标签： Jamaica

A significant fire emergency unfolded Tuesday evening in the popular tourist destination of Negril, Jamaica, as a commercial building housing a maintenance service and hardware store became fully engulfed in flames. The blaze, reported to local authorities and media outlets around 6:45 PM, erupted on Norman Manley Boulevard, a major thoroughfare locally known as Beach Road.

Fire and rescue services were promptly dispatched to the scene and are actively engaged in containing the inferno. While the precise cause and exact time of ignition remain under investigation, initial reports confirm a critical silver lining: no serious injuries or fatalities have been reported from the incident. The rapid response of emergency personnel helped prevent a human tragedy amidst the substantial property damage.

The incident has drawn significant local attention due to the building’s location in a bustling area central to Negril’s commerce and tourism. The full extent of the structural and inventory damage is yet to be determined as firefighters continue their operations to fully extinguish the blaze and secure the premises.

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A fatal hit-and-run incident on the Chudleigh main road in Manchester has resulted in the death of a local welder, prompting an intensive investigation by local authorities. The victim has been identified as Mark Sinclair, a resident of the Struan district, who succumbed to injuries sustained during the early hours of Wednesday.

According to official police reports, the tragic event occurred at approximately 12:30 am when Sinclair was walking along the roadway. An unidentified vehicle struck the pedestrian and fled the scene without stopping to render assistance or identify themselves. Emergency services were notified, but Sinclair’s injuries proved fatal.

The Manchester traffic department, in collaboration with the Area Three Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Unit, has launched a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigators are examining forensic evidence from the scene and seeking eyewitness accounts to identify the responsible vehicle and driver.

This incident highlights growing concerns about road safety and hit-and-run accidents in the region. Local authorities have reiterated their commitment to apprehending those responsible and ensuring justice for victims and their families.

A significant conflagration that erupted this evening at a combined maintenance service and hardware supply facility on Negril’s Norman Manley Boulevard has been successfully subdued by Jamaican fire authorities. The incident, which triggered a multi-station emergency response, resulted in the complete destruction of the primary commercial structure but was prevented from spreading to an adjacent lumber yard.

Initial reports confirm three juveniles were present inside the BerCom Maintenance Services and Hardware Supplies property as flames engulfed the building. While two minors managed to self-evacuate, a third child required professional rescue after experiencing a severe panic attack amidst the escalating crisis. Firefighting personnel successfully extracted the individual, with no critical injuries reported.

Assistant Commissioner Rudolph Seaton of the Jamaica Fire Brigade detailed the coordinated response, noting initial alerts were received at approximately 6:20 p.m. local time. The operation deployed four specialized fire apparatus and thirty personnel drawn from Westmoreland and Hanover parish divisions. Response teams included units from Negril, Savanna-la-Mar, and Lucea Fire Stations, supplemented by three privately-operated water tankers that provided critical logistical support.

The commercial building, constructed primarily from plywood, drywall, and zinc roofing materials, proved highly vulnerable to rapid fire propagation. While the main structure suffered total loss, firefighters successfully protected surrounding properties through targeted containment strategies.

Post-suppression operations currently focus on structural overhaul and atmospheric ventilation to eliminate potential rekindling hazards. The origin and initial catalyst of the fire remain undetermined pending formal investigation by fire marshals.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican government has unveiled a major initiative to address housing devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness scheduled to officially launch the Shelter Recovery Programme (SRP) this Thursday. The program represents a coordinated national effort to deliver reconstruction and rehabilitation assistance to households severely impacted by the late October storm.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr. announced the comprehensive initiative Wednesday following a Cabinet meeting, describing the SRP as an “overarching, umbrella program” that will consolidate all government support mechanisms for affected families. The program specifically targets restoration of damaged housing infrastructure through a collaborative framework between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Charles Jr. emphasized the deliberate nature of this government response, noting that the SRP is designed to provide both immediate emergency relief and sustainable recovery support to Jamaican citizens. Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025, causing significant damage across the island nation and displacing numerous residents. The program’s implementation marks a critical phase in Jamaica’s disaster recovery efforts, focusing on long-term housing solutions rather than temporary measures.

The Shelter Recovery Programme signifies one of the most substantial post-hurricane reconstruction initiatives recently undertaken by the Jamaican government, reflecting an integrated approach to disaster management and social welfare support for vulnerable populations affected by natural disasters.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s education system has successfully resumed operations across all 1,010 schools nationwide following the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa. Chief Education Officer Terry-Ann Thomas-Gayle confirmed the comprehensive reopening during a post-Cabinet press briefing held Wednesday.

