标签： Jamaica

Local government representatives in St Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, are engaged in critical discussions with the nation’s primary electricity provider, Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), seeking concrete timelines for restoring power to communities still without electricity nearly three months after Hurricane Melissa’s devastation.

The high-stakes meeting, convened in Santa Cruz and attended by JPS Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant, follows the utility company’s previous refusal to address media inquiries. Councillor Christopher Williams (Jamaica Labour Party, Santa Cruz division) expressed cautious optimism, noting that JPS had requested detailed information about affected communities earlier this week. “We have furnished JPS with that information, so today we are expecting to get some timeline from them,” Williams stated.

Significant areas remain without power across multiple divisions, including critical infrastructure such as the Santa Cruz Infirmary on Institution Drive. The Santa Cruz division alone reports outages in Rocky Hill, Park Mountain, Good Hope, Abraham, Burnt Ground, New River, and Brighton. Similarly, Councillor Donovan Pagon (People’s National Party, Braes River division) identified Braes River, Elim, Red Ground, George’s Valley, Grosmond, and sections of Wilton, Southampton, and Northampton as still awaiting restoration.

Residents have been burdened by substantial generator costs, creating mounting pressure on local representatives. Williams acknowledged the growing frustration among constituents, emphasizing that any delay beyond the end of January would be “disheartening.”

The closed-door negotiations occur against the backdrop of national restoration statistics presented to Parliament by Energy Minister Daryl Vaz. According to official figures, 491,000 of the original 542,000 customers who lost power during the October 28, 2025 hurricane have been reconnected, representing approximately 92-93% national restoration. However, the remaining 51,000 disconnected customers are concentrated in hard-hit regions like St Elizabeth, where infrastructure damage was most severe.

In a decisive ruling on Monday, Supreme Court Justice Dale Palmer mandated that the high-profile trial of alleged Klansman faction leader Tesha Miller and his 24 co-defendants will commence on February 2, 2026. This conclusion follows a contentious adjournment application by the Crown prosecution, which had sought to postpone proceedings until June due to unresolved evidentiary materials.

Justice Palmer, presiding in the Home Circuit Division, expressed firm opposition to extended delays, stating that such a move would not ‘aid in the just disposal of the matter.’ He emphasized that the case had already been before the court for nearly two years, with a trial date originally set in April of the previous year. The judge acknowledged prosecution arguments concerning outstanding DNA results, forensic reports from the Communications Forensics and Cybercrime Division (CFCD), crime scene materials, and transcripts, but determined that a two-week preparation window would suffice.

The court’s decision incorporated considerations regarding prison access issues that have hampered defense attorneys’ ability to consult with their clients. Despite a April 2024 practice directive from Chief Justice Bryan Sykes authorizing electronic disclosure in criminal proceedings, defense counsel reported ongoing barriers in visiting incarcerated clients and sharing documentation. Justice Palmer noted these access issues were now being resolved, making the brief adjournment beneficial for defendant preparation.

Prosecutors plan to call 99 witnesses, with the court approving subpoenas for 50 civilian witnesses and requiring police witnesses to be formally warned to appear. Meanwhile, bail was extended for accused medical doctor Paul Robinson, while other defendants attending via Zoom were remanded into custody.

Miller, currently serving a 38-year sentence for orchestrating the 2008 murder of Jamaica Urban Transit Company Chairman Douglas Chambers, now faces additional charges under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act, commonly known as the anti-gang legislation. The defendants are accused of participating in numerous criminal activities between August 2017 and August 2022 in St. Catherine, including murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and firearms offenses.

Jamaica’s National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is intensifying its monumental effort to clear approximately 450,000 truckloads of debris remaining from Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage in October 2025. Executive Director Audley Gordon has confirmed the removal of 27,000 loads since deploying ten additional tipper trucks three weeks ago, acknowledging the scale of the challenge while assuring citizens of accelerating progress.

