Duojon Griffiths, the 24-year-old man implicated in the 2021 murder of fellow Montego Bay resident 20-year-old Massania ‘Karla’ Malcolm and her one-year-old daughter Jordania, was indicted on murder and gun charges by a Florida grand jury on Wednesday.     Griffiths, who was on the run for three years after the March 2021 incident, was apprehended more than 1,000 miles away from the scene of the crime during a traffic stop in New Jersey two months ago. Griffiths, who had altered his appearance from clean-cut to flowing dreadlocks, was extradited to Florida to face justice.   The killings sent shock waves across Montego Bay, especially in Glendevon, where Malcolm and Griffiths both resided prior to moving to the United States.       Malcolm’s mother, Latoya ‘Budeisha’ Reid, who also resides in the United States, was a popular personality on the party circuit in Montego Bay before she migrated.   Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. According to the local police, Griffiths, who reportedly entered the United States illegally, was linked to gangland activities here in Jamaica before moving to the United States. He is now facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, and three counts of shooting at, or into a building.   Before Malcolm was killed and her baby daughter left locked up in the car, in which the killing took place, to perish from heat and suffocation, Griffiths is said to have shot and seriously injured Malcolm’s boyfriend, the father of her child, at their home. Thinking the man was dead, he reported forced her to drive him away from the location to the parking lot, where she was killed.     ACT OF KINDNESS According to a source close to Malcolm, as an act of kindness, she and her boyfriend had taken Griffiths, who had recently arrived from Jamaica and did not have a place to life, into their home, where he lived free of charge for several months. After noticing that Griffiths was showing no inclination to move out or contribute towards the household bills, he was asked to leave.   “Di man just deh deh a eat di people dem food and a use dem utilities and nah pay no bills so dem ask him to leave,” the source told The Gleaner. “It look like seh him friend dem tell him fi rob ‘Sinner’ (Malcolm’s boyfriend) and end up with him shooting ‘Sinner’ and … ‘Karla’ and the baby.”   When Griffiths made his first court appearance in early April, he was denied bond. While Florida is one of the states that embraces the death penalty – lethal injection or the electric chair – it is unclear as to whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

Calling the removal of King Charles as Jamaica’s head of state without leaving the jurisdiction of the Privy Council “ethically unsound”, the National Integrity Action (NIA) is the latest civil society body to press for the complete severing of ties with Britain. NIA Principal Director Danielle Archer says the removal of the King does not sufficiently guarantee the loyalty of the country’s leaders to the people of Jamaica. Archer said the nation’s transition from a constitutional monarchy to a republic must include a solemn commitment to the Jamaican people and not the Parliament of Jamaica. She said this also requires the removal of the final court of appeal from Britain. “It is ethically unsound to remove the King and still expect the Privy Council, appointed by the King, to dictate the application and interpretation of Jamaican law. This, essentially, grants another country authority to dictate Jamaica’s laws,” said Archer. Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. The London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is Jamaica’s final appellate court. Further, Archer said NIA has noted the concerns regarding Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who earlier this week confirmed his British citizenship. She said this is permitted by Jamaican law, which also requires that both the governor general, the King’s representative, and the prime minister swear loyalty to the King of the United Kingdom. She said the issue of whether dual nationals should participate in the governance of Jamaicans is not a matter to be determined by the Parliament without its members actively seeking the opinions of those they represent. “This issue also affects Jamaicans within the diaspora, and we should fairly consider their views,” Archer said. Added to that, she said constitutional reform is not the sole purview of the Government and those it hand-picks. “Rather, it is a collective responsibility that should include comprehensive education of the public about the many areas covered by the Constitution. This will empower every Jamaican to understand and contribute to what they want the Constitution to include,” the NIA head said. She said town halls are insufficient and suggested that the methods used by political parties when conducting election campaigns should be employed to engage every Jamaican on the Constitution. This gives them an opportunity to participate, Archer said. She said it is the NIA’s position that amending the Constitution without the involvement of every Jamaican is “ill-omened and ill-conceived”. “NIA calls on the Government to fully involve all Jamaicans before amending any aspect of the current Constitution. We still have an opportunity to do the right thing,” Archer said. The call comes amid a constitutional reform process and renewed debates over whether the Privy Council should be retained as Jamaica’s final court of appeal. The parliamentary Opposition believes that Jamaica should join the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Government has opted to retain the Privy Council for now. Earlier this month, the Privy Council announced that the British government approved a proposal by its president, Lord Reed, for overseas judges to sit on the court.

The Government has entered 25-year lease agreement with Carib Cement for the upgrading and re-opening of the Rockfort Mineral Bath in Kingston. The facility is a national monument under the control of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Speaking at the signing of the agreement at her ministry headquarters in New Kingston today, Grange said the facilities at the bath will undergo major upgrades over the next five years at a cost of $57 million. “Some renovations will be completed within three to six months — which would make the facility available to the public shortly,” she said. Managing Director of Carib Cement, Jorge Martinez, said the development would focus on “enhancement of the baths, installation of accessories and the establishment of a robust security presence to ensure health and safety of visitors”.

(AP) — Rapper and singer Sean Kingston and his mother committed more than US$1 million in fraud in recent months, stealing money, jewellery, a Cadillac Escalade and furniture, documents released Friday allege.   Kingston, 34, and his 61-year-old mother, Janice Turner, have been charged with conducting an organised scheme to defraud, grand theft, identity theft and related crimes, according to arrest warrants released by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.     The two were arrested Thursday after a SWAT police team raided Kingston’s rented mansion in suburban Fort Lauderdale. Turner was arrested in the raid, while Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California’s Mojave Desert where he was performing.   Kingston, who had a No. 1 hit with “Beautiful Girls” in 2007 and performed with Justin Bieber on the song “Eenie Meenie,” is being held at a California jail awaiting his return to Florida.

