Author: Steve Brown

A view of Montego Bay Sangsters International Airport (MBJ) July 2, 2024 SAINT JAMES, Jamaica — Sangster International Airport has announced it will be temporarily closing effective Tuesday, July 2nd at 11:59pm, given the imminent threat posed by the approach of Category 5 Hurricane Beryl. The airport will be closed through Wednesday, July 3rd to ensure safety while the hurricane passes through. Following the hurricane, the airport said it will conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine when it is safe to resume operations and will provide an update promptly. Meanwhile, the airport said passengers should contact their airlines directly for…

Los Angeles, California – YG Marley and Lauryn Hill perform onstage during the 2024 BET Awards at the Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024. (Photo: AFP) “Bob Marley: One Love,” Paramount Pictures’ biopic about the life of reggae legend Bob Marley, won best film at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday night. The awards ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, USA. Marley’s daughter Cedella is one of the film’s producers (his brother Ziggy and mother Rita were also producers) and when the Jamaica Observer contacted her for comment on Monday, she sounded very upbeat. “It feels…

Jamaica Athletics Association (JAAA) second vice-president Ian Forbes (left) speaks during a press conference on Monday, June 24. JAAA president Garth Gayle (centre) and Minister of Sports Olivia Grange look on. Jamaica Athletics Association (JAAA) first vice-president Ian Forbes believes the main reason Jamaica failed to qualify for the men’s 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics was the absence of some of the country’s top quarter-mile runners. It is only the second time since 1948 that Jamaica has failed to qualify for the tournament, despite a special relay being organised on the final day of the JAAA/PUMA Senior National Championships…

Despite reports of a rift with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), secretary-general Dennis Chan said there were no issues between him and Heimir Hallgrimsson, who resigned as head coach of the Reggae Boyz on Sunday following their winless Copa America campaign. The 57-year-old Icelandic coach resigned after his team’s 3-0 loss to Venezuela at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Icelandic national team also lost to Mexico (1-0) and Ecuador (3-1) and failed to pick up a single point in the tournament. Hallgrimsson, who will take over in 2022, said after Sunday’s game he wanted to focus on the positives…

Damage caused on Union Island (CMC photo) July 1, 2024 KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) — Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves confirmed one death Monday night as Hurricane Beryl passed through the country, and said “further deaths are possible” on the Grenadine island of Bequia. The Grenadines have 32 islands, the largest of which are Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island. Some of the smaller islands are privately owned. “Unfortunately, one person has been reported dead… We don’t have the details. There may be more deaths, but we don’t…

July 1, 2024 – Cabinet activates DRMA in response to Hurricane Beryl KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has been upgraded from a hurricane watch to a hurricane warning in preparation for Hurricane Beryl, prompting Cabinet to establish a disaster response structure under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA). A hurricane warning means dangerous sea conditions associated with a hurricane are expected to prevail across the island over the next 24 to 36 hours. The announcement was made on Monday following advice from Minister for Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie and the latest…

Portugal goalkeeper No. 1 Rui Patricio (left) consoles Portugal forward No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo after a missed penalty during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 football match between Portugal and Slovenia at the Frankfurt Arena in Frankfurt am Main on July 1, 2024. (Photo: AFP) FRANKFURT (Germany) (AFP) — Tears turned to cheers as Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in extra time but then recovered to score and give his team a dramatic penalty shootout win over Slovenia in the first round of the Euro 2024 knockout stages on Monday. In a tense, goalless match in Frankfurt,…

As legendary reggae/rocksteady artist Leroy Sibbles celebrates 60 years in music, he will be honoured with a concert in August featuring Marcia Griffiths, Etana, Duane Stephenson and Singing Melody. The show, titled “Leroy Sibbles: The Crowning – Celebrating the King of Reggae Bassline”, will take place at the Lanny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew on the 31st. “His influence on the development of Jamaican music genres, from ska to rocksteady to dancehall, is undeniable, so we decided to pay tribute to him. Listen to Morgan Heritage’s 2003 album ‘Down By The River,’ which features Leroy’s 1968 arrangement of ‘What…

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – “Inside Out 2” has retained the top spot at the North American box office for a third consecutive week, closely followed by the latest installment in the horror film series “A Quiet Place,” film industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday. Franchise Entertainment Research analyst David A. Gross noted that the film made $57.4 million over the weekend, bringing its total haul to $469 million since its theatrical release on June 14, indicating that box office sales remain strong despite the overall market struggles. “Despite record-breaking numbers for Inside Out 2 and a strong…

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Beryl was heading toward the southeastern Caribbean on Sunday, urging residents to quickly complete preparations as the “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, the first recorded in June, is expected to make landfall overnight. The Jamaica Meteorological Service said Sunday night that it was too early to declare the storm a “threat” to the island, but that the country was at “risk” of heavy rain and strong winds.”At this point we are not declaring this a threat to Jamaica. It could well be a threat… At this point, this is a risk that we have to manage,”…