RESIDENTS of Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon have been receiving trauma counselling in the wake of Sunday’s horrific attack by gunmen on the community which resulted in the death of eight people. Minister in charge of information Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, who was part of a team led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness that visited the area on Monday, told JIS News that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is very active in the community with the Chaplaincy Unit engaging with children and adults, including the loved ones of the deceased. “One lady told me that she hid behind a car and someone who also hid behind the car died. It is really hard, and a lot of people are hurting,” she said, noting that it is important that the trauma teams maintain a presence in the area. Morris Dixon urged residents to provide any information that can assist the police with their investigations. “Let us not engage in reprisals; let the police do their work. Let them bring them [the killers] to justice. Let us get justice for the families,” she implored. Mayor of May Pen Councillor Joel Williams also condemned the brutal attack on the community and urged residents to tell what they know to the police. “There is counselling that is happening. The JCF team is out; we saw several of their chaplains who are active here doing counselling and providing support,” she said. Morris Dixon said she was particularly concerned about the impact of the incident on the children, many of whom have indicated that they were afraid.

MOCA adds forensic, intelligence-gathering power to massacre probe The State on Tuesday intensified its investigation into the Cherry Tree Lane massacre with the addition of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in keeping with Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s vow that the killers will be caught and made to face the full force of the law. “MOCA will be contributing intelligence, investigative and cyber forensic support to ensure that every possible lead is pursued and that justice is served,” MOCA’s Director of Communications Major Basil Jarrett told the Jamaica Observer. Jarrett pointed to the arrest of four men on Monday in Four Paths, Clarendon, in connection with the seizure of an illegal gun, and noted that two of them have since been charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. “What is important to note about this particular arrest and charge was that the men were picked up by members of the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) foot patrol team. What this demonstrates is that, despite how tense the area is, these men are still a threat. It also suggests that they are very intent on carrying out criminal activity and so it is very important that we maintain this presence in the community,” Jarrett said. Within a few hours of a 96-hour curfew being imposed in Four Paths on Monday, the four men who were travelling on two motorcycles were caught and pinned down by members of the JDF and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). The law enforcers firstly intercepted two of the men, who they suspected were spotters responsible for telling the other two men the location of the security forces in the community. However, they drove straight into the hands of police and soldiers and did not get to alert their friends. Police said the other two men, who had the gun, were trying to make their way past the security checkpoint when they were nabbed. One of them allegedly attempted to dispose of a bag containing the weapon but it was quickly retrieved and they were handcuffed. The curfew was imposed following Sunday night’s mass shooting in Cherry Tree Lane, which is located in Four Paths. Eight people, including a seven-year-old boy, were shot dead by at least three gunmen who had invaded the community while a birthday celebration and a game of bingo was in full swing outside the First Lady HQ bar. Nine other people were shot and injured in the attack. Law enforcers said that the men on the motorbikes were on their way to exact revenge for the mass killing. The deceased have been identified as seven-year-old Aiden Bartley; 27-year-old Kavel Daley; 50-year-old Lawrence Francis; 20-year-old Diamond Bennett; 68-year-old Errol Stewart; 32-year-old Jermaine Boothe; Courtney Messam; and a woman known only as Margaret. On Monday, following a meeting of the National Security Council, Prime Minister Holness declared a “total assault on gangs” across the island and pledged that the “Government will use this opportunity to deal with the gangs once and for all”. “We will not treat this as another criminal act; we will treat this as an act of terror. Therefore, we have given directions to the security forces to launch an all-out assault on the gangs that are involved,” Holness told journalists at an emergency press briefing at Jamaica House. On Tuesday, Major Jarrett appealed to Jamaicans to provide the authorities with any information related to the atrocity. “It is very important that the public gives us the support that we need. Cherry Tree Lane is a very small area and you don’t carry out an act like this without someone knowing about it, and so we ask the public to use the MOCA tip line (888-MOCA-tip) as well as Crime Stop (311) to help us bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said. Also on Tuesday, a resident of Four Paths told the Observer that the community has been blanketed by police and soldiers. “There is a whole lot of soldiers and police. The area has been tense. This morning a few people were on the road, but by the time I went out and came back the roads were completely empty. The police and soldiers are up and about,” the resident said. “I don’t know about any other arrests other than the four men from Monday. The baby that people were saying is dead, is actually okay. The mother said the baby only got a graze on the shoulder. Two other young men who were injured, one of them is due for surgery next week. People still crying and grieving. There is nothing really you can say right now for persons to feel comfort, but you still have to try,” the resident said. One woman, who was shot and injured in the incident on Sunday, told the Observer that she was running when she felt something slam into her leg. “I said, ‘Yes, Jesus Christ, mi get shot.’ I got shot just below my left buttock and it flew through the groin area at the front. My hand back cut up [but] I didn’t fall down so I don’t know if it was caused by a wire in the fence or something,” she said.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — After acquiring the rights to broadcast the English Premier League (EPL) in 2022 in what was dubbed a “pioneering move,” Verticast Media Group has announced that its term as the broadcast rights holder has come to an end. The announcement was made on Tuesday, just three days before the official start of the 2024/25 EPL season. In a statement sent to the media, Verticast, while acknowledging that its term was not without hiccups, said it was “proud to have made Premier League matches available regionally and, for the first time, to the widest possible audience through the CSport app, cable channels, and free-to-air television channels.” Football fans across the region had to pay between US$3 (J$453) per week to US$77.99 annually to view EPL coverage via Verticast Media Group’s CSport platforms. However, many subscribers, despite paying for the service, found themselves having to source other platforms to watch matches. In April, the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) censured CVM TV over what it described as “misleading advertising” after investigating complaints from disgruntled Premier League subscribers. The complaints were related to subscribers not being able to watch Premier League matches on the CSport app in Jamaica. While the BCJ said it did not have jurisdiction over CSport because it is Internet-based, it noted that CVM TV, which is owned by Verticast Media Group and also owns CSport, facilitated misleading advertisements that matches would be broadcast when they were not. Following news of its concluded contract, Verticast, in its release, stated that despite the “distribution challenges” encountered during its tenure, it remains “committed to our mission of bringing top-tier sports content to viewers across the region.” “We are dedicated to promoting and advocating for a commercially level playing field within the Caribbean, ensuring that our partners continue to receive the content they deserve,” the statement read.

THE University Hospital of the West Indies’ (UHWI) newly sashed ‘Nurse of Excellence’, Shantel McLean Ford, will be spearheading a support programme to help teenage mothers reach their full potential. McLean Ford, who was herself a teenage mother, has conceptualised the programme through which she will aim to reduce the effects of teenage pregnancy, positively influence teen mothers, and provide them with the support they need. The nurse hopes to engage as many teen mothers as possible through her project. The Caribbean and Latin American region currently accounts for the second-highest teen pregnancy rate worldwide, and according to data from the World Bank, in Jamaica, the rate of adolescent fertility has decreased since 2010. However, the rate in 2021 was nearly the same as the average rate for women in countries in the same income group as Jamaica. For that year, 33 of every 1,000 girls ages 15-19 in Jamaica gave birth. “I became pregnant at 15 years old, and a lot of times teenagers aren’t given the support that they need, and so my project is geared at providing support to teenage mothers, to let them know that you are given a second chance, that we are here to support them and that they can even become a nurse like me,” said McLean Ford. She said her programme will aim to present teen moms with opportunities for growth, empowerment, mentorship and support. It is also being designed to help strengthen families and help the teen moms raise resilient and successful children. “There will be discussions, wrap sessions, meetings, and in turn, I’m going to do an evaluation to see where you are at as a teen mom, look at the different stages and deduce what needs to be done, because as you know different persons require different things, and so with evaluation then we can know who requires what. “They may require support related to their mental health; it can be emotional. You know you have persons who have become pregnant, and they might just need someone to help them write a resume, someone to give them a recommendation, those little things,” added McLean Ford. The programme will be one of several responsibilities for McLean Ford as the 2024-2025 UHWI Nurse of Excellence. The coveted award was presented, in collaboration with JN Bank, to her recently during a ceremony on the hospital grounds. McLean Ford emerged on top of the competition, following an intensive selection process which included an interview before a panel of judges. Judith Longmore Carridice, UHWI nursing director for medicine and nephrology and McLean Ford’s supervisor who nominated her for the award, explained that she made the recommendation, especially after observing her commitment to the job during the COVID-19 pandemic and after she returned to work from giving birth to twins. Longmore Carridice recalled McLean Ford travelling from the hills of St Andrew to work on a motorcycle when transportation was slowed by the health crisis. According to Longmore Carridice, McLean Ford’s leadership of Ward 8, after coming back from maternity leave, was also significant. “This ward is supposed to be one of our model wards for best practices, and when she came back, I said to her, ‘I’m assigning you to this ward’. And right away she got the support of the nurses and she started making changes. You could feel and see the difference. “When she won Nurse of Excellence, I said to her, ‘I’m happy for myself because I picked out another winner’. I feel very good that she won and I’m motivated knowing that she’s one of them that has stayed in nursing in Jamaica, and I was able to impact her and guide her,” added Longmore Carridice. McLean Ford has been a nurse for six years, with five of those spent at the UHWI where she is currently in the medicine programme. Her career started at the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Also a trained midwife, McLean Ford said her toughest time in the profession to date was during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the crisis showed the power of teamwork and support. “What really got me into nursing is the love and passion that I have [for] caring for people. Initially my grandmother became ill and taking care of her made me realise the passion I have for nursing and so I decided that I must pursue this career and it has been really good,” she said. “One of the high points for me was just a patient’s relative telling me thanks. The patient came, got care and when they were leaving, the daughter came to me and said, ‘I’m just grateful for how compassionate you were and the care that you gave to my father’, and she said that I will always be remembered and that made me feel very good,” she added. Antonette Bent, the 2023/24 UHWI Nurse of Excellence and midwifery batch mate of McLean Ford, said she expects her successor to have an impactful reign. “I know she will do an excellent job. As the sash says, Nurse of Excellence, she embodies that. She is very skilled clinically and exceptional with her patients. She has strong leadership skills and also serves as a manager here. Her drive is unparalleled. She pushes herself and ensures that anything she has to do, she does to 100 per cent of her abilities,” said Bent.

THE driver accused of mowing down a policeman during a traffic stop in St Andrew last Thursday has been taken into custody. According to head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gary McKenzie, several charges have been laid against the man who was held on Saturday. “He was charged with several road traffic offences, including dangerous driving, not stopping at the scene of a collision,” ACP McKenzie told the Jamaica Observer on Monday. McKenzie said that the police officer, who is assigned to PSTEB’s Beat Officer Patrol Division, has since been discharged from hospital and is “recuperating slowly”. The police had said last Friday that the incident was being probed by the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as attempted murder. It was reported that during a traffic stop, around 6:10 pm, the constable was struck by the motorist he had signalled to stop for a violation of the Road Traffic Act. It is alleged that the cop was grabbed by the motorist, who objected to being recorded by the police’s body camera. The motorist then drove off, hitting the officer and pinning him under the vehicle, which ran over his head. The high command of the JCF, in a press release on Friday afternoon, strongly condemned the attack on one of its officers. “We denounce this senseless act of violence against our officers and reaffirm our commitment to upholding the law, safeguarding our citizens, and maintaining order. Any form of violence towards our officers will be met with the strictest application of the law. We urge the public to cooperate with law enforcement and refrain from actions that jeopardise lives. The JCF remains dedicated to ensuring safety and justice for all Jamaicans,” the release said.

CLARENDON, Jamaica — A 96-hour curfew has been imposed in several communities in Clarendon. The areas affected are Western Park, Cherry Tree Lane, Havannah Heights, Treadlight and York Town in the parish. The curfew began at 10:00 am on Monday, August 12 and will remain in effect until 10:00 am Friday, August 16. North: Along a dirt track from the intersection of Garvey and Treadlight Streets to the intersection of Treadlight Common and Red Square; East: Along a dirt track from the intersection of Treadlight Common and Red Square to the intersection of Harris Street and Eve Terrace; South: Along Eve Terrace Street, from the of intersection Eve Terrace and Harris Street to the intersection of Evans Drive and Western Park Road; West: Along Evans Drive and Treadlight Road from the intersection of Evans Drive and Western Park Road to the intersection of Garvey Street and Treadlight Street. Areas in Cherry Tree Lane: North: Travelling along an imaginary line along Muirhead Avenue, approximately 597 metres; East: Travelling along an imaginary line from Muirhead Avenue to the Bustamante Highway; South: Travelling along an imaginary line to the Bustamante Highway; West: Travelling along an imaginary line from the Bustamante Highway to Muirhead Avenue. The affected areas in Havannah Heights are: North: Along a dirt track from the sign marked ‘Welcome to Woodside Community’ to an unfinished concrete dwelling at the end of the dirt track to the train line; East: Along the Havannah Heights to the Woodside Roadway from the sign marked ‘Welcome to Woodside Community’ to the intersection of Jacob Hut in the vicinity of the train line; South: Along the train line from the intersection of Jacob Hut in the vicinity of the train line to a yellow one-bedroom concrete structure along the gully bank; West: Along the imaginary line a gully and to the train line from the yellow one-bedroom concrete structure along the gully bank to an unfinished concrete dwelling at the end of the dirt track to the train line. In the Treadlight area: North: Travelling 1926 metres along an imaginary line to the intersection of North Street and West Park Avenue (to the vegetated area); East: Travelling 860 metres along an imaginary line to the vegetated area; South: Travelling 1920 metres along an imaginary line to the vegetated area; West: Travelling 830 metres along an imaginary line from the vegetated area to the intersection of North Street and West Park Avenue For the York Town area: North: Travelling 5 kilometres along an imaginary line from Comfort Road to York Town; East: Travelling 3 kilometres along an imaginary line from York Town to Parnassus; South: Travelling 7 kilometres along an imaginary line from Rhymesbury to Parnassus; West: Travelling 1 kilometre along an imaginary line from Rhymesbury to Comfort. During the hours of the curfew, all persons within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises, unless otherwise authorised by the ground commander. The curfew follows Sunday night’s killing of eight people in separate gun attacks on Cherry Tree Lane, Four Paths in Clarendon. Among the victims was a seven-year-old boy.

