Collab with Kabaka Pyramid, Lila Iké features on first album, From Within Recording artiste Mortimer collaborated with fellow reggae stars Kabaka Pyramid and Lila Iké on the track Bruises, which is the fifth track to be released from his upcoming debut album From Within. “They are excellent, super-talented artistes, two of whom I have, over the years, said I would love to be on a record with. I love all that they stand for and what their music stands for, too. It was really seamless; I’m talking about the flow of everything — how it all went. It was super cool working with that,” Mortimer told the Jamaica Observer. Bruises — a joint collaboration between Mortimer and Winta James — was released on August 23. The full track album is slated for a September 20 release. It also features a collaboration with Damian “Jr Gong” Marley. The album’s physical pre-order includes a special limited-edition coloured vinyl version of the album with three exclusive dubs mixed by Tippy I Grade of Zion I Kings, along with an exclusive shirt design. Meanwhile, Mortimer said that he has been receiving a lot of positive feedback for Bruises, which is hopefully a sign of the support he will receive for the album. “So far, so good, you know? I really give thanks to everybody who chooses to tune in to the music that we make and just to see it for what it is as our hearts’ uttering, you know what I mean? The reception has been good so far and I really appreciate that,” he said. Born in Kingston, but raised in the rural district of Whitehall, St Elizabeth, like most Jamaicans, Mortimer began his musical journey in the church — and for him it was the Seventh-day Adventist Church where he began singing on the choir at age eight. Mortimer had dreams of becoming a soldier or an auto engineer, but these aspirations soon took a back seat to music. He released his first project, Message Music, in 2014. An introduction to Jamaican recording artiste Protoje resulted in the recording of the collaboration Protection, produced by Winta James. Mortimer added that the timing of his first album was divinely orchestrated. “I didn’t decide that. Time decided that, because guess what, this album was supposed to come out about three years ago. We just finally got everything sorted out. We were waiting on some stuff to come through and we finally got to a place where we felt like it was ready,” he said.

OPPOSITION People’s National Party’s spokesperson on education and community development Senator Damion Crawford says the disappointing mathematics performance in the 2024 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, where only 38.9 per cent of students passed, was signalled from as far back as 2017 when that cohort’s numeracy was assessed. According to Crawford, education officials ignored those early indications and missed the opportunity for remediation. Speaking at a virtual press briefing hosted by the party at its St Andrew headquarters on Wednesday, Crawford urged the Government to refrain from blaming teachers for the outcome and to instead conduct research to unearth the facts. According to the Opposition spokesperson, his own analysis “of the cause of the poor outcomes” dates back to the Grade Four Numeracy results for the cohort which was publicly reported in 2017 and stood at 66 per cent. He said the writing on the wall was even more prominent when the figures for mathematics was no better in the cohort’s 2019 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) which was 41 per cent. “This might be one of the reasons we may have this cohort’s CSEC math performance being 36 per cent. I became very concerned because even at the PEP level, high proficiency was only 2,624 of the 40,000 students that did the exam. So almost 37,000 would not have been in the high proficiency category. [Even] more unfortunate, 27,300 did not achieve simple proficiency at that time,” Crawford said. “Why is this important? It shows that very little remedial effort was taken between when we saw that there was a problem in grade four and again saw that there was problem in grade six and we waited until the problem really started to show itself when there was limited ability to remediate in grade 11,” he told members of the media. The just released CSEC results for Jamaica showed that the majority of students sitting the exam managed to get a grade three. Of the 31,325 that took the exam, 2,264 were absent, 374 received a score so low their papers were not graded. A grade 6 was received by 113, grade five was received by 8,306, grade four by 10, 232, grade 3 by 4,875, grade 2 by 3,078 and a grade 1 by 2,076. “The ministry needs to do research into the reason for the outcome,” Crawford said, while contending that the oversight on the part of education authorities had “caused many to not matriculate to university and caused only 18 per cent to have five subjects or more”. “Trinidad has a 45 per cent outcome of persons receiving five subjects including math and English, Jamaica had an 18 per cent. So, Trinidad is almost three times the functionality of Jamaica,” Crawford said. According to Opposition spokesman, should his party form the next government, in five years of its leadership, the country would be “effectively competing with Trinidad and Tobago and others” in the exam outcomes. Crawford’s assertions were supported by Dr Kenneth Russell, the Opposition’s deputy spokesperson on education and community development, who said, “the problem is that we have the data but we are not using it”. According to Russell, the initial data from PEP which showed that “proficiency” was low for the majority had been an early indicator of the CSEC math passes now being seen. On Monday, Education Minister Fayval Williams, in addressing the results, said while “improvements” have been noted in the performance of Jamaican public school students in the 2024 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), the ministry is concerned about the achievement of students in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, with particular dissatisfaction over the mathematics results. The education minister, in noting that the data showed that there have been fluctuations in the regional performance in key subjects specifically for maths and English A, said Jamaica had “recorded a decline”. The education minister was keen to point out that the comparison was being done between the 2022 and 2024 performance, given that there had been exam breaches in 2023, which led to CXC modifying its grading scheme for that year. “We would not encourage a comparison with the 2023 exam; the best year for comparison would be 2022. In maths for 2022, the score was 37.3 per cent with 38.9 for 2024, a 1.6 percentage point difference; we here at the ministry will have to redouble our efforts for maths,” Williams said, noting that even based on the comparison with that year the ministry was still not satisfied with the performance of students in the maths exams.

JDF not ruling out friendly fire in death of young soldier THE Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has refused to accept or deny that friendly fire led to last week Friday’s shooting death of one of its soldiers, Private Ejay Domville, in Denham Town, Kingston. At the time of his killing, Domville was posted at the Denham Town zone of special operations. According to the police, around 1:25 am on Friday, August 23, Domville was part of a military team on foot patrol in the vicinity of Charles Street and Chestnut Lane when he was killed. The police said that soldiers were in pursuit of men who opened gunfire at them, which caused them to take evasive action and return fire. At the end of the shooting, Domville was found with a gunshot wound to the face. The young soldier, who had been in the JDF for less than a year, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. His death sparked widespread speculations in the public sphere that he could have been shot by one of his colleagues. The swirling speculations, especially after Wednesday’s publication of a story by a local newspaper depicting the concerning views of Domville’s mother, Calisha Reynolds, prompted the JDF to issue a statement. In the statement the JDF said it was conducting its own internal investigations to ensure all facts are uncovered and that it was fully cooperating with ongoing investigations by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom). However, Indecom’s assistant commissioner Hamish Campbell said the investigating body was not probing the matter which he said was a murder. “Indecom attended the scene because at the time there was discharge of firearm by the security forces, but no one was injured. We know where the soldier was shot and post-mortem will further support or add to that in terms of trajectory and direction but Indecom is not the investigating body for that,” Campbell told the Jamaica Observer. In its statement on Wednesday, the JDF said: “We acknowledge the concerns raised by Pte Domville’s mother, Ms Calisha Reynolds, and we are committed to working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure they are addressed in a timely manner. Arrangements have been made to ensure Ms Reynolds is present at the autopsy, and we will maintain continuous communication to ensure she is informed throughout the process. “The JDF also recognised the concerns expressed by the public regarding the possibility of Pte Domville’s death being the result of fratricide. We acknowledge that the complexity of a shooting engagement with threat force and split-second decision-making can increase its likelihood. However, our pre-deployment training is focused on minimising the risk of fratricide and ensuring the safety and well-being of our service members during a firefight,” the army said. The JDF said Domville demonstrated exceptional bravery during the incident and that preliminary reports indicated that even after he fell and lost his helmet, “he swiftly got back up and continued to advance towards the threat”. The military said it is committed to providing full support to the family as they navigate these challenging circumstances together. In an interview with a local newspaper on Tuesday, Domville’s mother expressed hope that the autopsy, which was set to be done on Wednesday, would provide her with some answers. She said that she did not believe he was killed by criminals in a shootout. She said that when she went to the Tranquility Funeral Home, where her son body is stored, she was told that she could not see the body because it was already identified. The mother of two described Domville as her breadwinner.

Sporting figures welcome new international students transfer rule Two prominent sporting figures are in support of Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association’s (ISSA) rule change regarding foreign athletes for the 2024-25 junior sporting season. ISSA announced last week that all students transferring from a secondary school outside of Jamaica will only be eligible for its competitions after a year’s wait. This accounts for students 16 years old and younger and these students will also now be regarded as members of the school’s quota for each sport. ISSA previously implemented this rule for transfers taking place between well-funded and lesser-resourced local schools, prompting the better funded ones to instead recruit internationally to avoid the period of ineligibility. These schools can afford to provide full scholarships to international athletes. However, with lesser-funded schools complaining about being marginalised for a lack of ability to recruit similarly, ISSA has applied the same approach internationally. Kingston College (KC) has benefited from international recruitment, with athletes such as Aryamanya Rodgers, of Uganda, brought in for the school’s track and field, and U19 football teams. Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes is another high-profile example from years past, as KC recruited him from Anguilla, where he was born and raised. He claimed a bronze medal in the men’s 4x100m relays at the Paris Olympic earlier this month, and is also a former European 100m and 200m champion, and World Athletics Championships 4x100m relay silver and 100m bronze medallist. While this new rule could thwart KC’s recruitment process, its U19 football team head coach Vassell Reynolds supports it. “Anything that will aid in the development of our youngsters holistically, academically, sports-wise, I’m all for it,” Reynolds told the Jamaica Observer. “If ISSA feels that the intake of overseas athletes will hinder the development of our youngsters, then I’m all for their decision. If you look at the other side of the coin, we have a lot of players and athletes going overseas to colleges and universities and there are no limitations there. But I can understand the message that ISSA is trying to send.” While Reynolds thinks the rule tries to bring parity between well and less-funded schools, he says he understands the concern. “Jamaica is becoming a country that attracts athletes from various sporting arenas,” he said. “It is because of what we have to show. We have the greatest schoolboy football competition in the world, we have the greatest Boys’ and Girls’ Championships in the world and it helps to put not just our athletes on the map, but athletes from all over the world. But I understand where ISSA is coming from.” Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Secondary Schools’ Track and Field President Joseph Brewster agrees with Reynolds. His association participated in a study group in Jamaica to see what aspects of local high school sport development could be implemented in his country to improve their system. He has praised ISSA and its president, Keith Wellington, saying it is a policy he hopes will be implemented in T&T. “I think that ISSA had to act to protect the integrity of Jamaica’s secondary school sports system,” he told the Observer. “It’s a decisive move and while it may have some drawbacks in giving international athletes competition, the real winner here is that coaches and teachers are forced to look to develop their own athletes. That can only benefit Jamaica.” Brewster says when an international athlete is recruited, coaches must now call on local options at their school to fill those gaps while the incoming athlete also gets a chance to acclimatise to their new environment, which he sees as another benefit of the rule. “For some, it’s a whole new culture and environment,” he said. “It also decreases exploitation of the foreign athlete. These athletes would normally have to come in and perform immediately, before settling in. “As much as I would like to see foreign athletes, and athletes from my own country come in and get competition, it causes the big schools to be able to have wait, and give the smaller schools a chance to be competitive. “It helps the economy as well. You don’t have to spend as much to recruit a local, as you would a foreigner.” Brewster says local athletes who might not have been successful in their last season can also take a psychological boost from knowing that they can be champions the following year if there is no top athlete coming in from overseas to “blindside” them, since international athletes being recruited would likely be considered exceptional talent. Children of Jamaican heritage as well as those who meet ISSA’s parameters for admission to sixth form, or children of member of the diplomatic corps and under the age of 16 and student-athletes who are domiciled under the UN Convention in Jamaica are exempted from the rule. ISSA’s new rule takes effect on Sunday, September 1, with the schoolboy football season starting on Saturday, September 7.

Olympian Vilma Charlton is pleased that Jamaican youth are being exposed to the achievements of athletes like George Rhoden, the Olympic 400 metres gold medalist who died on August 24 at age 97 in California. Rhoden won that event at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. He also ran the anchor leg for the victorious 4×400 metres team at those Games. “One thing I’m happy about is that the newscasters are putting the ‘48 and ‘52 Olympics before the general public, so the youngsters have a feel of where we are coming from. They thought that the Olympics started in 2008 because that was such a successful year,” Charlton told Observer Online. Usain Bolt’s superlative feats at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China where he won three gold medals (the sprint double and as a member of the 4×100 metres relay team) was a global phenomenon. Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown won the 100 and 200 metres, respectively. Those achievements took place 70 years after Rhoden and Arthur Wint competed at the London Olympics. Wint won the 400 metres while Rhoden competed in the 100 metres and 400 metres. Wint, Herb McKenley and Les Laing were other members of the Helsinki 4×400 metres relay squad. They died in 1992, 2007 and 2021, respectively. Charlton, a sprinter who competed at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics, said athletes like Rhoden had a profound impact on Jamaica’s social psyche. “I can remember in 1952 when they won, Jamaica declared a national holiday. It’s the end of a chapter but he represents where we began and youngsters need to know that,” she noted. Born in Kingston, George Rhoden attended Kingston Technical High School. Like Laing, who attended Dinthill Practical Training Centre (now Dinthill High School), he never competed at Boys Championships which were initially contested by elite schools. He competed in track meets at Sabina Park and Racecourse (National Heroes Park) where he came to the attention of an American scout who recruited him for Morgan State University in Maryland. Rhoden was a star athlete there at National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) level. A podiatrist, he operated a practice in California for many years.

