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  • BLAME THE MINISTRY!

    BLAME THE MINISTRY!

    As Jamaica grapples with a growing crisis of weapons possession and widespread student indiscipline across the nation’s public schools, the top leader of the country’s teachers’ union has issued a scathing rebuke of government inaction, accusing policymakers of actively undermining school administrators’ efforts to enforce order and hold violating students accountable.

    In an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer published Sunday, Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Mark Malabver outlined the deep scope of the problem, revealing that some campuses are now struggling to control gang activity infiltrating their halls.

    “The Ministry of Education already collects detailed data on every major infraction reported across our schools, so they are fully aware of the range and volume of weapons seized from students every year,” Malabver told the outlet. “Students are bringing an alarming variety of weapons onto campus. I don’t know what purpose this data is serving if no substantive action follows, but it is past time for meaningful intervention.”

    Malabver emphasized that the number of weapons recovered is significant, and called for coordinated action from school administrators, governing boards, and the education ministry to expel gang presence from campuses entirely. “Schools must be made a completely hostile environment for gangs,” he said.

    The JTA president confirmed that common edged weapons including knives, ice picks, and scissors are regularly carried by students to school, noting that while firearm seizures are not an everyday occurrence, they have happened repeatedly. “We have had students taken into law enforcement custody for carrying loaded firearms on campus,” he said. “This is not a new problem, but it points to a much wider crisis of systemic student indiscipline that has played out in deadly ways.”

    The most recent high-profile fatal incident took place on April 20, when 13-year-old Seaforth High School student Kland Doyle was stabbed to death by a fellow student in St Thomas. The fatal attack grew out of an on-campus dispute that spilled off school grounds, unfolding between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. near the Morant Bay Transport Centre, close to a Teen Hub facility and an internet café frequently used by students. St Thomas Police Division Commanding Officer Rohan Ritchie confirmed three students have been taken into custody in connection with Doyle’s killing.

    Just one week before that fatal stabbing, law enforcement officers arrested four Papine High School students in Gordon Town, St Andrew, after breaking up a public brawl. The students were found in possession of multiple offensive weapons including knives, ice picks, and machetes. While no assault charges were filed because no formal victim reports were submitted, all four teens were formally charged with illegal weapons possession.

    The Jamaica Observer has requested official aggregated statistics from police on the total number and types of weapons seized from students across the island since last week. While the department promised to release the data this week, it has not yet been made public. Police have however repeatedly shared photos of seized student weapons on their public social media channels in recent months, highlighting the scope of the issue.

    In one of the most alarming revelations from the interview, Malabver stated that reports collected by the JTA point to a sharp rise in unprovoked violent attacks against teaching staff by students. “We have seen a significant jump in these unprovoked attacks, alongside persistent bullying across campuses,” he explained. “In one recent case in St Catherine, a student attacked a teacher from behind, causing severe injuries that forced the educator to miss months of classes while recovering. In far too many of these cases, teachers end up paying for their own medical costs out of pocket.”

    Malabver argued that the root of the current indiscipline crisis stems from multiple systemic failures, starting with lack of parental accountability, which the government has failed to address. “We are only treating the symptoms of the problem right now, not getting to the root cause. For me, the core issue is poor parenting,” he said. “There is currently no legislation on the books that holds parents legally responsible for the harmful behavior their children engage in while at school. Lawmakers need to take this gap seriously and pass new legislation to create that accountability.”

    Beyond parental accountability, Malabver pointed to gaps in school governance that let offending students avoid consequences, often when school boards fail to take timely disciplinary action. He went a step further, arguing that the Ministry of Education has inadvertently become complicit in undermining school-wide discipline policies.

    “Whenever school leaders enforce existing dress and grooming codes, ministry officials and even elected politicians often side with violating students instead of backing administrators,” he said. “We keep hearing that new policies are in development, stuck in one consultation phase or another, but where is the urgent, concrete policy to address the indiscipline crisis tearing at our schools? We need a firm, uncompromising approach to discipline, and right now the Ministry is failing to deliver that. They may deny this, but the facts speak for themselves.”