COVID pandemic cut global life expectancy by nearly two years: WH pp GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP)— COVID-19 cut global life expectancy by almost two years when it raged from 2019 to 2021, wiping out a decade of progress, the World Health Organization said Friday.   “The COVID-19 pandemic reversed the trend of steady gain in life expectancy at birth and healthy life expectancy at birth,” the UN health agency said.   Global life expectancy fell 1.8 years to 71.4 years, the same level as it was in 2012, according to a WHO annual world health statistics study.   The amount of time the average person can expect to live in good health fell 1.5 years to 61.9 years in 2021 — also the 2012 level, the study said.   The impact was even worse than the findings of a study published by the Lancet in January, which said average life expectancy fell 1.6 years during the pandemic.   Promoted Links You May Like Take a Free trading course at Deriv Academy. Forex & MT5 lessons. All traders are welcome. deriv by Taboola Researchers for that study said COVID-19 had a “more profound impact” on life expectancy than any other event over the past half century.   WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the figures highlighted the importance of the global pandemic security accord being negotiated in Geneva “to strengthen global health security, but to protect long-term investments in health and promote equity within and between countries”.   The Lancet researchers estimated that COVID-19 caused 15.9 million excess deaths during 2020-2021, either from the virus or pandemic-related disruption to health systems.   The WHO study said however that life expectancy did not fall in the same way around the world.   The Americas and Southeast Asia were the worst-hit regions, with life expectancy falling by about three years, it said.   The Western Pacific was the least hit, with life expectancy falling just 0.1 year.

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)— A US couple were among three missionaries shot and killed by a gang outside a church in the Haitian capital, which has endured months of extreme violence with deadly assaults on hospitals, prisons and government buildings. Missions in Haiti, an Oklahoma-based nonprofit founded in 2000, said Davy and Natalie Lloyd and a third person were killed in Port-au-Prince by armed men on Thursday evening. The third victim was identified by US media outlets as Jude Montis, the Haitian director of Missions in Haiti. “Davy and Natalie and Jude were shot and kille d by the gang about 9 o’clock this evening,” Missions in Haiti said on its Facebook page on Friday. “We all are devastated.” It said that the missionaries were ambushed by a gang traveling in three vehicles. “Davy was taken to the house tied up and beat,” it said. “The gang then took our trucks and loaded everything up they wanted and left.” Members of another gang then arrived and “went into full attack mode,” the group added. Responding to the deaths, the White House called for the swift deployment of a Kenyan-led multinational force in Haiti to tackle rampant gang violence. “The security situation in Haiti cannot wait,” said a National Security Council spokesperson, stressing that President Joe Biden had pledged to support the “expedited deployment” of the force in talks with Kenya’s president on Thursday. Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytimeTechno Mag by Taboola “Our hearts go out to the families of those killed as they experience unimaginable grief,” the spokesperson added. A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed condolences, calling it “just another example of the violence that spares no one in Haiti.” The main airport partly reopened this week after being closed since early March, after the powerful and well-armed gangs that control much of the country went on a coordinated rampage they said was aimed at toppling then-prime minister Ariel Henry. Henry, who has since resigned, had himself been unable to return home while abroad at the time of the attacks, due to the gangs’ activity. Haiti has been wracked for decades by poverty, natural disasters, political instability and violence. It has had no president since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in 2021 and it has no sitting parliament. The last election was in 2016, and a new transitional government council is struggling to assert its authority, with food running short, tens of thousands fleeing their homes and the health care system on the brink of collapse. Kenyan President William Ruto vowed during his visit to Washington that his country’s security deployment to Haiti would seek to crush the gangs. The Biden administration had searched extensively for a country to take the lead on the mission to Haiti after has ruled out sending in US forces, who have a long history of intervention in the country.  

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP)— Barcelona sacked coach Xavi Hernandez on Friday after the Catalan giants failed to win a trophy this season but just weeks since he and club president Joan Laporta agreed he would stay in the post. Xavi will take charge of the team’s final La Liga match on Sunday at Sevilla before departing. “Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told Xavi Hernandez he will not continue as coach for the 2024-25 season,” said Barcelona in a statement. Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is heavily tipped to replace Xavi. “It’s never easy to leave the club of your life, but I am very proud,” said Xavi in an open letter published on social media. “From Sunday I will be just one more Barca fan, in the stands, whether it’s the Olympic Stadium or in a few months in the new Camp Nou. “Because before being a player or a coach, I am a fan of Barcelona and I only want the best for the club, who will always have me at their disposal.” In January, Xavi said he would leave at the end of the season but, after a run of strong form, in April he and president Laporta agreed the coach would stay for the next campaign, with his contract expiring in June 2025. However, the situation quickly changed with Spanish media reporting Laporta was angered by Xavi’s comments suggesting it was hard for the financially-hamstrung club to compete with Real Madrid and other elite European sides. “Barcelona want to thank Xavi for his work as coach, which adds to his unmatchable career as a player and the captain of the first team, and wish him all the best in the future,” continued Barcelona’s statement. “In the coming days, Barcelona will reveal the new coaching structure for the first team staff.” Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytimeTechno Mag by Taboola Flick, 59, has not coached since Germany sacked him in 2023 after a poor run of results. Previously Flick steered Bayern to a treble in 2020, including an 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals. Barcelona won La Liga last season but were not able to successfully defend the title. They were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, were hammered by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and lost to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey. When Xavi, 44, made his U-turn to stay, it appeared he and Barcelona were remaining together in a marriage of convenience. “It’s great news that Xavi is staying,” said Laporta on April 25. “The team we have… with very young players, needs that stability. “Today I’m especially pleased, and the board have unanimously supported this decision.” Less than a month later Barcelona’s fiery president changed his mind. Xavi insisted over the past fortnight he was still looking forward to coaching the club next season and felt he had the confidence of Laporta. Barcelona’s chief appointed Xavi in November 2021 to replace Ronald Koeman, aiming to return the club to its pedestal after years of struggles in Europe following their 2015 Champions League triumph.