The educational restoration encompasses all 446 institutions located within the three regions most affected by the hurricane. These include region three (covering St. Ann and Trelawny parishes), region four (including Hanover, St. James, and Westmoreland), and region five (encompassing Manchester and St. Elizabeth).

Detailed operational data reveals varied learning modalities across the affected regions. In region three, 109 schools have returned to full face-to-face instruction while 14 institutions have implemented rotational schedules to facilitate recovery efforts. Region four shows 127 schools operating with traditional in-person learning alongside 37 utilizing rotational systems. Region five reports 135 schools conducting normal face-to-face classes with only seven maintaining rotational arrangements.

Thomas-Gayle emphasized the ministry’s precautionary approach, stating: ‘Our reopening policy prioritized safety above all considerations. We maintained close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to guarantee that all learning environments met safety standards for operational readiness.’

The education official acknowledged ongoing challenges, noting that infrastructure repairs, electrical system restoration, power supply continuity, and water tank replacements remain priority areas requiring continued attention from ministry teams.

A devastating audit from Jamaica’s Auditor General’s Department (AGD) has exposed systemic corruption at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), revealing massive procurement violations and fraudulent misuse of tax-exempt privileges that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The hospital’s board has now reported these findings to police fraud investigators and Jamaica Customs following the official tabling of the report in Parliament.

The comprehensive audit, covering fiscal years 2019-2020 through 2024-2025, uncovered what investigators termed “considerable deficiencies” in the hospital’s governance, procurement, and contract management systems. These failures, the AGD warned, created significant corruption risks that could ultimately compromise the institution’s ability to deliver quality healthcare services if not urgently addressed.

Among the most damaging findings was UHWI’s systematic abuse of its tax-exempt status to import goods for four private companies. Customs records showed items including office furniture, laundry equipment, and medical supplies falsely declared as hospital imports but actually acquired by private entities. This scheme resulted in $23.1 million in losses, with over $20 million in unpaid import duties constituting clear violations of Jamaica’s Customs Act.

The breakdown revealed staggering specifics: $28 million in laundry equipment imported for Private Company 1 created $6.6 million in revenue losses; $40.6 million in office furniture and medical equipment benefited Private Companies 2 and 3; while 40 waste bins valued at $6.6 million were imported for Private Company 4, which then sold them back to UHWI for $11 million.

Equally troubling were procurement irregularities involving 51 contracts totaling $521 million awarded to 10 contractors and one consultant without proper documentation. The audit found no evidence that these transactions met standards for transparency, accountability, or value for money. Particularly egregious were “after-the-fact” procurement processes where suppliers were invited to bid for goods and services already delivered, corrupting the competitive process entirely.

In response, the UHWI board has initiated a comprehensive review of all procurement systems, mandated regularisation or suspension of affected arrangements, and reinforced oversight mechanisms. CEO Dr. Kevin Allen has been granted three months leave to facilitate independent investigations, with Eric Hosin, former Guardian Life Jamaica CEO, appointed as interim leader.

The hospital management has acknowledged these practices violated public trust and procurement laws, confirming they’ve ceased facilitating imports for private entities. However, the scale of mismanagement suggests a long road to accountability and reform lies ahead for Jamaica’s premier medical institution.

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Law enforcement authorities in Manchester successfully recovered an illegal firearm during an early morning operation in the Belretiro district on Wednesday. The seizure occurred approximately at 12:30 a.m. following a police intervention targeting suspicious individuals.

According to Superintendent Carey Duncan, head of the Manchester police division, officers attempted to apprehend two men whose behavior aroused suspicion in the area. The individuals fled upon police approach, initiating a pursuit through the district. Despite the suspects successfully evading capture, law enforcement personnel conducted a thorough search of the immediate vicinity.

The subsequent inspection yielded significant results: authorities discovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol equipped with a magazine containing six live rounds of ammunition. The weapon was found abandoned in the area where the suspects had been observed, indicating they may have discarded it during their escape attempt.

Superintendent Duncan, through an official audio release, confirmed the operational details and emphasized the continued efforts of Jamaican police to remove illegal weapons from circulation. The seizure represents another step in ongoing initiatives to combat gun-related violence and enhance public safety across Manchester parishes.

Police investigations continue as authorities work to identify and locate the two individuals connected to the firearm.