The agency has established a specialized Debris Management Unit comprising redirected managers and staff exclusively dedicated to hurricane cleanup operations. This temporary organizational structure aims to maintain efficiency in regular garbage collection while addressing the extraordinary post-disaster requirements. Gordon emphasized that the new trucks, though beneficial, represent only one component of a comprehensive strategy that includes contracting private heavy machinery operators with backhoes and front-end loaders.

Financial backing for the cleanup has been substantial, with the government allocating approximately $1.5 billion specifically for debris management since the Category 5 storm struck. Additional resources include a forthcoming commitment of ten more tipper trucks to bolster operational capacity.

Gordon has appealed for public patience, recognizing that visible progress may vary across communities. He pledged continuous day-and-night operations and committed to quarterly briefings to maintain transparency regarding cleanup timelines and achievements. The NSWMA emphasizes that partnership with private contractors remains essential to completing the task within a reasonable timeframe, as relying solely on agency resources would extend cleanup operations for years.

The high-profile murder trial of former Jamaican opposition party parliamentarian Jolyan Silvera will commence on February 2nd under strict privacy provisions that will exclude both media and public from proceedings. Silvera faces charges for the 2023 firearm-related murder of his wife, Melissa Silvera, with the case falling under specialized Gun Court jurisdiction that mandates in-camera hearings.

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, presiding over the case, clarified that while he personally doesn’t object to journalistic presence, the final decision rests with legal representatives from both sides. “If the lawyers agree, then we can come to some accommodation,” Justice Sykes stated during Monday’s proceedings, “but for the time being it is what it is.”

The privacy measures derive from Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of Jamaica’s Gun Court Act of 1974, which permits exclusion of the public and restricts trial reporting in interests of public safety and order. These provisions have governed firearm-related cases for five decades, allowing only court personnel, legal representatives, and specifically authorized individuals to attend proceedings.

The case involves grim details surrounding the November 2023 death of Melissa Silvera, initially reported as natural causes until autopsy revealed three bullet fragments inside the body of the 42-year-old chemical engineering graduate and petroleum company CEO. The mother of four boys—one deceased before her—was found dead in the couple’s Stony Hill residence.

Silvera, appearing noticeably slimmer and well-groomed in tailored clothing during Monday’s hearing, has been in custody since his January 2024 arrest. The former People’s National Party representative is defended by attorneys Peter Champagnie King’s Counsel and Patrice Riley, while prosecutors Dwayne Green and Latoya Bernard represent the state.

Jamaica’s Gun Court operates through three specialized divisions: the High Court Division for most firearm offenses (judge-only trials), Circuit Court Division for serious crimes like murder with firearms (jury trials), and Resident Magistrate’s Division for preliminary inquiries—all typically conducted privately.

Nearly three months after Hurricane Melissa devastated the region, St Elizabeth Parish continues to grapple with a significant humanitarian situation as ten emergency shelters remain operational, housing approximately 72 displaced residents. The update came from Acting Parish Disaster Coordinator Rasha Lloyd during the January 12 meeting of the Disaster Preparedness, Hazard Mitigation & Safety Committee in Santa Cruz.

Among the active shelters, two educational institutions—Maggotty High School and Ginger Hill Primary School—continue to serve as temporary housing facilities. Remarkably, Maggotty High School has successfully maintained dual operations since November, functioning simultaneously as both a shelter and an active educational institution without disrupting academic activities.

The situation differs at Ginger Hill Primary School, where severe storm damage has prevented the reopening of classes. Officials project the institution will resume normal operations during the final week of January following necessary repairs.

Lloyd detailed the government’s multi-faceted approach to resolving the shelter crisis, emphasizing collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. “We’re exploring alternative housing solutions, including family reunification and rental assistance programs where the Government would subsidize accommodation costs,” Lloyd explained. “Additionally, we’re working to provide building materials for reconstruction, as many displaced residents previously occupied board dwellings that were completely destroyed by the hurricane.”

The ongoing shelter reinspection process, initiated in December, has been temporarily suspended throughout January to accommodate Earthquake Awareness Month activities. Coordination with the Jamaica Fire Brigade is currently underway to implement educational programs in schools throughout the month. Official shelter reassessments are scheduled to resume in February.