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — Thousands of women and girls displaced by Haiti’s gang violence are under threat from a surge in sexual assaults, the United Nations (UN) warned Tuesday, denouncing deplorable living conditions in makeshift camps. “The risk of sexual violence for women and girls in displacement sites in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince is rapidly rising owing, in part, to the alarmingly poor living conditions they are facing,” the global body’s sexual and reproductive health agency, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said in a statement. The women and girls often “face spiralling sexual violence but have nowhere to turn,” it added. Among the 185,000 people forced to flee their homes in the city, many are living in makeshift camps visited by UN officials. In the 14 displacement sites surveyed by UNFPA, more than half of the latrines and many showers are not separated by gender, several shower doors have no locks and many sites have no night time lighting. “As a result, many women and girls are at risk of sexual violence every time they use a shower or toilet,” the UNFPA said. “With what I’ve been through, I’d rather have died,” said one mother of seven who was living in a Port-au-Prince shelter and was sexually assaulted while sleeping in a public square, according to the agency. “When they saw that I didn’t have a man with me, they attacked me while I was four months pregnant,” she added. “I’m always afraid for my daughter, who’s 11.” Such assaults are on the rise nationwide. Between March and May this year, the number of cases of sexual and gender-based violence reported by UNFPA and partners jumped by more than 40 per cent — with only a small fraction of total cases reported. Such cases of violence surged from 250 in January and February to over 1,500 in March and topping 2,000 in April and May, according to UN figures. In total from January to May 2024, some 3,949 cases of gender-based violence, mostly rapes, were reported. Some 61 per cent of victims were displaced persons. Against this backdrop of insecurity and abuse, the UNFPA has launched an appeal for US$28 million in funding “to strengthen and expand access to life-saving reproductive health and gender-based violence services and support in Haiti in 2024”. To date only 19 per cent of the funding has been mobilised. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, has long been shaken by political, humanitarian and security crises, including gang violence. But the situation deteriorated sharply in February when gangs launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince, forcing the departure of controversial prime minister Ariel Henry.

Joy filled the room as the newly minted “millionaires” in Flow’s ‘Winnings ah Run’ summer campaign were announced. Looks of surprise were visible on the faces of the three grand prize winners as the company hosted a celebratory event in their honour at its corporate office in St Andrew on Thursday, August 22. After weeks of exciting participation from customers across the island, lucky Flow customers, Jasmine Ohara, Audrey Pink, and Donett Tucker each walked away with a million dollars in cash. The three joined dozens of other customers who were daily and weekly winners during the campaign. All the winners shared their excitement and their plans for the money, but it was Tucker who had the most compelling story. Her husband is a recent amputee who will now benefit from life-changing medical support. “My husband lost his leg in the past year and now I can use some of the money to help get a prosthetic leg for him,” she shared. Meanwhile, Ohara, who is the youngest of the three winners, said she has an interest in animal farming and will be adding to her young flock as she works towards greater independence. “I already have some hogs so I’m going to buy some more hogs and get some chickens and set up my farming properly so I can become more independent,” Ohara stated. For Pink, she admitted she had no immediate plans for her winnings but said “I’m going to invest the money for the future”. Flow’s Head of Marketing, Latoy Lawrence, emphasised the significance of customer campaigns and Flow’s commitment to giving back to its loyal customers. “For our lucky winners, the sum of money won at this time represents opened doors and opportunities for growth. At Flow, we are dedicated to offering value beyond connectivity. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and these campaigns are a way of showing our appreciation for their continued support,” Lawrence said. “The excitement and joy we see when we reward our customers with tangible prizes like this are truly priceless. We are thrilled to be able to help these individuals take a step closer to realizing their dreams,” she adds. The ‘Winnings ah Run’ summer promotion rewarded mobile prepaid customers for renewing their plan, and Ya’ad & Road customers for paying their bill in full and on time. Prizes ranged from daily gifts of credit and data to weekly prizes of smart phones and smart TVs, along with the grand prize of $1 million.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mr World Jamaica finalist Raymond Morrison is advocating for the protection of the planet through addressing the pressing issues of environmental conservation and climate change with his Environmental Conservation and Humanity’s Obligation initiative, or as he calls it, ECHO. ECHO’s mission is to include, inspire, and empower communities to take action against climate change, promote sustainable practices, and preserve the natural world for future generations. Morrison shared that he started the initiative due to his love for nature which led him to become an environmental activist. “I realised that our island’s natural beauty is not just a treasure, but a responsibility. This is why I started the ECHO initiative,” Morrison said. ECHO is guided by five core values: compassion, urgency, inclusion, integrity, and hope. “We care deeply about the well-being of people, animals, and the planet. Our commitment to transparency, honesty, and accountability underscores our work, and we remain optimistic and dedicated to creating a better world,” the Mr World Jamaica finalist shared. Noting that Jamaica and the Caribbean are at the forefront of climate change, Morrison pointed to Hurricane Beryl’s impact on southern Jamaica as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability. He stressed that rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events demand our attention. In one of ECHO’s recent projects, Morrison and his team tackled Morant Point in St Thomas, a remote area that is critically important to the country’s ecosystem and the environment at large. “We identified a large amount of plastic waste, which can absorb and retain heat, potentially influencing ocean temperatures. Pollution and waste are key contributors to climate change, which can impact hurricanes,” he said. As Mr World Jamaica, he aims to collaborate with global leaders to address environmental challenges and promote climate resilience. Mr World Jamaica finalist Raymond Morrison and his team during a clean-up project under his ECHO initiative. (Photo contributed) “ECHO is not just about clean-ups; it’s about creating solutions. To create an impact, we took it a step further during our coastal clean-up by upcycling materials found on our beaches, turning glass bottles into vases and creating art from trash. This is sustainability in action,” Morrison explained. He continued, “The world is shifting towards sustainability – in fashion, education, and well-being. I’m passionate about being part of this movement. This platform would allow me to amplify ECHO’s message, inspire global action, and collaborate with leaders to mitigate climate change.” Morrison hopes to be crowned Mr World Jamaica on September 1, 2024 to represent the country at the return of the Mr World competition this year. Founded by the Miss World Organisation in 1996, the Mr World competition is known as one of the most distinguished and prestigious events of its kind globally. The current titleholder is Jack Heslewood, an aerospace engineer from England who was crowned on August 23, 2019.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) — Colombia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday indicted the country’s ambassador to Nicaragua for drug trafficking, six years after he was arrested with nearly 350 grams (about 12 ounces) of cocaine in a suitcase. Leon Fredy Munoz has been under investigation since police found the drugs on him at the Medellin airport in May 2018, according to prosecutors. Munoz claims the drugs were planted by political rivals. He was freed several days after his initial arrest six years ago, and then served in Congress before being appointed ambassador to Managua in 2022, a position he still holds. His indictment comes amid a political spat between the two countries. Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega lashed out Monday against his Colombian and Brazilian counterparts for refusing to recognise Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro’s claim to a reelection victory, disputed by the opposition and much of the international community. Colombia’s Gustavo Petro hit back on X, saying: “At least I don’t trample on the human rights of the people in my country.” A press advocacy group said Tuesday Nicaragua had seen a “dramatic increase” in the persecution of journalists, reflecting a wider trend of harassment of government critics under Ortega’s presidency.

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A person in the northeastern United States (US) state of New Hampshire has died after contracting the rare mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, health authorities announced Tuesday. The patient, identified only as an adult from the town of Hampstead, was hospitalised with severe central nervous system disease and later succumbed to the illness, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said in a statement. “The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS identified three human infections, including two fatalities,” the department said. The new infection and death comes amid rising concerns from state officials across New England about the increasing risk of EEE, a threat believed to be exacerbated by climate change. Earlier this month, Massachusetts announced the year’s first human case of EEE in the state — a man in his 80s — and officials have asked the public to observe voluntary outdoor curfews, closed public parks, and initiated aerial and ground spraying to control the mosquito population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, behavioural changes and drowsiness. It can also cause severe neurological disease such as inflammation of the brain and membranes around the spinal cord known as encephalitis and meningitis. Approximately 30 per cent of those infected die and many survivors suffer ongoing physical or mental impacts. Individuals under 15 and over 50 are considered at higher risk. There are currently no vaccines or treatments available. Health officials advise using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing outdoors and eliminating standing water around homes to reduce mosquito breeding sites. A 2023 report by Climate Central highlighted that the number of “mosquito days”— warm, humid conditions ideal for mosquito activity — has increased across much of the US over the past four decades due to human-caused climate change.

Jamaica-born, New York-raised dancehall artiste Tina — formerly known as Hood Celebrityy — scores her second Billboard entry with Roses, which enters the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at #40. Roses is the first single from her recently released sophomore album Tina vs Hood Celebrityy, which was released in May via The KSR Group. In an interview with Billboard in June, Tina spoke about the inspiration for Roses: “Roses definitely was Tina. Roses is going to be a big record, because I’m really for women. I’m really for uplifting females and making them feel good about themselves. For women, there’s so much stuff out there that’s placed on us. It’s so much pressure that it got to be somebody to remind them that they’re beautiful and deserve their roses. Some people give you your flowers when you’re dead. Give women their flowers now. “I’m just that voice for a young girl or a grown woman — it don’t matter the age. I have a lot of people that I deal with that have no self-esteem. They don’t feel pretty and that’s because somebody made them feel that way,” Tina told Billboard. Tina’s first major hit Walking Trophy, peaked at #22 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and #24 on Rhythmic Top 40 Airplay in the summer of 2017. Over to the Billboard Latin charts, Santa by Rvssian featuring Rauw Alejandro and Ayra Star remains at #11 on Hot Latin Songs chart, having peaked at #7. It fares better on Latin Airplay, stepping up from #22 to #13 in its 11th week on the chart. Meanwhile, on Latin Rhythm Airplay, Santa steps up from #9 to #6 in its 12th week. Jump by Tyla featuring Gunna and Skillibeng loses steam and is on its way down the charts. It tumbles from #25 to #32 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, while crashing from #9 to #13 on Hot R&B Songs. On Rhythmic Top 40 it backtracks from #21 to #31, while on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Jump parachutes down from #17 to #24. Bob Marley and the Wailers clock 241 non-consecutive weeks in the #1 spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart with Legend, while Dutty Classics Collection by Sean Paul and Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection by Shaggy are #2 and #3 respectively. Stick Figure has World on Fire, Set in Stone and Wisdom at #4, 5 and 6, and UB40 inches up one spot to #7 with UB45. Courage to Grow by Rebelution climbs to #8, Burial Ground by Stick Figure re-enters at #9, and Endless Summer by The Elovaters, which peaked at #3, re-enters at #10. This Too Shall Pass by Onique takes over the #1 spot on the Rebel Vibez Top Ten Canadian Reggae chart, with Karma by Sky Star entering at #9. On the South Florida Reggae chart, Maybe by Kashief Lindo remains at #1 for a second week, while Caravan of Love by D Major bolts from #20 to #17, and Ting a Ling by The Blackstones debuts at #24. Friends and Family by Richie Stephens continues to dominate at the top of the New York Reggae chart. Ting a Ling by the Blackstones steps up from #15 to #11, Everything I Own by Sleepy Wonder charges from #20 to #16, while Jamaica Funk (Funking for Jamaica) by Althea Hewitt and Lessons of Life by Christopher Ellis are new at #29 and #30, respectively.

