Author: Steve Brown

St Mary Honours Local Heroes and Centenarians on Heroes’ Day St Mary, Jamaica — As Jamaica prepares to commemorate Heroes’ Day on Monday, October 20, 2024, the parish of St Mary is set to honor 24 individuals for their exceptional contributions to the community. This year’s celebration shines a spotlight on diverse achievements and bravery, with honorees spanning from centenarians to everyday heroes who have made a significant impact in their local areas. Among those receiving recognition are three centenarians who have witnessed decades of history and contributed to their community’s legacy. Catherine Clarke, at 104 years old, alongside Beryl…

Massive Fraud Bust in Portmore Yields an Additional J$38.3 Million and Expands Investigation St Catherine, Jamaica — In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into a large-scale fraud operation, law enforcement officials uncovered an additional J$38.3 million in cash during a secondary search of a property in Caribbean Estate, Portmore, St Catherine. The operation, executed on Saturday, is part of an intensified crackdown by Jamaican authorities on organized crime and financial fraud. This recent cash discovery adds to the approximately J$50 million previously found at the same location on St Vincent Boulevard. Alongside the cash, authorities have seized an…

Protesters in Canary Islands Demand Reforms in Mass Tourism Sector TENERIFE, Spain — On October 20, 2024, a powerful wave of protests swept across the Canary Islands as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, demanding a significant overhaul in the region’s model of mass tourism. With residents increasingly concerned about the pressure that excessive tourism places on the islands’ resources and communities, protestors gathered in numbers across all seven of the archipelago’s main islands under the resonating slogan, "The Canary Islands have a limit." Demonstrators, proudly waving the white, blue, and yellow flags symbolic of the Canary Islands, initiated…

Cuba Braces for Hurricane Oscar Amid Prolonged National Blackout Havana, Cuba (AFP)— Cuba is on high alert as Hurricane Oscar approaches its shores, threatening to compound the already dire situation of widespread power outages that have left the island in darkness for the third consecutive day. The hurricane, projected to make landfall in northeastern Cuba by Sunday evening, brings with it the potential for more trouble in a country already battling economic disarray. The national power grid suffered a massive setback on Friday following the unexpected collapse of Cuba’s largest power plant, triggering a near total blackout. As Hurricane Oscar,…

Hurricane Oscar Hits Great Inagua, Heads Toward Cuba NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC)— Hurricane Oscar made a significant impact on Great Inagua Island in the southeast Bahamas early Sunday morning. The cyclone, classified as a Category One storm, represents one of the latest threats in the Atlantic Basin this season. According to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, Oscar is now moving toward Cuba, which is already grappling with the fallout from a massive power outage. The potential for a dangerous storm surge could exacerbate coastal flooding on Great Inagua and other parts of the southeastern Bahamas. Expected rainfall accumulations range from two…

The Red Bull Culture Clash Jamaica 2024 is set to be an electrifying event, following a thrilling press launch at ROK Hotel on October 16. The launch gave attendees a taste of what to expect at the main event on November 2 at the National Arena. The event showcased a mini clash between DJ Nova and ZJ Spectre, offering a glimpse of the energy and diversity that defines the Culture Clash experience. This year, four crews – MadHouse Experience, Big Bad Soca, Jamaica Wi Seh, and Lon Don Crew – will battle it out, with well-known music figures Cham, Voice,…

Gospel artiste O’Shane McHugh is on a mission to inspire and uplift those who may be struggling with depression or feeling like they cannot achieve their goals. His latest single, “No Surrendah,” is a powerful anthem that aims to motivate listeners to keep pushing forward and never give up. In a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer, McHugh shared his inspiration behind the song, stating that he wants to encourage people to have a winning mindset and overcome the challenges they may be facing. Produced by AdeJoe and released in July through JW Productions, “No Surrendah” has already received positive…

Papa San: The Dancehall Icon Behind the Hit Song “I Will Survive” In the year 1989, the dancehall scene in Jamaica was buzzing with the infectious Duck rhythm that had taken the music industry by storm. Artists like Flourgon and Red Dragon had already scored hits with their tracks “Bounce” and “Duck,” respectively. It was during this time that Papa San, one of the hottest names in dancehall, decided to jump onto the beat with his own rendition of the rhythm. Papa San’s version of the Duck rhythm came in the form of the song “I Will Survive.” The track,…

Jamaican Netball Star Crystal Plummer Makes a Triumphant Return to International Competition After a long-awaited return to the court, Jamaican netball sensation Crystal Plummer is gearing up to compete in the upcoming Vitality Netball Horizon Series against the England Roses. Plummer, who has been away from international competition for over a year, is ready to showcase her talent and make her nation proud. The Vitality Netball Horizon Series is a brand new competition that will see England and Jamaica facing off annually over the next four years. The first two matches of the series will take place in England on…

The Sandals/Baxter Canadian Travel Industry Golf Tournament is gaining momentum, with 50% of its participants being new this year. The tournament, which just completed its 28th staging at Sandals Golf and Country Club in St Ann, is becoming a popular event in Canada’s travel industry. Organisers were pleased with the reception of the event by attendees from various sectors of Canada’s travel industry. Previous editions of the tournament focused on travel advisers, but this year, more stakeholders were included to promote the Sandals Resort chain and Jamaica as tourism destinations. Maureen Barnes-Smith, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Unique Vacations,…