It’s that time of year again when former President Barack Obama gives the world a peek into his summer playlist. This year, Jamaicans Skillibeng, and Bob Marley and the Wailers, made the cut. In a post made to his Instagram page on Monday, Obama shared with his more than 36 million followers the songs he has been vibing to this summer, including Skillibeng’s hugely popular collaboration, “Jump,” which he did with South African singing sensation Tyla. This is the first time dancehall artist Skillibeng is being featured on the popular playlist. Bob Marley and the Wailers, however, have been featured on Obama’s playlist in the past. This time around, they made the cut with the single “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry).” Among the songs also making the cut this year are H.E.R’s “Process,” Tems’ “Love Me Jeje,” and Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em.” “With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I’ve been listening to lately – and it wouldn’t be my playlist if it didn’t include an eclectic mix,” Obama wrote. “I hope you find something new to listen to!” Each summer, the global entertainment industry looks forward to the former president’s selections. Last year, Toots and the Maytals’ “Funky Kingston” was the only Jamaican single to make the cut.

Coaches say Stona’s gold a product of specialised meets Veteran throws coach Michael Vassell says the advent of specialised throwing meets in Jamaica has significantly boosted the events here and played a part in Roje Stona’s historic gold medal and Olympic Games Men’s Discus Throw record 70.00m last week. Stona, who attended Rusea’s High School and St Jago High School, became the first non-European to win the event since USA’s Mac Wilkins in Montreal, Canada, in 1976. Stona, who attended Clemson University and the University of Arkansas, was one of three Jamaicans in the final at Stade de France in Paris on Wednesday, a first for the island and the most by any country in the Games. Vassell, who started several throws-only meets including Big Shot and King of the Ring, which saw virtually every thrower in the country in the last two decades compete, said, “It’s been a journey, but it’s come at a lot of personal sacrifice, and I feel good knowing that I planted a tree, and I got a chance to at least enjoy the shade. “This historic gold medal is the culmination of 25 years of hard work, 25 years of dreaming and hoping for the day when Jamaicans could find themselves at the top of the podium and throwing events. “I mean, we did it at the World Athletics Under-20 level twice with Kai Chang and Fedrick Dacres, but we seemingly just never got there for the World Championships and the Olympics. So it’s good to see a Stona, who came through the ranks, who, I will say, benefited from these throws-only meets where throwers got a chance to showcase their skills in front of their peers and this is really a very historic moment.” Vassell says the throws community is especially pleased because in spite “of the lack of support that we have gotten over the years, we have coaches having to buy implements for themselves, the throwing meets have survived through a lot of personal sacrifice, my family has been supportive, we have spent our own money. I can tell you the recent throws meets we have put on, I still have not paid some bills, because we just never had the support which we needed and it’s a very expensive venture.” Caniggia Raynor, the throws coach at Kingston College (KC) and national men’s hammer throws record holder, echoed Vassell when he told the Jamaica Observer, “The performances we’ve seen from our throwers in the Olympics is the result of a lot of nurturing, teamwork and sacrifice from both athletes and coaches coming up out of the high school system to where they are now.” Raynor, who coached finalist Ralford Mullings at KC, said, “It adds to the reputation we’ve been building over the years as top world contenders in the sport and the respect we’ve earned. Throws never gets the attention or support it deserves but we’ve learned to support each other, create our own energy, band together as a group and still have fierce competitions. These medals show all the hard work the coaches, parents, throws officials and well-wishers put into developing the event and our athletes.” The spin-offs, he said, was the success the throwers had earned, “It has afforded many of our junior athlete opportunities that has come to fruition as junior and senior athletes. It’s inspiring to witness this, as a thrower I know that the youngsters are motivated and it is my hope that it also inspire more youngsters to give throwing events a try. I also hope sponsors now see the value and come forth and support the throws meets and participate in professional athlete development.” Franz Forde, the head coach at Immaculate Conception High School, was in a buoyant mood when he spoke to the Observer on Wednesday, “I just got back my voice and I am telling you, this is just one of those feelings where it’s just feels so surreal, you know, so proud of Roje, this gold medal speaks wonders to what the coaches have been trying to do in Jamaica.” Forde, who coaches the field events at Immaculate, said while there had been some success in the throws at the various World Championships level, “It’s the first time it’s ever happening in the Olympic Games and I am telling you, the feeling is just so surreal, we’re seeing history, history was made. We’re talking about three young men in the finals. I am just over the moon. I am just so happy.” Forde said it was time that more Jamaican track and field fans understood the importance of the events outside of the sprints. “The throws have been looked down on over the years and we are seeing it now. We can see it where field events are actually stepping out,” he said. “We medalled in the women’s triple jump, men’s long jump, the men’s shot put and now we are seeing it in men’s discus, indeed, it’s a wonderful feeling.” Forde predicted that this was just the start. “There’s more to come, you know, because the coaches have been working hard in order to get some recognition in the sport,” he said. “We’re seeing that at the junior level, and we’re just so happy that these juniors who came through and are now in the spotlight.”

Already well-known for her dramatic tresses, Olympian Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has re-entered the haircare market with a new line, Afimi. Tuesday Style Dryer (TSD) makes room for the line in our hair drawer and shares it with you! Fraser-Pryce made the announcement on Friday, July 26 — the day of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony — via Instagram with a 10-second autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) video showing clips of her training routine on the track, as well showcasing various hairstyles, whilst lounging. Afimi features a hair serum, hair mist, shampoo, two conditioners, leave-in conditioner, scalp balm, and a styling créme. The line of products is made with “naturally sourced” ingredients, with apricot and rosemary in the hair serum. TSD couldn’t be more intrigued! In the caption of the teaser video, Fraser-Pryce shares: “My hair has helped me set the tone for many fearless victories.” TSD haircare besties should be excited to learn that the Afimi formulations were created to ensure that hair is performing at its best, like Fraser-Pryce during her track events. The iconic “Pocket Rocket” indicates on Instagram that Afimi is “a vibrant tribute to Jamaica, inspired by its lush resources and welcoming essence — each ingredient naturally sourced from the earth to enhance your natural beauty”. Previously, the hair entrepreneur released Chic Hair Ja, which features hair extensions, and a haircare line, Lady Shelly, under the brand Lady Shelly Beauty. The official launch for Afimi is expected this fall.

Gov’t to install surveillance cameras in prisons WITH inmates behind prison bars still masterminding murders and influencing criminal activity via cellular phones, Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says the Government will be adding surveillance cameras to the arsenal of tools for policing correctional facilities. “We have just concluded a contract to introduce a camera system, a more extensive system, in correctional facilities and build out the intelligence service within there,” Dr Chang told the Jamaica Observer on Monday during an emergency press briefing at Jamaica House. The briefing followed a meeting of the National Security Council DURUNG which WAS DISCUSSED, among other things, the slaughter of eight Jamaicans at Cherry Tree Lane, Clarendon, on Sunday and the injury of nine others, in what law enforcers say was an act of reprisal for another killing in the parish. According to the police, players from multiple gangs — including persons overseas and those behind bars — played a role in what has been described as “an act of terror” which left a seven-year-old boy amongst the fatalities and a one-year and eight-month-old baby among the injured. Speaking with the Observer on Monday, Dr Chang said the build out of the surveillance infrastructure in the prisons will increase the gains made under the Corrections (Amendment) Act 2021 which was passed to enable tighter control of prohibited articles, such as electronic devices, being transported in and out of correctional facilities. According to data obtained from the Court Administration Division (CAD), between January 2021 and March 2024, 10 people have been charged and prosecuted, with six pleading guilty. “The work is proceeding; we have a new director of corrections who has extensive experience in the security area and we are working with the entire correctional service to strengthen our intelligence product from the area as well as apply the law as required,” Chang said. According to information contained on the website of the national security ministry, bidding documents were in July of 2023 issued for entities for the “supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of [a] CCTV surveillance system at the Horizon Adult Remand correctional facility” under the ministry’s Security Strengthening Project (SSP). Bidding documents were also issued in March of this year for the “installation of fibre optic cables for the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Department of Correctional Services high-priority sites and Ministry of National Security agencies” under the Security Strengthening Project. According to the ministry’s website, the Security Strengthening Project is currently involved in deploying fibre optic cables and accessories across: Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine and Clarendon. It said, “the primary goal of the project is to establish a robust fibre optic infrastructure, facilitating essential connectivity for applications focused on improving the conviction rate for murders in Jamaica”. “To achieve this objective the project has defined specific goals, including reducing the overall murder rate, enhancing the success rate of police investigations into murders, and providing training for police officers in utilising technology for crime prevention,” it said further. The increasing use of telecommunication devices by inmates to maintain contact with criminal networks outside the confines of correctional institutions has seen incarcerated criminals — some of whom are reputed gang leaders — influencing criminal gangs and ordering killings from behind bars. In the most recent demonstration of this before the courts, alleged leader of the Westmoreland-based King Valley Gang Derval Williams, otherwise called Lukie, and his sidekick Christon Grant in July were declared “guilty of conspiring” — via cellular phones — to murder a Crown witness while behind bars at Horizon Adult Remand Centre in 2020, the same year they were let off on anti-gang charges in the King Valley Gang Trial. Supreme Court judge, Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell, in her summation and verdict, said the court accepted the evidence that there was communication between Williams and Grant, on their respective phones, by way of text messages and WhatsApp voice notes. The sentencing of the men has been set for the next court term, which begins in September. Recordings of conversations between alleged members of the St Catherine-based Klansman gang and convicted leader of the One Don faction, Andre “Blackman” Bryan, while he was behind bars, played a critical role in that trial — which began in 2021 and concluded in 2023 — when 15 of 33 accused were found guilty of crimes ranging from murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition to membership in a criminal organisation.

Relatives mourn loved ones slain by merciless gunmen in Cherry Tree Lane THE smell of blood and loud wails from grieving relatives of the victims of Sunday night’s mass killing in Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon permeated the atmosphere on Monday morning, telling the tale of the terror which unfolded while people played a game of bingo and listened to music at a birthday celebration just outside a bar. A total of eight people, including a seven-year-old boy, were shot dead while nine others were injured by gunmen’s bullets in what is believed to have been a reprisal for a shooting incident a few years ago. The deceased have been identified as seven-year-old Aiden Bartley; 27-year-old Kavel Daley; 50-year-old Lawrence Francis; 20-year-old Diamond Bennett; 68-year-old Errol Stewart; 32-year-old Jermaine Boothe; Courtney Messam; and a woman known only as Margaret. One of the victims was shot dead in a separate part of the community, some distance away from the others, as the gunmen made their escape. What added to the horrific tale was the sight of numerous pairs of slippers, scattered all over the scene, which were in some cases covered in curdled blood, swarmed by huge, noisy flies. The scattered slippers indicated that the people who were playing bingo or standing in close proximity to the bingo table scampered for cover, leaving behind their footwear as bullets were fired in their direction. On the table, which was in very close proximity to the bar, bingo cards were still laid out and marked with dollar coins, indicating that the game was in full swing when the gunmen, armed with at least one M16 rifle and handguns, popped up at the scene. The relatives of 20-year-old victim Diamond Bennett initially showed signs of strength when the Jamaica Observer and journalists from other media entites arrived at their house. However, as they recounted their last moments and conversations with the young woman, tears flowed down their faces. Marjorie Johnson, the mother of Bennett, said she did not know the right words which could describe how wonderful her daughter was. She was at work when she got the call that Bennett had been killed. “I couldn’t even hear the person on the phone because she was crying out loud. I thought she said something about my son, but I kept getting calls that it was Diamond. My boss released me and I went straight to the hospital. When I went there, Diamond was in emergency so I couldn’t see her. The doctor came out and asked if I was her mom and I said yes. She asked me if I knew that she died, and I said no. She said they tried their best but she couldn’t make it,” Johnson said as tears began to well up in her eyes. “Diamond was a loving, caring, and jovial person. Words can’t express. My last moment with Diamond was Saturday night. I was supposed to attend a party, and I asked her if she had a drive and she said no. I said, ‘Since you don’t have any drive, I am going to go to my bed.’ I did not know if she went to the party because she lives with her boyfriend. That was the last time,” Johnson said before sharing that her daughter had her sights set on becoming a teacher. “Diamond always spoke about teaching. She met in an accident right out there on the road less than a month ago where she suffered broken bones and a fractured spine. She did an interview with Ebony Park [Academy] to come in to start doing some schooling and she couldn’t go because she was in the hospital. Sunday night I said to my sister that God had given Diamond a second chance and she didn’t make use of it. God slowed her down just for her to stay one place. She could be alive at this moment,” the distraught mother said, pointing out the irony of her daughter having a conversation with her aunt roughly one week ago about how expensive coffins and funerals were and that she didn’t want to die anytime soon. As the Observer approached the house where Lawrence Fisher lived with his wife Debbie-Ann Hamilton-Francis, she was heard moaning from a distance. As the news team got closer her legs were seen shaking profusely as she slapped her knees repeatedly. She had to be supported by her daughter and other relatives, especially because she didn’t only lose a husband to the hands of the murderers but she also lost a daughter, Kavel Daley, and her cousin Courtney Messam in the attack as well. As she stomped her feet continuously she repeatedly chanted, “Woi, woi, woi! Lord. Lord Jesus, Jesus.” “Why did they do this to me?” she asked. “Mi pickney dead. A inna mi hand Gary dead. Dem kill mi husband and mi pickney and mi cousin. Dem shoot out mi cousin eye, dem shoot out mi husband heart, and dem shoot mi daughter in her head. God, why me, God? I can’t bear it. Mi empty inside God, mi empty! “Gary feed me for the last time and never know seh him a guh dead. It hot, it hot. Jesus! Mi neva want none a dem go weh lef mi. Lord, I can’t bear it. Mi belly a bun mi,” she said as her screams and wails pierced the morning. Not much information could be ascertained on the other victims at the time the Observer visited the scene. However, relatives suggested it would make sense to do follow-up visits when emotions are not as high and the space not as tense. On Monday a 96-hour curfew was imposed in the immediate space to include Cherry Tree Lane, the general community of Four Paths, and other areas.  

