Author: Steve Brown

Mother Pleads Guilty to Assault in Spat Over Daughter’s Absence KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a dramatic turn of events in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, a mother of two finds herself in the dock after a public altercation, displaying the intense emotions often involved in familial disputes. Patrina Campbell, a mother who found herself at odds with a woman she blames for her daughter’s estrangement, has pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and assault at common law. The charges date back to a heated incident on July 2, 2024, at Papine Square, St Andrew. According…

Political Tensions Flare as Jamaican MP Demands Comprehensive Audit of Integrity Commission Kingston, Jamaica — In a fervent escalation of political tension, Everald Warmington, the Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South Western, has reiterated his call for an extensive audit of Jamaica’s Integrity Commission (IC). This demand intensifies an ongoing verbal clash between the IC and several government MPs, highlighting growing concerns over governmental accountability and oversight. Warmington’s insistence on a "full audit" comes amid critical commentary from retired Justice Seymour Panton, chairman of the IC. Last week, Panton rebuffed Warmington’s previous audit demands, emphasizing that the commission…

Title: Royalton Negril Worker Protests Prompt Tourism Ministry’s Labor Market Review HANOVER, Jamaica — In the wake of significant unrest among workers at Royalton Negril, the Jamaican tourism sector is under increased scrutiny regarding labor practices and conditions. On Monday, workers at the renowned resort staged a protest, citing grievances related to inadequate pay, poor treatment, and being overworked, leading to a disruption in services and inconveniencing guests. The protest, which reportedly left some guests in search of alternative dining options, also saw a number of visitors expressing solidarity with the workers, highlighting a growing awareness and concern for labor…

Praedial Larceny Unit Achieves Notable Success in Combating Agricultural Theft in Jamaica October 22, 2024 KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit, an integral arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), has achieved significant strides in reducing agricultural theft across the island in 2024. The latest data, presented by Agriculture Minister Floyd Green in the House of Representatives, showcased the unit’s efforts in tackling one of the persistent challenges within the agricultural sector. Minister Green highlighted the proactive measures taken by the unit, mentioning the renewed recruitment drive that initiated the selection of the country’s first 100 agricultural wardens.…

Arsenal’s Fatigue Leads to Narrow Win Over Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League Clash In a tense Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium in north London on October 22, 2024, Arsenal managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. The winning goal came from an own goal by Shakhtar’s keeper Dmytro Riznyk, after a strike from Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta admitted that his team was suffering from “fatigue,” following a recent defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League. Despite the win against Shakhtar, Arteta expressed concerns about his team’s performance, especially in the second half where…

Cuba Strives to Restore Power Amid Aftermath of National Blackout and Hurricane Havana, Cuba — In the wake of a significant power outage and the devastating blow of Hurricane Oscar, Cuba is slowly regaining its footing with electricity now restored to approximately 70% of the population. The Cuban government announced these developments on Tuesday, following a tumultuous period that has left the island grappling with infrastructural challenges and the aftermath of natural calamity. The nationwide blackout, which began last Friday, was triggered by the sudden failure of Cuba’s largest power plant, subsequently crippling the entire power grid of this Caribbean…

Jamaican Athlete Rushell Clayton Joins Grand Slam Track Jamaican athlete Rushell Clayton has been added to the list of athletes set to participate in the inaugural Grand Slam Track, scheduled to begin in 2025. Clayton joins fellow Jamaicans Ackera Nugent and Roshawn Clarke, who were signed last week. Clayton is known for being the second-fastest Jamaican of all time in the 400m hurdles, and she was also the first Jamaican since 2011 to break the 53-second barrier in the event. Her most recent achievement was placing fifth in the 400m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. “I’ve worked so…

UWI Mona Campus Celebrates Class of 2024 with Five Distinguished Valedictorians October 22, 2024 Kingston, Jamaica — The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, is proud to announce the appointment of five outstanding valedictorians from its graduating Class of 2024. These exceptional students will be delivering inspiring messages of perseverance, achievement, and ‘Pelican Pride’ at the graduation ceremonies, which will take place from October 31 to November 2. This year’s valedictorians represent a wide array of disciplines and exemplify academic excellence, community involvement, and leadership. The chosen graduates are Saran Ffrench from the Faculty of Social Sciences (The…

Empowering Youth: Project STAR’s Nano-Programme Spurs Entrepreneurship in Clarendon, Jamaica Clarendon, Jamaica—In a significant step towards empowering at-risk youth, ten ambitious individuals from the Treadlight district of May Pen, Clarendon, have graduated from Project STAR’s innovative Nano-Programme. This initiative is designed to equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to carve out entrepreneurial paths, heralding a promising future not just for themselves but also for their communities. Held at the Treadlight Primary School, the graduation ceremony marked a turning point for these young graduates. Each was awarded essential equipment to aid in setting up their business endeavors, kickstarting their…

The world was shocked by the tragic death of pop star Liam Payne last week. Initial toxicology reports have revealed a troubling and heartbreaking truth – Payne had multiple drugs, including crack cocaine and methamphetamine, in his system at the time of his death. The British singer, known for his time in the popular group One Direction, fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires at the age of 31. The toxicology reports also revealed the presence of a cocktail of drugs known as “pink cocaine” containing methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA, as well as crack cocaine and benzodiazepine. It is…