PM says units expression of Jamaica’s economic independence BEFORE he leaves to take up his new job as a deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on October 31, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke made sure to sign off on a number of key initiatives designed to benefit the public transportation sector and place the Government in good standing with the commuting public. Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz made the declaration on Tuesday at the handover ceremony of 100 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) at the State-owned company’s depot in Braeton, Portmore, St Catherine. The new buses, some of which are fitted with ramps to accommodate the disabled, were purchased for approximately $3 billion using money from the consolidated fund, a move that was greatly celebrated by Vaz as it is the first time that Government has been able to purchase so many buses without having to acquire a loan. Vaz said the new buses will not only alleviate the problems experienced by commuters in the western end of the island, but will bring relief, as of today, to those who take buses on what he described as misery routes in the Kingston metropolitan region. That description, he explained, was due to the fact that each day commuters have to wait hours to get buses. The misery routes, Vaz said, are Spanish Town to Half-Way-Tree; Spanish Town to downtown Kingston; Greater Portmore to Half-Way-Tree and downtown Kingston; Price Rite to downtown Kingston; Chancery Street to downtown Kingston; Spanish Town to Cross Roads; Border and Above Rocks to Temple Hall; downtown Kingston to Bull Bay; downtown Kingston to Norman Manley International Airport and Port Royal; Harbour View to downtown Kingston; and downtown Kingston to Gordon Town. “Look out and message me if you nuh see bus till bus stone you,” he said, adding that he has already charged the company to improve efficiency and ensure that wait time is reduced on all routes, including the new routes of Temple Hall and Gordon Town. “I can say to you that eight reconditioned hill route buses are being rolled out Wednesday morning as well as 16 more to come by the end of the year,” Vaz said. “I had a meeting with Dr Clarke before the IMF announcement. He has approved the funding for the three-year service contract for these 100 buses. He has approved the refurbishing of 30 articulated buses that are parked all over the place. When those 30 buses roll out we will clean up Half-Way-Tree and clean up Portmore and Spanish Town. You will have the new buses plus the reconditioned buses. We have refurbished eight of the hill route buses. He has approved the other 16 which we will start immediately so that we can get that amount ready for January morning,” he said. “He has agreed for a second set of 100 buses which he already committed in his budget speech but with my urging he has agreed for us to pay the deposit on this side of the financial year. So we can get the next 100 buses in the same time period, which is June to July of 2025, rather than the end of 2025 to 2026. Last but not least, he has approved for us to get 30 new premium coach charter buses for charter service that is used by so many churches, schools, funerals, and everything else,” Vaz said. He pointed out that 15 years ago the JUTC was expanded by 200 buses which were financed by a consortium of banks out of Europe, as there was no fiscal space to purchase them without a loan. “Any idea of an investment of this nature would have been seen as a pipe dream. It was seen as mission impossible. Jamaica has found a way to make the impossible, possible. Since 2023, 170 buses have been purchased at a cost of $5 billion without loans or begging. The pipe dream has been met by the Andrew Holness-led dream team,” Vaz said. With the switch from using diesel fuel to CNG, the JUTC will save millions of dollars daily, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at the ceremony. Holness threw a barb at Opposition People’s National Party, saying that there are people who will come dressed in bright colours, who speak very well but have never delivered what the Jamaica Labour Party Government has. “They tell you how it is their time; there will always be those people, but the question is: Can they deliver? Have they delivered? We are delivering these buses today and we are able to do so because we have entrenched good fiscal and monetary policies. I want the Jamaican public to see these new buses as an expression of our economic independence. I want you to use these buses to increase our productivity as a people. We waste millions of man hours in waiting [in traffic] when we could be doing more productive activities,” he said. “We will save about $1.8 billion by just switching the fuel,” Holness said.

William Knibb Memorial High School student believed killed while spearfishing FALMOUTH, Trelawny — A thick cloud of gloom hovered over Falmouth Fishing Beach Tuesday morning after the headless body of a William Knibb Memorial High School student, believed to be the victim of a shark attack, was salvaged offshore, a day after he went missing during a spearfishing expedition. The left arm was severed from the badly mutilated body of 16-year-old Jahmari Reid of a Race Course, Falmouth, address. Scores of people converged on the fishing beach to view the remains which had been taken from the sea by divers. Among the gathering was the teen’s grieving father, Michael Reid, a taxi operator. “I can’t believe that he went to sea by himself yesterday (Monday) and that was the outcome. Sad to know. I feel so bad,” said the heartbroken father, his face contorted with grief. The cabbie said he often discouraged his son from his spearfishing hobby. “It is something that we argue about, we fight about. He’s not doing it for a worthy cause, he’s not doing it for needs or anything. It is what it is still. Can you believe it?” the distressed father lamented. Christopher Reynolds, one of the bewildered fishers, sat on the beach staring blankly. He disclosed that the remains of the young Jahmari had been retrieved from the water by a group of divers who had gone in search of him on Tuesday morning. He said he was informed that a massive tiger shark was spotted in the water by the divers who located the body, shortly after they recovered the detached arm. “All of the fisherman went out there and, while they were diving to take him up, they saw the big shark. They shot at him but they didn’t get him,” Reynolds said. He is adamant that the killer shark must be located and killed and the severed head recovered. According to Reynolds, that is done in other areas where fishermen find and kill sharks that attack people and take out whatever part of the body from their stomach. “I want us to do a similar thing here,” he insisted. President of Falmouth Fisherfolks Benevolent Society Fritz Christie said this was the first time in recent history that a shark has been said to have killed anyone in the Trelawny waters. He said it is being theorised that the shark followed a cruise vessel into the Falmouth waters. “It look like when one of the ship come in a big shark follow the ship come in and it look like when the ship leave the shark did not leave the area. And the youth go out and he was attacked by the shark. It bit off his head,” Christie theorised. He advised spearfishers to exercise extreme caution after a cruise ship comes into the Falmouth port. “What we have to do is make certain when the ships come to be careful of the diving. The shark eat off the man head, eat off one of his hand. It’s crazy, man,” Christie said. The Falmouth police are investigating.

JAEDA Robinson, the youngest member of Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, has expressed confidence ahead of the event, stating that she has nothing to fear from her opponents. Robinson told the Jamaica Observer that she is looking forward to delivering a strong performance in the triple jump competition. “Going into this championship, I am pretty confident,” she said. “I have been training consistently during the period, focusing on my technical drills, health and recovery, and, of course, getting feedback from my coach, Franz Forde. I have also been doing my mental preparations, goal-setting, and visualising. “Being the youngest on the team is an achievement that can be both exciting and frightening; it is proof of my talent and potential. Going into this championship, I want to embrace this experience and showcase my skills on a global stage.” Robinson, who turns 16 on Thursday, is a student of Immaculate Conception High School. She will enter the championships with a season’s and personal best (PB) mark of 13.21 metres. Robinson is ranked 20th in the world, with the global leader being Yi Li of China who has a mark of 13.99m. Robinson won the gold medal in the girls’ Under-17 competition at the Carifta Games, and finished second in the event at the Penn Relays in April. She says, based on her training and hard work ahead of the championships, she expects nothing less than a podium finish. “To hit the podium in Peru I know it is important for me to be prepared and to adjust to the conditions there,” Robinson said. “It is also important to ensure I stay healthy during the process and trust my coach so that I can hit my peak at this championship.” Robinson says she has prepared herself mentally and physically to deal with the rigours of the championship, and is focused on the task ahead. “I am staying focused under pressure and keeping my eyes on the task ahead,” she said. “My biggest motivation going into this competition is to see what I can achieve, accomplish new goals, and hopefully set a new PB. “I’m a little nervous but it’s normal, especially since it’s my first World Under-20 Championship at such a young age. Instead of letting the nerves get the best of me, I will channel that energy into a strong performance.” The meet will be staged in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31.

Agency wants services to be more widely available to public given demand HUNDREDS have benefited from psychosocial services since Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) opened the doors, just more than a year ago, of its therapeutic treatment centre for children in State care with mental conditions. According to the agency, between January and June 2024, 233 clients — inclusive of children and caregivers — were impacted through a combination of play, group and occupational therapy, as well as psychotherapy, at the centre located on the grounds of Maxfield Park Children’s Home in St Andrew. Further psychological services provided by the agency for the 2023/24 financial year involved 573 individual psychotherapy sessions carried out by psychologists to assist children experiencing emotional and mental health challenges across parishes. According to CPFSA, its psychology services unit provided psychosocial services directly to children and staff within children’s homes, where a total of 255 psycho-educational sessions were held. This comprised 174 held with children, and 81 with staff and management of the homes. These sessions impacted the St Augustine Children’s Home, Glenhope Nursery, the Nest, Matthew 25: 40, Maxfield Park, St Andrew Parish Church Home for Girls, Hope’s House, Dare to Care & Martha’s House, Annie Dawson, and Wortley homes. Topics covered with children included, among other things, reality testing and career guidance, social and emotional learning, conflict resolution, peer cooperation, anger management, emotional regulation, grief management, stress reduction, self-soothing techniques, and positive affirmations. Topics covered with staff included trauma and childhood development, children’s rights, vicarious trauma, adverse childhood experiences, suicide prevention, supportive play and creative movement, attachment, and body-focused interventions. In addition, 581 children have been screened using various psychological tools such as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, adverse childhood experiences, and the mobile mental health screening tool. Chief executive officer of CPFSA Laurette Adams-Thomas said despite those gains, the entity is in the process of further upskilling staff to meet the needs of children in care. “We want to equip our team members — who have their first degree, for example, but have a passion towards providing service within the CPFSA and would have an interest in areas like play therapy, speech therapy, drama therapy — to actually send them on external training overseas to do their master’s in these programmes,” Adams-Thomas told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview. She said CPFSA is at an advanced stage in its efforts to bring this to fruition. “One of the things that we are doing now is to explore some of these other areas that would be beneficial to us, and see what arrangement can be made through partnerships with other agencies to have a cohort of our team members trained in these specialised areas to come back and provide services through the CPFSA to our children,” she explained. In noting that speech therapists and play therapists are a rarity in Jamaica, Adams-Thomas said efforts by the entity to engage additional professionals in the area here have fallen flat. “We have sought to engage persons within the private sector to come and offer their services but they have a lot of clients and so they are not able to share their time as much — and for the number of children that we have, they would not be able to support us the way we would have wanted. So, we are really trying to see how best we can upskill our team members and ensure that we have a complement of persons with a variety of skill sets that can provide specialised services, based on the needs of our children,” she said. In the meantime, she said CPFSA is also angling towards making the services of the centre more widely available to the general population, given the demand. “The purpose of the centre really was to focus on wards of the State but we want to reach the stage where we are actually offering the services to the public. That’s where we want to go, because we know that there is a crisis in Jamaica and so psychosocial therapy, psychological support, would be beneficial overall to other parents and so we are looking to see how best we can equip the CPFSA with the complement of services, skills outside of what just the parents or wards of the CPSFA require,” Adams-Thomas told the Observer. “We are getting calls; persons have been visiting the centre, have been reaching out to us, so we realise really there is a genuine need for the services, but we want to first take care of our own,” she said. The agency, in its efforts to improve the psychosocial and therapeutic support for children in the care of the State, launched the therapeutic centre which was officially opened at Maxfield Park Children’s Home on June 29, 2023. The project was executed in partnership with Jamaica Social Investment Fund and Caribbean Development Bank through its Basic Needs Trust Fund. The $200-million centre serves more than 4,600 Jamaican children in publicly funded homes.

TRELAWNY, Jamaica – The Ministry of Education’s plan to recruit overseas teachers for the 2024/25 academic year is set to be discussed at the annual Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) conference, which began on Monday at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny. Past President of the JTA, Dr Garth Anderson, moved a resolution urging “the Ministry of Education and Youth to outline its retention strategies for local teachers and provide a detailed plan that goes beyond merely recruiting foreign educators by the end of November 2024.” Outgoing JTA President Leighton Johnson stated that the matter will be addressed during the three-day conference. In a recent statement, Johnson expressed disappointment and concern over the Ministry of Education’s decision to recruit overseas educators, noting that while the decision is a measure to mitigate the current teacher shortage across the country, it highlights a significant issue that requires urgent attention and collaborative action.