Help sought from partners overseas to nab people funding crimes in Jamaica TRIGGERED by the slaughter of eight Jamaicans at Cherry Tree Lane, Clarendon, on Sunday and the injury of nine others in what law enforcers say was an act of reprisal, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in declaring a “total assault on gangs” across the island, pledged that the “Government will use this opportunity to deal with the gangs once and for all”. The attack carried out by men armed with high-powered rifles aboard a white motor car at 8:45 pm disrupted birthday celebrations being held by a 31-year-old bar owner for her boyfriend, a 23-year-old mechanic from the area. After the shooting ended it was discovered that several individuals had been shot. Amongst the casualties lay a seven-year-old boy, while a baby of one year and eight months was injured. Speaking at an emergency press briefing at Jamaica House on Monday morning, after a meeting of the National Security Council, the prime minister said it had been confirmed that players from multiple gangs, including people overseas and those behind bars, played a role in what he described as “an act of terror”. Declaring that Jamaica has “played with gangs for far too long” the prime minister said, “We will not treat this as another criminal act; we will treat this as an act of terror. Therefore, we have given directions to the security forces to launch an all-out assault on the gangs that are involved.” “Operationally, they must go after every single gang…today every gang leader should ‘tek weh dem self’. “The security forces have now been given a directive, after our National Security Council meeting: ‘Go after every single gang — and erode them,’ “ the prime minister said grimly. Added Holness: “There is no way that eight persons can be killed in one incident in Jamaica and the State stands as if nothing happened. Every gang member will feel the full force of the State today. This must never happen in Jamaica again. Everyone involved in this incident will be brought to justice — in whatever form the justice is visited upon them.” The prime minister, in branding the incident “coordinated, organised armed violence”, said the perpetrators will be treated as criminal terrorists. In noting that “operations are underway at all levels”, he said Jamaica has sought the support of international partners to nab those overseas who are facilitating, directing, and funding criminal operations here.

Regency Petroleum defends decision to shutter service stations on Sundays ANDREW Williams, chief executive officer of Regency Petroleum Limited (RPL), has sought to allay fears that the decision to close its service stations on Sundays could negatively impact the company’s financial performance. In an open letter to shareholders of the company, which was recently listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market, Williams argued that RPL was founded on Christian principles and this decision reflects the company’s commitment to its core tenets. “A few weeks ago, RPL took the decision to make effective a permanent, all-day Sunday closure at our service stations islandwide. This decision aligns with our faith-based values, while underscoring our respect for this sacred day of rest. “By taking this step, we aim to foster an environment where our employees have the opportunity on that day to rest, spend quality time with their families and loved ones, or engage in worship if they choose,” said Williams who leads the locally owned service station which has its roots in Westmoreland. He noted that this new weekly closure may raise concerns about how it might affect the company’s financial performance but, “our confidence in this decision is unwavering”. According to Williams, since the inception of RPL its leadership has been guided by divine providence. WILLIAMS…this decision aligns with our faith-based values, while underscoring our respect for this sacred day of rest (Photo: Naphtali Junior) “This has always been instrumental in our growth and success, and we firmly believe that honouring this appointed day of rest will continue to bring us favour and prosperity. “Our recent financial results for the first quarter of this year stand as a testament to our thriving business model and God’s guidance,” added Williams as he pointed to highlights of the company’s performance in the first quarter of this year. Williams pointed out that RPL achieved a record increase of $404.68 million in total revenue in the first quarter of this year, a 121 per cent growth over the comparative quarter in 2023. “This growth was driven by the addition of new service stations and a significant uptick in liquid petroleum gas [LPG] sales volumes. Our gross profit soared by 111 per cent, amounting to an increase of $68.50 million over the same period in 2023. We experienced a robust increase in our net profit, rising by 71 per cent from $19.74 million to $33.76 million compared to the 2023 period,” said Williams He added that the company’s asset base expanded by 60 per cent, reaching a record increase of $721.7 million over the comparative quarter in 2023, while there was a substantial rise in its current assets by 56 per cent, from $119.27 million to $185.47 million for the same comparative period, and its non-current assets increased by 61 per cent, growing from $332.91 million to $536 million. “These results demonstrate the success of our innovative strategies and robust action plan, as well as the evidence of God’s provision. We are also confident that the dedication of our talented team, who we consider family, will continue to drive our success, even in a highly competitive market with international players,” said Williams. “Together, we will continue to grow and thrive as a wholly Jamaican-owned company committed to excellence and faith. And, to this end, I thank you for your continued support and investment in Regency Petroleum Limited,” added Williams. RPL is a petroleum marketing company which distributes petroleum products across the island. The company currently distributes propane gas to bulk customers including hotels, restaurants and bakeries; LPG for household use; automotive diesel, ultra-low sulphur diesel, 90 octane fuel, and 87 octane fuel. The company currently operates service stations in Negril, Paradise and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, with a fourth station under construction on Spanish Town Road in the Corporate Area.

THE family of the 86-year-old Jamaican woman who waited nearly eight months for answers after her renewed passport supposedly went missing en route to the Jamaican Consulate in New York, says the “torture has finally ended for the octogenarian” who on August 2 collected the document following an appeal to the media in mid-July. The distress of the family members, who described their plight in a letter to the editor of the Jamaica Observer, galvanised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, and the New York Consulate into action in a matter of hours, after publication on July 15. According to the family members, the senior citizen had suffered health challenges after she “endured the harsh and unforgiving brutal winter blast, and some very burdensome travel expenses as she was forced to show up at the consulate on numerous occasions to enquire about her passport”. They said the elderly woman, who was in good health prior to the start of her ordeal in January, “descended into depression, [was becoming withdrawn, and was feeling more and more dejected”. The relatives said Jamaica’s Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) had indicated that the new passport, which was applied for between January 9 and 10 this year, was delivered to the consulate in March. Despite that assurance, however, the relatives said neither additional visits by the elderly woman to the consulate, nor calls had yielded any assistance. That however changed after July 15 “On the same day that the article was carried in the Jamaica Observer, multiple calls were made by different representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the New York Consulate, making promises to have the missing passport cancelled and replaced within the week. Dismay was also expressed about the negative publicity and its effect on the image of the consulate and the ministry. “The family was also asked to retract the story on the merit of their verbal commitment to have the matter addressed expeditiously,” a relative told the Observer following the receipt of the document. The family member said though still waiting to hear word about promises made by the officials relating to compensation for the numerous visits by the elderly woman to the consulate and other costs, nothing can dampen their elation. “Another commitment that was made by an official from the ministry was that the new passport would be personally delivered to the affected client by a representative from the consulate, after first calling to make the arrangements. Sadly, though, when she was called by the consulate on Thursday, August 1, 2024 to be informed that her passport was ready, the question then became: ‘Will you be picking it up or should we post it to you?’ So, once again, this woman had to undertake additional travel cost to collect her passport. This she did successfully on Friday, August 2, 2024,” the Observer was told. “We are still to hear if, how, and when she will be compensated given what she expended over the last seven months in trying to get this very difficult ordeal resolved. For sure, the family is not holding its breath for this to happen. We are just exceedingly happy that the torture has finally ended for this octogenarian, and most grateful to the Jamaica Observer for assisting in this process,” the relative said.

The Fiesta rhythm is without doubt the beat for the summer. The multi-song project, which was released a few months ago, is a joint production between DJ Mac and Curt “Crash Dummy” White. Among the hit songs featured on the Fiesta beat are 100 Watt by Kraff, Old Skool, New Skool by Ding Dong, and the chart-topping Haad (Fiesta) by Armani. Other songs featured include Work Out by Elephant Man, Nuh Regular by Malie Donn, and Spin (Neva Problem) by Skeng. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer earlier this week White, who is of Jamaican parentage, attributed the success of Fiesta and other projects that he has been involved in to timing. “I attribute the success to timing and circumstances. Working with like-minded individuals such as DJ Mac has been crucial to the success. He is in tune with the dancehall scene and a trusted source for great music, which complements my production work. It’s often misunderstood the work he does, but DJ Mac plays a large part every step of the way, making changes to arrangements, sounds, etc, which makes all the difference in the success of the projects,” said White. He continued: “Music production is like running a business. It’s about understanding supply and demand, trends, and your target audience. For instance, knowing the popularity of 90s and 2000s dancehall, DJ Mac and I aimed to revive that nostalgic feeling with our project Fiesta 2k24, which resonated well with listeners, but that was a business decision that we made and attempted to explore. In anything you do, you need to first vision it and execute, leaving it up to luck just doesn’t work out very well — for me, at least.” White was born in Miami, Florida, but moved to Jamaica at an early age, where he attended Hillel Preparatory and then Meadowbrook High. He returned to the United States for college and now he resides in Canada. He got into music production during his teenage years. “When I was 13 or 14 I visited my cousins in Miami for the summer and he had Pro Tools, a Triton keyboard, and an Apple Mac tower. I had no formal music training or understood music theory, but I started experimenting with sampled loops to pass time and fell in love with the process of creating something from nothing. I am self-taught as far as music production is concerned. While I’ve always wanted to pursue formal education in music production, I believe music is largely about feeling. My best friend at the time, Ramone Derizzio — may his soul rest in peace — was classically trained, and we often worked together as a duo. After his passing I made the commitment to understand music theory as I embarked on the journey alone, but did not complete schooling,” White shared. White disclosed how he initially began to collaborate with DJ Mac. “DJ Mac and I connected through Instagram in mid-to-late 2023. Being in the same industry we naturally kept an eye out for projects that are making waves in dancehall. We saw potential benefits in collaborating as he was creating waves with his brand and I had recently released the Frsh Drop rhythm, which featured acts such as Aidonia, Govana, Kraff, and Ding Dong. Music is about innovation, and Mac and I are good at identifying sounds that can impact the current generation, working together has really proven there is a chemistry,” White said. He told the Observer that down the years music has been like therapy. “I’ve been involved in music production for nearly 20 years. Music has become therapeutic for me, oftentimes I forget about all my real-world problems while I’m creating, but after 20 years of doing it I try to be intentional with my time and get the most out of each project. This often involves thinking and listening to different sounds and more important identifying trends,” said White. He recalled his experience with his début project 13 years ago. “My first official release was a rhythm called Stadium Buk. There wasn’t a ton of success on the overall project, but the highlight was it helped to kick-start Masicka’s career with his song Guh Haad And Done, which was used for Team Jamaica during the Olympics when Usain Bolt was dominating track and field,” White explained. He has worked with several acts, among them Jesse Royal, Daniel Bam Marley, Jo Mersa Marley, Masicka, Rvssian, and Govana. “These were all early childhood friends that we would often collaborate with attempting to find our way into the music industry,” said White. Some of his most recent collabs include tracks with Jquan, Valiant, Nigy Boy, Chronic Law, Tommy Lee Sparta, Intence, among others. And, as for new music, White has several in-production. “We have several projects in the pipeline. Aidonia’s Prettiest is trending on social media as part of the Occupied Mind album, to which I contributed 12 tracks. I’ve also contributed three tracks to Govana’s Legacy album, including one of the lead singles Four Story. The Chakka rhythm (which features Jquan’s hit song of the same name) has amassed over 150,000,000 views via TikTok. We also recently released Jquan Choppa’s Salvation and a few other undisclosed projects coming up for 2024,” said White.

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The BBC said Friday it had asked disgraced former presenter Huw Edwards to return his salary from the time he was arrested in November last year on charges of making indecent images of children. Edwards, one of the most recognisable faces on UK television, pleaded guilty last month to three charges and now faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a minimum of 12 months. The BBC Board said in a statement on Friday that the 62-year-old former news anchor had “undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute”. The broadcaster first learned of his arrest last November. He was suspended at the time, but only left the broadcaster five months later and received full pay in the meantime. This amounted to around £200,000 (approximately JM$ 40 million)) — a particular source of anger as the BBC is funded by a licence fee paid by any UK household watching live channels on a television. The board statement said it had “authorised the Executive to seek the return of salary paid to Mr Edwards from the time he was arrested in November last year. “Mr Edwards pleaded guilty to an appalling crime. Had he been up front when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money,” it added.

