标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican Court of Appeal has achieved an unprecedented judgment delivery rate of 560% in 2024, far surpassing international standards. This remarkable milestone was announced by Justice of Appeal Paulette Williams during the opening of the Michaelmas Term on September 22 in Kingston. Williams explained that for every 10 newly reserved judgments, approximately 56 were delivered, significantly exceeding the global benchmark of 100%.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) has announced a temporary closure of Central Avenue in St Andrew to carry out critical drainage improvement works. The road will be shut down for 10 hours each day on Saturday and Sunday, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Central Avenue, a vital thoroughfare connecting Constant Spring Road to West Avenue and providing access to Queens High School, will be inaccessible to vehicular traffic during this period. Residents needing to access their properties will be permitted entry via West Avenue. Stephen Shaw, Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, emphasized that the project aims to mitigate frequent flooding issues along Central Avenue, particularly during heavy rainfall. The works are scheduled for the weekend of October 4 and 5. Motorists are urged to exercise caution, adhere to flagmen’s instructions, and follow posted warning signs to ensure safety during the closure.

A London-based nursery worker, Roksana Lecka, 22, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of ‘gratuitous’ and ‘sadistic’ assaults on infants under her care. The shocking case, which came to light in June 2024, involved multiple acts of violence against 21 babies at two nurseries where Lecka was employed. Among the incidents, she was found to have repeatedly kicked a young boy in the face, pinched, slapped, and even toppled children headfirst into their cots. Judge Sarah Plaschkes described Lecka’s actions as deliberate and cruel, often targeting children who were peacefully occupied. Lecka admitted to seven counts of cruelty to a person under 16 and was convicted of an additional 14 counts following a trial. She was acquitted of three further charges. The abuse was uncovered after nursery CCTV footage captured her mistreating the children, prompting police involvement. Victim impact statements from parents revealed the profound emotional toll the attacks had taken, with one mother describing the infants as ‘innocent, vulnerable, and helpless.’ Lecka, who blamed her actions on cannabis addiction, apologized in a letter to the court, claiming the drug had altered her personality. However, her remorse did little to mitigate the severity of her crimes, as the judge emphasized the ‘sadistic’ nature of her conduct.

TOKYO, Japan — The globally renowned Pokémon franchise has publicly distanced itself from a controversial video released by the United States government, which used the brand’s iconic slogan ‘Gotta Catch ‘Em All’ in connection with an immigration enforcement operation. The video, posted by the US Department of Homeland Security on social media platform X, depicted an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid, featuring armed officers detaining individuals portrayed as illegal immigrants while the Pokémon theme song played in the background. Scenes from the clip included the franchise’s main character, Ash (known as Satoshi in Japan), throwing ‘Poke Balls,’ a signature element of the Pokémon series. Nintendo’s Pokémon Company swiftly issued a statement clarifying that it had no involvement in the creation or dissemination of the video, emphasizing, ‘We have never approved the use of intellectual property that we control.’ The video’s release coincided with the Trump administration’s launch of ‘Operation Midway Blitz,’ a new immigration enforcement initiative in Chicago targeting individuals deemed ‘the worst of the worst criminals.’ Since its debut in 1996 as a role-playing game for Nintendo’s Game Boy, Pokémon has grown into a cultural phenomenon, inspiring movies, an animated TV series, and the augmented-reality mobile game ‘Pokémon Go.’ The franchise’s roots lie in the Japanese tradition of bug-collecting, with players capturing and training creatures ranging from mice to dragons. The unauthorized use of Pokémon’s intellectual property in the government’s video has sparked widespread discussion about the intersection of pop culture and political messaging.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Jamaica has successfully concluded its sixth annual summer employment and training initiative, benefiting 33 young participants with scholarships totaling $5.9 million. The four-week program, conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Law and Economics (ILE), provided comprehensive training and internship opportunities aimed at fostering workplace readiness, financial literacy, leadership, entrepreneurship, and sexual and reproductive health awareness.