140 for national honours Outgoing Bank of Jamaica Governor Richard Byles is among seven Jamaicans who have been appointed to the Order of Jamaica (OJ) and will join 139 other nationals journeying to King’s House in October for recognition at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony. Joining Byles in the OJ are philanthropist Donette Chin-Loy Chang; Cabinet minister Daryl Vaz; former parliamentarians Maxine Henry-Wilson and Derrick Smith; leader and philanthropist Diana Stewart; and private sector leader Christopher Zacca.
Public-sector wage deal sealed After tough and sometimes stalled negotiations between the Government and unions representing public-sector workers, an agreement has been reached on wages for the three-year period from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028. St Patrice Ennis, president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), told The Gleaner yesterday that the unions have agreed to a one-off payment of $80,000 for the period April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. Additionally, the Government has improved its wage offer from seven per cent over the three-year period to 10 per cent.
Swing too far - Illegal St James attraction demolished as officials declare it a tragedy waiting to happen WESTERN BUREAU: The giant swing tourist attraction demolished in Norwood Pen, St James, yesterday was “very, very dangerous” and posed the risk of a major tragedy, according to St James Municipal Corporation Acting Chief Engineer Pete Jackson. The municipality ordered the demolition after discovering that the attraction had been erected without the required building and planning approvals. Officials said cease notices served earlier in the day had been removed before enforcement officers returned to the site.
Churches plead for Haitians WESTERN BUREAU: The Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC) is calling on the Government to treat Haitians who risk their lives to reach Jamaica by sea, to seek asylum, with more dignity and compassion. The JUGC’s call comes against the background of the issuing of deportation orders for eight Haitians who landed in Jamaica on July 17. The orders would see them meeting the same fate as other Haitians who were sent back to their violence-torn homeland without being allowed to present their cases for asylum.
Jamaica to take spotlight at NYPD headquarters The doors of One Police Plaza, the headquarters of the New York Police Department (NYPD), will be thrown open on August 11 to Jamaicans and friends when the Jamaican American Law Enforcement Organization (JAMLEO) hosts its third annual Heritage Night. The event will be held in commemoration of Jamaica’s 64th anniversary of Independence. Lt Danae McFarlane, president of JAMLEO, said Heritage Night serves as a powerful bridge between the Jamaican diaspora and the law-enforcement community.
AHF programme equips 30 youth with workplace, life skills Thirty young Jamaicans have completed four weeks of workplace exposure, skills training and personal development under the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Jamaica’s 2026 Summer Employment and Training Programme. The programme, delivered in partnership with the Institute of Law and Economics (ILE), provided work placements across the health, private and public sectors, while exposing participants to training in leadership, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, human rights, and sexual and reproductive health.
Honour for a lifesaver - Blood donations hero Sonya Maria Binns-Lawrence recognised for meritorious service Jamaica’s all-time leading blood donor, Sonya Maria Binns-Lawrence, has been recognised with the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for her contribution to the field of health and wellness. Binns-Lawrence received the news on Wednesday that she will be honoured on National Heroes Day at King’s House for her selfless contribution spanning decades. The 60-year-old phlebotomist has made at least 130 blood donations in her mission to help those in need. When contacted yesterday, Binns-Lawrence said she was elated to be recognised for her voluntary service.
BACK TO AFRICA Two noted advocates have welcomed a proposal by President John Mahama of the Republic of Ghana to create a pathway to citizenship for people of African descent, describing it as a major step toward the long-sought right of return to Africa. Reviving the decades-old issue of repatriation, Mahama announced yesterday that his government is considering legislation to establish a pathway to citizenship for members of the global African family.
‘I was just doing my job’ - Dream Weekend videographer says viral Elephant Man clip tells only part of the story WESTERN BUREAU: For nearly three days, a viral video showing dancehall entertainer Elephant Man dragging Dream Weekend videographer Dario Shields across a stage has fuelled debate on social media. But the man behind the camera says the widely shared clip tells only part of what happened.
Reparations movement at defining moment, says Ghanaian leader Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on Monday declared that the global reparations movement has reached “a defining moment”, arguing that the international community must move beyond acknowledging the atrocities of slavery and colonialism to taking meaningful steps to address their lasting consequences.