Tangled and dangerous Five months after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the danger hasn’t passed. It’s hanging – literally – over nearly every road, sidewalk, and gate in Westmoreland, especially in the capital. What used to be a routine drive remains a gamble as low-hanging wires now snake along roadways and sidewalks, turning everyday movement into a split-second calculation between safety and disaster. One wrong move, one unseen cable, and the outcome could be catastrophic.
FULL CIRCLE WESTERN BUREAU: From a little girl growing up in Kingston to one of daytime television’s most influential producers, Talia Parkinson-Jones has built a career shaping stories, steering culture, and helping to define what millions of viewers see each day. Now, after more than two decades behind the scenes of American television, the Jamaica-born executive director and producer at NBC is stepping into her own spotlight, her journey, forged through grit and vision, coming full circle.
No solo rebuild The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is warning that Jamaica’s recovery from the destruction of Hurricane Melissa will rise or fall on a single factor: Government, private interests, citizens and international partners all pull their weight in a united, national push. Utilities have largely returned in western parishes devastated by the monster storm last October, but more than 90,000 households remain displaced or are living in gutted structures.
Midnight flood swamps Portland homes as rains create chaos A night of relentless rain and thunder left sections of northeastern Jamaica reeling, as swollen waterways burst their bounds and sent murky floodwaters rushing into homes, reigniting fears ahead of the looming hurricane season. The Meteorological Service of Jamaica had forecast unstable weather conditions across the region, warning of persistent rainfall through late Sunday into Monday. But for residents of eastern Portland, the weather’s true force came suddenly and without mercy late Friday night.
Tesha Miller eyes Privy Council Tesha Miller’s legal team is weighing the possibility of taking his case to the Privy Council, after the Court of Appeal quashed his convictions for accessory to murder but ordered a retrial. The appellate court, in a judgment delivered yesterday, found that a fundamental error in jury selection rendered Miller’s original trial a nullity. The panel of judges, Justices Jennifer Straw, Nicole Foster-Pusey, and David Fraser, ruled that the trial judge erred in limiting Miller to two peremptory challenges during jury empanelling, when the law entitled him to four.
Rebar rebuke The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has disclosed that “another step will be taken” following the publication of an investigation report alleging that Tank-Weld Metals Limited was “likely abusing” its dominance in the local reinforcing steel bar (rebar) market by harming rivals and customers”. However, Executive Director of the FTC David Miller declined to comment on the actions being contemplated. “I am not prepared to state at this time what that step is,” Miller told The Gleaner when contacted yesterday.
JTA to submit suggestions to teaching bill to education ministry in April The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has announced that it will submit its written recommendations on proposed changes to the Jamaica Teaching Bill (JTC) to the Ministry of Education next month, after it had voiced strong objections to the law that would govern the teaching profession, and delayed its enactment. Mark Malabver, president of the JTA, made the disclosure in response to a public appeal from State Minister Rhoda Moy Crawford.
U$22m relief effort bearing fruit, says US Embassy official WESTERN BUREAU: The United States (US) has indicated it is satisfied that its US$22-million hurricane relief support is helping Jamaicans recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, with a strong focus on health and mental health services across western parishes. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Jamaica, Scott Renner, made the remarks during a visit to Montego Bay, St James, on Friday where he toured recovery activities carried out by humanitarian organisation Project HOPE, one of the key partners implementing the US-funded programme.
O’Brien set to double stake in Digicel Irish telecoms founder Denis O’Brien is on track to double his equity stake in Digicel Group to about 20 per cent, buoyed by improving financial performance at the Caribbean-focused operator and a rebound in telecoms sector valuations, according to The Irish Times. Despite renewed attention on ownership, Digicel has declined to comment on any prospective changes in shareholding. “We will not be providing comment at this time,” Ana Rua, a spokesperson for Digicel Group, told The Gleaner.