‘Abominable betrayal’ - Patterson demands answers over Jamaica’s Cuba vote shift The Government of Jamaica’s abstention from the United Nations General Assembly vote to lift the United States (US) embargo against Cuba amounts to an “abominable betrayal” that stains the country’s record of standing up against oppression. This is the pronouncement of former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who has demanded that the Government provide a full explanation for its departure from Jamaica’s long-standing opposition to the 66-year-old economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US against Cuba.
When the sea comes knocking - Erosion leaves residents in Alligator Pond fearful One of the most recurring questions facing people who have lost their homes to Hurricane Melissa in Alligator Pond is: “What did you expect when you were building a home so close to the sea?” It is a question that frustrates them. Walking along the shoreline, surveying the damage and listening to residents, a common refrain emerges. They stress that when they built their homes decades ago, the thought of the sea crashing into their properties was never a concern because it simply was not as close as it is now.
DAM SHAME - Portland tragedy site desecrated by illegal dumping RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Portland: A site forever etched in the memory of Portlanders following the tragic loss of 14 lives in a horrific 2008 truck accident has been turned into an illegal dumping ground, sparking concerns about environmental pollution, public health risks, and the desecration of a memorial dedicated to the victims.
Senator Duncan outlines why he ‘jumped off the fence’ For years, banker and businessman Keith Duncan saw himself as an independent Jamaican who worked across administrations in the interest of building the country. In his State of the Nation Debate presentation to the Senate on Friday, the man who is from a family with strong connections to the People’s National Party (PNP) revealed that his decision to accept an appointment as government senator was not met with commendations from his siblings.
Prosecution wraps case in Pathways murder trial The defence in the Pathways murder trial is set to begin its presentation on Monday, following the prosecution’s conclusion with testimony from consultant forensic pathologist Dr Humberto Casanova. The expert witness testified that 39-year-old Taneka Gardner died from massive blood loss caused by a slash wound to the neck, which damaged blood vessels, muscles, and the trachea.
$5.8m for Clarendon cemetery rehabilitation The Clarendon Municipal Corporation (CMC) has earmarked $5.8 million to rehabilitate damaged and exposed graves at two public cemeteries, with work expected to begin at Denbigh Cemetery, the parish’s main burial ground, before extending to the coastal community of Rocky Point.
PM lays out vision for new Black River amid claims of administrative hurdles WESTERN BUREAU: Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has blamed sluggish government procurement procedures for stalling plans to develop a new, climate-resilient town centre for Black River in St Elizabeth. Holness, who was speaking at Wednesday’s reopening of the rehabilitated Black River Hospital, expressed frustration that the Government’s vision for a safer, modern urban centre remained bogged down in administrative procedures, despite the urgent need to relocate critical public infrastructure away from the vulnerable coastline.
GrassROOTS Community Foundation to redevelop St James Parish Library WESTERN BUREAU: The New Jersey-based GrassROOTS Community Foundation will be undertaking redevelopment work at the St James Parish Library, including rebuilding of the facility’s reference area, beginning on November 2. The initiative is part of the efforts to make the library more attractive. Speaking to The Gleaner on Wednesday, GrassROOTS President Dr Janice Johnson Dias said that the anticipated work will follow up on her organisation’s previous construction of a podcast room at the library in July 2025.
If a company wants you back after AI-related job cuts ... NEW YORK (AP): Companies around the world are increasingly citing artificial intelligence (AI) when slashing jobs, fueling anxiety that a lot more workers may lose their livelihoods to machines. Microsoft, Barclays Bank and supermarket chain Kroger are among the latest entries on a growing list of companies that have announced AI-related workforce reductions this year, including the elimination of jobs deemed redundant or shed to free up money for investing in the technology.
BUILDERS PUSH BACK - Local experts reject skills deficit claims, urge NaRRA to tap J’can talent for major projects Jamaica’s construction professionals are pushing back against suggestions that the island lacks the capacity to deliver major infrastructure projects as the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) prepares to oversee US$6 billion in infrastructure and resilience-building works over the next five years. The planned projects include hospital construction, water and sewage upgrades, transportation infrastructure, and housing relocation.