McClaren promises keen attention to local talent, Ricketts calls for positivity and full support New Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren says one of his mandates as he attempts to qualify the team for the FIFA World Cup in just under two years is the development of local talent. McClaren, who was announced as the new head coach last week, was officially introduced to the public by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on Thursday. He replaces Heimir Hallgrímsson, who resigned from the role in June. While Hallgrímsson, who was appointed by the Republic of Ireland days after his resignation, had various issues with the JFF, there were also criticisms of his management of the team and national programme. One of these was his perceived reluctance to select local players for competitive matches and tournaments. Hallgrímsson was criticised in 2023 for not selecting any Jamaica Premier League players to be a part of his Concacaf Gold Cup squad. Stakeholders from local clubs voiced concerns about what they said was a stagnation of the local programme with heritage players from across the diaspora being recruited to fill first-team spots. Local fans also questioned the commitment and passion of overseas-based players, saying they lack the hunger and drive of local players desperate for a chance to showcase themselves and earn contracts with foreign clubs. But McClaren says his previous experience analysing local football has brought talent to his attention. “I always knew that this country has unbelievable potential and talent because I was technical expert for FIFA for two years working on the ecosystem which really analysed every country in the world,” he said. “We analysed 210 countries. I analysed about 20, of which Jamaica was one of them. After doing the analysis and the report three years ago, Jamaica has always been in the back of my mind because it was the one country in which the potential and the talent is here. “There is such a lot to do. What I’ve seen over the last two years is unbelievable development. That’s a credit to the president, Mr Dennis Chung (JFF general secretary), Mr Speid, and all the staff.” Technical Committee Chairman Rudolph Speid hinted at addressing a lack of quality of the players at the various age-group levels, saying, ‘That’s why we performed so dismally in the last couple of years.’ He suggests this was one of the reasons McClaren was hired, describing the decision as a “no-brainer”. “We now have a good coach in our ranks but now our committee will be focusing on local development,” Speid said. “We have some things in place and you’ll hear about it soon.” JFF President Michael Ricketts has asked for full support for McClaren, saying the relationship breakdown with previous coaches cannot recur. Ricketts stressed the need to ensure that McClaren feels comfortable in his role, as he is tasked to qualify the team for the FIFA World Cup in under two years. One of Hallgrímsson’s grouses was a lack of resources. These issues prompted his resignation and taking on a new role with the Republic of Ireland’s senior men’s national team. McClaren left his role as assistant manager to Erik ten Hag at English Premier League’s Manchester United, but he will continue working as a first-team coach with that club. Richard Hartist will join McClaren as his assistant, and the Reggae Boyz’s goalkeeping coach. The JFF says the vacancy was not advertised but candidates were headhunted based on recommendations. However, it says over 50 people applied for the position, with some sending resumes even after McClaren was chosen. Applications were also received the same night Hallgrímsson resigned. Ricketts describes this upcoming period as no time to idle. “We are intent on getting to the World Cup and we will not be derailed,” he said. “We must be very, very serious about what we have to do. We must ensure that we exhibit the highest level of professionalism. We can’t afford to do things that will make the coach unhappy, and make him feel discouraged. “As I said to him this morning, ‘Coach, you are coming from a first world country; we are not able to give you everything you’d like, but we will give you the best of what we have to offer. We’re going to work together – the JFF, the coaching staff, the JFF administrative staff, the directors. We all want to operate as a unit, to form an alliance that will take us to the World Cup. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity.” How Hallgrímsson departed had disappointed the JFF, as it felt it was left with little time to find a replacement to prepare for upcoming games. However, Ricketts now says Hallgrímsson’s departure presented a positive. “We were intent on putting things in place and we went for Coach Hallgrímsson — it was with that in mind. Now that we have to shift directions, we honestly think that it could be a blessing to have Coach McClaren with us.” Ricketts is aware that public opinion of the JFF is largely negative, not only in light of recent results but also because of broken relationships between itself and players, and also its relationship with previous coaches. With this in mind, he has called for positivity from all stakeholders as they look to start fresh with a new head coach. “Let’s just stay focused, stay strong,” Ricketts said. “We have to be tough mentally, and I want you to give us some support. Rather than tearing us down, just stay strong. Be patient and we will be at the World Cup in 2026.” McClaren’s first assignment will be in the Concacaf Nations League when Jamaica hosts Cuba at the National Stadium on Friday, September 6.

Anthony “Baba” Nunes beamed with pride as he celebrated Crown Chaser’s thrilling victory in the 104th running of the Jamaica Derby on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Crown Chaser’s late burst of energy on the inside rails in deep stretch was enough to edge out Run Julie Run (Reyan Lewis) by a mere half-length. Captain Sparrow (Edgard Zayas), Crown Chaser’s stablemate, was hot on their heels, just a neck behind, while the 4-5 favourite Intrestntimesahead (Tevin Foster) completed the frame in the Futurity contest for native-bred three-year-olds over 12 furlongs (2,400m). Crown Chaser, owned by Chevan Maharaj and ridden by Shane Ellis, crossed the line in a winning time of 2:38.0 (23.3 x 48.4 x 1:17.1 x 1:42.2), propelling himself as the top native-bred three-year-old at present. But for Nunes, this Derby win was a much-needed boost to his training career, which had been plagued by health issues over the past year and a half. The gruelling journey had taken a toll on Nunes, but he never lost sight of his passion for racing. And now, as he basked in the glory of Crown Chaser’s success, he felt a sense of redemption and renewed purpose. “I’ve been through a lot, health-wise, in the past year and a half,” Nunes reflected. “But this victory makes you appreciate these wins even more. I’m blessed to be here, and this [Derby win] was just the cherry on top.” Nunes secured his sixth Jamaica Derby win, adding to his previous victories with Terremoto (1998), Technomoto (2011), Relampago (2014), Orpheus (2016), and Supreme Soul (2019), all ridden by Ellis. “When you win a Jamaica Derby, it is always satisfying. I wouldn’t say I had it in the bag, as winning any race, especially a Derby, is hard. You need the right horses and a great rider, and I thought we had both,” Nunes told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide. “We had two horses — Crown Chaser and Captain Sparrow — that are both distance horses, and I had the best local rider in Shane Ellis, who’s won four of my six Derby titles. I’m biased, of course, and we brought in Edgard Zayas, the leading rider at Gulfstream, on board, and so I had no excuses. “It was up to me, the groom, and the team to get both horses to the starting line healthy, happy, and ready. I’m grateful to be here and savouring this moment,” Nunes added.

SOME residents, as well as workers in Havendale and the adjoining community of Meadowbrook in St Andrew, expressed shock on Thursday that alleged drug traffickers had been operating in the area following a $12-billion cocaine bust Tuesday. Law enforcement officers did not give the exact location the illegal drug was seized, but checks by the Jamaica Observer reveal that the massive cocaine haul took place at premises located on Riverside Drive in Havendale. One Havendale resident who requested anonymity said he had no idea that people living at the premises were living that way. “I never know it was so much money mi a walk past a daytime. [Several] bags the police dem throw out a the house. Pure bundles. I believe that it was coming straight from Colombia. Those guys are our friends. They communicate with everybody. All now the youth in the place are vexed, because they can’t believe a so the man dem heavy. Now we know why they were rolling so high, with luxury vehicles,” the man said. “I even believe that we can’t trust the value reported by the police. It must have been an inside job that caused them to crack down. The people who live over there are ‘heartical’ people. They don’t disrespect anybody. They will more come and ask what we want to drink,” the resident said. He continued: “More time dem come and make sure the youth dem good with drinks, but now we realise how dem food big and what they have been giving us was just a little something.” A gardener in the community remarked that what police found was just a small bit compared to what may exist in that and many other upscale communities like Havendale. “A just that them find. The whole place is infested with it all over Jamaica, but it up yah suh wild, wild. It nuff. Whole heap more could be in the place. This area in particular is getting out of hand. Many people are selling their properties because they don’t want to get caught up. One man I know went back to foreign and said he is going to sell his house because he can’t deal with what is going on in the area,” the gardener said. Another man who works in the area told the Observer that he was shocked when he learned of the drug bust. “It is shocking. All I can say is ‘wow!’” Another worker said he was not from the area but was very shocked by the news. “It is frightening, of course, and it does make me feel unsafe. I just want to finish what I am doing and get out of here.” However, another man told the Observer that he was not surprised at all by the news. “I am not shocked. The whole place is filled with evil. A just a few people deal with good. Material things a run the place. Nobody cares about humanity anymore. They just care to gain more vanity. Nothing nuh strange to me because everybody wants money. Nobody is preserving values. Values weak out and dem nuh business.” An elderly resident who was very familiar with the situation, commented, “When man want money, they do anything”. “I am not surprised. Somebody gave them away but I don’t business wid dem people deh. Many places where you see high-rise buildings and so on, it is done by men who do drugs and use up the money. I know that people are out there doing their thing”. he said. The drug raid was carried out by the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch and the Narcotics Division. According to the police, five people have been taken into custody and two motor vehicles were seized. The names of the suspects are being withheld pending further investigation. The police said it was an intelligence-driven operation which lasted for more than three hours. The Observer understands that the drugs weighed approximately 2,600 kilograms or 5,569 pounds with a street value of US$75.79 million or approximately $12 billion. “A whole heap a cocaine that,” a police source said. Up to press time on Thursday it was not clear whether criminal charges had been laid against any of the five men arrested.

Rasheed finally delivers, makes podium in Olympic 110m Hurdles showdown PARIS, France — After enduring a season riddled with injuries and setbacks, newly crowned Olympic Games bronze medallist Rasheed Broadbell believes that his strong faith in God was the guiding force behind his success in the event after his resilient run inside the Stade de France on Thursday. The road to the Olympic podium was anything but smooth for Broadbell, who faced numerous challenges throughout the season. Stubborn injuries threatened to derail his dreams, and setbacks in training left him questioning whether he would even make it to the Games. But, through it all, he remained steadfast in his belief that God had a plan for him. “My mentality is that there was a lot of praying. I trust God, I trust my coach, I trust my therapist, and I trust everyone around me that guided me here,” Broadbell said. “I saw my dad just before I came here, and he brought me food and drink. I just came out here and fought. I fought 10 barriers, and I fought to the line. I wanted to be on the top podium, but just being on the podium is a great feeling.” Broadbell clocked a seasons-best time of 13.09 seconds to secure the first Olympic medal of his career. The event was won by American Grant Holloway in 12.99 seconds. Holloway’s teammate Daniel Roberts, who was credited with the same time as Broadbell, picked up the silver medal. It was also a day of redemption for the 23-year-old Broadbell, who, given his talent, has promised much in the past without delivering on the biggest of stages. In 2022, he made it to the semi-finals of the competition at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and a year later, he fell in the heats of the event, also at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, after entering the championship as the world leader in the event. Still, he did not allow those setbacks to add strain to his confidence with the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion stressing that his main aim coming into the Olympics was to win the gold medal. Broadbell joins the ranks of former champions Omar McLeod and Hansle Parchment as the only Jamaicans to have won medals in the event at the Olympic Games. Jamaican athletes have now secured one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals at the Games and will be eyeing more success on today’s ninth day of track and field action. “It took three years for this to happen, from 2021 to 2024, so I waited three years to come out here and give my best shot, and I feel like I did just that. It has been a rough season for me, and, given the fact that tonight I am not wearing any tape, I am feeling good. No injuries, nothing,” Broadbell said. “I just got [to keep] the ball rolling until the end of the season. Let’s see how far I get until September. I am just looking forward to the Diamond Leagues.” Meanwhile, Orlando Bennett was seventh in the event with a time of 13.34s, while Parchment, who won the event at the last Games, was eighth in 13.39s. Also missing out on a medal were two-time World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton, who fought valiantly but could only manage a fifth-place finish this time around, clocking 52.68 seconds — her second-fastest time this season. Shiann Salmon, 52.39, was sixth, with the American phenomenon, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, winning the event in a world record time of 50.37. Another American, Anna Cockrell, 51.87 (PB), surprised to take the silver medal, while the bronze went to Dutchwoman Femke Bol, 52.15, who was expected to challenge McLaughlin-Levrone for the gold medal and world record. Alana Reid, Shashalee Forbes, Kemba Nelson, and Tia Clayton are expected to return for the final of the women’s 4x100m relay at 12:30pm, while Jaydon Hibbert will contest the men’s triple jump final at 1:13 pm. At 2:45 pm, Roshawn Clarke will close out the team’s medal push for the day in the final of the men’s 400m hurdles.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A member of the Beat Officer Patrol Division (BOPD), which falls under the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), has been hospitalised after being struck by a motorist during a traffic stop on Thursday. According to information obtained by Observer Online, the officer, whose identity has not been released, was run over by a motorist who had been pulled over for a traffic violation. During the stop, the officer was allegedly grabbed by the motorist, who objected to being recorded by the police’s bodycam. The motorist then reportedly drove off, hitting the officer and pinning him under the vehicle, which ran over his head. The officer was rushed to the hospital. His condition remains unknown. Meanwhile, members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are requesting prayers for the injured officer, who is said to be receiving urgent medical care.

Stona hurls Jamaica into history books with Olympic record discus throw Roje Stona of Jamaica rings the bell after winning the men’s discus gold medal during the Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis in Paris on Wednesday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior) Sports BY ROBERT BAILEY Staff reporter robertb@jamaicaobserver.com  August 8, 2024 RING MASTER! Stona hurls Jamaica into history books with Olympic record discus throw PARIS, France — In a historic moment at the Olympic Games on Wednesday, Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona won the gold medal, setting a new Olympic record and securing the first gold medal for his country in any field event at the Olympic Games. Stona’s spectacular performance not only brought glory to Jamaica but also etched his name in the annals of Olympic history. Stona, 25, faced stiff competition and delivered a remarkable throw of 70.00 metres on his fourth attempt, surpassing the previous Olympic record of 69.97 set by Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania only moments earlier in the competition. Prior to those efforts, the Olympic record was held by Alekna’s father Virgilijus who threw 69.89 at the 2004 Athens Games. Stona’s throw stunned the crowd at Stade de France, as well as his competitors, and cemented his place at the top of the podium. Mykolas, the world record holder and gold medal favourite, was second, while Matthew Denny from Australia, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, was third with 69.31. “The situation that I was in, going into the final, I was in seventh place, I mean it doesn’t get any more difficult than that, but I knew I had nothing to lose and so I just went for it,” Stona explained. “I feel like the fans enjoyed it and everyone loved it, and so field events should get more attention, to be honest. I am enjoying the moment right now, the country should be proud, and we have to give thanks to those who were there before. We have the likes of Fedrick Dacres, Travis Smikle, who was there in the competition, and you have many more discus throwers who have passed through the island. To be here at this time, we should all celebrate and put more support into the field events, the discus, the shot put, and everything,” he noted. After achieving the Olympic record, Stona ran over to the stands to hug his American coach Ryan Crouser, the current shot put Olympic and world champion. Crouser, who on Saturday won an unprecedented third consecutive shot put gold at the Olympic Games, is regarded as the greatest shot put thrower of all time. Under Crouser’s guidance, Stona has reached the pinnacle of Olympic accomplishment after finishing 19th at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Stona, who stands at six feet, six inches, and weighs 240 pounds, has also played American football in college. He was invited to attend NFL rookie mini camps hosted by both the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints earlier this year. He has paid tribute to Crouser for sticking with him during difficult times. “It is just the problems that I have been going through all season. It’s been a long year for me, actually. I did shot put, then I went to football (NFL), and then I took back up discus, and now I am here,” he said. “You know, Ryan Crouser is a great guy. He is the greatest shot-putter of all time, and to work with him has been a really good feeling. I am just looking forward to what the future has,” Stona said. Jamaica’s Roje Stona competes in the men’s discus throw during the Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Wednesday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior) Roje Stona of Jamaica reacts to winning the men’s discus throw during the Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Wednesday. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

