标签： Jamaica

As the countdown to June 21 ticks on, anticipation is rapidly building across Jamaica for the upcoming *Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity* – a one-of-a-kind fundraising gala that brings some of the nation’s most prominent public figures out of their professional roles and onto the stage. Scheduled to kick off at 7:00 pm at the Jamaica College auditorium in Kingston, rehearsals are already in full swing, with participants from the country’s political sphere, private sector, and civil society refining their performances ahead of the big night.

The roster of talent continues to expand, with new high-profile additions joining the lineup in recent weeks: Miss Jamaica World 2026 Nevaeh Allen, opposition culture spokesperson Nekeisha Burchell, and renowned designer and radio host Karen Booker are the latest names confirmed to take the stage. They join an already star-studded cast that includes House Speaker Juliet Holness, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, whose acts are teased to leave audience members stunned.

Event executive producer Cordel Green shared that attendees can expect a dynamic, surprise-filled program that showcases little-known, hidden talents of these leaders and influencers far beyond their usual work in government offices and boardrooms. “This isn’t just a show – it’s a chance to see the people who shape our country in a completely new light,” Green explained, noting that the event will also feature representation from Jamaica’s western region, with veteran Montego Bay-based journalists Lloyd B Smith and Janet Silvera, fresh off her successful Jill Stewart Memorial Run, joining the performance lineup.

For the event’s long-time beneficiary, the Mustard Seed Communities, this annual gala has become a transformative source of support. Over the history of the *Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity* show, the initiative has raised more than JMD $80 million for the organization, which provides care and housing for nearly 500 children impacted by HIV and abandoned youth across 12 facilities islandwide. All proceeds from this year’s event will continue to fund this critical outreach work.

Organizers have made the event accessible to both in-person attendees and remote viewers, including Jamaicans living in the diaspora. Adult tickets are priced at JMD $4,000, with tickets for children under 12 available at JMD $2,000. Physical tickets can be purchased at any Fontana Pharmacy location across the country, including outlets at Loshusan, Sovereign Centre, Tropical Plaza, Sovereign Village Portmore, and Montego Bay, while digital tickets are available for purchase online via touchstonelink.com. For those unable to attend in person, the show will be broadcast via pay-per-view through the Alive Podcast Network, with a second streaming platform expected to be announced in the coming days.

The 2024 event boasts widespread support from a diverse group of corporate and community sponsors, including Tastee, Optimum, Kinematix, Bloozick Media Productions, Viva Events, Phase Three Productions, Alive Podcast Network, Jamaica National Bank, Bank of Jamaica, Digicel, LP Azar, Touchstone Productions Limited, Fontana Pharmacy, Josephs Holdings, New Levels Décor (Sireta Hammond), Rainforest Seafoods, TVJ, The Gleaner, RJR 94FM, IRIE FM, Kool FM, Nationwide News Network, Mello FM, Suncity Radio and Roots FM.

Against a backdrop of surging estate-related litigation across Jamaica, prominent local attorney Josemar Belnavis has issued a pressing call for Jamaicans to prioritize proactive estate planning, warning that widespread neglect of will preparation and asset organization has triggered devastating family conflicts, cripplingly expensive court battles and widespread property loss across the island.

Belnavis, a partner at Kingston-based Lindsay Law Chambers, delivered his remarks during a recent educational presentation focused on estate planning for members of the JN Circle Morant Bay Chapter, where he framed the practice as a critical intersection of personal wellness and long-term financial strategy.

Opening with a core definition, Belnavis explained that an individual’s estate encompasses every asset and legal entitlement they hold at the time of their passing: from real estate, bank holdings, investment portfolios and insurance policies to vehicles, fine jewelry, company shares, and even outstanding debts owed to the deceased. “One of life’s few unchanging certainties is that every person will eventually die,” he told attendees, emphasizing that accepting this reality makes intentional pre-planning through formal legal and financial arrangements non-negotiable.

Per an official statement from JN Circle, Belnavis drew attention to the sharp growth of estate disputes in Jamaica, noting that the national court system was forced to launch a dedicated Family and Probate Division specifically to manage the high volume of litigation tied to unplanned estates. He stressed that the vast majority of these conflicts stem from intestacy – the term for when a person dies without leaving a valid, legally executed will – leaving surviving relatives with no clear guidance for how assets should be distributed.

The consequences of this gap are often severe, Belnavis explained. Assets can sit frozen for years: properties are left abandoned, vehicles degrade beyond repair, and bank accounts remain locked while relatives battle through the court system. He also drew attention to the growing risk of adverse possession: when squatters or unauthorized occupants remain on a property after the owner’s death, they can legally claim full ownership after 12 years of continuous occupation.

