标签： Jamaica

A comprehensive real-time audit of Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa relief efforts has revealed severe systemic failures within the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), raising serious concerns about the management of public resources during national emergencies.

The Auditor General’s Department (AuGD) investigation, presented to the House of Representatives, uncovered multiple violations of established procurement protocols and inadequate oversight mechanisms. The audit specifically examined the governance framework, distribution processes, and internal controls designed to prevent fraud and misuse of disaster relief funds.

According to financial data provided by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the government awarded 420 contracts totaling $11.13 billion in response to Hurricane Melissa. ODPEM accessed $207 million of the $350 million authorized withdrawal from the National Disaster Fund (NDF) for relief operations.

The audit identified a critical failure in oversight, revealing that the National Disaster Fund Committee (NDFC) convened only twice since its appointment in September 2020, with its last meeting occurring in June 2022. The committee’s term expired in September 2023, and as of December 2025, no new appointments had been made, constituting a direct violation of the Disaster Risk Management Act.

A particularly troubling finding involved the procurement of 200 Starlink satellite communication devices costing $12.12 million. The investigation determined that Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz improperly initiated the procurement through ministerial instruction rather than through ODPEM’s Director General, contravening the Public Procurement Act of 2015. The devices were delivered to the Office of the Commissioner of Police on November 14, 2025, yet ODPEM only began preparing required procurement documentation five days after delivery.

The audit further revealed that only 120 devices were distributed to 17 entities, with just 13 entities confirming receipt of 86 devices. Physical inspections at eight locations found all 41 examined devices remained unused and in storage, defeating their purpose for emergency connectivity in hurricane-affected parishes.

Additional findings included $59.6 million worth of relief items (food, tarpaulin, and water) that were not recorded in ODPEM’s inventory system, indicating a complete lack of effective tracking and accountability measures for critical emergency supplies.

The AuGD has recommended urgent appointment of a new NDFC, immediate improvement of inventory management systems, and implementation of a structured deployment plan for all Starlink devices. ODPEM has committed to addressing these deficiencies by January 30, 2026.

A U.S. federal judge has scheduled an emergency hearing for Wednesday to address a request for blocking access to investigative documents concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This development follows legal representatives from Florida law firm Edwards Henderson alerting the court that numerous victim identities, intended to be protected through redaction, remained fully visible in recently released files.

The Justice Department, which published over three million documents related to the Epstein investigation last week, now faces mounting pressure after legal counsel Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson identified a critical email within the document cache that listed 32 minor victims with only a single name properly anonymized. An additional complainant reported her complete residential address appearing in the public records, raising severe privacy and safety concerns.

In response to these disclosures, attorneys have urgently petitioned for the immediate removal of the files from the government website. District Judge Richard M. Berman acknowledged the request but expressed uncertainty regarding his capacity to resolve the issue, stating in a brief order, “I am not certain how helpful I can be.”

The department is currently undertaking around-the-clock efforts to implement additional redactions after The New York Times discovered dozens of unredacted nude photographs containing identifiable faces within the released materials. Most of these images have since been removed or adequately obscured.

Concurrently, the Epstein case continues to reverberate through Washington’s political landscape. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to provide testimony before a House committee investigating the handling of earlier Epstein investigations, thereby avoiding potential contempt proceedings. Their spokesperson confirmed they “look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.”

The couple had initially challenged the subpoenas as invalid due to an alleged lack of clear legislative purpose, instead submitting sworn written statements. Bill Clinton acknowledged flights on Epstein’s aircraft for humanitarian purposes but denied visiting his private island, while Hillary Clinton stated she had no substantive interactions with the financier.

The investigation remains intensely polarized, with Democrats alleging the probe targets political opponents of former President Donald Trump—who also associated with Epstein but has not been summoned to testify. Neither Trump nor the Clintons face allegations of criminal misconduct related to Epstein’s activities.

WASHINGTON, United States – Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to provide testimony before Congress regarding their connections to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement came from Republican Representative James Comer, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, on Tuesday.

The Clintons, initially defiant of congressional subpoenas, reversed their stance following the House’s move to hold them in contempt. Chairman Comer stated that the Democratic power couple had ‘completely caved,’ agreeing to participate in transcribed and filmed depositions scheduled for this month. Hillary Clinton is set to appear on February 26, followed by Bill Clinton on February 27.