Information Service Montego Bay ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ actor endorses Black River Film Festival ST JAMES, Jamaica— The inaugural staging of the Black River Film Festival (BRFF), set for June 28 to 30, is being welcomed by local actor, Cornelius Orlando Grant, who sees the potential of the event in unearthing local talent and attracting investment from the international film industry.   Addressing a recent JIS Think Tank held at the agency’s Montego Bay Regional Office, Grant, who stars as gangster Bucky Marshall in the ‘Bob Marley – One Love’ biopic, said the BRFF could leverage the interest and attention being generated towards Jamaica and its film industry following the premiere of the movie.   “Look at it this way, the Prince (Harry) came to the premiere and his presence attracted extra attention to [the film industry]. The Bob Marley movie is creating and breaking more records… . Just recently it opened in Japan [where]… reggae music and Bob Marley have a big fan base. Furthermore, people in the [diaspora] that I spoke to are saying that when they view the movie, it brought them vibes of home,” Grant noted.   He said that with Jamaica being positioned as the hub of the Caribbean film industry and with the increasing number of young people emerging as content creators, “I think now is the time that we can capitalise on this. The Black River Film Festival is doing just that because it is not only incorporating new content creators but also showing students new career possibilities”.   Promoted Links You May Like Meet Rahama, Zainab, Aisha and Fatima in Sadau Sisters S1 Showmax Stories by Taboola Young content creators, 14 to 18 years old, who wish to enter or are already practitioners in the field of filmmaking will benefit from masterclass sessions during the festival.   Grant will be among the speakers during these sessions.   The Ministry of Education, Region 5 will be partnering with the festival producers at a workshop to be held at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in Santa Cruz on June 28.   -JIS

A passerby reportedly stumbled on the body and alerted the police. – Andre Williams photo The body of a man who had been missing since Thursday was found a short while ago in an unfinished building in Bayside, Portmore, in the vicinity the Forum Beach.   He has been identified as 24-year-old Marco-Miche Downer.     A passerby reportedly stumbled on the body and alerted the police.   The Gleaner understands that a belt was found around his neck.   Residents of Armada Court, where he resided, and tearful relatives have converged on the

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has responded to questions regarding his citizenship saying “I am a born Jamaican and have a Jamaican passport,” however, he has not stated whether he is still a British citizen.   There have been questions regarding his citizenship, since his recent suggestion that the constitutional reform process should reconsider the current rule which bars certain members of the Jamaican diaspora from sitting in the Jamaican parliament.     His comments led to calls from several quarters, including from Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, for Golding to state whether he is a British citizen.   In a post on social media site X on Saturday, Golding stated “I’ve never hidden the fact that my father, who came to Jamaica from the UK, had got me a British passport when I was a young child.”     However, he said he has been travelling on his Jamaican passport for years.   Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. “Like other Jamaicans, I apply for visas from countries such as the US and UK to go there,” he stated. “I man born yah, but the local government elections and recent polls seem to be driving some to grasp at straws.”   Responding to Golding’s post, Vaz said “Lol ARE YOU A BRITISH CITIZEN… 3 or 2 letters can clear this up.”   Turning to the matter of constitutional reform, Golding noted that the Jamaican constitution currently requires Commonwealth citizens to reside in Jamaica for at least one year in order to be eligible to sit in the parliament.     “Over the years, parliamentary candidates with Commonwealth passports have therefore legitimately participated in general elections to become MP’s and sat in the Senate. On the other hand, the current Constitution prohibits non-Commonwealth citizens (who have pledged foreign allegiance) from being parliamentarians,” he stated.   Golding argued that the constitutional reform process should reconsider the current rule and “make it accord with the realities of the Jamaican experience.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As reggae singer, philanthropist and published author Sophia Brown puts it, she’s always been an advocate for positivity.   The entertainer told Observer Online that she prides herself on using her talents for good and to her that means producing songs that make people feel good about themselves. To that end, the singer solicited the help of Turbulence to curate her latest single, Look.   An ode to her personal mantra, ‘words are power’, the entertainer said the single is one that focuses on empowerment. According to Brown, today’s society can be a very uncaring and ugly place where people spew hate instead of love and light and she simply wanted to be a vessel for the latter. Promoted Links You May Like Take a Free trading course at Deriv Academy. Forex & MT5 lessons. All traders are welcome. deriv by Taboola “When the song was conceived, it was written with every human being in mind. I wanted to uplift those with low self-confidence. In today’s world, sometimes we are quick to ‘dash’ ugly words at each other not knowing how powerful they are,” she shared. “I wanted to do something that would be different, healing in fact. I want people to ‘Look’ at themselves and feel good. I want the song to teach self-love because that is the greatest love of all. When you love yourself and you’re truly happy within, you are able to light up the world.”   Brown said with the message she was hoping to bring across in the song, there was only one entertainer she could think of that would fit the track perfectly. She told Observer Online that with Turbulence’s track record having been filled with songs that embody love, purity and messages of upliftment, a collaboration would be magical.   “Having Turbulence on the track with his positive vibrations helped me highlight the message even more. He was literally the perfect person for this song. I mean, when I thought about having someone to collaborate on this track, his musical energy immediately came to mind,” she said. “I sent the track to him to see if he would like it and the rest as they say was history. His work ethic is impeccable. I have to give him that. The way he mastered the emotions needed to make this song resonate with listeners, I was in awe.”   The single, which was produced by Brown on her MusicMecka Records label and distributed by Zojack Worldwide, was released across all digital platforms on Friday