NACAC President Sands says Paris Games presented great opportunity for Caribbean athletics growth North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) President Mike Sands says while he is pleased with the region’s achievement at the Paris Olympic Games this summer, the work for the next Summer Olympics should begin immediately. NACAC, made up of 31 member confederations, had 36 total territories (including associate members) competing in athletics at the Paris Games this summer. The region had 330 athletes competing in a 50-50 gender split in their events. These nations had a total of 52 medals consisting of 21 gold, 16 silver, and 15 bronze. Of these, Jamaica finished with six (one gold, three silver, two bronze). While Jamaica is disappointed at its performance in the track events, four of its six medals came from throwers and jumpers, with Roje Stona claiming the country’s first-ever Olympic men’s discus medal – gold – with an Olympic record throw of 70m. Wayne Pinnock (men’s long jump, silver), Shanieka Ricketts (women’s triple jump, silver; and Rajindra Campbell (Jamaica’s first-ever Olympic men’s shot put medal, bronze) were the other field athletes to medal. Kishane Thompson took silver for Jamaica in the men’s 100m event and Rasheed Broadbell claimed a bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles. There were also historic first medals for Dominica and St Lucia with Thea Lafond, in the women’s triple jump, and Julian Alfred in the women’s 100m won gold medals. Sands is proud of this achievement. “I think our athletes performed strongly well,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “It’s great that the smaller nations like Dominica and St Lucia also stepped up to the plate and have their historical performances on the world stage. It bodes well for the future of the sport. It distributes medals, which makes it more competitive across the board. It’s no longer being dominated by what we sometimes refer to as the big teams. I’m very happy when I see the smaller member federations holding their own.” With the next Olympic Games being staged in Los Angeles, a city in NACAC’s jurisdiction, Sands says the Caribbean region should make the most of this opportunity. He wants greater coordination by each territory to foster growth among the less developed ones. “We have to sit down with the NOCs (National Olympic Committees) and CANOC (Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees), and have a think tank of many strong minds in terms of how we proceed in the spirit of cooperation,” Sands said. “There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Paris. We shouldn’t wait until a few weeks before [the LA Games] — we should do it in very very short order. Then we can set the timelines to measure the progress that we are moving towards. How do we improve, not necessarily just the athletic performances because those will come, but also the administrative performances of the various associations? “So, we have to do a full post-mortem as we prepare ourselves.” With LA 2028, four years away, it means there will be many newer athletes trying to establish themselves as stars in athletics, and the opportunity for each territory to produce higher-level younger talent. That, Sands says, makes various athletics competitions across the region such as the Carifta Games more important. But one criticism of these Games is that it tends to be dominated by Jamaica through its yearly medal tally. With the nation usually finishing with tens of medals more than its nearest rival on the table, there are questions about how to provide more parity. Sands says, though, that medals should not be the priority. “We put a lot of focus on medals, especially gold medals and I’m not so sure how fair that is to silver medallists,” he said. “If you consider a points system, Jamaica would still come out on top. How we bridge the gap is by supporting the smaller federations in building their programmes. “Jamaica cannot be faulted for the level they have dominated. I think it’s admirable, but I also believe that we must find a way to bridge the gap. To do this, we have to do more kids’ athletics programmes.” But Sands says there are NACAC programmes already underway addressing youth development and coaching education. “From the NACAC area perspective, as we speak, there’s a clinic going on in St Vincent and we plan to have something in The Bahamas very shortly in terms of coaching education,” he said. “We’re taking the bull by the horns and being very aggressive in NACAC.” Sands is a former Bahamian sprinter, who was the Central American and Caribbean Games 400m champion in 1975, and also the Pan American Games 200m bronze medallist that year.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — At least one person is presumed dead following a shooting incident near Tewari Crescent along Maxfield Avenue on Monday afternoon. According to Observer Online sources, three individuals were shot as gunmen exchanged bullets in the area. It is understood that Monday’s shooting is the latest in a series of attacks believed to be linked to an ongoing gang feud. The incident occurred just hours after a 48-hour curfew, imposed on sections of the area on Friday, expired on Sunday. More details to come.

BALTIMORE, Maryland’s Team Takeover won the first-ever Jam Rockerz Basketball Classic, at Montego Bay Community College at the weekend. They beat P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Kingston 62-21 in the final on Sunday. After three days of basketball the American team dominated the competition which featured players in the Under-17 and Under-19 age groups. The championships game was one sided as tournament MVP Cole Riley scored 15 points to lead his team to a 41-point win over the Jamaican squad that was led by LeBron Lewison’s nine points. Team Takeover opened up a huge lead from the first quarter, leading by 10 points at 17-7. They were up 35-13 at half-time and led 53-19 at the end of the third quarter, limiting the Kingston team to two fourth-quarter points. P.H.A.S.E.1 International, a team comprising Jamaican players living in North America, beat Hardwood Kings of Brampton, Ontario 49-46, led by player of the game Dwain Cummings who had a double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds. In the semi-finals that were also played on Sunday, Team Takeover rolled over Hardwood Kings 70-22 while P.H.A.S.E.1 Kingston got the better of Team International 32-21. Liberty Fusire of Team Takeover was named Defensive Player of the Tournament, with Shawayne Edwards of P.H.A.S.E.1 Kingston getting the Sportsmanship award. Six players were named on an all-tournament team. These were D’Aire Patterson of P.H.A.S.E.1 Montego Bay, Daniel Clarke of P.H.A.S.E.1 Trelawny, Elijah Deyon of Hardwood Kings, Cummings of P.H.A.S.E.1 International, Lewison of P.H.A.S.E.1 Kingston, and Doran Clausell of Team Takeover.

War of words erupts at JTA conference over salary agreement suit MOUNTAIN SPRING, Trelawny — An apparent rift within Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) over the union’s acceptance of the current three-year wage agreement with the Government became obvious when a verbal clash erupted Monday, the first day of the annual conference now under way in Trelawny. The heated discussion started during President Leighton Johnson’s presentation in which he sought to share an opinion on the legal action brought against the union by former President La Sonja Harrison when he was interrupted by several members, some of whom spoke on a point of order. In July, Harrison filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court aimed at nullifying the agreement with the Government. In the suit, Harrison contended that the special delegates’ vote held virtually in March last year to accept the wage offer presented by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service was in breach of the JTA’s constitution. The majority (80 per cent) of the delegates who attended the virtual meeting voted to accept the three-year agreement that guaranteed a 20 per cent minimum increase in basic salary after tax. The agreement took effect April 1, 2022. Harrison, who was president at the time, had chaired the meeting. Johnson told members during the second session of the three-day conference at Coral Ocean Spring Resort in Trelawny on Monday that such a move by a former president is costly to the association. “It would be remiss of me if I were not to say that we, as an executive of the association, are quite concerned with the actions where members sue the JTA and force us to choose to bring such actions against the association, forcing us to expend funds from the association to defend [the association],” stated Johnson. “Litigation is a costly process, ladies and gentlemen. The funds to defend these claims ultimately come from members’ contributions. The more we have to spend on defending claims of this nature, the less the funds the JTA has at its disposal to do more for members and their benefits,” added Johnson. It was at this point that Johnson was interrupted by a member, Rayon Simpson, on a point of order, who claimed that he was not clear about the procedure being followed, because the secretary general presented his report and sat, and now he was hearing from the president. “Mr President, I think it is grossly inappropriate at this juncture for a discussion to be had as to whether or not a legitimate member of the association should or should not bring legal action against the association if the individual feels that there is justice in the matter to be had,” stated Simpson. However, Johnson explained that his comments were a continuation of the secretary general’s report. A further interruption came with another point of order from President-Elect (2024-2025) Mark Malabver. “I’m going to urge you, Mr President, to not proceed any further with the matter, and I’m going to stand on the point of order that was raised by Mr Simpson. It is the secretary general’s report and as such that is what we are to be accepting. Secondly, if it is that someone has brought a legal matter with respect to this there is no need to seek to colour it in the way that it is being coloured, because the matter is properly placed within the courts, and let the courts decide on this matter,” Malabver said. Johnson tried to explain further but was again interrupted. However, he persisted. “The matter, ladies and gentlemen, is not up for discussion; I am simply presenting to you the legal opinions we sought from our attorneys,” he said. However, Malabver suggested that Johnson was not presenting a legal opinion; rather his own. “That must be stricken from the record. The member is out of order because, again, he is misleading the conference. He is misleading the conference,”” stated Johnson. The heated discussion continued for several minutes before journalists were asked to leave the room where the discussions continued. Following the meeting, Johnson told the Jamaica Observer that the association would not be speaking publicly on the matter. “We don’t wash our dirty linen in public. When we have matters to treat with [we] treat it and move on. This is what the association is all about. This is why the association has been in existence for 60 years, and we intend to ensure that that is protected going forward,”” stated Johnson. A court date is yet to be set for the suit to be heard, but Johnson told the conference, that while a lawyer has been retained, the document served on the union did not have a date or court stamp. He said this was indicated to the lawyer representing Harrison.

A72-year-old man is among the five people who were arrested two weeks ago in relation to the estimated $12-billion cocaine bust in Havendale, St Andrew. On Monday Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey said the senior citizen, along with the others, who are all from Kingston addresses, were officially charged on Friday, August 16 with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, trafficking cocaine, and conspiracy. The 72-year-old has been identified as Junior Aldayne. The others are 57-year-old Clive Roy Davis, 58-year-old Collin Ricketts, 51-year-old George Sterling, and 42-year-old Clayton Peart. Bailey, who is in charge of the crime portfolio, described the bust as the largest in Jamaica’s history. “On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, members of the Firearms and Narcotics Division within the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch executed a raid at 2 Riverside Drive, Kingston 19, which resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine and the arrest of five male Jamaican nationals. During the operation, a Toyota Hiace motor vehicle and a two storey concrete dwelling were searched when the police discovered several knitted bags containing packages with white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine,” Bailey said, indicating that the drugs weighed 2,526 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value of just over US$75 million. Each of the accused men was interviewed in the presence of their attorney. They remain in police custody and await the finalisation of a court date. “The Firearms and Narcotics Investigations Division along with local, regional and international partners are continuing investigation into this matter and are actively pursuing other leads to further dismantle other criminal networks,” Bailey said. That division, he said, continues to make impact on illicit firearms and drugs trafficking, adding that since the start of 2024 the division has seized 86 illegal firearm, 1,154 rounds of ammunition, 20,074 kilograms of ganja, and approximately 67 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of just over US$2 million. “This figure does not include the most recent cocaine bust. Significant gains are being made in terms of the arrest of persons for drug offences. A total of 168 individuals have been arrested since the beginning of 2024; this includes 147 Jamaicans, eight Americans, five British, two Hungarians, one Dutch, one Argentinian, one French, one Haitian, one Canadian, and one Nicaraguan,” Bailey said. “The Jamaica Constabulary Force will continue to pursue individuals and syndicates engaging in the illicit firearms and narcotics trade, having regards to the nexus between drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and violence,” Bailey added.

ALBERT TOWN, Trelawny — Exuding great confidence, People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker candidate for Trelawny Southern, 53-year-old businessman Paul Patmore, has dared Prime Minister Andrew Holness to pull seasoned politician Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert out of retirement to contest the seat on a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ticket in the next general election. Dalrymple-Philibert stepped aside last year after a ruling by the Integrity Commission’s Director of Corruption Prosecution Keisha Prince-Kameka that she be charged for allegedly running afoul of the Parliament (Integrity of Members) Act, 1973 in filing her statutory declarations. Following Dalrymple-Philibert’s resignation, JLP supporters in the constituency staged a boisterous march in Albert Town demanding that she reconsider her decision. The four-term MP has not given any indication that she will be returning to representational politics. However, speaking during the PNP’s Trelawny Southern constituency conference last Thursday night, where he was presented as the party’s caretaker candidate, Patmore implored the media to send a message to Holness. “Tell him that the people of South Trelawny realise that he can’t find a representative. But we are going to help him to find one. And we are saying Mister Holness, we know it is rough but send us Marisa Dalrymple. That is the one that we in South Trelawny want to give a [political] beating. We want to give her a beating,” a pumped up Patmore said. He argued that the former MP should be held accountable for what he described as the poor state of roads, non-functional fire hydrants, police stations in need of repair and dams that have not been maintained. “We can’t mek she get weh from we so,” Patmore told party faithfuls. He theorised that she may be intimidated by the PNP’s strong showing at the conference. “The only thing that I am sorry for tonight is that when she see this crowd yah she might change her mind and say she no bother want run. That is the only thing me sorry for. The time has come for Southern Trelawny to have better representation,” he added. When he took the stage chairman of the PNP’s Trelawny Northern constituency Dennis Meadows bemoaned the length of time that the people of Trelawny Southern have been without parliamentary representation. “Come September next month it will be a year since the former Member of Parliament resigned from this constituency. Almost a year you have been without a voice in Parliament. That to me is a demonstration of contempt by the Government for the people of south Trelawny,” Meadows argued. “Whether you a PNP, whether you a JLP, you have the right to have a voice in Parliament. I guarantee you if this seat was in Kingston they would have called a by-election already,” he added. For his part, PNP President Mark Golding commented on the throng that showed up to support Patmore. “Workers and warriors and supporters when me come here enuh, to be really honest me never expect nothing like this. And when me see what a gwaan inna south Trelawny and how the ting tun up I say to myself, ‘Time come, time come’!” added Golding. Patmore was also impressed by the massive turnout of supporters. “Comrades, you make me feel proud tonight. Maybe some of the time I might have doubt you that you don’t love me. But right now I beg you to forgive me for thinking like that. You have proved me wrong once again,” he said. A funeral director by profession, Patmore is a former independent councillor for the Lorrimers Division in Trelawny Southern. PNP caretaker candidate for Trelawny Southern Paul Patmore (right) addressing party supporters in Albert Town Thursday evening. Looking on are PNP President Mark Golding (centre) and Lloyd Gillings who unsuccessfully represented the PNP in the Albert Town Division in the last local government election.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Five individuals arrested in connection with a $12-billion cocaine bust in Havendale, St Andrew, have now been formally charged. The announcement was made by the Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Crime and Security Portfolio, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Fitz Bailey, in a statement on Monday. Charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, and trafficking in cocaine are 57-year-old Clive Roy Davis, 58-year-old Collin Ricketts, 51-year-old George Sterling, 42-year-old Clayton Peart, and 72-year-old Junior Haldane. All five were interviewed in the presence of their lawyers and will remain in police custody. Their court dates are still being finalised. The August 6 drug bust ranks as one of the biggest cocaine seizures in Jamaica’s history. DCP Bailey said the JCF will continue to work with their international and regional law enforcement partners as they actively pursue other leads “to further dismantle other criminal networks.” Bailey also reported that since the start of the year, the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division has seized 86 illegal firearms, 1,154 rounds of ammunition, 20,074 kilograms of ganja, and approximately 67 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of just over $2 million. This figure does not include the most recent bust.

