标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A significant healthcare enhancement initiative has been launched at Percy Junor Hospital (PJH) in Manchester through a substantial donation from the newly established US-based diaspora foundation Right Now For Jamaica (RNFJ). The contribution, valued at approximately US$30,000, represents the first phase of a comprehensive support program designed to strengthen medical infrastructure in hurricane-affected regions.

The donation encompasses both medical essentials and technological equipment, including specialized medical instruments such as forceps, syringes with needles, and skin preparation gel. The foundation also supplied patient care items ranging from antifungal creams to adult incontinence pads and baby diapers. Beyond medical supplies, the contribution included 15 computers, multiple tablets, administrative furniture, refrigeration units, and filing systems to modernize hospital operations.

Founded by Manchester natives Dr. Maurice Miles and his wife Trudy Hall Miles, RNFJ emerged specifically to address reconstruction needs following Hurricane Melissa’s devastation. The handover ceremony held on January 30 featured remarks from Ambassador Audrey Marks, Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, who also serves as Manchester North Eastern Member of Parliament where PJH is located.

Ambassador Marks revealed that the initial donation represents merely the beginning of sustained support, with an additional US$24 million worth of supplies already being mobilized. Critical medical equipment including adult and pediatric ventilators, electrocardiogram machines, and dialysis units are currently being sourced by the foundation in direct response to identified hospital needs.

Hall Miles, speaking for RNFJ, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to enabling quality healthcare delivery. ‘Providing medical teams with proper tools is fundamental to delivering compassionate care,’ she stated, noting plans to acquire intravenous poles and patient transport ventilators. The foundation has announced an upcoming fundraising gala in March featuring reggae artist Etana, with proceeds dedicated to health and education projects within Manchester North Eastern.

A prominent Jamaican healthcare professional who migrated to the United States has issued a stark rebuttal to Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton’s appeal for overseas nurses to return home amid staffing shortages. Dr. Cheryl Morgan, who left Jamaica in 2009 after graduating from The University of the West Indies, articulated why financial incentives and improved infrastructure alone cannot reverse the brain drain.

Having built a distinguished career in the United States—earning doctoral credentials, authoring a memoir titled ‘Jamaican Born,’ and establishing herself as a businesswoman—Dr. Morgan emphasized systemic issues within Jamaica’s healthcare system. She cited chronically low wages, inadequate resources, and societal disregard for nursing professionals as primary reasons for the exodus.

Minister Tufton, during recent visits to US cities including Washington, DC, New York, and Miami, promoted repatriation by highlighting infrastructure upgrades, crime reduction efforts, and increased disposable income opportunities. He proposed incentives for relocation and mentioned a housing program for healthcare staff.

However, Dr. Morgan countered that these measures fail to address deeper institutional flaws. She described nurses in Jamaica struggling with poverty, inability to afford mortgages or vehicles, and public criticism when advocating for better pay. By contrast, international recruitment offered competitive salaries, professional advancement opportunities, and improved living conditions.

Citing specific deficiencies, Dr. Morgan noted outdated hospital facilities, insufficient medical equipment like IV pumps, reliance on families to supply medications, and inadequate ambulance services. She proposed alternative solutions, such as leveraging diaspora expertise for telemedicine initiatives, satellite clinics, and systemic reforms—without physical return.

With approximately 20 years of experience and licenses to practice in multiple US states, Dr. Morgan now operates a clinic focusing on type 2 diabetes care and runs a philanthropic foundation. She urged the government to focus on retaining new graduates and reforming the healthcare system rather than seeking repatriation of those who have established lives abroad.

Jamaican law enforcement authorities have successfully apprehended a homicide suspect following an intelligence-led operation in St Mary. Kerrin Bailey, a 32-year-old office administrator also known as ‘Bones’, was captured during coordinated raids conducted between 4:00 am and 7:00 am on Monday, February 2nd, in the Islington area.

The suspect, who maintained residences in both Liguanea, Kingston 6 and Sport Road, Islington, had been actively sought by Kingston East police in connection with a violent incident that occurred months earlier. On November 13, 2025, approximately at 8:30 pm, residents of Jack Vale district in Bull Bay, St Andrew reported hearing explosive gunfire at a local residence.

Police responding to the emergency call discovered two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The victims were immediately transported to medical facilities where 28-year-old truck driver Rai-Ronaldo Fry was pronounced deceased. A female victim was admitted to hospital in stable condition following emergency treatment.

The operation represents a significant breakthrough in a case that has concerned local communities. Police utilized targeted intelligence gathering to track the suspect’s movements across parish lines before executing the precise dawn operation. This apprehension demonstrates the continued efforts of Jamaican law enforcement to address violent crime through coordinated inter-parish operations and community policing strategies.

The parish of Manchester, Jamaica, is confronting a severe outbreak of violence following a series of coordinated shootings that claimed four lives within a narrow twelve-hour window from Saturday evening into Sunday morning. Superintendent Carey Duncan, head of the Manchester police, has publicly identified two individuals sought for questioning in connection with the brutal attacks that terrorized the communities of New Hall, Old England, and Ellen Street, south of Mandeville.

