标签： Jamaica

Jamaican law enforcement authorities have apprehended a high-profile criminal suspect during a targeted operation in St. Catherine on Monday. Courtney Ashley, widely known by his alias “Bloodstain,” was taken into custody by the St. Catherine South police division in the gated community of Phoenix Park, Portmore.

Ashley, identified as the alleged leader of the Bottom Marverly Gang, had been the subject of an extensive manhunt for multiple violent crimes. The suspect also maintains reported affiliations with the Yacca Avenue and 440 Drive criminal networks, according to police intelligence.

The capture concludes a prolonged search for Ashley, who had been prominently featured in the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s “Wanted Wednesdays” public awareness campaign. Law enforcement officials had sought Ashley in connection with the 2017 homicide of Andrew Foster and the non-fatal shooting of another individual on Fenbrook Avenue in St. Andrew.

Police authorities have additionally named Ashley as a person of interest in several ongoing investigations, including a recent double homicide case within the St. Andrew South Division. The operation represents a significant achievement for Jamaican law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to combat organized crime and gang-related violence in the region.

Jamaican emergency officials are intensifying public education efforts on earthquake safety protocols as the nation observes Earthquake Awareness Week. Superintendent Emeleo Ebanks, Education Officer at the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), emphasized the critical importance of maintaining composure and implementing preventive measures during seismic events during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ session.

Ebanks stressed that prior preparation serves as the most effective antidote to panic during disasters. ‘Don’t panic. I know that’s the easiest thing to say and the most difficult thing to do, but prior preparation will ensure that, as much as possible, you don’t panic,’ the senior fire officer stated.

The JFB official provided specific guidance for various scenarios, warning against the instinctual reaction to flee buildings during shaking. Instead, he recommended the ‘drop, cover, and hold’ technique until vibrations cease, followed by orderly evacuation. Motorists on bridges should safely exit the structure before stopping, while pedestrians in urban areas with tall buildings should quickly move to spaces where collapsing structures cannot reach them.

Home preparedness measures include removing heavy or hanging objects from walls, particularly in bedrooms, where falling items could cause severe injury or death. Ebanks highlighted that these objects often become dangerous projectiles during seismic activity.

Post-earthquake procedures include immediate head counts to ensure family safety and designated individuals contacting emergency services only when absolutely necessary to avoid overwhelming communication systems. The JFB, in collaboration with other government agencies including the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), continues to promote public education as fundamental to national disaster readiness under the theme ‘Resilient Jamaica: We Weather the Storm and Brace for the Shake.’

ST ANN, Jamaica — A transformative family recreation venture has emerged in Drax Hall with the inaugural launch of TruFun Play, establishing a pioneering indoor play facility that addresses longstanding developmental needs for children in the Ocho Rios region. This strategically designed center represents a significant advancement in community infrastructure, providing structured recreational programming previously unavailable in St Ann’s family service landscape.

Spearheaded by Kimona Myrie, an entrepreneurial mother who relocated from Lucea four years ago, the facility embodies a dual commitment to family welfare and business innovation. Myrie’s personal journey inspired the venture, which originated from her frustration with inadequate play spaces for her daughter and other children throughout parish communities.

TruFun Play’s operational framework serves children aged 1-14 through a meticulously curated environment prioritizing safety, supervision, and developmental enrichment. The facility accommodates up to 80 children hourly across multiple activity zones featuring ball pits, trampolines, slides, and obstacle courses. Beyond recreational offerings, the center provides nutritional services, birthday celebration hosting, and educational programs including Saturday enrichment classes in self-defense, karate, and cultural arts.

The business model integrates comprehensive after-school care alongside recreational services, creating a holistic approach to child development. Myrie’s substantial personal investment encompassed equipment procurement, safety system implementation, and staff training, supplemented by support from family networks, church communities, and early vision advocates.

This enterprise transcends conventional business parameters by embedding community partnership and local entrepreneurship within its operational DNA. By positioning children and families at the core of community development, TruFun Play establishes a paradigm for socially conscious business investment in Jamaica’s parish infrastructure, demonstrating how recreational facilities can catalyze broader regional development while meeting critical childhood needs.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has initiated a comprehensive reconstruction project to reactivate electricity transmission to the National Water Commission’s (NWC) Roaring River Pump, a critical facility providing water to approximately 50,000 residents in Westmoreland. The initiative, described as part of the ‘last mile’ restoration phase, also aims to reinstate power to over 1,700 local customers.

JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant emphasized the project’s prioritization of essential services despite the disproportionate effort required. ‘We recognize the significant inconvenience and health implications caused by water shortages. Although this extensive work will restore power to a relatively small number of JPS customers, the primary benefit is restoring water supply to tens of thousands. This aligns with our strategy to prioritize critical infrastructure including water systems, hospitals, and telecommunications,’ Grant stated in a Tuesday media release.

The reconstruction effort involves rebuilding over 10 miles of electrical infrastructure from the JPS Paradise Substation to the Roaring River pump. Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 impact caused catastrophic damage, washing away roadways and flooding entire areas. The utility company has had to redesign routes, relocate infrastructure, and reconstruct entire line sections to establish a more resilient network.

Canadian contracting firm Holland Power Services, assisted by digger derricks and specialized equipment, is replanting more than 300 uprooted electricity poles along the corridor. Over 100 line workers comprising international contractors and local JPS teams have been deployed to complete the challenging terrain work.

JPS Operations Area Manager Kenyatta Campbell detailed the extraordinary challenges: ‘This represents some of the most difficult work our teams have faced during restoration. We’re relocating poles from swamp-created areas to stable ground, encountering rocky soil conditions that require specialized rock-digging equipment in newly identified locations.’

Upon completion, the project will restore electricity to Petersfield, Shrewsbury, Carawina, Waterworks, Dean’s Valley, Petersfield High School, and surrounding communities while reactivating the crucial water pump. Similar ‘last mile’ restoration efforts continue in St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. James, and Trelawny.

JPS advises affected customers to employ licensed electricians for premises inspection to ensure internal wiring systems are safe before power restoration.

A tragic workplace incident in Santa Cruz has claimed the life of a seasoned solar technician, casting a shadow over Jamaica’s growing renewable energy sector. Steve White, a 54-year-old electrician from Old Porus in Manchester, was fatally electrocuted on Monday evening while installing solar panels atop a commercial plaza located on Main Street.

According to preliminary investigative reports compiled by local law enforcement, the accident occurred at approximately 7:00 PM. White was actively engaged in the installation process when a sudden electrical discharge occurred. Colleagues present at the scene reported witnessing a bright flash of light followed by White’s cry indicating he had received a severe shock.

Despite initially assuring his coworkers that he was uninjured and walking away from the immediate site, White collapsed mere moments later. Emergency services were promptly alerted and transported the technician to Mandeville Regional Hospital. Medical personnel pronounced him dead upon arrival, despite attempts to administer life-saving treatment.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force has launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal electrocution. Industry experts note that such incidents highlight the critical importance of stringent safety protocols in the rapidly expanding solar installation field, particularly when working with high-voltage systems. This event marks another sobering reminder of the occupational hazards faced by technicians in the renewable energy sector.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican law enforcement authorities are calling upon the nation’s most wanted fugitives to voluntarily surrender following the peaceful apprehension of a high-profile gang leader this week. The appeal comes after Courtney Ashley, alias ‘Bloodstain’—a prime suspect on the Area Four police Most Wanted list—was captured without incident during a tactical operation in Portmore, St Catherine.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps publicly commended Ashley’s compliance during the arrest, which occurred within the gated community of Phoenix Park. According to official reports, members of the St Catherine South Special Operations team confronted Ashley alongside another male individual and a female associate at approximately 7:10 PM on Monday. Although Ashley and his male companion initially attempted flight, security forces promptly intercepted and detained all three individuals.

Investigators subsequently conducted a thorough search of the premises, resulting in the seizure of multiple evidentiary items including electronic devices such as laptops and cellular phones, a card reader, and substantial quantities of both Jamaican and United States currency.

ACP Phipps emphasized the operational benefits of peaceful surrender, stating: ‘Ashley’s cooperative disposition eliminated any necessity for forceful engagement. We strongly urge other high-risk targets and wanted persons to emulate this example when confronted by security personnel.’

The police commander further issued a stern warning to civilians against harboring fugitives, indicating that the detained woman faces potential prosecution for providing refuge to a wanted individual. Ashley himself remains in custody facing multiple charges including homicide and organized violence allegations linked to his purported leadership of the Bottom Marverly Gang.