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Two women died after they were swept away during ‘historic’ flooding in the northeast US state of Connecticut, local officials said Monday. The women were inside separate vehicles Sunday that became caught in flood waters in the town of Oxford, Connecticut located about 35 miles (55 kilometers) southwest of state capital Hartford. “At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the family of the deceased,” Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman said at a Monday news conference. State police later identified the victims as 65-year-old Ethelyn Joiner and 71-year-old Audrey Rostkowski, both residents of Oxford, according to local media reports. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said in a statement Sunday evening that over 100 people had been rescued from unsafe conditions due to the flooding. “We are talking about rainfall, in some areas, in the thousand-year level,” said Brenda Bergeron, the deputy commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. “It’s really historic, unprecedented flooding.” By Monday morning, up to a foot (30 centimeters) of rainfall had been reported in several cities in western Connecticut, according to data from the National Weather Service. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal called the devastation “gut-churning, not just to the physical infrastructure… but also to small businesses who have suffered damage they cannot recover.” Scientists say climate change makes extreme weather such as heavy rains and tropical storms more frequent and intense.

TRELAWNY, Jamaica – The Ministry of Education’s plan to recruit overseas teachers for the 2024/25 academic year is set to be discussed at the annual Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) conference, which began on Monday at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny. Past President of the JTA, Dr Garth Anderson, moved a resolution urging “the Ministry of Education and Youth to outline its retention strategies for local teachers and provide a detailed plan that goes beyond merely recruiting foreign educators by the end of November 2024.” Outgoing JTA President Leighton Johnson stated that the matter will be addressed during the three-day conference. In a recent statement, Johnson expressed disappointment and concern over the Ministry of Education’s decision to recruit overseas educators, noting that while the decision is a measure to mitigate the current teacher shortage across the country, it highlights a significant issue that requires urgent attention and collaborative action.

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Chicago was awash with affection, gratitude and nostalgia for US President Joe Biden on Monday as he prepared to bring down the curtain on a storied political career at the opening of the Democratic National Convention. Biden’s keynote speech at the United Center will mark the beginning of a long farewell for a politician who has been in the public eye for more than 50 years as a senator, vice president and commander in chief. The 81-year-old unseated Donald Trump in 2020 but exited the 2024 race last month after a dismal debate performance that convinced Democrats he was too old and would not be able to stop the Republican from reentering the White House. Biden looked likely to get a hero’s welcome in Chicago, however, ahead of what is expected to be an emotional send-off. “Tonight we honour President Joe Biden and his legacy,” Luciano Garza, 61, who had traveled to the convention from south Texas, told AFP. “He has achieved more and done more for the middle class and American families in one term than most two-term presidents.” He said the mood in the room during Biden’s speech would be one of joy and gratitude for his “long career as an American statesman, a diplomat, a servant of the people.” Biden’s speech is expected to be part valediction, part sermon as he sets out his political vision one last time and makes the case for Vice President Kamala Harris to carry it forward. Democrats believe the veteran campaigner saved democracy in 2020 and give him credit for stepping aside — eventually — to help Harris save it again in 2024. As well as being a heartfelt passing of the torch to his vice president, Biden’s speech was expected to be a catharsis for Democrats who spent weeks fretting that he was leading them to defeat before he quit the race. Deneen Sanders, 60, an aviation industry executive from Chicago, said she expected most Democrats to appreciate Biden’s achievements while at the same time acknowledging that it was time to go. “I was a little taken aback by all the media attention that was given to his debate performance,” she said. “But I do think that there is some valid concern.” Biden’s speech comes amid reports in US media that the veteran Democrat is still smarting over the manner of his exit, driven from the top of the ticket by allies from whom he expected loyalty. Many of the convention-goers who spoke to AFP voiced misgivings about his treatment by the party but were sanguine about the need for change. “As an older fellow myself, I didn’t like the agism that was going on… That’s why I’m going to get choked up,” said Ken Chestek, 71, from Wyoming. Democrats in the McCormick Place, a convention venue across town from the United Center, reflected on Biden’s 52-year adventure in public office coming to an end as they attempted to frame his legacy. Harry Pascal, a 73-year-old voter turnout activist from Chicago, has met Biden on several occasions and described him as a great listener who “really feels people’s pain, and gets it.” “I don’t think he’s appreciated right now as much as he could (be), because the Republican voice is so loud and so angry that it drowns out all his good work,” he told AFP. “But over time, I think he’ll be remembered for his lifetime of political work that he’s done… So I love this guy, but I was absolutely thrilled when he dropped out, because we were going down. He was taking us down.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica — At least one person is presumed dead following a shooting incident near Tewari Crescent along Maxfield Avenue on Monday afternoon. According to Observer Online sources, three individuals were shot as gunmen exchanged bullets in the area. It is understood that Monday’s shooting is the latest in a series of attacks believed to be linked to an ongoing gang feud. The incident occurred just hours after a 48-hour curfew, imposed on sections of the area on Friday, expired on Sunday. More details to come.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two women are reportedly among the victims injured in Monday’s shooting along Tewari Crescent on Maxfield Avenue. According to police reports, the women, who have since been hospitalised, were travelling in a black Honda HRV when an armed man approached the vehicle and opened fire. In an attempt to escape, the driver reportedly sped onto Spanish Town Road, where the car collided with a Toyota Probox. The two women were reportedly assisted by police officers who were quick on the scene and transported to the Kingston Public Hospital. One of the women is said to be in critical condition. It is understood that Monday’s shooting is the latest in a string of attacks in the area, believed to be the result of an ongoing gang feud. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

A72-year-old man is among the five people who were arrested two weeks ago in relation to the estimated $12-billion cocaine bust in Havendale, St Andrew. On Monday Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey said the senior citizen, along with the others, who are all from Kingston addresses, were officially charged on Friday, August 16 with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, trafficking cocaine, and conspiracy. The 72-year-old has been identified as Junior Aldayne. The others are 57-year-old Clive Roy Davis, 58-year-old Collin Ricketts, 51-year-old George Sterling, and 42-year-old Clayton Peart. Bailey, who is in charge of the crime portfolio, described the bust as the largest in Jamaica’s history. “On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, members of the Firearms and Narcotics Division within the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch executed a raid at 2 Riverside Drive, Kingston 19, which resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine and the arrest of five male Jamaican nationals. During the operation, a Toyota Hiace motor vehicle and a two storey concrete dwelling were searched when the police discovered several knitted bags containing packages with white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine,” Bailey said, indicating that the drugs weighed 2,526 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value of just over US$75 million. Each of the accused men was interviewed in the presence of their attorney. They remain in police custody and await the finalisation of a court date. “The Firearms and Narcotics Investigations Division along with local, regional and international partners are continuing investigation into this matter and are actively pursuing other leads to further dismantle other criminal networks,” Bailey said. That division, he said, continues to make impact on illicit firearms and drugs trafficking, adding that since the start of 2024 the division has seized 86 illegal firearm, 1,154 rounds of ammunition, 20,074 kilograms of ganja, and approximately 67 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of just over US$2 million. “This figure does not include the most recent cocaine bust. Significant gains are being made in terms of the arrest of persons for drug offences. A total of 168 individuals have been arrested since the beginning of 2024; this includes 147 Jamaicans, eight Americans, five British, two Hungarians, one Dutch, one Argentinian, one French, one Haitian, one Canadian, and one Nicaraguan,” Bailey said. “The Jamaica Constabulary Force will continue to pursue individuals and syndicates engaging in the illicit firearms and narcotics trade, having regards to the nexus between drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and violence,” Bailey added.

CUSTOMERS of Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) have been complaining bitterly about the exorbitant electricity charges they now have to contend with since the passage of Hurricane Beryl, with some bills, they claim, being close to, or exceeding $100,000. The complainants, some of whom have taken to social media to air their grouses, claim the billing is inconsistent with their actual usage as they’ve been billed large sums even though they were not at home or had no or disrupted electricity during the billing period. On Monday, Energy Minister Daryl Vaz, expressing concern about the numerous complaints received from customers who reported large anomalies in their electricity bills following Hurricane Beryl has demanded that JPS provides his ministry with details about its billing practices by September 6. He is also requesting the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) carry out a comprehensive investigation into JPS’s billing and provide the findings by the same date. On social media platform X, one user shared that her light bill came to $107,000 during a month when her children were not at home. “@myJPSonline This makes no…sense and it’s literally criminal to be doing this across Jamaica. We are literally paying for you to be a monopoly,” she said. Another user said: “My bill came to $90,000 @myJPSonline. This is highway robbery”. Said another: @myJPSonline my bill moved from $26,000.00 to $48,000.00 following Beryl….having been without electricity for almost a week! Then it moved to $80,000.00 the month after Beryl… Same appliances… same routine…nothing new!” “My last bill was $17,000 and I had visitors staying with me; now it’s just my husband and I and it’s much more – $25,000. Something is just not right. JPS needs to tell us what’s going on. I am not happy,” another commented. “My light bill is $78,000, up from $52,000 last month… knowing that during the hurricane there was no light for 12 days how can it be $20,000+more this month,” another disgruntled JPS customer queried. In a letter to JPS President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant on Monday, Vaz said many customers claim that despite being without power for extended periods of time, they got bills reflecting electricity consumption levels that not only exceeded their pre-Beryl usage but also charged them for usage when power had not yet been restored. “The ministry is aware of a scenario in St Elizabeth in which a community centre that was severely damaged got an electrical bill of roughly $71,000. The billing cycle began only two days before Hurricane Beryl struck, and the centre has been without electricity ever since. This billing amount is not only unjust, but also untenable, given that the facility has been without power since the hurricane,” he said. He argued that this circumstance, among others, raises major concerns regarding the validity and dependability of JPS’s present billing processes and methodology. He reminded that as Jamaica’s sole electricity provider JPS is responsible for maintaining transparency, accuracy, and fairness in all aspects of its operations, particularly when charging customers during periods of emergency or natural catastrophe. “Given the gravity of these allegations, I am formally requesting a detailed disclosure of JPS’s billing methodology, including how estimates are calculated, how actual usage is recorded, and the specific measures JPS has implemented to ensure billing accuracy following Beryl and in the future. This should also include how JPS intends to correct any submitted billing inaccuracies and guarantee that consumers are appropriately billed for actual electricity consumption at any time,” he said. And in a letter to director general at the OUR, Ansord Hewitt, also on Monday, Vaz asked for a thorough and quick examination into the JPS billing practices following Hurricane Beryl, reminding that as the regulatory organisation in charge of monitoring Jamaican utilities, the OUR is tasked for protecting consumers and ensuring that service providers operate in a transparent and equitable manner. “Given the gravity of the accusations, the ministry is requesting that the OUR immediately conduct a comprehensive audit of JPS’s billing processes, with an emphasis on how the business handled billing during and after the Hurricane Beryl disruptions. This investigation should include an examination of how estimates are generated, the accuracy of meter readings, and the adequacy of customer service responses to billing inquiries and disputes,” he said. In a subsequent release, the OUR said it was just over this past weekend that it became increasingly aware of several utility customer complaints regarding increasing electricity bills, following the passage of Hurricane Beryl. “The OUR has initiated steps to investigate these complaints. Once the relevant information has been received from the JPS, it will be analysed to allow us to determine what regulatory intervention is necessary,” the release said.