PARIS, France (AFP) — Plans for the Olympic torch relay to pass through New Caledonia were cancelled on Saturday after rioting in the French Pacific territory left six people dead, officials announced. The flame had been scheduled to arrive on June 11 but French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said that “priority must be given to a return to calm” in the territory. Promoted Links You May Like Redefine Your RoutineBrickHouse Nutrition by Taboola “I think that everyone understands, given the context, that the priority really is to consolidate the return to public order, and then to appeasement. “Priority to the safety of residents, priority to a return to calm, and priority to the political improvement of the situation.” Anger is high over a contested voting reform in New Caledonia where hundreds of heavily armed French soldiers and police were on Saturday patrolling the capital city of Noumea

Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told a news conference that a feud which began in high school escalated with the murders of two teenagers who were shot in separate incidents over the weekend. “You should know who your children’s friends are,” she said, adding “if for some reason you see friends of your children not coming around or there is something negative being said, as a department, we want you to come in and sit down and have a conversation with us. “We have to resolve these conflicts going on that our young people seem unable to resolve among themselves. We see 15 and 16 year olds with firearms in their hands; something is wrong with that. “Whoever placed weapons in their hands, we’re going to come for you. We cannot allow you to destroy our young people. Fathers, you, too, have a role to play – go and seek out your children, your boy children … give them the support that they need,” the senior police officer warned, noting also that the police are looking for ways to prosecute parents if they allow their children to roam the streets at night. Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. “Parents, it’s time for you to start parenting your children properly. I can assure you we are going to look and find areas within the statute where we can also place you before the courts, because you have to be accountable for your children’s actions.” Skippings said that conflict between the teens began in junior high school and involved a simple assault that was never reported to the police or the boys’ parents. She said had the incident been reported to police, the deaths could have been prevented. According to the police, the 18 year-old was on the basketball court with two other men when they were approached by three men dressed in hooded jackets. There was a confrontation that led the victim to leave the area, but one of the men in the hooded jacket pulled out a gun and opened fire on the group, hitting the 18-year-old. In the second murder, the police said that at about 3:15 a.m. on Saturday, the 15-year-old was asleep in his bed, when someone forced open a bedroom window and fired shots inside, hitting the teenager multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Their deaths have pushed the murder toll to 49 so far this year.

The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) has been barred by a Supreme Court order from convening its July 10 annual general meeting to select its next president.   Justice Tracy-Ann Johnson ordered today that the injunction must remain in force until the determination of a claim brought against the JAS by Lawrence ‘Larry’ Robertson, who is the parish president of the JAS for Portland and a board member of the organisation.     Robertson, in his claim filed last year, is seeking a declaration that the annual general meeting of the JAS is null and void without the presentation of the audited financial statement of the association along with the funds held on behalf of the society by the parish branches, which have not been paid over to the JAS.   In July last year, an interim injunction was granted to Robertson which barred the JAS from convening it’s AGM to select a president.   An order was also made by the court giving the JAS, which is the defendant, time to file an affidavit in response to the suit filed by Robertson.   Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. Attorney-at-law Duke Foote, instructed by attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman, appeared for the claimant today.     So far, the defendant has not filed an affidavit in response to the claim and no representative of the defendant has made an appearance in the matter since the suit was filed in 2023.   On April 12, the matter came before Justice Opal Smith and following submissions made by Foote, the judge ruled that should the defendant not file the required documents, the interim injunction that was granted should remain in place until the determination of the substantive claim.   The JAS has recently given notice to its members that the AGM is scheduled to take place on July 10.   Today, Foote submitted that the court should give effect to the order made on April 12.     Justice Johnson then ruled that the injunction should remain in force until Robertson’s claim was heard and determined.   The first hearing of the fixed date claim form is set for September 19 in chambers.   – Barbara Gayle

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Brompton Primary School in St Elizabeth is to be the latest recipient of monetary support as a result of the fundraising efforts of 19-year-old Rafe Cochran.   Cochran has been supporting the improvement of the nation’s schools since 2016 through his annual Rafe Cochran Golf Classic.   Recently concluding its eighth-staging in collaboration with Food for the Poor, proceeds from the event are earmarked for a construction project at the St Elizabeth-based school.   Brompton Primary, which currently houses 499 students, is primarily a wooden structure that has been suffering from rot due to heavy rains.   The project will see the construction of four classrooms, an administrative unit, a guidance counsellor’s office, and a staff restroom.   Promoted Links You May Like Revamp Your Home With a Stylish Walk-in Shower Now! Showers sale | Search ads by Taboola “Rafe is a rare individual whose compassion and wisdom are not limited by age, which is reflected in his personal motto: ‘You are never too young to take action and to make a difference,’” said Food for the Poor chief executive officer Ed Raine.   “We all marvel at his heartfelt generosity and commitment to changing lives through education, and we’re so grateful for his long standing support of Food for the Poor,” added Raine.   At age nine, Cochran became one of Food for the Poor’s (Coconut Creek) youngest donors, raising money to build 10 homes in Haiti and six schools in Jamaica.   Cochran’s support has funded improvement projects at the Chester Primary and Infant School in St Ann, Runaway Bay All-Age School and Iona High School in St Mary.   The Eighth Annual Rafe Cochran Golf Classic was held on April 29 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr has confirmed that no Jamaican farm worker on the Overseas Employment Programme was involved in Tuesday morning’s bus crash in Florida where eight farm workers have so far succumbed to injuries.   In a release to media Tuesday afternoon, the minister said “We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the farm workers whose lives were lost in this unfortunate accident.”   Promoted Links You May Like Here’s What a Walk-in Shower Should Cost in 2024 Showers sale | Search ads by Taboola In an article from CNN, the Florida Highway Patrol reported that approximately 53 farm workers were aboard the bus when it collided with a 2001 Ford Ranger at approximately 6:35 am. The bus then exited the roadway and ran through a fence before overturning.   Eight people have been confirmed dead and 45 injured according to emergency officials, however, authorities believe based on the extent of the damage, the death toll may increase

A female student was today fatally stabbed allegedly by a male schoolmate during a reported altercation on the grounds of the Catholic College of Mandeville in Williamsfield, Manchester. The unidentified student is from the Knockpatrick area. The circumstances surrounding the incident are not clear at this time. The male student is in custody at the Williamsfield Police Station. A motive behind the stabbing remains unclear.

