Backlog batters business Dennis Shipping company, a sea service provider catering largely to the Jamaican diaspora in specific geographic areas in the United States, is pleading with local authorities to strip more than 40 containers that have been sitting at Jamaica’s two ports, some since last year, with emergency hurricane supplies that are no longer of value.
Tufton: Jamaica hammering out new health MOU with Cuba Jamaica is renegotiating its long-running medical cooperation programme with Cuba amid renewed pressure from the United States. Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton confirmed that while the previous memorandum of understanding (MOU) has expired, nearly 300 Cuban doctors and specialists continue to serve under existing contracts.
Investigator denies identifying murder suspect in 2017 case A senior police investigator testified yesterday that he never identified any alleged members of the Clansman Gang as suspects in a 2017 murder on Roger Avenue in Spanish Town, St Catherine – and never identified any suspect at all – despite the prosecution’s case linking the killing to the gang. “I have not identified a suspect up to this date,” the detective inspector told the court during the trial of alleged gang leader Tesha Miller and 24 other men in the Home Circuit Court.
Gov’t targets huge increase in collection of traffic fines The Government, through the Ministry of National Security and Peace, is signalling that it intends to collect a whopping $1 billion in traffic fines in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This compares with $450 million that was set as the target to collect in fiscal year 2025-2026. The increase is set out in the Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in Parliament last week by Finance and the Public Service Minister Fayval Williams.
172 years of Jamaica-China ties celebrated WESTERN BUREAU: The deepening partnership between Jamaica and China was highlighted Saturday night as Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, representing Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, addressed the Chinese Community’s Spring Festival celebration in Montego Bay, St James. Addressing more than 2,000 patrons gathered at The Pinnacle on Saturday night, Chuck described the Spring Festival as “a living reminder of the deep bonds of friendship, mutual respect and cooperation” that have long defined relations between the two nations.
‘Unacceptable!’ The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) has added its voice to the recent public debate over Transport and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz’s dismissal of an auditor general’s report which found that he breached the procurement law by bypassing established procedures to acquire 200 Starlink devices.
Vernon: Chinese community central to MoBay’s commercial, civic evolution WESTERN BUREAU: During the Spring Festival celebration at the Pinnacle in Reading on Sunday, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon said the story of the city’s economic rise cannot be told without highlighting the Chinese community . Situating the Spring Festival not only within cultural celebration, but the broader narrative of Montego Bay’s development, Vernon said the community’s impact extended beyond commerce, citing its long-standing commitment to education, philanthropy and civic engagement as forces that strengthened Montego Bay’s social foundations.
Reading revival Less than a year after a literacy crisis at Pembroke Hall High School drew national attention, the institution has reported a landmark academic turnaround. Internal assessments have shown that 76 per cent of grade-seven students have advanced by two or more grade levels in reading, a success attributed to reduced class sizes, a specialised Grade 7 Academy model, and intensive remedial collaboration, principal Reverend Claude Ellis said.
‘I gave them all away’ If donating a pint of blood can save the lives of three persons, then Sonya Binns-Lawrence, the country’s leading blood donor, is just 10 shy of perhaps saving the lives of 400 of her fellow Jamaicans. The phlebotomist, who is celebrating her 60th birthday, decided to twin the occasion with her 130th donation of blood to the cause of helping someone in dire need. The selfless blood donor understands too well the need to give the precious life-giving substance, having worked as an expert in drawing blood for more than 35 years.
From pain to purpose Born out of an ever-increasing need for emotional and mental healing from gun crimes, the mission of the Pamella’s Sunrise Foundation is to close these deeply inflicted psychosocial wounds, by taking people through their pain towards their purpose. Turning around what’s traumatic can be torturous as often serious scars remain ... and Denise Johnston, founder of Pamella’s Sunrise Foundation, readily admittted that hers was a long journey towards purpose because her pain was not properly dealt with. Her grief ... is gripping.