War of words erupts at JTA conference over salary agreement suit MOUNTAIN SPRING, Trelawny — An apparent rift within Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) over the union’s acceptance of the current three-year wage agreement with the Government became obvious when a verbal clash erupted Monday, the first day of the annual conference now under way in Trelawny. The heated discussion started during President Leighton Johnson’s presentation in which he sought to share an opinion on the legal action brought against the union by former President La Sonja Harrison when he was interrupted by several members, some of whom spoke on a point of order. In July, Harrison filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court aimed at nullifying the agreement with the Government. In the suit, Harrison contended that the special delegates’ vote held virtually in March last year to accept the wage offer presented by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service was in breach of the JTA’s constitution. The majority (80 per cent) of the delegates who attended the virtual meeting voted to accept the three-year agreement that guaranteed a 20 per cent minimum increase in basic salary after tax. The agreement took effect April 1, 2022. Harrison, who was president at the time, had chaired the meeting. Johnson told members during the second session of the three-day conference at Coral Ocean Spring Resort in Trelawny on Monday that such a move by a former president is costly to the association. “It would be remiss of me if I were not to say that we, as an executive of the association, are quite concerned with the actions where members sue the JTA and force us to choose to bring such actions against the association, forcing us to expend funds from the association to defend [the association],” stated Johnson. “Litigation is a costly process, ladies and gentlemen. The funds to defend these claims ultimately come from members’ contributions. The more we have to spend on defending claims of this nature, the less the funds the JTA has at its disposal to do more for members and their benefits,” added Johnson. It was at this point that Johnson was interrupted by a member, Rayon Simpson, on a point of order, who claimed that he was not clear about the procedure being followed, because the secretary general presented his report and sat, and now he was hearing from the president. “Mr President, I think it is grossly inappropriate at this juncture for a discussion to be had as to whether or not a legitimate member of the association should or should not bring legal action against the association if the individual feels that there is justice in the matter to be had,” stated Simpson. However, Johnson explained that his comments were a continuation of the secretary general’s report. A further interruption came with another point of order from President-Elect (2024-2025) Mark Malabver. “I’m going to urge you, Mr President, to not proceed any further with the matter, and I’m going to stand on the point of order that was raised by Mr Simpson. It is the secretary general’s report and as such that is what we are to be accepting. Secondly, if it is that someone has brought a legal matter with respect to this there is no need to seek to colour it in the way that it is being coloured, because the matter is properly placed within the courts, and let the courts decide on this matter,” Malabver said. Johnson tried to explain further but was again interrupted. However, he persisted. “The matter, ladies and gentlemen, is not up for discussion; I am simply presenting to you the legal opinions we sought from our attorneys,” he said. However, Malabver suggested that Johnson was not presenting a legal opinion; rather his own. “That must be stricken from the record. The member is out of order because, again, he is misleading the conference. He is misleading the conference,”” stated Johnson. The heated discussion continued for several minutes before journalists were asked to leave the room where the discussions continued. Following the meeting, Johnson told the Jamaica Observer that the association would not be speaking publicly on the matter. “We don’t wash our dirty linen in public. When we have matters to treat with [we] treat it and move on. This is what the association is all about. This is why the association has been in existence for 60 years, and we intend to ensure that that is protected going forward,”” stated Johnson. A court date is yet to be set for the suit to be heard, but Johnson told the conference, that while a lawyer has been retained, the document served on the union did not have a date or court stamp. He said this was indicated to the lawyer representing Harrison.

Dancehall superstar Masicka delivered a stellar performance at the recent ‘Sparks After Dark’ at the Aqueducts of Rose Hall in Montego Bay, St James. Dressed in a loose-fitting white shirt, tight black leather jeans and white sneakers, he wowed the enthusiastic audience with a medley of songs such as “They Don’t Know,” “Leader,” “I Wish,” “Pack a Matches” and “20 Matic”. “All who know dem have money inna dem pocket, all who know dem have money inna dem purse?” Masicka asked, before he did an energetic ‘Top Form’. He segued into another song with a smooth intro. “Mi have a flight fi ketch and mi have to hold a vibes with oonu first , all who know dem never sell out inna life yet, wah mi a talk bout?” he said, before performing the popular ‘Changes’. The crowd sang along to ‘Outta Order’, and “Image”, loving every minute of his 12-minute performance. Other hit songs followed in quick order such as Like Gold and Blessing as he serenaded the females who took out their phones and recorded him as he performed, and even posted themselves on Snapchat singing to his songs. The crowd sang along to ‘Outta Order’, and “Image”, loving every minute of his 12-minute performance. Masicka is known for his heavy-hitting punchlines and lyrics which are equally introspective and biting as he explores topics such as trigger-pulling, transnational crime, inspirational stories, and reflections on his childhood on reverb-drenched trap dancehall harmonies. Masicka performed alongside Javo Don and Jahshii at the event. “Masicka’s dynamic stage presence and powerful tracks delivered an unforgettable experience,” Nicholas McInnis, director of the Sybaritic Entertainment Group Limited, said. Originally from Portmore in St Catherine, Masicka, given name Javaun Fearon, has been churning out hits over the past decade. His 438 album which also won dancehall album of the year at the 2023 Caribbean Music Awards and his sophomore album, Generation of Kings, hit No. 1 on Apple Music in 16 countries, and peaked at No. 11 on U.S. Apple Music. The Sybaritic Weekend also featured events such as Tides and Tanlines, and Diamond Dreamz which featured international soca star Destra Garcia and international superstar Akon.

Lamenting that a $1 billion cut in Government subvention “has caused significant financial distress” to the tertiary institution, University of Technology Jamaica (UTech) President Dr Kevin Brown says he’s liaising with the authorities to reassess the current amount granted towards supporting the operation of the university. “There’s a need for a bit more equity… the funding model for tertiary education needs to be completely reviewed,” Dr Brown told Observer Online on Saturday. With the university growing and currently hosting 12,000 students and employing 1,200 staff members, it is facing financial challenges due to what Dr Brown lamented as inadequate funding. “The government’s subvention needs to be adjusted, that’s without a doubt,” he said, noting that the yearly grant plays a crucial role in impacting the ability of the university to operate effectively at an affordable rate for students. According to Dr Brown, “For the fiscal year 2024-2025, our subvention is about $2.3 billion, and that is a reduction relative to the last fiscal year, because we had a cut of $1 billion. “An unexplained cut… that has caused significant financial distress” he said. The president of the Old Hope Road, St Andrew-based institution said the reduction in funding forced the university to increase tuition fees to students. The initial proposal of a five per cent increase for the 2024/2025 academic year was met with pushback from the University of Technology Students’ Union. Following further talks, a three per cent increase has been agreed. President of the University of Technology Jamaica Dr Kevin Brown speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing at Montego Bay Convention Centre. (Photo: Philp Lemonte) “This increase is due to inflation… to ensure that we have the appropriate financing to keep the institution operational and to provide everything that the students would expect to have with respect to resources,” Dr Brown said. President of the Students’ Union, Rick Darby expressed disappointment with the manner in which the tuition increase was initially executed. “It was extremely concerning regarding the fact that the tuition was raised and there was no formal notice sent to the students,” Darby said, adding that “it should be a consultative process in which the students’ union is informed of what will happen … in whatever decisions that the university will take.” In the meantime, Dr Brown said “we are in continuous talks with the government, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, and I believe that we will find a resolution as it relates to funding.” Doubling down on the need for equity, he noted that UTech receives three-times less in funding than the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus. “So, essentially, if the government gives us $3, they give you $9. So there’s a significant gap. And the fact is, I mean, I’m sure UWI deserves every penny that they get,” Dr Brown said. “So, I have no problems with them receiving the amount that they get. What we’re saying, though, is that there’s a need for a bit more equity. And the national university, which is the University of Technology, now needs to be appropriately funded, right?” he continued. “So, it cannot be that if you attend UTech, the government funding that you receive is significantly below a student who chooses to attend UWI Mona.” However, the UTech president has urged students not to be deterred by the financial dilemma as the university is “constantly looking at how we can help our students”. These include a variety of scholarships for students who are pursing degrees in science, medicine, technology and engineering (STEM), as well as those who are interested in healthcare, Dr Brown said. Students can expect formal communication on the matter and updates on their expected tuition on Monday morning, he noted.

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Hamas on Sunday again accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “obstructing an agreement” for a truce and hostage exchange in Gaza. The Palestinian militant group said in a statement following the latest round of talks in Qatar that Netanyahu was “fully responsible for thwarting the efforts of the mediators, obstructing an agreement, and (bears) full responsibility for the lives” of hostages in Gaza. Following two days of talks in Doha between US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators, the United States on Friday submitted a new compromise proposal. According to Hamas, the proposal “responds to Netanyahu’s conditions, especially his rejection of a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and his insistence on continuing to occupy the Netzarim junction, the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor”. The latter two places are seen by Israel as important for preventing the flow of any weapons into the Gaza Strip, while the Netzarim junction sits at a strategic point between northern and southern Gaza. Netanyahu “also set new conditions in the prisoner exchange file and retreated from other items, which prevents the completion of the exchange deal”, Hamas said. The Israeli premier had earlier denounced the militant group for being “obstinate” and not sending a delegation to the talks, saying Hamas not Israel should be under pressure. He was speaking ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is pushing for a deal. In its statement, Hamas reiterated its support for a proposal set out by US President Joe Biden in May, which he said was an Israeli plan. That proposal involved a three-phase deal, starting with a six-week truce alongside the release of hostages taken on October 7 and an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated parts of Gaza. Hamas officials have on several occasions accused Netanyahu of obstructing an agreement. Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel that started the war resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The militants also took 251 hostages, with 111 still held in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 40,099 people, according to data from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory which does not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant casualties.

TRELAWNY, Jamaica — A 24-year-old Trelawny farmer has been charged with murder following the death of 35-year-old Conroy Bramwell otherwise called ‘Smokey’, of Spring Hill, Stewart Castle, Duncans in the parish on Wednesday, August 14. Charged is Onique Small, otherwise called ‘Ojay’ of a Hague Settlement address in the parish. Reports from the Falmouth Police are that at about 11:15 pm, Bramwell was walking in the town when a dispute arose with a man to whom he had loaned money. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, during which the suspect allegedly used a pair of scissors to stab Bramwell. The police were summoned and on arrival, Bramwell was transported to hospital where he was treated. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, August 17. Small, who turned himself in to the police on Thursday, August 15, was charged following a question-and-answer session also on Saturday. His court date is being finalised.

Jamaica won back-to-back games to start the Caribbean Football Union Under-14 Challenge Series in Trinidad & Tobago with a 6-0 win over Aruba on Sunday following Saturday’s opening 2-0 win over St Kitts-Nevis. Kelvin Brown scored four times in the first 12 minutes of the game to give Jamaica a fast start against against the Arubans. Brown scored in the first, second, ninth and 12th minutes for the young Reggae Boyz while Kyle Hussey added a fifth in the 26th minute and Tevin Savage scored in the 43rd minute. On Saturday, Ra’Jon Boothe scored in the 19th minute to give Jamaica the lead against St Kitts before Hussey added a second in the 28th minute The Jamaicans will face the host nation, Trinidad and Tobago, on Monday at 5:30pm Jamaica time. -Paul A Reid

Jamaican firefighter fatally stabbed in US city Jamaica Fire Brigade Commissioner Stewart Beckford is speculating that local firefighter Shamare Myrie would probably have been back in the island and alive today had he not applied for and received a 10-day extension on his vacation. “We’ll never know,” Beckford, his voice heavy with grief, told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday, a day after he was informed that 33-year-old Myrie was stabbed to death in an altercation with another Jamaican man in Gaylord, Michigan, United States. He said that Myrie’s application for an additional 10 days on his 30-day vacation would have resulted in him returning to work at Trench Town Fire Station on Tuesday this week. “We always encourage team members to take their vacation, be with their family and relax away from the stress of the fire brigade job. But we also know that persons will take their vacation and will do other jobs to augment their income. He applied for the extension, he had it to his credit, and it was approved,” Beckford said. “We got the sad news yesterday [Saturday] at about 5:00 pm that he was involved in an altercation with another man and both of them received stab wounds and were taken to hospital,” the fire commissioner said. The Gaylord Police Department reported that approximately 3:00 pm on Saturday officers responded to Sun Frog Solutions on O’Rouke Boulevard for an altercation involving a stabbing. “Upon arrival officers located two males with severe lacerations and puncture wounds from edged weapons. The officers secured the scene and provided medical aid. Otsego Country EMS arrived on [the] scene and transported both subjects to Munson Otsego Memorial Hospital for treatment,” the police report said. It added that one of the men, a 33-year-old, died from his injuries and the other, a 35-year-old, received emergency surgery for serious injuries. The police also said that both men were temporary workers from Jamaica working at Sun Frog Solutions. The company is an online retailer of custom T-shirts and apparel designs. On Sunday, Beckford said the information he received so far was that Myrie and the other man had not been getting along since Myrie started working there about four weeks ago. He said that Myrie joined the fire service in 2015 and was stationed at Trench Town Fire Station for all of his tenure. “He was married and has two sons, one 10 and the other two years old,” Beckford told the Observer. “We are told that his wife, who is living in the United States, will be travelling with another relative to Michigan tomorrow [today].” “It’s never easy. For me, the difficult part is to speak with the family when these things happen,” the fire chief said. “It is very, very difficult at this time for the members and in particularly those at the Trench Town Fire Station. We dispatched the chaplaincy unit to that station this morning (Sunday) to give support and grief counselling to the members and we have been in touch with his family. He has a sister who is a firefighter stationed at York Park Fire Station,” Beckford disclosed. “At this time the fire brigade is in mourning because this is the seventh death we’ve had since the start of this year. We have a funeral for next week Sunday of a member who died of natural causes,” added Beckford.