London, UK — More than a year after Shein reportedly promised to tackle excessive working hours in its supply chain, it has been revealed that some employees at the Chinese fast-fashion company are still working 75-hour weeks.   According to a report from CNN, an investigation by Public Eye, the Swiss human rights advocacy group that first highlighted the alleged abuse back in 2021, some staff members worked an average 12 hours per day.   “The 75-hour weeks that we found out about two years ago still seem to be common at Shein,” the Swiss organisation said. CNN said the Public Eye interviewed 13 textile workers employed at six factories last summer and found that staff worked an average of 12 hours a day, “excluding lunch and dinner breaks, and usually for six or seven days a week.” According to the CNN report, Public Eye also claimed that workers’ wages had hardly changed since its 2021 report. They fluctuated between 6,000 and 10,000 yuan per month (US$829 and US$1,382). However, after deducting pay for overtime, wages fell to about 2,400 (US$332) a month — well below the 6,512 yuan (US$900) the Public Eye says is a living wage in China.   However, in a statement to CNN, Shein said that it “does not recognise many of the allegations in (Public Eye’s) report.”   “The Public Eye report is based on a sample of 13 interviewees and, though all voices in our supply chain are important, this small sample size should be seen in the context of our comprehensive ongoing process to continually improve our supply chain, which involves engaging with thousands of suppliers and workers within the supply chain,” it reportedly expressed.   A spokesperson for Shein reportedly told CNN that the company requires its suppliers to cap workers’ schedules at 60 hours per week, including overtime, and to give workers at least one day off a week. Staff also have the right to refuse to work overtime.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita may not be the most suitable measurement of Jamaica’s growth, as indicated by a discussion paper published by the Jamaica Economy Panel (JEP) on Friday. The paper, titled ‘Beyond GDP per capita for Jamaica’s Sustainable Development’, utilises the findings of a survey conducted between March 10 and March 23, examining the possibility of adopting measures other than GDP to gauge the country’s level of development. According to UWI Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics, Dr Nadine McCloud, concerns exist regarding the effectiveness of GDP per capita in measuring development progress, especially concerning sustainable development. “There is broad consensus that using GDP per capita as a metric for economic performance and development is tantamount to viewing a country and its citizens through a narrow and severely biased lens fraught with many ills,” said Dr McCloud. Overall, the JEP panellists agreed that advancements in wealth accounting tools provided a deeper comprehension of both the quantity and quality of growth and development. Senior Economist in the United Nations Resident Coordinators Office, Dr Stuart Davies, highlighted how new measuring tools can assist decision-makers and practitioners in better understanding the interlinkages and trade-offs between national assets, and reflect these in their policies to achieve sustainable development more effectively. “Recent advances in wealth accounting, which go beyond GDP, can enable a better understanding of not only the quantity but also the quality of growth and development,” said Dr Davies. Promoted Links You May Like Stay Safe Online: Essential Tips for Cyber Security!infoaday.com by Taboola “For small island developing countries, like Jamaica, these new wealth accounting tools enable more nuanced approaches to development that enhance not just future prosperity but also resilience in all its forms,” he added. However, the panel noted that introducing a new development measurement tool for Jamaica comes with its own share of challenges. The JEP panel emphasised several hurdles, including inadequate data on non-economic aspects and challenges in quantifying intangible assets. Additionally, they cited potential resistance from entrenched institutions and policymakers accustomed to GDP-focused methods, along with limited awareness among policymakers regarding the limitations of GDP and the advantages of alternative measures. “Moving beyond GDP will require committed collective efforts among various partners and stakeholders to research, design, finance and educate on new measurement tools in the years to come,” said United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dennis Zulu. “The United Nations is committed to working with the government to implement more nuanced development measurement tools like Beyond-GDP for a more adequate measure of Jamaica’s sustainable development progress as well as for more effective development planning,” he added. JEP is part of a partnership between the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies. The panel brings together economic, public-sector experts, and development practitioners to address monthly socio-economic questions. Oki

In an inspiring display of compassion and community spirit, two local boys spearheaded a project to establish a raised bed garden at the SOS Children’s Village in Stony Hill. Last Sunday the duo, accompanied by volunteers from the Campion Agricultural Society, worked tirelessly alongside the children at the facility to create the garden space. Alexander Crawford and Samuel Sutherland, students of Campion College, envisioned a space where the children could not only learn about sustainable agriculture but also experience the joy of nurturing life. With unwavering dedication, they fundraised and rallied support from their school and community, gathering materials and supplies valued over $55,000 to make their vision a reality. However, their generosity didn’t stop there. With a heartwarming gesture, the boys donated $150,000 worth of food items to the children’s home, ensuring they have a plentiful supply of nutritious meals and snacks. Additionally, they organised a special treat for all the children, bringing them a feast from KFC feast and an array of snacks. The children at the SOS Children’s Village were not only recipients but active participants in the project, learning valuable skills and forging connections with their community. WhatsAppShare

AP) — The English Premier League football title race will go to the last day of the season after Arsenal returned to the top of the standings with a 1-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday. Leandro Trossard struck in the 20th minute at Old Trafford to ensure Arsenal will take defending champions Manchester City to the final round of games next Sunday.     Anything other than a win against United for Mikel Arteta’s team could have seen City clinch the title with victory at Tottenham on Tuesday. Arsenal duly delivered and moved one point ahead of its title rival in second place.   Arsenal will host Everton in the final round, when Man City hosts West Ham.     Defeat for United was a latest blow for under pressure manager Erik ten Hag, whose team lost for the 14th time in the league this season and extended a damaging run that has seen it win just one of its last eight games in England’s top division.   Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. Arsenal benefited from slack defending from United when makeshift center back Casemiro was slow to push up and played Kai Havertz onside.   The Germany forward took advantage and drove into the box before crossing for Trossard to convert from close range.

