标签： Jamaica

Humbert Davis, President of the National Association of Domino Bodies (NADB), is spearheading a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing the lives of Jamaica’s senior citizens through the strategic and engaging game of dominoes. The NADB, in collaboration with the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC), recently hosted a domino tournament that transcended mere competition, fostering mental agility, social interaction, and joy among participants. The event, held in Morant Bay as part of the St Thomas leg of the competition, brought together seniors who engaged in spirited matches, showcasing both skill and camaraderie. Davis emphasized that dominoes is more than a pastime—it’s a vital tool for cognitive health and social connection, essential for healthy aging. The tournament was marked by a warm yet competitive atmosphere, with Gilbert Whittle and Healey Johnson emerging as champions. Whittle expressed his gratitude, praising the organizers for creating a meaningful and enduring experience for seniors. Davis lauded the participants’ enthusiasm, highlighting the event’s success in promoting mental resilience and community engagement.

In a high-stakes sentencing hearing on Friday, federal prosecutors in New York urged Judge Arun Subramanian to impose an 11-year prison term on Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the influential hip-hop mogul convicted on two prostitution-related charges. Prosecutor Christy Slavik argued that Combs, 55, has demonstrated a lack of genuine remorse and a dismissive attitude toward the law. ‘His respect for the law is just lip service,’ Slavik stated, emphasizing that Combs had booked speaking engagements in Miami, anticipating a lenient sentence—a move she labeled as ‘the height of hubris.’

Combs’s legal team, however, requested a 14-month sentence, which would equate to time already served. Judge Subramanian noted that federal sentencing guidelines suggest a term of six to seven years but retains discretion to adjust the duration. The judge also highlighted Combs’s persistent denial of factual guilt, describing his remorse as ‘qualified.’

Combs, who submitted a letter to the court pleading for mercy, expressed fear of being separated from his family and vowed never to commit another crime. ‘I lost my way,’ he wrote, attributing his actions to a life consumed by drugs and excess. His mother and six children were present in court, submitting letters in his support.

The case stems from a federal statute prohibiting the transportation of individuals across state lines for prostitution. While jurors acquitted Combs of the more severe charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in July, sparing him a potential life sentence, the conviction on lesser counts remains significant.

Combs’s former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, provided harrowing testimony during the trial, detailing years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. In a letter to the judge, Ventura urged consideration of the lives Combs has ‘upended with his abuse and control.’ She recounted a 2016 incident captured on video, where Combs was seen beating her as she attempted to flee a ‘freak-off’—a term used to describe coerced sexual marathons. Ventura and her family have since relocated from New York, fearing retribution if Combs is released.

The defense did not deny Combs’s sexual activities or history of violence but argued that these actions did not meet the legal threshold for the charges he faced. Combs, who has been incarcerated in Brooklyn for over a year, described his time in prison as transformative, claiming he has been ‘humbled and broken to my core.’

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Authorities in Jamaica have issued an urgent appeal to the public for assistance in locating 22-year-old Nathaniel Green, a resident of Apopka, Florida, who has been reported missing. Green was last seen on Thursday, October 2, in the Grange Hill district of Glen Islay, Westmoreland. According to the Savanna-la-Mar police, he was spotted at approximately 9:19 am wearing a black and white t-shirt, black jeans, and black sneakers. Described as having a brown complexion, a slim build, and standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall, Green has not been in contact with anyone since his disappearance. The police are urging anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to immediately contact the Savanna-la-Mar police at 876-955-2536, the 119 emergency number, or the nearest police station. The case has raised concerns among local communities, and authorities are working diligently to ensure his safe return.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has issued a stern condemnation following the discovery of a mutilated American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) near the Hellshire Bridge in St Catherine on October 1. The animal was found with its tail severed and a rope tied around its mouth, suggesting it had been illegally captured before being killed. This incident occurred just days after a similar case was reported near Spanish Town Road, raising concerns about a disturbing trend of cruelty toward this protected species.

Under the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA), it is illegal to kill, capture, or harm crocodiles, with penalties including fines of up to $3 million or three years’ imprisonment. Leighton Mamdeen, an Environmental Officer in NEPA’s Fauna Unit, emphasized the ecological importance of crocodiles and dispelled myths about the supposed health benefits of consuming their meat.

‘We continue to hear troubling reports of people consuming crocodile meat for alleged health benefits, including claims that the tail acts as an aphrodisiac. There is no scientific evidence to support this; it is simply false,’ Mamdeen stated. ‘Crocodiles are not food; they are vital to our ecosystems. They regulate populations of other species and help keep our waterways clean by removing dead animals that could spread disease.’

Mamdeen also highlighted pollution as a growing threat to crocodiles, noting that necropsies have revealed plastics, cans, diapers, and even clothing inside dead animals. NEPA has launched a comprehensive investigation into the Hellshire incident and is collaborating with law enforcement to identify and prosecute those responsible.

The agency is urging the public to report any incidents of harassment, capture, or killing of crocodiles by contacting NEPA at 876-754-7540, toll-free at 888-991-5005, or emailing pubed@nepa.gov.jm. Reports can also be made to 119 or the nearest police station. NEPA is calling on Jamaicans to help safeguard the nation’s wildlife by discouraging acts of cruelty against protected species.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A police constable, Brenton McLean, appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on September 30 to address a charge of unlawful wounding stemming from an incident in 2018. The alleged event took place on June 25, 2018, near the Garmex Textile Complex on Marcus Garvey Drive. The charge was brought forward following a thorough investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) and a subsequent ruling by the Office of the Director of Prosecutions (ODPP). McLean is scheduled to return to court on December 8, 2025, for further proceedings. Indecom reports that since 2024, 47 law enforcement officials, including members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Department of Correctional Services, have been charged in connection with incidents investigated by the commission. Of these, 28 were charged in 2024 and an additional 19 in 2025. Notably, 21 of the 47 charges were related to assault investigations.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Professor Lincoln Edwards, President of Northern Caribbean University (NCU), has proposed a groundbreaking collaboration between the Jamaican government and churches to transform religious spaces into vibrant learning hubs. Speaking at the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Industry/Academics Conference 2025 on October 1, Professor Edwards emphasized the potential of these centers to engage youth in technology and prepare them for future challenges.