Dancehall artiste Talio Ashh is currently enjoying a buzz with his new single Black Beard featuring Kant10t. The song features both deejays trading lyrical shots as they argue about who is the bigger ‘gallis’. “Recording this song was spontaneous it’s not like we planned it. Kant10t and I were both at the studio to record for the producer. While we were vibing the rhythm we came up with the idea to record Black Beard and created the song on the spot,” Talio Ashh said. He continued, “It is very humorous because we created two characters, I’m Elder and Kant10t is Juvenile and we’re both arguing about who the girls want more. He’s telling me that the girls don’t want any old man who is dying his beard and I’m telling him that the girls love the elder because he has more experience and stamina.” Kant10t said, “We created these two very humorous characters that’s why the song works. It’s a reminder of the kind of songs Professor Nuts or General Degree would do back in the day but with a real rude boy vibe to it.” The song, which was produced by 3riple J Music, was released in June. Since then, it has been enjoying heavy rotation both locally and abroad. “The response in the streets to Black Beard is tremendous. It’s also getting a lot of airplay. While we’re happy and grateful for this response we’re not surprised. From the moment we recorded this song we knew it was going to be a hit,” said Kont10t. Both artistes are currently working on individual projects for 3riple J Music and other producers. They also plan to record a sequel to Black Beard.

KSAMC moving to address building breaches across capital city KINGSTON Mayor Andrew Swaby says he will meet with a team of technical personnel today to strategise a plan geared towards tackling issues relating to building approvals and construction breaches within the Corporate Area. Swaby admitted that these issues have been a “sore point” for Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) for quite some time, and efforts are under way to ensure transparency and integrity in these processes. “Some of the plans, I’ve already made some announcements as to when we hear of any breaches that they are logged, they should be investigated and logged before the committee, and we should be kept informed as to the status of whatever the outcome of that is,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Saturday. “We want to make sure we maintain a transparent way of doing our business. It has been a sore point for us, I will admit that, and we have to see how we bring transparency to it,” he said. The mayor said that a bipartisan approach will be taken to address the issues, and by the September meeting of the council an announcement will be made. In recent times there have been numerous reports about construction breaches across the municipality, triggering anger among residents who say they are concerned about the effects of these breaches on their neighbourhoods. The most recent incident which made news headlines in July was the construction of a used car dealership at 11 Westlake Avenue in Richmond Park, St Andrew, that sparked protest from residents who argued that it was an invasion of their peaceful residential space. In a statement on the matter, Mayor Swaby said that a stop notice ordering an immediate cease and desist on all building work was served on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 and an investigation launched. Checks by KSAMC found that the developers had breached their approved plans, therefore the stop notice was ordered. In another incident, reported by the Observer in June, residents expressed concerns about what they believed were unauthorised building works in Mona Heights that led to the demolition of a house in the area. It was later revealed by KSAMC officials that no approval was given for demolition to take place, and a stop order was placed on the development. In another incident reported on by the Observer in May, frustrated Mona Heights residents demanded action from KSAMC to address what they described as chaotic building construction in their neighbourhood. The conversation was sparked by the construction of what appeared to be a third floor on a building in a residential area. The matter was investigated by the KSAMC and a stop order placed. Mayor Swaby, addressing the issues relating to breaches and approvals, said that staffing at the KSAMC is a major factor that hinders the corporation’s ability to survey developments. “Staffing is an issue. I think it is just about five or six building officers we have for [both] parishes, and we have started talking to our parent ministry about how to employ some more persons because we don’t have the luxury to just employ somebody like that,” the mayor explained. “We also have to look at the whole issue of the separation of duties. It can’t be a situation where the same person who is recommending for approval is the same person doing the enforcement, so we’re looking at that as well,” he added. Additionally, he said discussions are under way to have regular courses for staff members regarding the issue of ethics. Swaby said a public education campaign is also among the approaches the KSAMC is considering to deal with these matters. “One of the things that we need to do as a council is, we have to educate the [population] as to what are the measures that we can take. Sometimes persons just believe that we can just go and hit down a thing — that is not the situation in all cases. You have to think about the stop orders, and if they continue, you take them to court — and you know these things take time — so there also has to be a public education aspect of it,” he said. SWABY… we also have to look at the whole issue of the separation of duties (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

More than 40 Gregory Park fireboming victims still homeless ONE year after their houses were firebombed by thugs and two among them killed, more than 40 residents of 44 Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park, St Catherine, including children, are still homeless. The situation has been causing the fire victims great anguish, and to add to their woes they know not when the new houses the Government had promised to build for them will become a reality. The Jamaica Observer was told that the delay in rebuilding the houses is no fault of the Government but is rather due to the fact that the death certificate for Naomi Gocul, who was burned inside her house and died 10 days later, has not been generated. Gocul was the owner of the property. The other deceased person was 28-year-old taxi operator Raneel Haughton, who was shot dead by the men who torched the houses. Last week Annie Gocul was almost brought to tears when the Jamaica Observer visited her for an update on how she and the others were coping. As much as her living condition at the moment is uncomfortable, she misses her mother most of all. “My mother, we called her Miss Sweeny, she was 72. Monday the 12th of August made one year since we were firebombed. On the 12th [of August this year] a lot of memories returned. We cried and all of those things. The main reason why I cried was because I lost my mother. If we had our mother it wouldn’t be so bad. It is very bad because now I have no mother and father. The sixth of August made three years since my father died and my mother died the 22nd of August 2023,” she told the Observer. “In the meantime, we want somewhere comfortable to live. Anything the Government can do for us to make the process move faster, we would appreciate it. From last year a kotch me a kotch a people place. When the incident just happened we were sleeping outside ,but a young lady put me up and I give her a little something for the accommodation. We don’t have any bathroom, no kitchen, and no privacy,” she shared, explaining that she has to take her showers outside in the open. “I have a daughter, and we have to bathe outside; most of the times we are in the yard and people just push the gate and come in and see us naked. We would like somewhere comfortable for the time being. All of us who got burned out are kotching all over the place. And not everybody wants you to kotch with them for long; they want you to move along. We are uncomfortable,” Gocul said. “Because mom was murdered, the process to get her death certificate is taking long,” she said, adding that once the certificate is produced the houses should be rebuilt, according to plan. One woman, who did not give her name, confirmed that her daughter, who was one of the fire victims, also has to be living with other people. She added that she is happy the dispute that caused the firebombing last year no longer exists. Alando Terrelonge, the Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central where Gregory Park is situated, said that the Government remains committed to rebuilding the houses for the people who were displaced. “The Government stands by its commitment to assist the families in rebuilding homes for them. At this point, members of the team from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) have met with the family on several occasions. The architects have done the designs, the plans are in place, the funding is in place, however, the team from OPM awaits certain documents from the family to proceed with the building phase,” Terrelonge explained. “At this point it is for the family to get certain documents [but] they have not been able to get them based on personal issues. Just recently they asked me if I could provide them with assistance in securing some of the documents but these are documents that the individuals who own the land have to get. The Government cannot get these documents,” Terrelonge added. Last Saturday, Napoleon Campbell, the owner of Vashaun’s Funeral Services, shed some light on the difficulties involved in obtaining a death certificate when a person is murdered or dies under suspicious circumstances. Campbell told the Observer that whenever a person dies from a natural cause at home or at a hospital, and the police are satisfied that there is no foul play, a burial order can be easily obtained. He said relatives are able to apply for the death certificate, and sometimes receive it in a matter of days. However, there is a considerable difference when someone is murdered, commits suicide, or dies in a motor vehicle crash. “Those cases have to go through the government system so those certificates take a longer while. After the suspicious death of a relative, family members will get a burial order to bury their loved one, however the death certificate will take a longer time because the forensic report will have to come back — and sometimes a toxicology report and histology are needed before the pathologist makes the final report. “Then, the police will have to give their report and the case has to go through the Coroner’s Court. The process can even take up to three years,” he said. “The Government needs to really look into it. The burial order can go so far and no more, and not having the certificate holds up a lot of things like insurance. Insurance companies need the death certificate, and it causes a lot of pain and anguish on family members so I think something needs to be done,” Campbell told the Observer. Campbell says the process of obtaining a death certificate is longer when someone is murdered, commits suicide, or dies in a motor vehicle crash.

Grammy-Award winning Jamaican artiste Shaggy as well as Romanian content creator Lavinia “Lavbbe” Calin have seen massive success for their collaboration titled Move. The track has an accompanying music video that has gained over 1.3 million views on popular streaming platform YouTube since its June release. “The reception has been good enuh. We actually went #1 on On The Radar, which is a massive platform, and we’ve actually surpassed Drake, which was at #1 on there. We went on tour a couple weeks back; she came [and] did all the promo. We did New York, we did Baltimore, we did West Virginia, and recently I was in California and a couple of the fans were coming up and asking if she was going to be there,” Shaggy told the Jamaica Observer. Move was produced by Costi, while the music video was directed by Jay Will. Shaggy also said that the world can expect to hear more collabs with the trendy, fast-rising star. “We wrote like six songs with her. We have some other songs in the works. We ago help her out; we do music for a whole bunch of people. We always a mek music and come up with new vibes for multiple people. It doesn’t matter where the artiste is, or who they are, whatever the vibe that we come up with and it sounds like a particular person, we draw for that person,” he added. Meanwhile, Lavbbe revealed that it was a dream come true to finally collaborate with a Jamaican artiste after listening to reggae and dancehall all her life. “The UK is big on Jamaica, and the music itself. I grew up in the culture… and I grew up within that kind of vibe listening to the great artistes of Jamaica. There’s so much that I can say I love about the Jamaican songs and the way they have influenced me,” she told the Observer. At 15 years old Lavbbe moved from Romania to the UK to continue her studies at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Though she did her degree in aviation management, inspired by the experience of the world’s great dancers, she also attended contemporary dance, acting, and singing classes for one year. With millions of followers on social media already, Lavbbe says she anticipates further success in her budding music career. “I’ve always seen myself as a big star ever since I was a child. I am going after my dream, and doing what I love to do, and then I will let God decide what to do with it,” she said. Lavinia “Lavbbe” Calin.

The Government says it is willing to consider amending legislation to allow investors within special economic zones (SEZs) to generate and sell electricity to occupants in the zones. Currently, only the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), under an exclusive licence, has the right to supply electricity in Jamaica. According to Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill, a broader implementation of electricity distribution is necessary within these zones. “I believe, truthfully, after [Hurricane] Beryl, we need more sources of investors and more sources of delivery of power, so that the country really is not held hostage by only one main supplier of power… so we need to consider this,” he said. Hill, who was addressing Tuesday’s sitting of the joint select committee currently reviewing the Electricity Act, was commenting on the recommendation put forward by the SEZ Authority for self-generators within SEZ to be able to sell electricity directly to tenants within the SEZs without having to enter internet billing arrangements with JPS. “This is the time where we are looking at the Act and this is the time to consider this [broader distribution] and I believe we would do the country well if we were to do that and arrive at a solution that serves us better into the future, given the experiences we’ve just had and the ones that we’ve had in the recent past,” he said. The JPS, in recent times, has come under heavy criticism over its performance, particularly regarding the slow pace at which it has been restoring electricity to customers after the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3. In the meantime, Hill told the committee that SEZ developers clearly want to be able to produce their own electricity, given the high associated costs. “What the SEZ is suggesting… is that people who are spending significant amounts of money to build out their space do want the right to produce their electricity. They have to buy a tremendous amount of transmission and all kinds of stuff from… JPS. They want to look at developing their own,” he said. In its submission, the SEZ Authority said that in order to ascertain the appetite for the provision of electricity within SEZs, a survey of SEZ stakeholders was undertaken. The survey had 27 respondents comprising nine multi-purpose developers, 16 single entities and two specialised zones. “Of the 27 [stakeholders], 20 expressed having interest in electricity generation in their zone, either for self-use or for providing electricity to their occupants and zone users, citing cost cutting and sustainability as the top two reasons,” the authority said. In considering the authority’s proposal, the energy ministry said that the services for which authorisation is proposed for developers within the SEZ is currently the responsibility solely of JPS, pursuant to the terms of its licence. It said that the SEZ Act, also in keeping with the Electricity Act and in recognition of the terms of the JPS’s licence, prohibits the supply of electricity by a developer or occupant to any other person other than the single buyer for net billing purposes. The ministry said that in order for developers to be permitted to supply and sell electricity to customers or tenants within the SEZ independent of the grid, the SEZ Act, Electricity Act and the JPS licence will need to be amended to allow for this change. Hill said that his ministry will be looking at the SEZ Act, guided by the policy decisions to be taken by the energy ministry and possibly Cabinet. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz said that in terms of amendment to the JPS’s licence, consultation will be done with the Attorney General’s Chambers and other entities, including the Office of Utilities Regulation. “This is something that we have been talking about for years and obviously, time is of the essence. So we really want to get this particular situation, a conclusion to it, one way or another,” he said. Opposition committee member Anthony Hylton, who has been pushing for a solution to allow SEZs to have cheaper electricity costs, welcomed the SEZ Authority’s proposal, noting that it has broadened the original scope of the committee. “It will really introduce a whole different module in the sector, perhaps… I believe the debate should begin, but I’m very clear that it widens the lenses very much — much beyond anything that was initially contemplated,” he said.