Frustrated residents in Mona Heights, St Andrew, are demanding action from the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) following what they described as chaotic building construction in theirneighbourhood.   Tensions peaked last month when residents saw steel work suggesting that a third floor would likely be added to a single family residence under construction. They reported the matter to the KSAMC, which, on April 29, placed a stop order on the construction pending an investigation.   Councillor Gary Gordon (Jamaica Labour Party, Mona Division) told the Jamaica Observer that he reported the matter on April 26 and was told by representatives at the KSAMC that the developers said that what was being constructed atop the building “was a staircase and a recreational area, not a [third floor]”.   However, president of the Mona Heights Citizens’ Association Winsome Johns-Gayle said that residents believe that despite the stop order construction will continue. She said residents are frustrated with the KSAMC’s handling of reports of building violations in the community and do not believe their complaints are taken seriously.   “Homeowners in Mona are extremely displeased with what appears to be chaotic building construction in the community. Mona Heights residents do not want any three-storey or higher buildings. We insist that only two-storey buildings are conducive to the community and environment,” she told the Sunday Observer.   “Mona Heights citizens are calling for a temporary halt to KSAMC building approvals and an immediate development consultation with the community before building approvals resume. We also call for immediate stop orders and demolition, not regularisation, of constructions that are non-compliant with building approvals and prosecution of persons who persist with non-compliant developments,” she said.   The Sunday Observer made multiple attempts to get a comment from Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby on how the KSAMC will address the concerns raised by the residents and their requests for building approvals to be halted until a meeting is held to discuss the issue. However, those efforts were futile as calls to Swaby’s cellular phone and messages with questions were left unanswered.   Meanwhile, Johns-Gayle said the residents are seeking assistance from the public defender in this matter. Promoted Links You May Like Step Into The World Of Property Investment: 2024 Bahamas EditionReal Estate Investments | Search Ads by Taboola “What should we expect for approvals going forward? Are we to be consulted? Are conditions of approval consistent with current building codes for Mona Heights? What level of oversight and inspections are undertaken? If the citizens are doing it for you, why haven’t you listened to our reports?” she questioned. Johns-Gayle said that not only are three-storey buildings prohibited in the residential area, but they infringe on residents’ privacy. “I mean, you live in your house, you live there as a resident for a certain amount of years, you don’t want a three-storey building beside you to be looking into your bedroom. You will have no privacy and if it is illegal, it is illegal, it ought not to be done,” Johns-Gayle said. “That is what has happened to a lot of housing areas, including Hope Pastures. People have to run away leave them place because they can’t stay. The same thing has happened on Wellington Drive. If you drive down there people use to live in homes down there, but they don’t live there anymore because all of these things put up around them… on all four sides. They have to be running to get privacy… We can’t have that in Mona. We can’t have something going up that is going to disturb people,” she said. “Complaints have been made about other construction that violate permits but buildings have been allowed to be completed and occupied. This must stop!” she insisted. A resident, who has lived in the community for more than 30 years told the Sunday Observer that “if you were to look around the community you would only see two-storey buildings and that is for a reason. Nobody wants anyone looking over into their yard”. Another resident questioned the developers’ claim that a third storey was not being constructed. “Ginnalship! They intended a third floor, and if not closely monitored it will quietly continue. I just passed the building and work goes on,” said the resident on May 1. “The plan is to complete the third floor then seek to regularise. It is only effective and intentional leadership which can halt this travesty,” he added.