ST MARY, Jamaica — What was to be a family day at the river to cool down from the hot temperatures on Wednesday, August 7 turned out to be a day of tragedy when a teenager lost her life. Dead is 16-year-old Guy’s Hill High School student Leon Reid. Reid is said to have accompanied her family on a river trip to Chovey’s river in the vicinity of Highgate. Police reports are that Reid was in the water when she got into difficulties. Family members reportedly went to her rescue but she was unresponsive. She was taken to the Annotto Bay hospital where she was pronounced dead. Observer Online was told by a family member that the mother of the teen was hospitalised after hearing the news of the death of her daughter. The Annotto Bay police are investigating. — Ingrid Henry

“I’ve been waiting for this for all these years,” was the sentiment expressed by veteran dancehall artiste Moses “Beenie Man” Davis as he received recognition for his contribution to the genre alongside Rodney “Bounty Killer” Price at this year’s Independence Grand Gala at the National Stadium on Tuesday. The men received their honorary citation from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who thanked both acts for helping to maintain dancehall’s legacy over the last few decades. The gentlemen were met with adoring applause and screams from the approximately 30,000 attendees, clad in their national colours, who filled the venue. “Thanks to the heart of Jamaican people — each and every one. Thank unnuh for supporting us for all these years,” Beenie Man added in his acceptance speech as he waved the black, green and gold canister with the citation. Bounty Killer sang a similar tune. He added that he is pleased at the recognition in his birth country while he is still alive. “Thank you, Mr Prime Minister. I just want to say I’m humbled and grateful to receive this. This is a milestone. This is something that a lot of us never get to receive while we can celebrate. So, my brother Moses, we came from rivals to iconic idols… It’s been over a decade I cannot travel to certain countries. This is certainly a Jamaican milestone,” Bounty Killer said. The presentation was followed by a medley of hits by both men that was accentuated by dimmed lights that gave the roaring crowd a chance to decorate the stadium with camera lights as they captured the moment. Beenie rendered hits such as Sim Simma, Let Him Go, and Wickedest Slam. Bounty Killer, on the other hand, performed, in part, Look Into My Eyes, Stucky and Sufferer. Earlier in the programme, renowned reggae group Third World, as well as co-founder of VP Records Patricia “Pat” Chin were also recognised for their contribution to Jamaican music. Meanwhile, emphasis was also placed on cultural icon Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley through several of the gala’s presentation. Other performances included gospel artistes Lubert Levy, Rhoda Isabella, and Kevin Downswell. Members of the Chinese community, who are also celebrating 170 years since their arrival in Jamaica, sponsored fireworks for the show. To top things off, there was a drone show which featured some 1,000 on display. The drones formed several cultural symbols, as well as icons including the king of Reggae, Bob Marley. Bounty Killer and Beenie Man entertain the crowd after being awarded by the Government. (Photo: Karl Mclarty) Members of Third World (all dressed in white) receive an award from Prime Minister Andrew Holness (third right) and Tom Tavares-Finson, Senate president. Prime Minister Andrew Holness honours co-founder of VP Records Patricia “Pat” Chin. Bounty Killer shares the stage with gospel artiste Kevin Downswell. Members of the Combined Cadet Corps execute a drill at the Grand Gala on Tuesday. Peformers onstage at the 2024 Grand Gala. Decked out in national colours, Jamaicans filled the National Stadium for Grand Gala.

Roje delivers record-breaking throw PARIS, France — Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona is now an Olympic champion and a history-maker and, as he celebrates the historic achievement, the towering 23-year-old has a decision to make. Sitting eighth in the final of the men’s discus event inside the Stade de France, Stona, in a show of mental fortitude, dug deep to produce the biggest throw ever in Olympics history, landing the implement 70.00m on the dot to displace Lithuania’s Mykolas Alenka, 69.97m — who had just thrown what was then an Olympic record himself — to become Jamaica’s first gold medal winner in any field event at the Olympic Games. This was also Jamaica’s first Olympic medal of any colour in the event. Stona’s achievement – Jamaica’s first gold at the Paris 2024 Games — continues the remarkable returns from the island’s field event athletes, who are now responsible for four of the country’s five medals to date, with the tally now standing at one gold, three silver, and one bronze. Jamaica now sits third in the athletics medal table behind the United States (6-7-6) and Canada (2-0-1). Australia’s Matthew Denny was third with a mark of 69.31m. “It is a great feeling. This is what I have been preparing for, this is what I dream of, and to come here and actually do it, this is one of the best feelings in my life, the best day,” Stona told the Jamaica Observer. “I was not really surprised, but to get it here, I knew it would take a lot,” he added. “Jamaica should be proud right now, they should celebrate. Field events are taking a step in the right direction now. We’re doing good, we’re getting medals,” said Stona, the former St Jago standout. Stona has improved on his previous lifetime best effort of 69.05m and is now second all-time on the Jamaican toplist behind national record holder and trailblazing thrower, Fedrick Dacres, whose mark is 70.78m. Interestingly, it could all have been so different for the 6ft 7in, 240-pound thrower, who has been struggling with several issues all year and has been courting a career in the National Football League (NFL) in recent times. After impressing during an NFL Pro Day at University of Arkansas, Stona was invited in May to Rookie Mini Camps by the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints and has been assessed as a priority free agent by NFL analyst Lance Zeirlein, who noted that he would likely be targeted by teams as a developmental player in the tight end position. It’s left to be seen if the youngster will still consider a future in American football after conquering the world in his first love — athletics. “It is just the problems that I have been going through all season. It’s been a long year for me, actually. I did shot put, then I went to football [NFL], and then I took back up discus, and now I am here,” he said before crediting three-time and reigning Olympic shot put champion, Ryan Crouser, who he shared an embrace with from the stands after his win, for resurrecting his career. Under Crouser’s guidance, Stona has reached the pinnacle of Olympic accomplishment after finishing 19th at last year’s World Championships in Budapest. “You know Ryan Crouser is a great guy. He is the greatest shot putter of all time, and to work with him has been a really good feeling. I am just looking forward to what the future has,” said Stona, who is now the only non-European Olympic champion in the history of the event. “He knew what I was capable of because we have been training all year, and he came and executed, and I came and executed, and it was just the perfect championship,” he added. “It’s everything I wanted, but for it to actually happen, it’s a very good feeling.” In another first for the country, three Jamaicans competed in the final of the discus event, with Ralford Mullings finishing ninth with 65.61m and Traves Smikle finishing 10th with 64.97m. Jamaica will be looking to add to its medal tally with six finalists on today’s eighth day of track and field competition. Defending champions Hansle Parchment will have Rasheed Broadbell and the in-form Orlando Bennett for company in the 110m hurdles final at 2:45pm, with two-time World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton and Shiann Salmon lining up in the women’s 400m hurdles final at 2:25pm. Long jumper Ackelia Smith will be the first finalist in action when she takes flight at 1:00pm. Defending champion Hansle Parchment will be joined by fellow Jamaicans Rasheed Broadell and Orlando Bennett in the final of the 110m Hurdles today at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Photo: Naphtali Junior.) Orlando Bennett competes in the semi-final of the men’s 110m Hurdles event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Bennett advanced to the final after clocking a personal best 13.09 seconds on his way to winning his semi-final race. (Photo: Naphtali Junior) Jamaica’s Roje Stona competes in the men’s discus throw final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on Wednesday (Photo: AFP)   Jamaican thrower Roje Stona shares a moment with supporters inside teh Stade de France after winning the gold medal in the Discus Throw event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Stona won the sompetition with an Olympic record throw of 70.00m. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

With singing and playful screams as the backdrop, the 2023-24 cohort of FHC Civil Servants of the Year handed over their community project on July 30. The three awardees — Christene Rowe, secretary in the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the Technical Support category; Ruth McGrowder, senior case officer at the Administrator General’s Department in the Mid-Managerial category; and Opal Bryan, corporate planner at the Administrator General’s Department in the Managerial category — worked on the joint undertaking at the Reddie’s Place of Safety on Mountain View Avenue. The trio proudly displayed their collaboration to enhance the quality of life of the 19 children and four staff. The work, which started before Labour Day (May 23, 2024) saw the remediation of termites, roofing and general repairs, plumbing fixture replacement, painting and general cleaning. The attendees included Stacie-Ann N Carty, Administrator-General and CEO; keynote speaker Techa Clarke-Griffiths, president of the Jamaica Civil Service Association; Michelle Tracey, assistant general manager of marketing, communications and member experience at First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union (FHC); and Sylvia Shirley-Sterling from the Civil Service Week Planning Committee. Also in attendance were members of the Kiwanis Club of North St Andrew and several other project sponsors. The project, focused on renovation, beautification and organisation of the facility, was sponsored by FHC and was well supported by other partners such as: BH Paints, Spectrum Systems Limited, Tools Hardware Limited and the Jamaica Civil Service Association. “Today, we are here to celebrate under the theme ‘Achieving Excellence Through Collaboration’,” Tracey said during her remarks. “This theme resonates deeply with us [FHC] as it highlights the power of working together towards a common goal… a testament to the incredible impact that collaboration can have on our society.” After the ceremony, the attendees toured the facility, with renovations now completed and valued at over $800,000. Upgraded areas include the main dining area, bathroom facilities, reorganisation and painting of the library area, painting and general landscaping of the exterior of the facility. Nominations now open The FHC Civil Servants of the Year 2024-25 nominations are now open with FHC Credit Union in association with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. The forms are available on the Credit Union’s and the Ministry’s websites. Nominations are open until August 30, 2024. “We take immense pride in supporting our Civil Servants over the years. You are like family to us, and we cherish the strong bond we have built,” Tracey explained. “Your unwavering dedication and service to our community inspire us to continue our efforts in fostering positive change. The success of this project is a clear illustration of what can be accomplished through collaboration and a shared vision for a better future.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Leighton Johnson has expressed disappointment and concern regarding the Ministry of Education’s plan to recruit overseas teachers for the 2024/25 academic year, which begins in September. In a statement on Wednesday, Johnson noted 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. The JTA president noted that Jamaica is home to at least 10 esteemed tertiary institutions dedicated to the noble profession of teacher training. He said these institutions have, for decades, produced educators of the highest calibre equipped to nurture and develop young minds. Noting this, Johnson said it is a sad day for the country when “we must once again resort to foreign teachers to fill roles that our own qualified and capable educators should occupy.” “The migration of teachers from Jamaica is not a new phenomenon, but its recent intensification is a clear indication of deeper systemic issues that need addressing. Our teachers are the backbone of our education system, and their departure in search of better opportunities abroad highlights the urgent need to improve the salaries, conditions and incentives for our educators here at home,” Johnson said. The announcement that the ministry is employing various teacher retention strategies to include overseas recruitment was made by Acting Chief Education Officer, Terry-Ann Thomas Gayle. Thomas Gayle was responding to a question posed during the ministry’s Region Six 2024 Back-to-School Conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Monday, July 15 during which she told the audience the ministry is currently engaging teachers from Nigeria, Ghana, the Philippines and India. Johnson argues that while he appreciates the ministry’s efforts to ensure students do not suffer due to the shortage of teachers, the solution is temporary and does not address the systemic and root causes of the problem. “It is imperative that we focus on creating an environment where our teachers feel valued, supported, and adequately compensated for their invaluable contributions to our society,” he said. He noted that as an association, the JTA continues to lobby for improved salaries and conditions of service. “The salary structure for teachers must be competitive and aligned to international standards. There is the urgent need for retention incentives to encourage teachers to remain in our classrooms. This again is in keeping with best practices and international trends,” Johnson said. He added that it is also imperative for the government to seriously contemplate non-monetary incentives, such as reduced mortgage rates for teachers, tax reliefs for the purchasing of motor vehicles, land gifting and student loan debt forgiveness for teachers and teacher’s children as viable incentives to keep teachers. Johnson further called for a national campaign to increase the enrolment of students in teacher training institutions, noting that it also presents an opportunity for the training of teachers for the overseas markets and job placements. The JTA said it stands ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to develop sustainable strategies that will retain teachers and make teaching in Jamaica an attractive and rewarding profession.

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Buoyed by a reduction in murders, Mayor of Montego Bay Councillor Richard Vernon is optimistic that St James will soon lose its unwelcome reputation of being the country’s bloodiest police division. “I believe eventually we will reach that level where we can safely say that Montego Bay and St James is one of the safest municipalities and safest cities, not just in the Caribbean but globally,” Vernon told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday as he expounded on comments he made a day earlier during the parish’s Independence Civic Ceremony. “In 2023 from January 1 to August 3rd, murders for St James were 124. For the same period this year, it is 82, a 34 per cent reduction. This is a testament to progress and safety of our municipality,” he had said then. Of the 1,393 murders in Jamaica last year St James accounted for 187, a full 70 more than the Westmoreland police division. Since April there has been a welcome decline in murders in St James which has been under several states of public emergency as the authorities tried to stem the bloodletting. Vernon is hoping this downward movement in the numbers will continue. “For now we are trending in the right direction; good things are happening,” he said. The mayor praised those playing an active role in the effort to reduce crime in the parish, particularly members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). “It is important that we note when these significant reductions occur and give credit where it’s due because the police in St James have been working,” said Vernon. “They have been deploying their resources strategically and in the end are yielding the results of the respective operations. We have to give credit. It’s often said we have to partner to get these results and that is what the police have been doing,” he continued. The mayor told the Observer that the police have been “110 per cent behind” their combined effort to restore public order. “Therefore, I’m not surprised that we are seeing a downward trend in serious crimes because we often maintain that it is the smaller things that usually escalate into the larger ones. We are trying to manage the smaller things through the public order measures and we are also seeing positive impact where the major crimes are concerned,” said Vernon. “We can’t get carried away by the raw figures, there are other soft qualitative things we have to consider and that speaks to the further work that must be done in psychosocial intervention, in social intervention, in terms of ensuring we get our youth attached to positive organisations rather than the negative organisations,” added Vernon as he called on the wider society to play its part in helping to curb crime so that everyone can be safe. “We have to work together, we have to continue to share information,” the mayor said. He also noted that any effort to make St James safer will have to include an analytical look at the root cause of crime. “We have to continue to understand the stimulant behind crime and provide the solutions at that level rather to react to a shooting, react to a spike,” said Vernon. “We must understand the nature of the criminal activity whether it be systematic or systemic and address it from that level. Once we have mastered that, then we will be able to successfully bring it to a level where we can say this is the safest place,” added Vernon.

