标签： Jamaica

The National Housing Trust (NHT) has witnessed an unprecedented surge in applications on the opening day of its three-day registration period for the Vineyard Town and Howard Avenue apartment projects. This overwhelming response underscores the pressing demand for affordable housing in Jamaica’s Corporate Area. According to Dwayne Berbick, Assistant General Manager for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the NHT, the Vineyard Town development received over 2,100 applications, while the Howard Avenue project attracted more than 2,600 submissions on the first day alone. Berbick described the turnout as “definitely above expectations,” attributing the high interest to the urban nature of the projects. He emphasized that the NHT is actively working to address the housing shortage by planning to construct 43,000 starter homes across Jamaica. The Howard Avenue apartments, priced at $9.9 million and spanning 300 square feet, are tailored for low-income earners, with 20% of the 245 units reserved for applicants aged 36 and under. Similarly, the Vineyard Town studio apartments, priced at $15 million and covering 430 square feet, are designed to help young adults enter the housing market. Berbick highlighted the flexibility of the new initiative, which allows homeowners to sell their units back to the NHT after five years, enabling them to upgrade or access non-homeowners’ loans. Despite the oversubscription, Berbick anticipates further applications in the coming days, humorously noting Jamaicans’ tendency to act at the last minute.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Dr Saphire Longmore, a distinguished psychiatrist and former Government Senator, has concluded her nine-year tenure in the Upper House of Parliament, expressing profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Jamaican people from 2016 to 2025. In a heartfelt statement issued on Thursday, Dr Longmore reflected on her contributions to advancing the nation’s vision and her unwavering commitment to public service.

Dr Longmore emphasized that while she will not be returning to the Senate in the new session, her dedication to Jamaica’s progress remains steadfast. ‘Public service is not defined by a single role or title — it is a team effort and a mission we all share,’ she stated. She also shared her plans to focus on personal and professional growth, working alongside her family to chart the next chapter of her career.

The former senator extended her congratulations to the newly appointed senators and reaffirmed her readiness to collaborate with them and the administration in pursuing Jamaica’s development. She also highlighted her continued role as a consultant psychiatrist at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), expressing gratitude to her colleagues for their unwavering support.

Dr Longmore, a former president of the Jamaica Psychiatric Association and chair of the Jamaica Psilocybin Technical Committee, has long been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and policy reform. She used the occasion to address the tragic passing of Tyra Spaulding, a 26-year-old former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant, whose death is being investigated as a suspected suicide.

Describing the incident as ‘an unfortunate reality,’ Dr Longmore pledged to continue leveraging her expertise to support mental wellness in Jamaica. ‘This is a collective developmental task which is bigger than any one person or role,’ she remarked, paying tribute to Spaulding with the words, ‘May her soul rise in peace.’

In a recent legal proceeding in Guyana, two Brazilian nationals faced penalties for unlawfully acquiring gold from unauthorized sources, breaching the country’s mining regulations. Jose Antonio Rodrigues Dos Santos, aged 58, and Isac Aguiar Abreu, 36, both miners from Boa Vista, Brazil, were apprehended on Monday. They were formally charged with purchasing gold from individuals not sanctioned by the Guyana Gold Board or its authorized agents, a violation under Section 7(2) of the Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01, and Section 23 of the same legislation. The case was heard at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Omadatt Chandan on Tuesday, where the charges were individually presented to the defendants. Both men admitted guilt and were subsequently fined GUY$75,000 each, with a seven-month prison sentence as an alternative if the fines remain unpaid.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has successfully trained 200 fishers nationwide through its Safety at Sea Training Programme, a collaborative initiative launched in 2022. The programme, developed under a memorandum of understanding with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), focuses on two critical components: safety at sea and safe diving practices. Designed to enhance the skills and resilience of fishers, the training equips participants with essential knowledge and tools to navigate the sea safely and sustainably.