    The issue of weapons in Jamaican schools is not new: just a few years ago, St Catherine North Police, backed by Jamaica Defence Force personnel, carried out a coordinated search of a local high school and seized a large cache of weapons and contraband from students, images of which were widely shared on official police social media at the time.

  • WATCH: New Forest High’s 5K run/walk more than a race

    WATCH: New Forest High’s 5K run/walk more than a race

    MANCHESTER, JAMAICA – Stakeholders at New Forest High School have expanded the scope of impact from the institution’s annual 5K run/walk, with proceeds now set to support three key priorities: campus infrastructure expansion, athletic program development, and a new staff wellness initiative amid rising rates of illness among faculty. Board Chair Trisha Williams-Singh announced the updated fundraising goals during Sunday’s second staging of the popular community event, marking a decade since the school first opened its doors.

    As the 10-year-old institution continues to grow to meet student demand, the bulk of this year’s race proceeds will go toward constructing a long-awaited on-campus auditorium and upgrading the school’s existing sports programs. In a new addition to the event’s mission, a portion of funds will also be allocated to launch the New Forest High Staff Welfare Fund, a response to a sharp recent increase in reported illness among teaching and administrative staff.

    Williams-Singh emphasized that the dual focus of the event aligns with the school’s core values of community care. “We are not just raising money – we are modeling healthy lifestyles for our students and our community, while also stepping up to support our own team when they need help,” she explained. “When members of our school family face health challenges, we want to be able to respond to their needs immediately, rather than leaving them waiting for support.”

    The event has seen explosive growth in participation in just its second year, with registration numbers tripling from the 2023 staging to hit roughly 500 registered attendees this year. Williams-Singh noted that the outpouring of support extended beyond students and parents, with official delegations from local government agencies including the National Irrigation Commission and Agro-Invest joining the race. The high participation comes as no surprise, she added, given the school’s location within a regional agro-park that ties the institution closely to local agricultural industry stakeholders.

    Beyond the 5K fundraiser, the school is pushing to expand its academic offerings in agricultural science, a core focus of the 10-year-old institution. Williams-Singh said school leadership is advocating for approval to launch an Associate’s degree program in modern farming, to equip students with cutting-edge skills for the evolving agricultural sector. “Agriculture is not the same industry it was a generation ago,” she said. “We need to teach our students the new techniques and technologies that are shaping farming today, so they can build successful careers in this critical sector.”

    Garfield Green, Custos of Manchester, praised the school and its leadership for their proactive approach to community engagement and student development, calling New Forest High a standout institution in the parish. “This is one of the schools in Manchester I am most proud of,” Green said. “I have worked closely with them for years, and what stands out most is not just their commitment to academic excellence – it is the discipline and character they instill in every student. We have to commend the leadership, students, and parent body for building such a strong institution.”

    Omar Robinson, an educator and People’s National Party Councillor for the Alligator Pond division, echoed Green’s positive assessment, noting that community-focused fitness events like the 5K fill a critical need across Jamaica. The event, held just days after the national Jamaica Moves Day celebration of physical wellness, reinforces the growing push to address alarming rates of lifestyle-related disease across the country. “Events like this don’t just raise money for a good cause – they send ripples of positive change through the whole community,” Robinson said. “Physical fitness is a core part of long-term health, and we need to see these kinds of initiatives in every corner of Jamaica. We are facing growing lifestyle health challenges across the country, so every step we take to encourage healthy habits matters.”

  • Murder on holy ground

    Murder on holy ground

    In western Jamaica, two high-profile fatal shootings on church grounds have ignited urgent public and religious dialogue about whether traditional sacred spaces can still function as the sanctuaries communities have relied on for generations. The most recent tragedy unfolded last Wednesday, when 38-year-old church member Cora Thompson was killed outside Montego Bay’s New Testament Church of God mid-way through a scheduled fasting service. This killing echoes a 2021 attack that claimed the life of 51-year-old Andrea Lowe-Garwood, who was shot and killed during an active worship service at Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Falmouth, Trelawny.