It was smooth sailing for the Jamaican women in the 100m hurdles as they all made progress to the semi-finals of the event at the Paris Olympics in Wednesday morning’s session. National record holder Ackera Nugent and two-time world champion Danielle Williams both won their first round heats while 2019 World Championships finalist Janeek Brown was third in her heat in her first major event in four years. Nugent ran 12.65 seconds (-0.6m/s) to finish just ahead of World Indoor 60m champion Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas who was second in 12.71 seconds and American Grace Stark who was third in 12.72 seconds, with all three of them gaining automatic qualifying spots. Williams, who is in her first Olympic Games, won her heat in 12.59 seconds (0.0m/s), beating Ireland’s Sarah Lavin who was second in 12.73 seconds and Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji who was third in 12.81 seconds. Brown ran 12.84 seconds (-0.1m/s) behind world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria who won the event in 12.49 seconds and American Alaysa Johnson who was second in 12.61 seconds. Defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn was the fastest qualifier with 12.42 seconds (0.0m/s). -Paul A Reid

THE financial impact of the US travel advisory earlier this year on the hotel business in Jamaica has been laid bare in the recently released financial statements of Playa Hotels & Resorts N V (Playa). Playa, one of the few hotel businesses operating locally to publicly trade its shares, said in its financial statements on Monday that it suffered a 19 per cent dip in revenues from its Jamaica business during its second quarter. Revenues from the five hotels Playa operates in Jamaica were down by US$10.93 million ($1.69 billion), with the company blaming the US State Department’s travel advisory for the fallout. The company also expects a further US$3.5-million ($542.09-million) dip in earnings for the third quarter, due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl early last month. The hospitality firm which operates two Jewel resorts, two Hyatt resorts, and the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa on the north coast of Jamaica, disclosed in February that it saw a spike in cancellations following the US State Department’s updated level-three travel advisory on January 23 which advised US citizens to reconsider travel to Jamaica. Those cancellations have not only resulted in reduced earnings for its Jamaican operations in the second and third quarter, but also lower staffing levels at the Jamaican resorts as occupancy swung from 83.1 per cent in March to 72.1 per cent by the end of June. Playa’s Jamaican occupancy was 82.4 per cent in June 2023. “We’re hopeful to get progress. We’re hopeful that people see that whatever is included in the advisory really doesn’t have any impact on the north coast of Jamaica, which is where the tourism zone is — Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril, that’s where we’re located. I think the Government is, it is much more focused, and I probably kind of stated that on the last call, so I’m positive about that too. We have an open dialogue with them and we’re hoping that things will improve,” said Bruce D Wardinski, Playa’s founder, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) in an earnings call with analysts on Tuesday. Playa’s net Jamaican revenue moved down from US$57.42 million ($8.9 billion) to US$46.49 million ($7.20 billion) for the second quarter. The gravity of the situation was made more apparent through three key financial metrics: owned-resort EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), net package ADR (average daily rate), and net package RevPAR (revenue per available room). EBITDA reflects a company’s earnings by adding back certain non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortisation. The Jamaican EBITDA fell from US$21.92 million ($3.4 billion) to US$13.09 million ($2.03 billion) — a 40 per cent dip which was largely due to the travel advisory and a 0.60 per cent increase in labour costs from the minimum wage jump and related expenses. For context, Playa reported US$64.64 million in revenue and US$27.08 million in EBITDA for the March 2024 period, at the height of the winter tourist season. The net package ADR effectively reflects the average revenue from the sale of all-inclusive packages earned for an occupied room on a given day. This figure swung from US$454.59 to US$417.18 on a year-over-year basis. This figure was at US$524.92 in March 2024. The net package RevPAR reflects the net revenue earned per available room in a hotel. This figure fell from US$374.72 to US$300.95, a 20 per cent drop. The March 2024 figure was US$436.46 and US$359.71 for all of 2023. The situation hasn’t been made any better with the passage of Hurricane Beryl, which is expected to result in a US$2.5 to US$3.5-million impact on Jamaica’s EBITDA. Due to there being no property damage in Jamaica and Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, the company isn’t expected to put in any insurance claim for business interruption which left Jamaica with some light cosmetic damage to the landscape. The overall EBITDA impact for Playa’s entire portfolio from Beryl will be US$6 to US$8 million, which speaks to a six to nine per cent reduction in revenue. “So, unless something substantially changes, I don’t expect any improvement until we start lapping these effects in Q2 of next year. So, if you assumed everything remains the same from here on out and nothing changes through the entirety of 2025, at a minimum you will have a significant impact in Q1 of 2025,” the Playa CEO explained on how Hurrican Beryl resulted in cancellation to summer stays and a slowdown in booking pace for Q4. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S A B de C V (Pacific Airport Group) reported a 13.7 per cent decline from 513,700 passengers to 443,400 passengers passing through Sangster International Airport (SIA) in July 2024. Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) saw a 2.1 per cent decline from 181,900 passengers to 178,000 passengers in July. It should be noted that SIA processes more than 70 per cent of the air traffic for Jamaica. For the overall six months, Playa’s Jamaican operations have seen net revenue decrease eight per cent to US$111.13 million, with EBITDA down 18 per cent to US$40.17 million. The occupancy over the period was 77.6 per cent, with net package RevPAR at US$368.70. Wardinski also added, “We believe also that, to a lesser extent, new supply delivered to the market during the second quarter into a choppy environment has added some incremental challenges in Jamaica in a market which would have likely absorbed the additional rooms without much of a problem.” Playa’s overall Q2 saw revenue decrease five per cent to US$235.48 million ($36.47 billion) stemming from lower package sales. Even with operating expenses remaining flat, operating income slipped 24 per cent to US$37.91 million, with the adjusted EBITDA at US$63.7 million. Playa’s consolidated net profit was down 36 per cent to US$13.17 million ($2.04 billion), with an earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.10. Playa’s six-month revenue was up three per cent to US$536.11 million, with an operating profit of US$128.21 million and adjusted EBITDA of US$177.17 million. Consolidated net profit increased seven per cent to US$67.51 million with

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) – A 39-year-old doctor has been remanded in custody in Berlin on suspicion of killing four women aged between 72 and 94 and setting fire to their homes, police said Wednesday. Investigators believe the doctor, who worked in palliative care for a nursing service, set fire to the apartments in a bid to cover up his crimes, said a police statement. The man was detained on Tuesday over the offences in Berlin’s Neukoelln and Plaenterwald districts. “The accused is suspected of killing four female patients in the care of the nursing service between June 11 and July 24 in an as yet unknown manner and then setting fire to their homes,” the police said. The man is being investigated on four counts of manslaughter, one count of arson and three counts of attempted arson. In one case, an 87-year-old woman was resuscitated after emergency services arrived, but died later in hospital. In another, the fire allegedly started by the suspect went out. “When he realised this, he allegedly informed a relative of the woman and claimed that he was standing in front of her flat and that nobody was answering his doorbell,” police said.

ARIS, France (AFP) – LeBron James and the United States look to continue their relentless march toward a fifth straight Olympic basketball gold on Thursday, taking on Nikola Jokic’s Serbia for a place in the final. The United States improved to 4-0 at the Paris Games with a blowout quarter-final victory over Brazil, while three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic and Serbia had to fight tooth and nail to erase a 24-point deficit on the way to a narrow overtime win over Australia. The Americans have the added confidence of two recent wins over Serbia, in a pre-Games friendly and in group stage play, but coach Steve Kerr cautioned they could not afford to relax. “Serbia is really good,” Kerr said. “We can’t get lulled to sleep because we beat them twice. “We have to be prepared for their best effort. We’ve got to think about, what are they going to do differently,” Kerr added. “Every game is so different and unique. You never know when the ball’s going in, when it’s not going in. We have to be prepared.” Despite the Americans’ triumphant progress so far, James insisted that any team still standing — France will face Germany in the other semi-final — is a threat. “Everybody, everybody, everybody,” James said when asked to name the most dangerous team remaining. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, leads a US Olympic team more stacked with star-power than any since Michael Jordan’s 1992 Dream Team. James, a four-time NBA champion, is looking for a third Olympic gold while Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is chasing a fourth. Golden State Warriors talisman Stephen Curry is playing in his first Olympics, looking for a gold to add to his four NBA crowns. Promoted Links You May Like Diverse Real Estate Portfolios: How to Succeed in DutseWallStreet Viral by Taboola All echo Kerr in saying their back-to-back wins over the Serbs are immaterial. “Every game is its own test,” said James, who insisted he was fine after taking an inadvertent elbow near his left eye and leaving the game against Brazil. “It don’t matter what happened in the first two, it’s about what goes down Thursday night.” Curry was encouraged by the dominant performance in the win-or-go-home game against Brazil, in which the United States seized control early. “The first unit got off to a better start which we haven’t seen all tournament,” he said. “We feel the energy of single elimination. It brings the best out of you.” That was certainly the case for France, who had to eke out an overtime win over Japan and were comprehensively beaten by Germany in group play. They looked like another team as they booked a semi-final rematch with reigning World Cup champions Germany with an 82-73 victory over previously unbeaten Canada. “That’s the beauty of single-elimination tournament basketball,” Curry said. “Any given night, you never know what can happen. “It reminds you how hard it is to win a gold medal.” France’s Evan Fournier, whose outspoken criticism of the team’s game plan in the group stage loss to Germany had sparked the ire of coach Vincent Collet, indicated the dust-up had been worth it, since changes for the Canada game had made the difference. “Tonight, we started playing the way we were supposed to play,” Fournier said after the French led wire-to-wire despite a poor shooting night from star Victor Wembanyama.

Wayne Pinnock dedicates long jump silver medal to deceased mother In a display of emotion, dedication and grit, Jamaican Wayne Pinnock secured back-to-back silver medals at major championships, jumping his way onto the podium in the men’s long jump competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, before dedicating his achievement to his mother, who passed away when he was 14 years old. Pinnock, who also won silver at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last year, took second spot with a leap of 8.36m inside the Stade de France on Tuesday, finishing behind defending champion, Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou, who won the gold medal with a mark of 8.48m. Italian youngster Mattia Furlani claimed the bronze with a leap of 8.34m. Pinnock’s medals brought Jamaica’s tally to four (3 silver, 1 bronze) and represents another highlight for the island’s field event campaigners, who have so far led the country’s push for podium positions. Pinnock returned one of the most impressive series in the competition with four of his six jumps measuring over 8.00m, with his best effort coming on his second attempt, going from eighth into second place — a position he would not let go of, despite the efforts of the 19-year-old Italian prodigy. Silver secured, and with one last effort to steal the gold from Tentoglou, the 23-year-old Jamaican was a picture of disappointment, as he could only manage a 8.12m mark on his final attempt. However, that passing second of discouragement quickly gave way to celebration, as he pointed to the sky in tribute to his mother. “Honestly, she is not here with me physically, but I know that she is here, spiritually. I know that she always wanted me to do good growing up, because I lost my mom when I was 14, and so I am sure she is looking down at me now feeling very proud of her son,” he said. “Words can’t explain the feeling, because, growing up, I always wanted to be an Olympian, and dreams have come true [with me] winning a silver, so I am delighted for that. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the gold, but it is all in God’s plan, and I am just going to keep going, and for sure I know that I am going to get one, one day,” Pinnock said. A former Kingston College standout Pinnock, joins James Beckford as an Olympic Games long jump silver medallist, after Beckford’s second-place finish at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Hampered by injuries and setbacks leading up to the Olympics, Pinnock’s latest success is a mark of consistency in the face of adversity, resulting in his second-straight podium finish at a major international championships, this after a ninth-place finish at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, two years ago. He noted that, despite the issues, he has always kept faith in himself and believed that once he remained confident, he would achieve his objectives this year. “It was a tough journey coming back, but I trust in God and I prayed about it, and now I am an Olympic silver medallist,” Pinnock said. “It is just a gift from God and being confident and staying positive, even when the competition was really tough, and I know that one day I am going to get that Greek guy for sure,” Pinnock added. Jamaica’s other competitor in the event, Carey McLeod, the World Indoor bronze medallist, was 12th with a best leap of 7.82m. Pinnock joins triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts and 100m sprinter Kishane Thompson with silver medals, while Rajindra Campbell won bronze in the men’s shot put. Also yesterday, experienced diver Yona Knight-Wisdom progressed to this morning’s semi-finals of the men’s 3m springboard competition after scoring 382.90 points and finishing 14th in the preliminary round. The medal push will continue with Traves Smikle, Ralford Mullings and Roje Stona in the final of the men’s discus throw, while sprint hurdlers Hansle Parchment, Orlando Bennett and Rasheed Broadbell, as well as 400m hurdlers Jaheel Hyde, Roshawn Clarke and Malik James-King; quarter-milers Stacey-Ann Williams, Junelle Bromfield and Nickisha Pryce, as well as Brian Levell in the men’s 200m, will all be looking to book their places in the final of their respective events. Romaine Beckford will feature in men’s high jump qualification, while the opening round of the women’s 100m hurdles, which will feature Janeek Brown, Danielle Williams and Ackera Nugent; the men’s 800m heats with Navasky Anderson as well as the qualification round of the men’s triple jump with Jaydon Hibbert and Jordan Scott.

