Doctors in departure lounge As the curtain falls on more than half a century of medical cooperation with Jamaica, highly trained Cuban specialists will begin exiting the island this Thursday, departing on four chartered flights from Kingston to their homeland, which has been reeling from increasingly frequent islandwide blackouts linked to a United States (US)-imposed fuel blockade.
Dr Tomlin Paul celebrated as a ‘Caribbean man’ Dr Tomlin J. Paul, the late deputy principal of The University of the West Indies (UWI), was yesterday remembered as a “Caribbean man”, a devoted father, and a distinguished medical professional, as mourners gathered at the University Chapel to bid him farewell. As rain clouds gathered overhead and birds chirped across the chapel grounds, tributes painted the picture of a one-of-a-kind man with a natural gift for making people feel valued. They spoke of a leader who prioritised students’ growth and well-being, reflected on their realities, and championed practical solutions.
3,000 acres of fruit trees by 2035 Jamaica is embarking on an ambitious drive to expand agricultural output, bolster food security and earn more foreign exchange by planting at least 3,000 acres of five key fruit trees – mango, ackee, breadfruit, avocado and coconut – by 2035. The initiative is designed to draw in farmers from one-acre plots to large commercial holdings, provided they have suitable land, appropriate crop choices and a willingness to participate.
Defence suggests investigators compromised murder scene in Clansman Gang trial The handling of a bag recovered from the scene of a 2020 murder came under intense scrutiny in the Supreme Court on Monday, as the defence pressed its case that investigators may have compromised key evidence in the ongoing Clansman Gang trial. During cross-examination of a detective sergeant, the case’s lead investigator, defence attorney Denise Hinson suggested that the senior officer “disturbed the crime scene” when he removed a “red-and-black” bag before the arrival of forensic personnel.
Revered educator Dr Cecile Walden remembered as cultural icon WESTERN BUREAU: Jamaica is mourning the death of one of its most revered educators, Dr Cecile Annette Walden, whose contribution to teacher education and national development has left an indelible mark on the nation. Walden died on Sunday morning at age 80. Widely hailed as an educator extraordinaire, an outstanding cultural icon, and a distinguished daughter of Jamaica, she devoted more than 40 years to the teaching profession, shaping institutions and inspiring generations.
Heading home with a heavy heart Regarded as part of the ‘dream team’ of specialist ophthalmologists at St Joseph’s Hospital, Dr Roberto Mirales has spent years restoring sight to patients once condemned to darkness. Affectionately called ‘Dr Roberto’, the Cuban doctor has worked in Jamaica for the past nine years, breaking only to return home during the COVID-19 pandemic. When hospital officials later requested his return through the Cuban government, his answer was immediate. It was yes.
From power to prison Two of Jamaica’s most recent high-profile convicted killers, former policeman Noel Maitland and ex-parliamentarian Jolyan Silvera, are now housed under similar conditions inside the Tower Street Adult Correctional Facility, where both men have been placed in single cells, according to sources familiar with the details of their incarceration.
Mom in the margins Although she spends every school day assisting her seven-year-old son in class, Janice Tulloch Parkinson is not officially recognised as his “shadow”, a role defined and regulated by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, and typically reserved for trained personnel rather than parents.
Cameron on interdiction The public dispute between Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake and Senior Superintendent of Police Wayne Cameron has taken a new turn, with the senior officer – who also heads the Police Officers Association (POA), the negotiating body for gazetted officers – now placed on interdiction. The move, which places Cameron on three-quarter pay, was announced in the Force Orders – the official communication of the commissioner – dated March 12 and took effect the same day.
Decades of distress Courtney Anderson would have been relieved when an assault case against him was dismissed in 1996, but little did he know that 30 years later he would still be experiencing the recurring nightmare of trying to get his police record cleared so he can move forward with his life unencumbered by the case. Jamaica’s expungement law allows eligible individuals to have certain criminal charges and/or convictions removed from their records, providing them with an opportunity for a fresh start.