The Epstein scandal, which continues to reverberate through Washington’s corridors of power, implicates numerous high-profile figures from business and politics. Epstein, who died in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, maintained extensive networks among global elites.

The Justice Department’s recent release of over 3 million documents related to the Epstein investigation has intensified scrutiny, fueling fierce partisan debates. Democrats allege the congressional probe is politically motivated, engineered to target opponents of former President Donald Trump—a longtime Epstein associate who has not been summoned to testify—rather than pursue genuine oversight.

BELMOPAN, Belize – In a significant diplomatic advancement for Caribbean regional cooperation, Belize and Guyana have formalized a comprehensive partnership through multiple memoranda of understanding signed during President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s three-day state visit. These agreements establish a strategic framework for enhanced collaboration across critical sectors including national security, education, tourism, and digital transformation.

The newly signed documents reflect both nations’ commitment to mutual prosperity and regional stability while honoring Caribbean Community (CARICOM) principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and reciprocal cooperation. Unlike binding treaties, these understandings represent political commitments to work collaboratively within available resources and national priorities.

Security cooperation forms a cornerstone of the partnership, with both countries pledging to strengthen capabilities against transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, and emerging security threats through joint training, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building initiatives. This defensive-oriented collaboration aims to bolster institutional effectiveness while maintaining regional peace.

Educational exchanges feature prominently in the agreements, with commitments to expand scholarship opportunities, academic partnerships, and digital learning access to develop human capital for future generations. The tourism framework promotes sustainable development through multi-destination travel packages, knowledge transfer, and diaspora engagement strategies.

Notably, the digital transformation agreement seeks to enhance governmental efficiency through artificial intelligence implementation, while a joint statement of intent signals forthcoming negotiations for a bilateral investment treaty. In a complementary environmental commitment, Belize announced its intention to join the Global Biodiversity Alliance initiated by Guyana, strengthening regional response to biodiversity conservation and climate change challenges.

Officials from both nations emphasized that these cooperative efforts will be implemented gradually and transparently, focusing on practical outcomes that deliver tangible benefits to their citizens while advancing Caribbean development priorities.

FORT DE FRANCE, Martinique – In a landmark legislative move, the French Senate has granted preliminary approval for Martinique to pursue associate membership within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This decisive vote, cast on January 28, represents a critical advancement for the territory’s formal application, which was initially submitted during the CARICOM summit in Barbados in February of the previous year.

French governmental authorities have clarified that while this Senate endorsement is a significant political milestone, it does not finalize the institutional process. The accession agreement must still undergo review and ratification by the French National Assembly to complete the requisite domestic legislative procedure. Officials emphasized that the overwhelming support in the Senate delivers a powerful message of solidarity with the 15-member regional bloc, a relationship that has historically been fragmented for French Caribbean territories.

Established in 1973 via the Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM is a coalition of sovereign states and dependent territories collaborating on key regional initiatives, including economic integration, climate change resilience, public health, education, and cultural exchange. For French overseas collectivities like Martinique, engagement with CARICOM has traditionally been conducted through ad-hoc partnerships and limited technical cooperation, lacking a structured institutional foundation. Martinique’s bid for associate membership is strategically designed to bridge this longstanding gap.

Associate membership status, a provision within the Treaty of Chaguaramas, is specifically designed for non-independent territories. It permits full involvement in CARICOM’s programs and deliberations but does not confer sovereign privileges, such as voting on binding community decisions or conducting independent foreign policy.

French officials have further assured that this new affiliation will not alter Martinique’s constitutional status. The island will continue to be governed as a French collectivity under the code général des collectivités territoriales and will fully retain its position as an outermost region of the European Union. The French legal system permits local authorities to join regional organizations with state consent, a process that involves no transfer of governmental competences or any challenge to French or European sovereignty.

According to Richès Karayib, a multimodal media platform focused on Caribbean culture and development, the Senate’s approval inaugurates a new chapter for Martinique. The primary objective is now to convert this institutional framework into concrete, actionable projects and fruitful cooperation that will directly benefit the territory and its citizens, marking the beginning of deeper regional integration rather than a symbolic achievement.