    For centuries, churches across Jamaica and much of the world have held a unique social status: more than just gathering places for worship, they were understood as neutral zones of peace, where people facing conflict, persecution or hardship could find safe refuge. Today, regional religious leaders agree that while the core mission of the church to serve its community remains unchanged, the unwritten social respect that once shielded these spaces from violence has sharply deteriorated.

    Pastor Michael McAnuff-Jones, co-chairman of the Watchman Christian Leadership Alliance, frames this shift as a “thinning out of a kind of a moral shield” that once protected church grounds. “It may be that in a real sense, this historical kind of societal contract that is in people’s minds about the need for the church to be treated as holy ground, as sacred ground, has broken down,” he explained. “When people begin to see a church building as just another building with walls and a roof, then we have a shift in the way people respond.”

    Bishop Conrad Pitkin, senior pastor of Faith Temple Assembly of God in Montego Bay and custos of St James, traces this cultural shift to a broader collapse of foundational societal values. “They have lost respect for the church as a sanctuary. They have lost respect for the sanctity of life. There’s a disregard in our society for people,” Pitkin said. “It is not just a simple loss of respect alone, but the whole question of value has been eroded.”

    Bishop Roy Notice, chairman of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches and administrative bishop of the New Testament Church of God in Jamaica, goes further, describing attacks on church property as an act of desecration that signals a deeper national crisis. “The society is kind of losing its soul” due to rampant violent crime and a widespread “lack of respect and regard for human life,” he argued.

    When asked whether the church, through spiritual practice and discernment, could have anticipated and prevented these tragedies through prayer, leaders offered a nuanced, grounded perspective that balances faith with the realities of living in an imperfect world. Notice noted that while divine revelation sometimes forewarns of coming harm, the church operates in a world where “evil is rampant.” “We don’t live in heaven,” he pointed out. “There are times when the Lord reveals it to us before it happens, and there are other times the Lord gives grace to take us through it. And there are other times when the impact is so great, the evil creates victims, and the Lord also guides us through that. So whatever happens, whether we sensed it and discerned it or whether we didn’t, God gives grace for all the occasions.”

    McAnuff-Jones echoed this sentiment, adding there is no guarantee of prophetic warning for every potential tragedy. “The reality of life is that we worship a God who intervenes in matters for His own purpose. God is sovereign, and there are times when bad things happen to good people. There are things that happen to Christians that happen to other people. There are things that happen to people who are not in the church; the same things happen to Christians,” he said, citing the historical persecution of the apostles and the crucifixion of Jesus as examples of violence against faithful people.

    Even amid rising violence and eroding social norms, religious leaders remain committed to upholding the church’s historic role as a place of refuge. Notice reaffirmed that despite the negative influence of broader societal instability, “the church continues to be a place of refuge, sanctuary, and a place of joy.”

    That said, reclaiming the historic safety and sacred status of church grounds will require collective action from across Jamaican society, leaders agree. Pitkin emphasized that broad systemic change is needed to reverse the current trend: “There has to be some level of reinforcement of values and attitudes in our society, and behavioural adjustment. A lot of things need to be done and we are going to have to do it.”

    McAnuff-Jones joined this call, pushing for a “new cultural consensus” that re-establishes church spaces as consecrated ground that demands respect. “People should not for one minute believe that this is a place where anything can happen and anything goes,” he said. “As to what God does when people do these things, that’s for God to decide. But I think it is fair to say that, you know, God is not to be toyed with and people should respect that.”

  • Jess says NaRRA Bill creates ‘free for all with billions of public dollars’

    Jess says NaRRA Bill creates ‘free for all with billions of public dollars’

    In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s destructive path across Jamaica, a major political clash has erupted over proposed legislation designed to steer the country’s recovery and rebuilding effort. Zuleika Jess, the opposition’s justice spokesperson, has publicly condemned the current draft of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill, warning that its structural gaps pose severe threats to transparent governance and fair handling of billions in public funds.

