

A tragic house fire in the Montpelier area of St James, Jamaica, has claimed the life of a six-month-old infant. The victim has been officially identified as Nymerah Graham, who succumbed to severe burns sustained during the devastating blaze that engulfed her family home on Guinep Tree Lane this Tuesday.

Emergency responders reported that the fire rapidly spread through the residence where Nymerah lived with her parents and siblings. Despite desperate rescue attempts by family members, the infant suffered catastrophic burns covering her entire body. Preliminary reports indicate another child sustained injuries during the catastrophic incident, though specific details regarding their condition remain undisclosed.

Jamaican fire investigation units have deployed personnel to the disaster scene to determine the origin and cause of the lethal fire. The community of Montpelier has been shaken by the tragedy, which highlights ongoing concerns about residential fire safety in the region. Standard investigative procedures are underway as authorities work to reconstruct the events leading to this fatal occurrence.

A tragic early morning fire in Montpelier, St. James has resulted in the death of a six-month-old infant and injuries to another child, according to local reports from Jamaica. The devastating blaze erupted approximately at 1:00 am on Tuesday within the Guinep Tree area, completely destroying a board-and-zinc residential structure.

Emergency responders confirmed the infant succumbed to severe burn injuries sustained during the incident. Another juvenile victim sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment, though specific condition details remain undisclosed.

Jamaica Fire Brigade personnel have deployed to the disaster site to conduct comprehensive investigations into the origin and cause of the catastrophic fire. The preliminary examination has not yet determined the ignition source or circumstances that led to the rapid spread of flames through the vulnerable housing structure.

The incident has highlighted continuing concerns about fire safety in informal settlements across Jamaica’s parish regions. Community members have expressed grief over the tragic loss while awaiting official findings from fire investigators regarding preventable measures that might avert similar tragedies.

In a remarkable prison interview with The Hollywood Reporter, convicted sex offender and former Hollywood titan Harvey Weinstein portrayed his current existence as unbearable confinement while steadfastly denying all criminal allegations against him.

The 73-year-old disgraced producer, currently incarcerated at New York’s Rikers Island facility, described his daily reality as profoundly isolated and dangerous. “It’s hell,” Weinstein stated, explaining that security concerns prevent him from interacting with other inmates. “It’s too dangerous for me to be around anyone else. Other inmates get to go to the yard. But every time I’m out there, I feel like I’m under siege.”

Weinstein recounted a violent incident where another prisoner assaulted him while waiting to use a telephone. “He got off and punched me hard in the face. I fell on the floor, bleeding everywhere. I was hurt really badly.”

The interview revealed a man grappling with his dramatic fall from being Hollywood’s most powerful producer—the force behind acclaimed films like “Shakespeare in Love” and “Pulp Fiction”—to a convicted felon serving multiple sentences. Despite his convictions in both New York and California courts for sexual assault and rape, resulting in decades of imprisonment, Weinstein persistently maintained his innocence.

“I will be proven innocent. That I promise you,” he declared regarding an upcoming retrial on rape charges. Weinstein acknowledged inappropriate behavior but distinguished it from criminal conduct: “The thing I was doing wrong was not sexual assault. It was cheating on my wife. I was desperate to keep that secret from her.”

The former mogul suggested some accusers had financial motivations, stating, “Maybe they saw an opportunity for a payout. But not all of them were as naive as they liked to pretend.” While admitting to creating intimidating power dynamics, he insisted this remained “a long way from sexual assault.”

Weinstein, who uses a wheelchair and claims to suffer from bone cancer following heart surgery in prison, expressed profound fear about dying behind bars. “It scares the shit out of me,” he confessed. “I’m going to be 74 in March. I don’t want to die in here.”