FEAR TURNS FATAL Shock, grief, and simmering anger have engulfed residents of Marlin Way in Braeton, Portmore, after a 63-year-old mother was brutally chopped to death inside her home. It was an attack neighbours say they feared could one day happen. The deceased woman, Sonia LaBeach Dillion, a devoted mother and a long-standing supervisor at Sampars in Cross Roads, St Andrew, was found with multiple chop wounds at her Marlin Way house early yesterday morning. The incident reportedly occurred just after 9 a.m.
‘Death knell for small hotels’ WESTERN BUREAU: As Jamaica’s tourism sector continues its post-Hurricane Melissa recovery, small hotel operators are warning that new tax measures slated for implementation in April 2027 could destabilise locally owned properties and weaken the island’s competitiveness. Hoteliers say the timing of the proposed General Consumption Tax (GCT) increase, coupled with rising utility costs and lingering hurricane-related disruptions, creates what one stakeholder described as a “perfect storm”.
Hustle to hope When Kadeem Henry reflects on his journey, the first word he uses is not ‘success’ or ‘achievement’, it is ‘survival’. A trained graduate with a Bachelor of Education in Special Education from The Mico University College, he stands as an example of what it means to rise from humble beginnings and pursue higher heights against the odds. Henry grew up in a household led by a single mother, who worked tirelessly as a higgler at the Coronation and Port Antonio markets to provide for her five children. Those early years were defined by sacrifice and perseverance.
Detective draws line between ‘suspect’ and ‘possible suspect’ in Clansman trial A senior police investigator in one of the shootings allegedly carried out by the Clansman Gang in 2017 yesterday insisted that a “possible suspect” is not a suspect at all as the gang trial continued with further scrutiny of the Roger Avenue killing. The evidence came during re-examination of a detective inspector attached to the Major Investigation Division (MID) in the trial involving alleged gang leader Tesha Miller and 24 others.
Two cops face probe over suspected link to three murders Two policemen are under investigation for their suspected involvement in three murders, including the shooting death of a popular St Mary businessman last week, multiple law-enforcement sources have revealed. The other killing was a double murder, but sources declined to divulge details because the investigation is at a sensitive stage.
Hanover Health Department embarks on garbage-clearing drive WESTERN BUREAU: The Hanover Health Department (HHD) has embarked on a garbage clearing drive as a health protection amid complaints from residents that the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s Western Parks and Markets (NSWMA/WPM) is falling behind on garbage collection. A report tabled by Andrew Walker, the WPM representative, at last week’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) highlighted numerous operational challenges affecting garbage collection in 29 districts across the parish.
Clarke calls for global response to climate instability, transnational crime WESTERN BUREAU: Deputy House Speaker Heroy Clarke has cited climate instability and transnational crime as existential threats to the Caribbean requiring an urgent global response, noting that these are the most pressing issues affecting regional stability.
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.