    While Jess has made clear that the opposition does not question the urgent need for large-scale reconstruction after the storm, she argues that the proposed legislation intentionally removes core accountability safeguards that would prevent mismanagement and abuse of power. In a formal press statement, she characterized the current framework as an open door for unregulated spending of taxpayer money, putting billions at risk of misuse.

    Jess outlined multiple critical vulnerabilities in the bill that demand immediate intervention. Most notably, she pointed to Clause 18 of the legislation, which requires the new authority to design reconstruction programs and share details of involved parties and their roles with Cabinet before implementation. She warned that this vague requirement acts as blanket permission for political retaliation, giving the ruling government explicit power to exclude any individual or group viewed as politically opposed to the administration from working on recovery projects.

    Beyond the risk of political discrimination, Jess flagged another dangerously broad provision that allows the NaRRA to delegate its core functions to literally any person. She explained that this open-ended rule could put major public procurement decisions for multi-million dollar contracts in the hands of private individuals who face no requirement to answer to the public for their choices, eliminating any meaningful oversight.

    The bill’s arrangement for selecting an external auditor also comes under fire. Under the proposed framework, the NaRRA Chief Executive Officer selects the auditor, with only the Cabinet secretary providing formal approval. Jess argued this arrangement puts the oversight watchdog directly under the control of the very body it is meant to monitor, creating an obvious conflict of interest that renders independent auditing meaningless.

    Finally, Jess questioned why the legislation omits mandatory public registration of key reconstruction details, including full project budgets, funding sources, contracted companies, and hired professionals. Without making this information public, she contends, there can be no real public accountability for how recovery money is spent.

    Jess emphasized that the opposition stands firmly behind efforts to rebuild Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, but refuses to support a bill that sacrifices good governance for speed. “The people of Jamaica deserve a recovery effort that is efficient, honest, fully transparent, and free from political interference,” she said, calling for an urgent joint select committee to conduct a full, comprehensive review of the legislation before it is passed.

  • Peter Price launches Gregory Isaacs biography for lovers of the reggae icon

    Peter Price launches Gregory Isaacs biography for lovers of the reggae icon

    On April 13, at the Triple T restaurant located in Jamaica’s St Andrew parish, educator and first-time author Peter Price found himself at the center of warm attention from a crowd of fans who adored the legendary reggae artist Gregory Isaacs. The occasion marked the Jamaican launch of Price’s deeply researched biography of the iconic “Cool Ruler,” a project that grew out of a years-long dream to introduce Isaacs’ life and artistry to new generations of listeners.

    Titled *The Cool Ruler: The Incredible Life Story of Gregory Isaacs*, the 388-page book marks Price’s debut as an author. It carries the official endorsement of the Gregory Isaacs Foundation, an organization run by the late Grammy-nominated singer’s wife, June Isaacs, who was in attendance at the launch event to support the project.

    In an interview with Observer Online, Price outlined his core vision for the biography: to resonate with long-time reggae and lovers rock fans who have long admired Isaacs’ work, while opening the door for younger audiences to discover the depth of his talent, his vast discography of beloved tracks, and his unmatched skill as both a songwriter and performer. Price, a native of Bamboo in St Ann and a graduate of Kingston’s Mico Teachers College, currently teaches English Language and Literature at Kingston College. He invested two full years into researching and writing the comprehensive biography, which first held its official launch in the United Kingdom one year prior, in May 2023.

    Reflecting on the journey to publication at the Jamaican launch, Price shared his excitement: “I feel elated and fulfilled; for the simple fact that it was a dream in the making for many years and now it has become a relevant reality. My research into this literary project was extensive, but quite enjoyable.” A year before the Jamaican launch, Price joined a delegation that traveled to the UK for the six-show run of *The Cool Ruler: The Musical*, a stage production that cast Terrence Wallen in the role of the iconic singer, who passed away in London in October 2010 at the age of 60.