The police are appealing to Orane Nelson, also known as ‘Prince’ from May Day, and CJ Wilson of Old England, to present themselves at the Mandeville Police Station to aid the ongoing investigation. This appeal comes as law enforcement pursues what Superintendent Duncan described as ‘strong leads’ and several theories regarding the motives behind the apparently connected killings.

The victims have been officially named as Dejaune Hamilton, Raheem ‘Richie Rich’ Ward (22), Adrian Reid, and David Brown (33). The timeline of violence began around 7:30 PM Saturday, with Hamilton being fatally shot at a football field adjacent to a car wash in New Hall. Hours later, Ward and Reid were killed in the vicinity of a bar in Old England. The spree culminated in a particularly harrowing incident around 1:40 AM Sunday, when David Brown was executed at his Ellen Street home.

According to a traumatized eyewitness, Brown’s murder was carried out by two assailants posing as police officers. They forcibly gained entry to his home and shot him in the head in the presence of his spouse and four of his five children. The witness recounted the horrific details, stating Brown was dragged from his bed and shot multiple times after pleading for his life. Described as a construction worker and a dedicated father, Brown’s sudden death has left his family devastated and deeply concerned for the psychological well-being of his children, one of whom is preparing for critical primary school exams.

This violent surge presents a stark contrast to broader national trends. While the Jamaica Constabulary Force reports a significant 55 percent reduction in murders across the country for January compared to the same period last year, Manchester Parish has recorded four homicides this year, after having none at this time in 2023.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Prince Laurent of Belgium has publicly confirmed having two private meetings with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The royal’s admission came following the release of U.S. Department of Justice documents that referenced his name among other prominent figures connected to Epstein.

The 62-year-old brother of King Philippe provided detailed clarification to the Belga news agency, specifying that these encounters occurred upon Epstein’s initiative during two distinct periods: the early 1990s and approximately a decade later. Prince Laurent emphasized these were exclusively one-on-one meetings, asserting he never participated in any group gatherings or public events with Epstein or his associates.

The prince detailed the circumstances surrounding their initial contact, explaining that Epstein first approached him while he was serving as a UN intern and later during his tenure at a New York banking institution. Epstein reportedly sought an introduction to Belgium’s royal family through the prince, a request that Laurent states he consistently refused.

Approximately ten years after their initial contact, Epstein extended another invitation, this time to a dinner gathering in Paris that allegedly included a head of state and several influential businessmen. Prince Laurent maintains he declined this invitation as well.

Notably, the prince faces no allegations of misconduct related to Epstein’s criminal activities. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges for sex trafficking minors, after having previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The disclosure comes months after Prince Laurent revealed another personal matter—that he fathered a child with a Flemish model and singer prior to his 2003 marriage.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican officials have declared wetland conservation a fundamental component of the nation’s long-term development framework. Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, emphasized that protecting these vital ecosystems is indispensable for realizing Jamaica’s Vision 2030 objectives.

During a recent JIS Think Tank session, Minister Samuda articulated the multifaceted role wetlands play in advancing national priorities. He directly linked their preservation to achieving critical outcomes in climate resilience, sustainable economic livelihoods, water security, and biodiversity conservation. “Vision 2030 envisions a healthy environment for all Jamaicans. Our wetlands are a critical part of that environment, supporting livelihoods, protecting communities, and ensuring development occurs in harmony with nature,” Samuda stated.

The minister detailed how wetlands are intrinsically tied to Outcome 13 of the national development plan, which focuses on the sustainable management of environmental and natural resources. He further highlighted their significance in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies. Samuda characterized ecosystem-based adaptation, such as leveraging natural wetlands for flood control, as a highly cost-effective alternative to expensive engineered infrastructure projects.

“Every community that benefits from fisheries, tourism, or agriculture near a wetland is part of our development framework. Protecting these ecosystems means safeguarding jobs, food security, and resilience—core pillars of Vision 2030,” he explained, reframing environmental protection as a strategic development investment.

Emphasizing the necessity of public engagement, Samuda asserted that achieving Vision 2030 is contingent on community participation. He advocated for enhanced environmental education initiatives targeting local communities, schools, and service clubs to foster a culture of collective responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Adding technical perspective, Monique Curtis, Manager of the Ecosystems Management Branch at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), confirmed the alignment between Jamaica’s international commitments under the Ramsar Convention and its domestic Vision 2030 targets. She cited specific wetland systems, including the Black River Lower Morass and the Portland Bight Wetlands and Cays, as prime examples of ‘development assets’ that sustain key industries like fisheries, agriculture, and ecotourism while performing essential services like water filtration and carbon sequestration.

“These sites are not just environmental assets; they are development assets. Wisely restoring and managing them strengthens our natural capital, which is central to Jamaica’s sustainable growth pathway,” Curtis informed.

As Jamaica joins the global observance of World Wetlands Day 2026 under the theme ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,’ the overarching message is clear: wetland conservation is a imperative not merely for environmental preservation but for securing a prosperous and sustainable future for all citizens.