‘Butch’ Hendrickson surprised at being vested with Order of Jamaica News that National Baking Company Chairman and CEO Gary “Butch” Hendrickson is among the eight Jamaicans invested with the Order of Jamaica on this year’s National Honours and Awards list came as no surprise to people who know him. But to Hendrickson — a man with a deep passion for Jamaica and who invests heavily in education, particularly at the early childhood level, while continuing to help many young entrepreneurs — the recognition came as a shock. “I never saw this coming,” Hendrickson told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday from his hotel in London. “Oh my God, you must be kidding,” Hendrickson told the Jamaican official who had called to inform him that he has been made a member of the country’s fifth-highest order “For sterling contributions to entrepreneurship and philanthropy”. He said that when his phone rang and he saw that the call was coming from Jamaica he answered thinking that maybe something had gone wrong here. “It was never a thought; it wasn’t something that I ever thought about,” said Hendrickson, who has been at the helm of Jamaica’s largest baking company for more than three decades. Reacting to the news, Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart said he was thrilled to congratulate Hendrickson whom he described as “the ultimate entrepreneur and exceptional patriot”. “To see, share and appreciate his dedication, vision and meticulous approach to business and nation building is an amazing gift to us all. He has and continues to selflessly mentor so many of the next generation, including myself,” added Stewart, who is also executive chairman of this newspaper, as well as the Appliance Traders Limited Group. “His love for country and everything Jamaican is the greatest inspiration and the ultimate example of next generational excellence. I am honoured and humbled to call him a dear friend,” said Stewart, who is a member of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander. Hendrickson was also heartily congratulated by Brian Jardim, founder and CEO of Rainforest Seafoods Ltd. “A man among men, innovator, super benevolent, friend for life, consummate father, and family man,” was how Jardim described Hendrickson. Jardim, too, pointed to Hendrickson’s strong sense of patriotism, adding that Hendrickson’s “word is his bond” and that he is a man who “cares deeply for his team, has a great sense of humour, and is solution oriented”. “We have done business and owned assets together for decades and Butch has been honourable and decent in every instance. As our late chairman [Gordon “Butch” Stewart] used to say, ‘when you’re going back to back to fight… Butchie is the guy you want standing behind you, he will always be there for you’,” added Jardim, who is also a member of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander. Hendrickson is now engaged in a multi-billion-dollar expansion of National Baking Company that includes a state-of the-art bakery at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay that, he says, will be equipped with advanced technology rivalling any similar factory on Earth and create employment for at least 75 highly skilled Jamaicans, initially. The plant will also enhance National’s capability to export from Montego Freeport to meet the demands of its growing market overseas and complement the construction of a new distribution centre in Priory, St Ann, and another in Mandeville, Manchester. Over the years, Hendrickson has also invested more than $120 million in a manufacturing programme named ‘The Bold Ones’ which has helped small local manufacturers gain exposure through marketing and extensive publicity. The programme is said to have created more than 500 jobs. In 2015, his Continental Baking Company Foundation launched a two-day expo, named ‘A Jamaican Made Christmas’, designed to drive sales of Jamaican products and expose small and medium-sized manufacturers. Hendrickson, who conceptualised the event, said his aim was also to help small and medium-sized businesses get to the stage of exporting their products overseas. He also serves on a slew of boards in the public and private sectors, among them the EX-IM Bank, Bank of Jamaica, Rainforest Seafoods, and Stationery & Office Supplies Ltd. Hendrickson, though, is known for his dedication to the development of education and has taken on projects in that regard with his good friend and fellow business leader Glen Christian, founder and chairman of Cari-Med Group of companies, who is also a member of the Order of Jamaica. On Tuesday, Hendrickson said that there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the educational output for the country’s children. He said that he and Christian will continue to push hard to achieve this ideal. “Glen is so passionate because he came from nowhere to where he is now, and he got there with education and hard work,” Hendrickson noted. “If the country thinks enough of me to give me this award I say thank you; thank you to Jamaica. I also thank the customers who tolerate us; even through the worst times they’ve stood by us. We’ve been very fortunate, extremely so,” said Hendrickson who in 2014 was invested with Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander.

Actress Audrey Reid is thankful and appreciative for being among the 150 Jamaicans who will be officially bestowed with national honours and awards on October 21. Her accolade (Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer) will be presented during the annual ceremony of investiture and presentation of honours and awards at King’s House on National Heroes’ Day. “I am very humbled and appreciate the love that I have been receiving since the announcement. It has been a God-blessed journey from when I started out in the 1980s to this day. I have to give thanks because I’ve had my share of a roller-coaster ride, but, hey, who hasn’t? It has been about dedication, determination and keeping your eyes on the prize,” Reid said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, Independence Day. Entertainers Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Nadine Sutherland, Admiral Bailey, and opera singer Curtis Watson are the other individuals from the entertainment fraternity who will also receive national honours and awards. Reid, whose role in the 1997 Island Pictures film Dancehall Queen and Third World Cup have earned her fans around the world, honed her acting chops in the theatre before she took on the big screen. “I didn’t even know acting was a profession. What I knew from an early age was that I was fearless, never shy, and so to be honest, my interest in acting came from divine intervention. I did a few school plays [Vauxhall High] and speech and drama in festival [with Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)], but even then I had no interest. Years later, when I was living in Vineyard Town, Ralph Holness [playwright and producer] was doing rehearsals for a play called Obeah Wedding. I used to sit on the road watching the rehearsals and one night the person who played the lead role was unable to attend and I was asked to fill in so that they could do a particular scene. I ended up opening the play at the historic Ward Theatre,” Reid recalled. Reid later played roles in other roots plays such as Village Rooster, Scandal, Con Man, and Under Mi Nose. She also appeared in the 1984-1985 national pantomime Silver Slipper. It was while working with the national pantomime that she met actor and comedian Oliver Samuels and they formed a friendship. “It was there that I met Oliver, and it was his last pantomime. He took me with him to form his company and we toured all over, including England. It was while I was in England doing Ginger Knight’s Boy Blue that he asked me to stay back and play the role of Vinette in a play called Boops, which became an instant hit over there. I also did the play Higglers,” said Reid. The entertainer in her own right also did television series such as Me N Mi Kru, Traxx, Comedy Bus, Oliver at Large, and several others. But it was her role as Marcia in Dancehall Queen that she is best remembered for. The film, which also starred singer Cherine Anderson, Clive Davis, and Paul Campbell, featured the hit theme song Dancehall Queen by Beenie Man and Chevelle Franklyn, which topped local charts for 10 weeks in the summer of 1997. “They wanted an actress and not just a dancer. The directors heard about me and my volume of work and I went to the audition in the west end [Negril]. I actually did three auditions, and the last one had to be done in a dancehall-themed outfit and street vendor outfit,” Reid recalled. She continued: “The audition was sent to Chris Blackwell [Island Records boss], and I got a call about three days after informing me that I was chosen to play Marcia, the lead role in the film.” According to Reid, Dancehall Queen opened many doors for her to bolster her career. “I pride myself in being versatile. To be cast in a film then to give birth to a character that eventually was etched in the minds of fans for years is a joy to me. Acting is my safe and happy place; it’s therapeutic. And, besides, not having any privacy, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to places that the theatre would not have taken me to. I’m still doing appearances up to this day, after so many years. Dancehall Queen has also opened opportunities for me to be cast in other productions,” Reid reasoned.

Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange will be absent from Tuesday’s staging of the Independence Grand Gala at the National Stadium in Kingston due to a bout with the flu. In her absence, President of the Senate Tom Tavares-Finson will assume her hosting duties for the evening and will do ceremonial honours on her behalf, according to a release from the organisers. ‘The minister has assured that she will be watching on television and is very confident that the team will deliver a fantastic show,” the release stated. Jamaica is celebrating its 62nd anniversary as an independent nation. Grange reportedly contracted the flu virus and her doctor recommended that she not be in attendance at the event.

Newport-Fersan hands over 3,000 bags of fertilisers to assist in recovery of agriculture sector Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green has argued that Hurricane Beryl came at the worst possible time for Jamaica’s farming sector. According to Green, while there are efforts being made to help farmers recover quickly from the impact of Beryl, the weather system came just as strides were being made by farmers to recover from droughts affecting the sector since 2022. Green, who was speaking during the handing over ceremony of 3,000 bags of fertilisers by Newport-Fersan Jamaica Limited on Tuesday, said the devastating loss suffered by farmers would have put a dent in the progress made as they were recovering from record-breaking heat that impacted them last year. “Last year was a tough year for agriculture because we had our driest and hottest year ever recorded in the history. In fact, we entered drought in October 2022 and went through all of those months in 2022 and went over into 2023 into drought…We grew in the final quarter of 2023, we grew in the first two quarters of 2024 and our farmers were really expanding their hectares of the production and also were being more productive, so when Beryl came it really came at a bad time,” Green explained. He declared that despite the setback of Beryl, his ministry [and] other stakeholders are working towards a speedy recovery for farmers. Green said Newport-Fersan’s more than $15-million investment towards providing fertilisers for farmers will play a major role in improving the speed of their recovery efforts. “Two thousand bags of fertilisers will be made directly available to the ministry and an additional 1,000 bags will be distributed through your regular channels, so in total 3,000 bags of fertilisers to support the recovery efforts and I can say to our farmers that this week we will start our fertiliser distribution and we are not waiting. We are getting some fertilisers today [Tuesday] and by tomorrow [Wednesday] we will be out in the field saying to the farmers, ‘here is some support to help you drive that process’,” said Green. The agriculture minister said this will coincide with other recovery efforts including the distribution of seeds to farmers which started from last week. Green stressed the importance of a speedy recovery process as he highlighted the need for a more advanced approach to providing farmers with reliable and sustainable facilities that will help them to grow their plants at a faster rate. “We want to recover stronger and clearly we want to shorten the length of the recovery process, so what that means is that we have to take a different approach to recover, we have to take a scientific approach to recover. So having gone through a Category 4 storm with winds and rains, the question is what nutrition regime our plants need to ensure that we can shorten that growth time so we can have the best fresh produce on the market again,” added Green. In the meantime, managing director of Newport-Fersan Dennis Valdez, who was in agreement with Green, said the fertilisers that will be provided to farmers will not only boost recovery efforts but will improve the sustainability of crop life for farmers across Jamaica. “The fertiliser we present today featuring our premium booster fertiliser line are designed as essential tools in the recovery process. They are manufactured with advanced technologies, specialised additives and essential macro and micro nutrients [and] these premium products are poised to significantly boost crop years across Jamaica,” said Valdez. The Ministry of Agriculture have so far allocated $700 million towards recovery of the agriculture and fishing sector which suffered up to $6.5 billion worth of loss due to damages caused by the hurricane.

JAMAICANS are being encouraged to come out in their numbers to support the 70th staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show. Due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl on the agriculture sector, this year’s show has been scaled down to a one-day event on Independence Day, Tuesday, August 6, at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon. It will be held under the theme ‘Building Back Through Resilience’. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, deputy chief executive officer of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and team lead for Denbigh 2024, Derron Grant, said that the show promises to be just as engaging and educational as the traditional three-day event. Denbigh 2024 will feature a variety of activities, including displays and competitions from the small ruminant sector, Farm Queen competition, and an array of commercial exhibitors. Grant pointed out that instead of the usual parish pavilions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, JAS and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) will incorporate in their pavilions displays similar to those the parish exhibitors would have showcased. The highlight of Denbigh 2024 will be a seminar organised by the three entities covering areas such as how to protect farm crops and greenhouse structures before, during, and after a storm; how to care for animals post-hurricane; and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure human and food safety. The seminar are aimed at equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance their resilience against future hurricanes. Denbigh 2024 experience will also include a Kiddies Village featuring a merry-go-round, bounce-about, slides, and other child-friendly activities. Prime Minister Andrew Holness; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green, along with several other officials, will be in attendance. The prime minister will be the main speaker at the opening ceremony, scheduled to start at 2:00 pm. Grant said there will be adequate parking spaces to accommodate 10,000 vehicles, and security personnel will be on hand to ensure the safety of patrons. The day’s activities will culminate with the ‘Ultimate Denbigh Retro Party’, which kicks off at 6:00 pm with performances from several local entertainers. Individuals or organisations interested in setting up exhibitions are invited to contact the JAS.