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Opposition spokesperson on energy and climate change Phillip Paulwell wants legislation in place that will give politicians less say in the allocation of resources after a natural disaster. His comments came within the context of the protracted delay in restoring electricity to sections of Hurricane Beryl-ravaged St Elizabeth and other sections of the country. “I think that is a disgrace…We have to look at the law dealing with disasters because there has to be now a framework that we will have to develop to make sure that when we have disasters — and we will — there is an appropriate response,” stated Paulwell. He was addressing a St James Central constituency conference held at Cornwall College in Montego Bay on Sunday. The Opposition spokesperson said such a move will allow for the restoration process to be treated as an emergency. “It is taken out of the hands of the politicians so they can’t direct where [to] get back water and power first and put it to a body that is truly independent, that will be able to deal with restoration, evenly, fairly and timely,” he argued. Paulwell’s assertion is in sharp contrast to that of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz who suggested on Nationwide News Network last week that future governments should be empowered to intervene in cases of emergency, to protect customers. Vaz has not minced his words when making known his frustration with the slow pace of the Jamaica Public Service’s restoration work. Also on Sunday Paulwell promised to make the topic of climate change more appealing to the wider public. “We have a responsibility to make sure that we do things to lower the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But Jamaica’s contribution is minuscule [compared] to the rest of the world and we will now have to boldly call on the countries to say to them, ‘Your carbon footprint is so large and great you have to step up and do things now to lower it’,” he stated. “Just as how we led the drive to end apartheid, we in this area are going to lead that drive to ensure that the world moves to conform because very soon we are not going to be able to survive on planet Earth,” he urged. Pointing to Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley’s track record, internationally, on the issue of climate change, Paulwell said president of the People’s National Party Mark Golding will soon join her in providing well-needed leadership in this area.

Excitement and nostalgia rolled through Central Park in New York as Morgan Heritage took the stage for their SummerStage show last Saturday. Thousands of fans filled Rumsey Playfield for an event that served as a homecoming for the trailblazing Reggae band, a celebration of VP Records’ 45th anniversary, and a tribute to Peetah Morgan, the band’s beloved brother and longtime lead singer, who passed away in February. When the headliners began their set with ‘Strictly Roots’ accompanied by images of Peetah on a screen behind them, the massive crowd greeted them with a chorus of cheers. The event, produced by the City Parks Foundation in partnership with Capital One and presented by VP Records and CTBC Music Group, marked a pivotal moment for the Grammy-winning group, returning to New York City to reconnect with their roots. Siblings and band members Gramps, Lukes, Mojo, and Una, along with Gramps’ son, Jemere Morgan, played beloved hits like ‘Down by the River’, ‘Brooklyn and Jamaica’, and ‘Mount Zion Medley’ while also using the show to bridge the gap between past and future. Throughout their set, they honoured their late patriarch Denroy Morgan and introduced a new generation of talent through Priel, Raiah, and Esh Morgan, who are carrying the torch forward for the “Royal Family of Reggae.” The audience remained lively throughout, partly due to the immense talent that preceded the band and that joined them on stage. The show, hosted by Pat McKay, featured sets from Reggaelation Sound, Massive B (Bobby Konders & Jabba), legendary selector Lion Face, and DJ Norie of Power 105.1. A highlight of the evening came when surprise guest Sharon Marley took the stage for a heartfelt rendition of ‘No Woman, No Cry’ with the lyrics changed to “No mama, no cry.” Morgan Heritage’s hour-and-a-half-long set was further energised by surprise appearances from Ras Shiloh and Tarrus Riley, both of whom matched the hype of the crowd. “To see the love and support from our family, friends, and most of all, our fans, the Loyal Royals, was truly amazing. We’re grateful to our family, Chris & Randy Chin, and the entire team at VP Records, the city of New York, and Central Park SummerStage for making it possible for us to celebrate the life of our brother Peetah Morgan and the legacy we’ve built together in the place we were born. Big Brooklyn every time!” Morgan Heritage said. They continued: “Our children were also extremely happy to feel the support they received. As the next generation, we are preparing to carry on the legacy. The future is bright, and we will continue doing what we love until the year 3000 and beyond. We’ll see you in a city near you very soon, and never forget that we love you all. ROCKAZ!” “Bringing Morgan Heritage back to New York for this event was essential, not just for the band but for everyone involved,” said Randy Chin, president of VP Records. “The connection between the band and their fans, especially as they honoured Peetah and introduced the next generation, was something special. It’s incredible to see the community celebrate life, music, and legacy on this scale, and we’re proud to have played a role in making this moment possible. We’re also excited to see how their story unfolds from here,” Chin added. Morgan Heritage has been a cornerstone in Reggae music for decades. Since its formation in 1994, the band has headlined festivals across the globe and released over a dozen studio albums, winning the Grammy Award for Reggae Album of the Year in 2016 for Strictly Roots and earning a second nomination in 2018 for Avrakedabra. Peetah Morgan, known for his soulful voice and profound lyrics, played a pivotal role in the band’s success and influence in the genre.

KINGSTON, Jamaica— Flow Foundation on Friday distributed $1 million in vouchers to students living in Junction, St Elizabeth, as the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. A press release announcing the initiative stated that Flow Foundation, the JPS Foundation and the Digicel Foundation joined forces to host a community relief event that has helped to ease the demands of the back-to-school period for parents. The event was hosted at BB Coke High School under the theme “Connected Life” and included the distribution of other essential school supplies and the provision of medical check-ups and grooming services. Residents were also treated to an Olympics watch party while children enjoyed a fun-filled day of games and rides. Other partners of the event included Food for the Poor, National Water Commission and the HEART/NSTA Trust, the release said. Danielle Savory, senior manager, communications, Flow, said Friday’s event was an extension of the humanitarian aid being offered by the organisations since Hurricane Beryl impacted the island on July 3. “Immediately after the storm passed, Flow, along with JPS and Digicel, were in the communities supporting families to recover from the storm’s impact. It is not uncommon for us to provide aid, but this time was very special for us. Flow has returned to the St Elizabeth community to provide even more support for the families as they work to get their children ready for school despite the significant challenges they still face,” Savory said. Savory further added that the collaboration by all the partners is a strong signal of their intention to make the recovery process easier for the residents of St Elizabeth. “The collaborative spirit demonstrated by all the partners is a direct response to the needs of the community. We are committed to help make every day better for the people of St Elizabeth and we hope that the families who benefited today can continue to improve their lives, one day at a time,” she added. Flow said it offered additional support for the event through the provision of hi-speed internet which enabled fast and convenient online access for all the patrons. A Flow charging station and giveaways of phones and tablets through patron engagement were among the highlights of the day, the release added. The Flow Foundation is in its 20th year of positive contributions to nation building and is dedicated to connecting communities and changing lives with our technology, meaningful partnerships, and community-driven initiatives, the communications and entertainment company said.

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP)— Nearly half a billion children are facing twice as many days of extreme heat each year — or more — than their grandparents did, the UN said Tuesday, warning of deadly consequences. As climate change continues to push up temperatures globally, one in five children — some 466 million kids — live in areas that are registering “at least double the number of extremely hot days every year” compared to 60 years ago, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said. “The bodies of young children are not like little adults, they have much more vulnerability to extreme heat,” UNICEF advocacy chief Lily Caprani told AFP, also warning of dangers for pregnant women. Additionally, children lose out from education when schools are forced to close due to high temperatures — which has affected at least 80 million children in 2024 so far. UNICEF used days reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) as its benchmark, comparing average temperatures in the 2020-2024 period to the 1960s. Such hot days — as well as the means to cope with high temperatures, such as air conditioning — affect the entire world, it noted. Children in West and Central Africa are the most exposed, with 123 million children — 39 percent of the kids in the region — facing a third of each year with 95-degree days or higher. At the higher end, in Mali, for example — where air conditioning is out of reach for millions and blackouts can leave fans idled — more than 200 days a year can reach 95 degrees or higher. In Latin America, meanwhile, 48 million children are facing double the number of 95-degree or higher days than 60 years ago. Worldwide, the “trajectory is getting worse and worse for these children,” Caprani said. Children “are fragile and they breathe very quickly. They can’t even sweat like an adult does. They are much more vulnerable to heat stress and it can be literally deadly,” she added. High temperatures can contribute to child malnutrition and leave kids more vulnerable to disease, especially malaria and dengue, which spread in warm climates, UNICEF warned. Excessive heat can also negatively impact neurodevelopment and mental health. UNICEF is calling for increased education for parents to know the signs of heat stroke, better training for medical personnel, and investing in air conditioning in schools — where, even when classes aren’t canceled, learning can be made difficult by hot conditions. Yet the bigger push remains in reining in climate change, caused by humanity’s use of fossil fuels. “As governments are currently drafting their national climate action plans, they can do so with the ambition and knowledge that today’s children and future generations will have to live in the world they leave behind,” UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement.

Dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel earned his eighth top 10 entry and 12th overall entry on this week’s Billboard Reggae Albums chart. First Week Out, a 12-track mixtape released on July 31, just hours after he was released from prison, debuted at #8. The project, which was released by 21st Hapilos Compilations, features the songs The Menace, Terror by Night, Unstoppable, Skillful, Giant, Beat Dem Bad, and Number One. While Vybz Kartel has 12 entries to date on the Billboard reggae table, he ranks third for Jamaicans with the most entries on the chart. Bob Marley and the Wailers have 17 charted entries to date, including 12 #1s, while Beenie Man is second with 15 entries — six of those have topped the chart. Sean Paul has 10 entries and four #1 titles. Here’s a quick rundown of Vybz Kartel’s Billboard entries: •King of the Dancehall – peaked at #2 in 2016 •Viking (Vybz is King) stalled at #3 in 2015 •Kingston Story — #7 in 2011 •Kingston Story (Deluxe edition) — #12 in in 2012 •Vybz Kartel: Roots & Culture: The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto — #6 in 2013 •Kartel Forever: Trilogy — #11 in 2013 •Reggae Love Songs and Other Things — #7 in 2014 •Of Dons and Divas — #6 in 2020 •Born Di Dis (Prelude) — #9 in 2021   Back onto this week’s charts, Bob Marley and the Wailers are still on top with Legend, making it 239 non-consecutive weeks in the penthouse, while Sean Paul improves from #5 to #2 with Dutty Classics Collection. Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection by Shaggy dips to #3, while World on Fire, Set in Stone, and Wisdom by Stick Figure are #4, 5 and 6, respectively. UB45 by the British reggae outfit UB40 inches up to #7, while Burial Ground by Stick Figure remains at #9. Courage to Grow, an album released in 2007 by Rebelution, re-enters the chart at #10. It peaked at #4. Veteran crooner Beres Hammond has taken over the #1 spot on the New York Reggae chart with a re-recorded version of his 1988 song Let Me Help You. The original version was released via the Harmony House label; however, the new version, which was released in May, bears the VP Music Group imprint. Let Me Help You is an ode to a woman that Hammond wants to see smile again. Recognising that life has given her some difficult times, Beres lifts her burdens by lending a listening ear and complimenting her virtues. The 68-year-old Hammond, who sang lead with the Zap Pow band in the mid-1970s, later embarked on a successful solo career which saw him scoring big on the local music charts with ballads such as One Step Ahead, I’m in Love, and If Only I Knew. His career saw a massive revival in the mid-1980s when he littered the charts with What One Dance Can Do, Groovy Little Thing, and Settling Down. Into the 1990s, Hammond’s fortunes improved with the hits They Gonna Talk, Can You Play Some More, Putting Up Resistance, Tempted to Touch, No Disturb Sign, I Feel Good, Rock Away, Come Down Father, and others. In recent years, his hit streak continued with #1 songs on the South Florida Reggae chart, including Me Deh Ya Again with Wickerman, God is Good with Popcaan, I’m Alive, Land of Sunshine, Fight this Feeling with Shaggy, No Goodbye, and Not for Sale. Feeling Irie by Glen Washington débuts at #29. On the South Florida Reggae chart, singer Richie Stephens spends a second week on top with Family and Friends. A remake of Caravan of Love by D Major débuts at #21, while Grateful by Etana is new at #23. Moving now to the Billboard Latin charts, producer Rvssian’s Santa, featuring Rauw Alejandro and Ayra Starr, inches up from #11 to #10 on Hot Latin Songs, while over on Latin Airplay the song rises from #31 to #28. On Latin Rhythm Airplay it steps up from #12 to #11. Jump by Tyla, featuring Gunna and Skillibeng, holds firm at #4 on US Afrobeats Songs chart, but on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay it leaps from #28 to #23. On Hot R&B Songs, Jump remains at #11, while on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay it stays firm at #15. It inches up from #17 to #16 in its 13th week on Rhythmic Top 40 Airplay.