THE hearing of evidence in the Keith Clarke murder trial in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston was again stalled on Wednesday, this time because of the illness of a key witness.   Trial judge Justice Dale Palmer was adamant, however, that the matter must proceed come Monday.   “I must say that I am so disappointed that we are unable to start. The seriousness of that illness is certainly more than initially thought. We have been given assurance that the transcripts will be ready by the weekend. I was firmly of the view we could have commenced with the doctor’s evidence. While I may not have necessarily taken the view that we would have been adversely affected, if this is the state he is in, we really want to have an update with regards to that witness so that we can proceed,” Justice Palmer said.   He added that with the prosecution and defence agreeing on certain documents, he was satisfied that the trial can wrap up in four weeks after it gets underway on Monday.   Accountant Keith Clarke was shot and killed at his home in May 2010 by members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) who were in search of then fugitive, Christopher “Dudus” Coke.   In 2012, three members of the JDF were charged with Clarke’s murder. Since then, there have been constant delays in the courts which have prevented the case from being tried by a jury since that time.   The three members of the JDF now on trial are lance corporals Greg Tingling and Odel Buckley as well as private Arnold Henry. Promoted Links You May Like New Senior Apartments in Lagos: Comfortable and Affordable (See Prices for 2024)Senior Living | Search Ads by Taboola In order to save time in the matter, Justice Palmer has already given guidance to members of the seven-member jury, through certain formalities, including the selection of the jury foreperson. “What I propose is that we get started with the initial formalities and that the Crown readies itself. After this adjournment, barring complaints which are unforseen, no further adjournments will be granted when we start on Monday morning. We will proceed one way or the other. Have the transcripts ready,” Palmer said. Last week when the defence team representing the soldiers applied for a stay of the proceedings, prosecutor Latoya Bernard urged Justice Palmer not to grant the request as she said the prosecution was ready to start the trial. “The matter is to proceed. On the last occasion we were here we indicated certain difficulties in relation to witnesses if the matter doesn’t start today. The matter has been before the court for 12 years and we have been ready,” Bernard said last week. However, prosecutor Yannick Forbes sang a different tune on Wednesday, telling the court that the medical condition of the witness was not a simple one. “The witness, as we understand it, actually has a bloodclot in the brain and in those circumstances we are unable to proceed with his evidence, certainly until we receive a comprehensive medical report with respect to that witness. We only knew of that Tuesday afternoon when we were about to interview that witness; therefore, it is that situation which arose yesterday which has placed us in this position. If we are forced to proceed otherwise, it would take away from the foundation which we find is important to to be led with respect to this matter. It is in those circumstances why we have asked for the adjournment. I spoke to my learned friends with respect this and other factors,” he said. This prompted Judge Palmer to adjourn the matter until Monday. Said he: “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I spoke of administrative issues that resulted in our late start this afternoon, among them was the availability of one of the Crown’s witnesses who unfortunately is ill. Regrettably, because of those issues, we will not be able to commence with hearing evidence in this matter until Monday. I have to give consideration to you as jurors for your time, rather than to have you lose time waiting on witnesses or for the court to be available given its own constraints. When we get started, the prosecution will start the matter with an opening address. You are not to come to any final view in the matter until you have had all the evidence. It is everything taken together that will enable you to make a decision. The process you are now involved in is exceedingly serious. Justice can only be dispensed with the assistance of a jury. Justice does not mean finding someone not guilty if you satisfied so that you are sure that there is evidence to prove it.”

A female corporal from the St Catherine Fire Brigade is now in hospital after she suffered carbon monoxide poisoning while responding to a bush fire along Old Harbour Road in St Catherine on Monday. This was revealed at the monthly general meeting of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation on Thursday. District Officer Andrea Morris revealed to councillors that the fire department’s four stations in the parish have responded to 470 calls for April 2024. It was revealed that calls about bush fires were the main concern. “It was while attending to a fire when the incident occurred. At first we thought it was something simple until it was proven otherwise,” Morris said.

Two male bikers lost their lives after the motorcycle they were travelling on collided with a trailer truck on the Cave main road in Westmoreland on Thursday afternoon.   The names and identities of the victims have not yet been released by the police.   The accident reportedly took place sometime about 12:30 p.m. while the truck was travelling from the direction of Savanna-la-Mar towards Whitehouse. When The Gleaner visited the scene of the accident the lifeless body of one of the men was seen under the truck while the other was behind the truck. The police are currently monitoring the traffic in the vicinity of the scene.

ST JAMES, Jamaica — The St James police received heavy commendations on Thursday after reporting an eight-year low in murders committed in the parish for April. Law enforcers revealed that for April, only six persons were murdered in the parish. The revelation was made by Superintendent Eron Samuels at the monthly council meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation. “The work of the police and the military has seen a reduction in murders and shootings over the last month,” he remarked. “In fact, for the month of April we saw the division recording the lowest murder figure for a month since 2016 with six murders. A little too much just to say but the efforts of the division must be noted,” he added. He explained that several factors contributed to this success. “It could be for a number of factors, one of which is the policing activities that we did. Since January, we have been working really hard within the spaces, trying to control the different conflicts,” he remarked. He also highlighted the work being done islandwide by the security forces as a contributing factor. Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for freeWar Thunder by Taboola “In April, there was an initiative right across the country to hold crime down and I believe that we benefitted from the work being done right across all divisions within the space and it is something that we hoped to continue especially in Area One to push at criminals right across the area,” he said. This news was welcomed by those present, given that the parish of St James continues to lead in the number of murders committed since the start of the year. Up to May 4, 48 people have been killed across the parish. However, according to the latest police data, St James has seen a slight decline in murders, which stood at 56 when compared to the same period last year. Councillor for the Montego Bay South East division, Arthur Lynch, thanked the police for their recent success. “I must say, on behalf of the residents of Montego Bay South East, we must commend the hard-working officers of the parish of St James for what they have been doing in reducing crime and violence and the recovery of weapons in the past months, I must say commendations to the team,” Lynch stated. Mount Salem Division Councillor Kerry Thomas also praised the work of the security forces. “Glad to hear the report that we are making significant progress and we need to maintain that,” he said.

India’s High Commissioner to Jamaica Masakui Rungsung says the high commission is working with Jamaican authorities to secure the repatriation of more than 200 Indians who arrived in the island on Thursday. The group arrived on a chartered flight, which travelled through Dubai and Egypt, accompanied by German crew members and at least one French national. “We are in touch with the local authorities for their safe and smooth repatriation,” Rungsung told The Gleaner Monday. He did not comment further. Gleaner sources have confirmed that the Indians are currently at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston awaiting flight clearance to depart. Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. It is not clear if all of the Indians who arrived on Thursday are at the airport. The Gleaner was told that some of the travellers, who stayed at ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston, were headed to Nicaragua while some had intended to travel to Canada. The Government is yet to issue a statement on the development. The opposition People’s National Party has called for “immediate clarity” from the Government, noting that the chartered flight landed in Jamaica in breach of applicable immigration and customs protocols. – Kimone Francis

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica  – The Westmoreland police have laid charges against 29-year-old Sharone McDonald for cruelty to a child following the death of her eight-year-old son, who perished in a fire last weekend. The incident happened after 11:00 pm at their Top Lincoln, Grange Hill residence. McDonald was charged following a witness statement. Reports from the police are that  McDonald, the mother of Jahmiel Richardson, left him unattended in their one-bedroom concrete and wooden structured house. Citizens in the community then reportedly saw fire coming from the house and heard the boy calling out for his mother. The residents rushed to his assistance, however, the fire is said to have quickly engulfed the house, thwarting them from helping. Observer Online understands that the police and the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Department were alerted. During the cooling down operations, firemen reportedly found the charred remains of the Peggy Barry Primary student’s body in the back section of the house. READ: 8-y-o boy dies in fire, mother in custody The house was destroyed along with its contents. The value of the damage has not yet been determined.