For Grace Allen, the mother of Jamaica’s newest sprinting sensation Kishane Thompson, getting the opportunity to watch her son compete at the Olympics Games in France is a dream that she is clinging to, even as his much-anticipated debut at this level draws ever closer. Thompson, the fastest man in the 100m this year with a personal best time of 9.77 seconds, has captured the imagination of fans and will enter the Olympic competition as a firm favourite for a medal in the French capital. Allen, who says she is extremely proud of her son’s achievements, believes that he is primed to deliver more success even as she still clings to the hope that she will be there among the fans inside the Stade de France during his date with destiny. “I don’t even know if I will be able to be there with him in Paris because time is winding down and I was trying to get the visa and up to now, it hasn’t come through. To be there in Paris would be a really great feeling and experience for me. I would be extremely happy to be there with him,” Allen told the Jamaica Observer. A surprise for most in the track and field world, Thompson’s meteoric rise is a case of fulfilment for Allen, who has had to witness her son’s injury setbacks and challenges over the years, as he struggled to turn early hints of promise during his days at Garvey Maceo High to the current manifestations on the world stage. “I am really happy for him, with the injuries that were setting him back, it was really a challenge and to see that he has overcome all of that at this time, it’s really a blessing and I am feeling so happy for him,” Allen said. “I knew from a long time ago that he has the talent, he is focused and that this is his dream, so I am really happy that he will get a chance to live it.” With the men’s 100m competition set to get underway in Paris on Saturday at 4:45am (Jamaica time), anticipation and excitement is at fever pitch in the family’s usually sleepy seaside community of Mitchell Town, located in Clarendon. Allen shared that several community members are planning to stage a viewing party in the community as they celebrate their hometown hero on his quest towards Olympic glory. “Everybody is so excited, everyone is happy and supportive. Everyone is really loving what he is doing and very proud of him.” According to the soft-spoken matriarch, Thompson was always interested in athletics and showed early signs that he would develop into a serious sprinter from as early as his basic school years. “He used to do a lot of running at basic school but it was really during his primary school days that he really started to have an impact. He was always very good and was a favourite during sports day when he was always winning.” Thompson ended up at Garvey Maceo via Bustamante High School and was eventually recruited by MVP Track Club’s Paul Francis, after the young sprinter decided against taking up a US-based scholarship, preferring to stay closer to his close-knit family, which includes a fraternal twin Kishaun and an older sister, Keisha-Gay. As she waits with fading hope that she will get the opportunity to travel to Paris to share a special moment with her son, Allen has not lost an opportunity to keep him grounded and encouraged as he emerges into a new stage of his professional career. “He is always a focused person and whatever he is doing, he does it to the best of his ability, whether it’s school work or athletics, he just always does his best, that’s him. I just make sure to tell him that I am proud of him and that he should continue doing what he is doing and remain focused,” said Allen. As he gets ready to take the spotlight in the City of Lights, Jamaica’s newest sprinting hope carries the dreams of an expectant nation but as his confident mother reassures, the 23-year-old is driven by these moments, fuelled by family, focus and the fire of frustration, after years of battling to find his best. If the words of his Coach Stephen Francis mean anything — and they usually do — Thompson’s current best of 9.77 seconds will be taken a few notches lower by the end of the championship and it’s left to be seen where that will leave him in the race for Olympic glory.

‘Gaza’ residents say Kartel freedom ahead of the public holiday is symbolic Emancipation Day came early for residents of the section of Waterford, St Catherine known as ‘Gaza’ as their almost 13-year-long call to “Free Kartel, free Worl Boss” was finally answered. As president of the Court of Appeal Marva McDonald Bishop announced that the panel of judges had decided against a retrial and would order the release of hometown entertainer Vybz Kartel and his co-accused residents on the Gaza erupted in joy. Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John were convicted of the September 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. However, with Wednesday’s ruling the entertainer and his crew were set free, with the exception of Jones who is facing another charge. News of the ruling quickly spread on the Gaza, sending residents into wild celebration. Noting that Kartel’s freedom came just in time for Emancipation Day celebrations on August 1, the residents repurposed the national holiday. “It’s Kartel National Freedom Day not Emancipation Day. Gaza Freedom Day,” Kareem Beckford told the Jamaica Observer. Another resident, who gave his name only as ‘Gazaman’, declared, “We know they have to give him a public holiday so mi like how they did it. They did it the day before the holiday so dem nuh have to cut a work day to be a public holiday. It just happen naturally. We get a holiday tomorrow. We give thanks for that. So great.” Gazaman told the Observer that he was awaiting the ruling outside the Court of Appeal from 7:15 am on Wednesday. The ruling was handed down some time after 2:20 pm and by 2:40, Gazaman was back in his Portmore community celebrating with family and friends. “Bwoy, mi cyaa even talk how mi feel… mi feel so great, great, great. Mi ah one of the fans dem weh a push this case from the start to the end, so you must know how mi feel,” said Gazaman. “When mi lef court, a tears come from mi eye. Ah swear from mi heart, mi a tell yuh. Mi have to leave town, come back a Portmore cause mi affi a work but mi nah lie, the whole case a history, everything a history. When we talk bout greatness, we talk bout Vybz Kartel, so great. It’s a history day,” added Gazaman. For Aaliyah Grant, who celebrated her birthday on July 30, the ruling was the best birthday gift. “Mi feel like fi cry. Oh God, the time has come. Time come, time come. Best birthday gift. What a thing, eh,” said Grant, declaring that she always believed Kartel would be freed. According to Grant, she wants the entertainer to take a different approach for the community. “Mi not even wah the boss deh yah. Mi nuh wah the boss deh yah. Mi want the boss just tek a different approach and stay from far and love we,” she shared. As the celebrations continued and the community came alive with the entertainer’s music filling the streets, residents could be heard chanting “weh di weed deh, weh di henni [Hennessey] deh”. One resident was overwhelmed with emotions as she soaked in the excitement, commenting, “A di real Emancipation Day this.” Meanwhile, a man who described himself only as Kartel’s right hand told the Observer, “We just glad seh the boss free, man. A long time, too. Bout time now. We did a hope for the best, still.” He said he hopes the artiste will focus on progressing his music career. “A progression same way, man. A progressive youth. Do him tune dem same way and know seh the likkle thugs dem, we alright, we nah give nuh trouble, nuh war, nuh shot, nothing nah gwaan inna the scheme,” said the man, who did not give his name. He continued, “Nice place we deh, so mi glad how Fada God set the thing and know seh yeah, Shawn Storm same way. Kahira Jones same way. Mi glad and pray fi dat. Ah dat fi happen. Ah God a God.” Sean Henry, who has lived in Waterford for years, said he expects Kartel’s return to society to bring economic benefits to the community. “Being free means more trades, more business, more employment, a lot more. We’re just grateful to have back one of our family and I know he is very ecstatic just to get his health good and just to see his family. So let’s go,” said Henry. “A lot of this has been tampered with and a lot more things so, yes, we had expected that. Thanks to everybody that had believed and it’s just free Vybz Kartel, as in the entertainer and free Adidja Palmer back to society,” added Henry. Lawyers representing Kartel and his co-accused appealed their conviction in 2020, but the murder convictions were upheld. The appeal was then taken to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, and on March 14, 2024, their murder convictions were overturned on the grounds of juror misconduct. The Privy Council also remitted the case to the Jamaican Court of Appeal to decide whether there should be a retrial. Wednesday’s ruling ends a long court battle to free Kartel and his co-accused in a moment his hometown community has labelled “historic”.

King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson, former lead attorney for Vybz Kartel in the entertainer’s murder case, has welcomed the Court of Appeal ruling that freed the dancehall star and his co-accused of the charge. The Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday against a retrial of Kartel and his co-accused for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, allowing the deejay and two of his co-defendants to walk free after 13 years in prison. In a statement, Tavares-Finson said “speaking solely” in their capacity as former defense attorneys when the Kartel matter went to trial, the defense team, which also included his son Christian Tavares-Finson, Pierre Rogers, Tamika Harris, Michael Lorne and Everton Dewar, welcomes the judgement handed down by recently-appointed Court of Appeal President, Marva McDonald Bishop and her team. “Certainly as lead defense attorney at trial, I believe the judgement is in the interest of justice and lends credibility to the various objections which Kartel’s defense team had raised at trial,” Tavares-Finson said. “Let us not forget that the Privy Council had initially quashed Kartel’s conviction. I think the fair treatment of this kind of high profile matter by the Privy Council is another reason why many Jamaicans, including myself, support its retention as our country’s final appellate court,” he added. Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer; Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell; Kahira Jones; and Andre St John were convicted of the September 2011 murder of Williams. Lawyers representing the quartet made an appeal to the local Court of Appeal in 2020, but their convictions were upheld. The accused’s appeal was then taken to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, and on March 14, 2024, their murder convictions were overturned on the grounds of juror misconduct. The Privy Council also remitted the case back to the Jamaica Court of Appeal to decide whether there should be a retrial. Kartel, Campbell and St John were released from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston on Wednesday evening. In 2019, Jones was sentenced to 18 years in prison for wounding with intent and eight years each for illegal possession of firearm and illegal possession of ammunition in a separate case.

As the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony went live in Paris last Friday, the Jamaica Pegasus hotel partnered with Saint International to bring a watch party and fashion show to the people of Kingston so they could cheer on Team Jamaica. Spectators filling the hotel’s lobby were treated to Olympic-inspired sweet and savoury bites created by Executive Chef Mark Cole and his team. “The menu was both French-and Jamaican-inspired. Waffles are big in Europe, and crêpes are also a big thing there. So we put a twist to it and added some barbeque pulled pork. The smoked marlin and capers had a little spice to represent Jamaica, and the most interesting thing served was the liver pâté; it’s like the foie gras, which is one of the most expensive meats in Europe, and comes from the goose, but we used our chicken liver to produce it. And then we infused the Shericka Jackson bread pudding and our Shelly-Ann blackberry cake, for a combination between Jamaica and Europe,” Cole tells Thursday Food. Belgium Waffle’s Waffle’s topped with Smoked Marlin and Pineapple Salsa Waffles topped with BBQ Pulled Pork tomato relish Waffle topped with Chocolate Syrup and Ice Cream   Island Crepes Spicy Smoked Salman Crêpes with Capers Cream Stuffing, served with Thyme Honey Syrup Basil Fruit Compote Crepes with Rum Bar Rum topped with Cinnamon Syrup Pâté en croûte de Chef Cole Jerk chicken liver pâté with Herbs Crostini Scotch Bonnet Sherry Reduction   Dessert ‘Shelly-Ann Style Blackberry Cake with Chocolate Ganache’ ‘Shericka Jackson Grand Bread Pudding’  

PARIS, France — Stephen Francis, coach of reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson, has indicated that she is fit and ready to compete at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Concerns have been mounting over Jackson’s fitness after she pulled up with an apparent injury in the women’s 200m at the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix earlier this month. Jackson, who was leading the race with about 50 meters to go, pulled up and limped across the finish line. “As far as I know, she appears to be okay to me,” said Francis on Tuesday. “She is one hundred percent fit.” Jackson, the fastest woman alive over the 200m event, is the reigning national sprint double champion. The 30-year-old is the fastest Jamaican woman this year in the 100m and 200m events with times of 10.84 and 22.29 seconds, respectively. She is also highly favoured to win medals in both the 100m and 200m events for Jamaica at the Olympic Games.

INGSTON, Jamaica — Three men who pleaded guilty to drug-related charges were convicted of their crimes when they appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday, July 22. The men, Delroy Bremmer, Omar Nugent, and Jamie White, were convicted on cocaine trafficking charges and were each sentenced accordingly. Sentences are as follows: – Possession of cocaine: J$1.5 million or 6 months – Trafficking in cocaine: J$2 million or 6 months – Importing cocaine: J $2 million or 6 months According to a release from the police’s corporate communications unit, the vessel used in the commission of the offences was forfeited to the crown, and the sentences will run concurrently if the fines are not paid. The defendants were arrested on Monday, December 26, 2022, after the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard intercepted a vessel carrying 463 kilograms of cocaine off Morant Point, St Thomas, with the three men aboard.

turf war in Craig Town, Kingston, has reportedly led to a wave of violence in the area. Head of the Kingston Western Police Division, Senior Superintendent Michael Phipps, said rival factions from two gangs have been clashing, leaving the community unstable. The situation has forced the police to institute a 48-hour curfew in the community. The curfew began Sunday night following a double murder earlier that day. NORTH: From the intersection of Beresford and Benbow Street, travel east to Baker Street, and continue along an imaginary line to Slipe Pen Road. EAST: From Slipe Pen Road to Gordon Road. WEST: From the intersection of Pouyatt Street and Brynes Street to Penn Street, continue along an imaginary line to Benbow Street. SOUTH: Along Gordon Road to the gully, then continue along an imaginary line to Pouyatt Street and Brynes Street. “The Gaza and the 110 gangs are fighting for control of the space. Both leaders of the gangs are based overseas, but persons on the ground are engaged in a tit-for-tat situation,” SSP Phipps told Observer Online. He said the infighting has led to several shooting incidents, the most recent being Sunday’s double murder. On Monday, the police released the names of several men who were named as persons of interest in the community. These men were asked to report to the Denham Town CIB by midday Tuesday. The police said intelligence suggests that there is a likelihood of an increase in gang violence in the area as members of the gangs involved are planning to launch reprisal attacks against other warring factions. “So we will continue to conduct robust activities targeting the persons of interest and those otherwise wanted in this area,” Phipps said.

New Kingston was treated to a delightful experience as S Foods Supermarket celebrated its long-awaited grand opening on Worthington Avenue in St Andrew. Although the supermarket initially opened its doors in 2022, a grand celebration was postponed due to the pandemic and the addition of new features, including a drive-through chicken lunch spot. The space, previously designed for S Hotel’s conferences, underwent a significant renovation during the pandemic and pivoted into the retail supermarket industry under the S Foods brand. There was a big turnout for S Foods Supermarket’s long-awaited grand opening. Culture Minister Olivia Grange cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of the S Foods Supermarket in St Andrew on Saturday, while S Foods CEO Christopher Issa and wife Kimberly look on. With a self-checkout option and wide aisles, S Foods offers a convenient and comfortable shopping experience. The supermarket is renowned for its carefully selected Jamaican food brands and the popular Trader Joe’s signature snacks. Additionally, it boasts a bakery section with cakes, cookies, and other pastries, along with a canteen that serves lunch daily. The grand opening was a spectacular affair, with every major manufacturer and distributor in attendance. Attendees enjoyed samples from well-known brands such as Gordon’s Gin, Seprod, Wisynco, Tru-Juice, Caribbean Dreams, and many more. The event was a vibrant celebration of Jamaican culture, highlighted by the unveiling of what is being touted as the largest cake in the nation’s history, in celebration of the island’s 62nd Independence anniversary. The cake, in the form of the Jamaican flag, measures an impressive 924 square feet. Culture Minister Olivia Grange checks out a food item at the S Foods Supermarket while S Foods CEO Christopher Issa (left) and reggae artiste Tony Rebel look on at the grand opening of the supermarket on Saturday, July 27, 2024. A highlight of the S Foods Supermarket grand opening was the unveiling of what is being touted as the largest cake in the nation’s history, in celebration of the island’s 62nd Independence anniversary.