    Following the narrative structure of the stage production, Price’s biography pulls no punches in covering the full arc of Isaacs’ life. It celebrates his many career triumphs, including the creation of globally adored hit tracks such as *Night Nurse* and *Soon Forward*, while honestly documenting his well-documented, years-long struggle with cocaine addiction.

    June Isaacs, who helped bring the project to fruition and attended the St Andrew launch, praised Price’s work for capturing the full complexity of her husband’s legacy. “It’s incredibly important that Gregory’s life is documented. Legacy matters, if we don’t tell our own stories, someone else will, or worse, they get forgotten. This book is a truthful account of his life: the victories, the struggles, and the lessons that shaped him,” she told reporters at the event.

  • Kirky D’s ‘Passion for Fashion’ to assist with hurricane relief and community initiatives

    Kirky D’s ‘Passion for Fashion’ to assist with hurricane relief and community initiatives

    For artist Kirkland Falconer, professionally known as Kirky D, philanthropy has long been woven into his identity – a habit of caring for community that has traveled with him across continents. Long before he relocated to the United States several years ago, Kirky D built a reputation for lifting up neighbors in his hometown of Waterhouse, Jamaica. Now, rooted in Connecticut, he has carried that legacy of giving forward by creating intentional platforms that nurture emerging local talent while supporting causes close to his home.

  • ‘Dancehall cyaa stall’, say fans of Barbados Reggae Weekend

    ‘Dancehall cyaa stall’, say fans of Barbados Reggae Weekend

    The second night of Barbados Reggae Weekend, branded as “Showdown,” delivered an unforgettable, high-octane experience that united performers and attendees through non-stop hit music and contagious collective energy. From veteran reggae icon “Fireman” Capleton to dancehall star “Unruly Boss” Popcaan, every act on the stacked lineup fed off the crowd’s excitement to create one of the event’s most energetic stand-alone nights in recent memory.

    Local Bajan performer Idea The Artist kicked off the evening, setting a bright, dynamic tone with his smooth vocal delivery and engaging stage presence. He quickly warmed up the packed venue, priming audience members for the wave of acts that followed. Next up, emerging act Weather 40, veteran entertainer General Degree, Capleton, and finally headliner Popcaan took the stage in sequence, each drawing roaring reactions from fans who sang, danced, and cheered along exactly as many had promised ahead of the show.

    For repeat attendees, the event’s unbeatable atmosphere is what keeps them returning year after year. Kay, a Bajan patron who traveled to the event specifically to see Popcaan and has attended multiple editions of the weekend, summed up her loyalty in three simple words: “The vibes, the vibes, the vibes.” Shanice, a self-described “self-proclaimed Jamaican” with bright red hair, counted Capleton as her top pick of the night, sharing that she makes an annual religious pilgrimage to the festival for the authentic reggae sound it delivers. Natalie, who traveled all the way from Trelawny, Jamaica, echoed the widespread excitement for the headliner, saying she was there to see “Popcaan of course!” Across the crowd, nearly every attendee praised the festival not just for its star-studded lineup, but for the inclusive, joyful feel that defines the event.

    General Degree, the veteran dancehall artist who has been active in the scene since the 1990s, opened up to reporters backstage about his approach to performance and the changing state of the genre. The artist, known for his signature witty hit tracks, emphasized that he treats every performance with the professionalism of a dedicated craft: “I always think that the music is very important so you must take it like a job.” Reflecting on how dancehall has evolved since the 90s, he shared that he embraces most shifts in the genre’s sound, noting that he has even collaborated on several new tracks emerging from the modern scene. He acknowledged that the evolution extends beyond just sound to lyrical content, a shift that has sparked global conversation around a potential link between aggressive lyrics and rising crime rates. Pushing back against simple blame, General Degree noted that 90s dancehall also included edgier content, and argued that the core shift is generational. “It is up to us, the musicians who know better, to do better and keep it back on track,” he said. “It is not gonna be easy, but we can do it.” He added that the key correction is shifting the overall energy of modern dancehall: “It’s a low vibration going on, it might seem happy, nice, but spiritually it’s low, so we need to bring that back up.”