Paediatric surgery, the delicate art of operating on infants, children, and adolescents, recently witnessed a remarkable advancement with the first laparoscopic surgeries performed at the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC). The appendectomy and cholecystectomy, or gall bladder removal, were made possible with the laparoscopic machine donated to the BHC by the CHASE Fund. Dr Sarah Marshall Niles, consultant paediatric surgeon at the BHC responsible for the gall bladder removal, said the surgical team was happy to be able to provide this type of procedure with significant benefits to patients. “We are quite humbled and grateful to have finally achieved our long-standing vision of being able to truly provide world-class surgical service to our nation’s children,” she said. Laparoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery, involves the use of specialised instruments and a laparoscope – a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light source – to visualise and operate inside the abdomen or pelvis through small incisions. Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. Marshall Niles said the surgeon benefits from increased visibility during the procedure as the field of surgery is viewed with a telescope that provides magnified vision, which improves surgical precision. Commenting on the surgeries, Dr Claudine DeSouza, consultant paediatric surgeon who performed the appendectomy, noted that laparoscopic appendicectomies had been a goal of the hospital for some time, and she was extremely grateful to see it come to fruition. “It means we are able to offer similar surgical care to the children at Bustamante Children’s Hospital as they would receive in most First World countries for certain procedures. It means smaller scars for some procedures, less pain, a quicker recovery and likely quicker return to physical activities. We will continue the legacy of our mentors and do our best for our nation’s children,” she said. “The patient made a full recovery and has very small scars that are barely obvious,” she added. The integration of laparoscopic machines into BHC’s surgical practice represents a significant advancement in care at the institution, which is the only children’s hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean. The institution caters to patients from birth to 12 years, providing a comprehensive range of diagnostic, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and ambulatory services in paediatric medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. The acquisition of the laparoscopic machine was financed at a cost of $20 million by the CHASE Fund under its health portfolio. The fund supports health initiatives that advance the promotion of healthy lifestyles; build, upgrade, restore and equip health facilities, children’s homes, palliative and drug rehabilitation centres, AIDS hospices and shelters for the homeless, while also providing training for personnel who administer such facilities.

LEAD environment and community development official at the JN Foundation Omar Wright has called for a concerted effort to be made for a balance between sustainable water management and socio-economic development for the nation’s future resilience. Wright has warned that without immediate action Jamaica’s precious natural resources and ecosystems are at risk of irreversible damage, threatening both environmental stability and socio-economic well-being. “We [the JN Foundation] had a water summit in 2021, and we called on the Government of Jamaica to set a minimum standard to ensure that every housing development is outfitted with water-efficient features and fittings. We are still calling and advocating for this,” said Wright while addressing a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights. In a presentation dubbed ‘Navigating the waters: the intersection of water management and environmental conservation’, Wright said there is a pressing need for collaboration among all stakeholders. “Recognising the interconnectedness of water resources with all aspects of life, persons are urged to set aside differences and work towards a common goal, safeguarding Jamaica’s water for generations to come. “It is important that the Government, policymakers, businesses, and communities work together for a resilient future. If we don’t manage our water resources carefully, we will see the side of humanity that will be plunged into [water] war,” added Wright. Jamaica, like many other countries, is grappling with the repercussions of climate change, population growth, and unsustainable practices that strain its water resources. From diminishing water supplies to degraded ecosystems, the signs of stress are evident. However, amidst these challenges, Wright said there is an opportunity for transformation. “We have to ensure that we are managing the water resources in such a way that future generations will have access to water and we can indeed be the land of wood and water,” he said. Wright urged members of the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights to advocate for water conservation initiatives. “Lend your voice and support to entities, institutions, and initiatives that are pushing for conservation of the environment. Find something that you are passionate about in the environmental sphere and lend your support,” said Wright. He also encouraged businesses to adopt water-efficient technologies and practices not only as a means of reducing operational costs but as a commitment to corporate social responsibility. Wright also urged communities to embrace water-saving habits and participate in local conservation efforts, recognising their role as custodians of Jamaica’s water resources. The call for Jamaicans to do more to conserve water has been growing in recent weeks as the island faces a severe drought. Last week Leanne Spence, co-founder and operator of water conservation company Instant-Save Jamaica Limited, argued that if residents of Kingston and St Andrew save 10 per cent of water used daily it would be enough to surpass the capacity of the Mona Reservoir, which holds 809 million gallons. “It is really important that we look at strategies to be better able to manage our water resources,” Spence told a public forum put on by The University of the West Indies, Mona, last Wednesday. Speaking during the event titled Down to the Last Drop: Tackling Jamaica’s Water Woes, Spence said while it is a known fact that Jamaica is experiencing scarcity, often as a result of inadequate distribution and aged infrastructure, Jamaicans should seek ways to help ensure water security. Spence said Instant-Save, through an efficiency-first approach called Demand Side Management, has assisted clients to save “millions of gallons of water”. She stated that “water efficiency and conservation can be a new water source as well”. Demand Side Management is a strategic toolbox which looks at behaviour change, efficient technologies, and financial incentives to promote efficient water use and curb consumption.