To illustrate the scope of the problem, Belnavis shared multiple real-world examples of intrafamily conflict that erupt after a loved one’s passing. These range from bitter sibling disputes over multi-generational family homes to messy conflicts between long-term unmarried partners and adult children from previous relationships. In the most extreme cases, he noted, these disagreements escalate to physical violence, and nearly all drag on for years, draining entire families of their financial resources.

“When a family turns against each other over an estate, the simple truth is that no one walks away a winner,” Belnavis said.

Outlining the core purpose of a will, Belnavis explained that the legal document serves three key functions: it names the beneficiaries who will receive the deceased’s assets, appoints a trusted party to manage the estate through the probate process, and designates guardians for minor or dependent family members. “It is your voice, even after you are gone, to make sure your wishes are followed,” he emphasized.

Beyond the core importance of wills, Belnavis walked attendees through key legal concepts in estate planning, including testacy (having a valid will at death), intestacy, and the distinct roles of executors and administrators. He also issued a critical warning: even people who have taken the step to draft a will often leave their families vulnerable if the document is not properly executed or updated to reflect changing life circumstances, a mistake that can trigger just as much legal conflict as dying without a will at all.

Belnavis urged Jamaicans to seek guidance from qualified legal and financial professionals rather than relying on informal, unregulated advice from friends or family members. While many people avoid professional planning to save money on legal fees, he argued that cutting corners in this area creates far larger financial burdens for surviving relatives. “You try to save a small amount of money up front, and end up creating a problem that costs your family millions down the line,” he said.

The attorney also highlighted a key role for Jamaican financial institutions in expanding access to estate planning, noting that customer education programs, dedicated legacy and wealth planning services, and community outreach initiatives can help normalize proactive planning for all income groups. He added that organized, up-to-date financial records and clear asset documentation drastically simplifies the process for families to settle an estate after a loved one’s passing.

In closing, Belnavis encouraged Jamaicans to take additional proactive steps, including planning for early asset transfers and creating a centralized, accessible system for storing important legal documents, online account passwords and full financial records. “Having a system in place where your trusted executor or a family member can easily access all your information if you become incapacitated or pass away makes all the difference,” he said. “This can be critical in an emergency, and it ensures your estate is accounted for properly.”

He stressed that estate planning should not be misframed as a morbid exercise focused only on preparing for death, but rather as an essential component of lifelong financial wellness that protects the security of future generations.

In the heart of Kingston, Jamaica, a targeted urban revitalization effort is underway to transform the city’s congested downtown core. The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has ramped up ongoing cleanup work under its flagship Cleaner Kingston initiative, tackling accumulated waste, unauthorized street obstructions, and a specific issue that has hindered local law enforcement: makeshift tarps blocking the view of police surveillance cameras.

During a recent on-site cleanup activity on New Chapel Lane, KSAMC City Engineer Xavier Chevannes explained that the operation was launched in response to formal concerns raised by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Local police reported that the unregulated tarps, often set up by street vendors to shade their wares, were significantly obscuring camera lines of sight across downtown districts, undermining the effectiveness of the city’s public safety monitoring infrastructure and slowing police enforcement of local ordinances.

Beyond removing existing debris and obstructions, Chevannes outlined a coordinated long-term strategy developed in partnership with local police to sustain the gains of the cleanup. The plan is designed to achieve three core goals: keeping targeted public areas clear of unauthorized obstructions, restoring unimpeded vehicle and pedestrian movement along downtown roadways, and establishing formal, designated vending zones that allow street vendors to operate legally without blocking public infrastructure.

To prevent the reaccumulation of waste and unauthorized obstructions after initial cleanup work is completed, the KSAMC has put in place formal terms of reference for its internal enforcement department. The department will conduct regular, scheduled follow-up patrols and enforcement operations to maintain the cleanliness and accessibility of treated areas.

Chevannes added that early engagement with the local vending community has been far more positive than initially anticipated. Many vendors have expressed their own desire for a cleaner, more accessible downtown environment that draws more customers, and to date, the community has fully cooperated with cleanup teams and welcomed the municipal government’s intervention.

As of the latest update, three major downtown thoroughfares – Beckford Street, Heywood Street, and New Chapel Lane – have already been fully washed and cleared as part of the initiative. The ongoing cleanup drive is scheduled to continue every weekend, with additional downtown streets slated for treatment in the coming weeks as the project expands across the city center.