    When Capleton took the stage, the iconic artist made a dramatic entrance, greeted by traditional bursts of fire while wearing a custom outfit lined with the bright blue of the Barbadian flag. He amplified the already electric atmosphere, with the crowd screaming every word to his 2003 classic hit *Slew Dem* and pressing against the stage barriers. Beyond his music, Capleton shared a short heartfelt monologue encouraging all Bajan attendees to embrace self-love, earning even more affection from the local crowd. By the end of his set, the general admission standing area was completely packed to capacity, with hundreds more fans still waiting to join the crowd.

    Energy hit a fever pitch when “unruly” branded signage flashed across the stage screens, signaling the arrival of headliner Popcaan. Fans who had waited years to see the Jamaican star described his set as non-stop “hit after hit,” with not a single lull in energy. From fan favorites *I’m Feeling Nice* to *Party Shot*, the crowd sang every lyric back to the artist from the first note to the last, leaving no silent moments across his entire headlining set.

    While most attendees arrived with a favorite artist they were most eager to see, every performance on the night received enthusiastic reception from the cross-section of local, regional, and international fans. Longtime attendee Dale summed up the night’s energy with a classic dancehall phrase that perfectly captured the mood: “Dancehall cyaa stall!”

    The Barbados Reggae Weekend is set to wrap up its 2024 run on Sunday with the final event, *Reggae in the Gardens*, which will feature international R&B/soul superstar Fantasia alongside top dancehall acts including Dexta Daps and D’Yani. Promoters have also confirmed that dancehall artist 450, who missed his scheduled Saturday night performance, will make a belated appearance at the Sunday finale to the delight of his fans.

  • Fashion, film and purpose to take centre stage at The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere

    Fashion, film and purpose to take centre stage at The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A unique fusion of high style, cinematic entertainment and charitable giving is set to take over one of Kingston’s most popular cinemas later this month, as the local non-profit Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) prepares to host a star-studded red carpet premiere of *The Devil Wears Prada 2* at the Carib 5 cinema on April 30.

    Event organisers shared details of the occasion, noting that the evening will kick off with an opening cocktail reception at 7:30 pm, designed to blend the glitz and energy of a high-fashion runway with meaningful fundraising for grassroots community projects. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their most polished, “runway magazine-ready” ensembles to match the glamorous theme, all while contributing to causes that lift up vulnerable communities across the island.

    Founded in November 2003, WLI has built its reputation over two decades driving tangible progress across four core mission pillars: public health access, early childhood education, mentorship for young people, and advocacy for gender equity and community empowerment. Unlike many large non-profits that operate at a national level disconnected from local needs, WLI has prioritized hands-on, long-term interventions that create lasting improvement for Jamaican communities.

    Operating under the umbrella of its parent organization, the United Way of Jamaica, WLI has already delivered critical support to female smallholder farmers in the parish of St Elizabeth who are still rebuilding their livelihoods after devastating losses from recent hurricanes. Most recently, the group successfully wrapped up another installment of its widely praised “Conversations with Boys” program, which offers targeted guidance and social support to young men making the critical transition from primary to secondary education — a period that often shapes long-term life outcomes for at-risk youth.

    Mentorship sits at the very center of WLI’s long-term mission, and the organization continues to actively support the 2025 cohort of the COJO mentorship initiative, a program that was a deeply held passion project of the late Jamaican community leader Marcia Erskine. At the core of WLI’s ongoing fundraising work is the VOUCH program, which backs the development and daily operations of two key local institutions: the Sylvia Foote Basic School and its connected nursery, and the Mary Issa Clinic, both of which deliver essential free and low-cost services to residents of the surrounding neighborhood.

    A statement from WLI released to the press on Sunday confirmed that all proceeds generated from ticket sales and donations at the premiere event will go directly toward funding these ongoing community initiatives. This structure ensures that every moment of Hollywood-style glamour at the event translates directly to measurable, on-the-ground change for Jamaicans in need.

    The upcoming charity premiere has received broad support from a roster of leading Jamaican corporate sponsors, including the Jamaica Observer, Select Brands, Edgechem, Sagicor Group Jamaica, Barita Investments Limited, InnerHub Consulting Services Ltd, Allied Insurance Brokers, Popeyes Jamaica, Island Grill, Palace Amusement Company, and SEAR 274.

  • Haiti faces security crossroads as Kenyan forces withdraw

    Haiti faces security crossroads as Kenyan forces withdraw

    PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s long-fragile security landscape is bracing for unprecedented uncertainty, as a 500-strong Kenyan police contingent that has led joint anti-gang operations across the Caribbean nation nears its full withdrawal, scheduled for completion by April 30, 2026.

    The exit of the Kenyan officers, deployed under a multinational security framework starting in June 2024, has forced Haiti’s domestic law enforcement and military institutions into a frantic race to cover critical capability gaps left by the departing unit. During opening remarks at the 6th meeting of the country’s Sectoral Security Table (TSS), PNH Director General Vladimir Paraison acknowledged that Haiti’s national police force stands at a critical turning point.

    Paraison warned that the Kenyan withdrawal has already eroded security gains secured through months of joint counter-gang operations, particularly in some of Haiti’s most violence-plagued regions: Croix-des-Bouquets, Delmas, and the heart of downtown Port-au-Prince. He described the departure as stripping Haiti’s police of a vital “second line of defense,” a loss that has shaken operational capacity across high-risk zones. Local leaders echo this concern: Port-au-Prince Mayor Massillon Jean noted that residents in volatile neighborhoods are already bracing for a return of brutal gang incursions without the deterrent presence of Kenyan security personnel.

    The transition has been further complicated by repeated delays in the activation of Haiti’s planned domestic Gang Repression Force (FRG), a unit meant to take over sustained counter-gang responsibilities from the multinational contingent. Haitian authorities confirm that firm timelines for the full deployment of the FRG remain undetermined, even as the national government moves to rush additional armed forces personnel into frontline security roles.

    Under the current interim plan, Haiti’s military is set to have roughly 400 personnel deployed to gang-held regions by the end of April. The army will be tasked with holding territory that has already been reclaimed from armed groups, while the national police leads direct frontline operations against gang strongholds. To boost long-term domestic military capacity, Defence Minister Mario Andrésol also announced a new recruitment drive that will train 1,200 new military recruits to expand the force’s operational reach.

    The Kenyan withdrawal coincides with the launch of a new UN-backed multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a mission approved by the United Nations Security Council in October 2025. This new deployment will be led by Chadian security forces, replacing Kenya’s leadership of the multinational counter-gang effort. Veteran UN peacekeeping official Jack Christofides, a South African with decades of experience overseeing peace operations across the African continent, has been appointed as the new special representative leading the mission. He succeeds Kenya’s Godfrey Otunge in the top leadership role. The first contingent of Chadian police officers already arrived in Haiti earlier this month to begin setting up the new mission.

    Over the course of the Kenyan deployment, the contingent recorded notable progress in pushing back against gang expansion, but the mission also came at a cost: at least three Kenyan police officers were killed in the line of duty during counter-gang operations.

  • MP Samuda commends USF Connect a Child Programme as investment in students’ digital future

    MP Samuda commends USF Connect a Child Programme as investment in students’ digital future

    ST ANN, Jamaica — Against a backdrop of growing global digital inequality, Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s Member of Parliament for St Ann North East, has publicly lauded the Universal Service Fund (USF) for the life-changing impact of its flagship Connect a Child Programme. At a recent device handover ceremony held at St Ann’s Bay Primary School, where the campus’s 10 highest-achieving students received new tablets, Samuda framed the initiative as both a timely and far-reaching intervention for Jamaica’s education system.