Western Bureau: As Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett tours hospitality properties along Jamaica’s south coast to assess recovery efforts and reinforce the sector’s readiness to welcome international visitors, industry stakeholders are warning that global uncertainty is dampening bookings and occupancy levels.

Kathryn Silvera, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), says the organisation is relying on guidance from regulators as concerns grow over contaminated sugar linked to Pan Caribbean Sugar Company. “Pan Caribbean would be the manufacturer of the sugar in this instance, and so they would supply a number of different entities, people who might be using sugar as a raw material to bake or for other items, distributors, or those who buy in bulk and then repackage,” Silvera said.

The ganja fraternity in Jamaica, while welcoming the recent decision by the United States (US) Department of Justice to reclassify certain cannabis products, is urging local producers to see it as both an opportunity and a warning. Maurice Ellis, head of the Ganja Growers’ Association of Jamaica, said in a statement to The Gleaner that the reclassification under the United States Controlled Substances Act changes the operating environment for the global cannabis industry, and Jamaican farmers need to interpret it carefully.

Local contractors are being urged to make the necessary investment in their companies to effectively compete for large-scale government projects. Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness made the suggestion while speaking at the National Housing Trust (NHT) groundbreaking ceremony for the Galina housing development in St Mary yesterday.

King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie is calling for restraint in public discussion surrounding the firearm case involving popular podcaster Jhaedee Richards and music producer Jahvel Morrison, after both men were yesterday granted $1.5 million bail in the Gun Court. Speaking with The Gleaner following the hearing, Champagnie, who represents Morrison, popularly known as ‘Jahvy Ambassador’, alongside attorneys Richard Lynch and Sayeed Bernard, said public commentary on the matter should not undermine the court proceedings.

The state-led Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) wants a consulting firm to develop a master plan for Sangster International Airport to span the next two decades for the nation’s largest gateway. The project comes as Hurricane Melissa last October led to travel disruption and contributed to the reduction in airport revenue.

WESTERN BUREAU: Creativity, sustainability and community spirit took centre stage as Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Academy in Westmoreland hosted its first-ever Ecofest earlier this week in celebration of Earth Day, showcasing student innovation and environmental awareness. From recycled musical instruments to hydroponic farming displays, students across all grade levels demonstrated what they have learned about sustainability through hands-on projects, impressing parents, teachers and community partners alike.

WESTERN BUREAU: As the local tourism and hospitality sector continues to rebound from Hurricane Melissa, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) bill will be the reset to unlock full transformation on the south coast tourism corridor. Bartlett, who toured the south coast corridor on Thursday, said the legislation, which is now in its final stages of debate in Parliament, will provide the legal and institutional framework for what the Government is calling the “reimagining of tourism”, following the hurricane.

A Jamaican farm worker who said his recall to a New York farm was delayed in 2024 after he supported union activity has won his case before the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Owen Salmon brought the complaint against Wafler Farms with the backing of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), which filed initial unfair labour practice charges in July 2023 and added him in one of several later amendments.

WESTERN BUREAU: The Ministry of Health & Wellness has ordered an immediate halt to the production, distribution, and sale of sugar from Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company Limited (PCSC) after preliminary tests detected metal fragments in the packaged sugar. Additionally, batch codes ‘01 2029’ to ‘01 2028’ have been identified in a recall of packaged sugar produced by the company. This specific batch, according to the company, has been the only set in circulation since January 2026.

A Supreme Court judge has ordered the arrest of developer Andre De La Motta after he repeatedly defied court orders in a dispute with a retired American couple who paid more than $64 million to build their dream home in St Thomas but left the project largely unfinished. Justice Althea Jarrett last month ruled that De La Motta be taken into custody and imprisoned for six weeks at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, or another suitable facility, or until he purges his contempt of court.

In a rare departure from Jamaica’s parliamentary tradition, backbencher and former Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte on Tuesday cut through one of the most consequential pieces of legislation tabled by the Government in recent times and told members of the executive bluntly – go back and “rework” the bill.

The Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) is raising concerns over what it describes as a lack of consultation with local contractors in the establishment of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), the agency tasked to lead Jamaica’s post-hurricane reconstruction.

Changing Jamaica’s gun law to provide lesser penalties for possession of an imitation firearm is not enough if the “fundamental flaw” of possibly criminalising citizens for an object that cannot discharge a projectile is not addressed, a criminal defence attorney has asserted. Minister of National Security and Peace Dr Horace Chang announced in Parliament on Tuesday that new amendments to the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022 will be tabled “in short order”.

WESTERN BUREAU: A jubilant church service in Montego Bay, St James, was shattered by gunfire on Wednesday, leaving a choir member dead at the doorway as worshippers screamed “Jesus! Jesus!” and fled in panic. The deceased has been identified as 38-year-old Cora Thompson, a member of the New Testament Church of God on Water Lane in St James, where she worshipped and sang on the choir. Thompson resided at Humber Avenue in Montego Bay with her 12-year-old son.

The Government has signalled a firmer stance against rising violence at entertainment events, with Deputy Prime Minister and National Security and Peace Minister Dr Horace Chang warning that criminals will not be allowed to hijack Jamaica’s party scene. Making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Chang pointed to what he described as “emerging trends” in violent incidents at parties, while insisting that the authorities are moving decisively to contain the threat.

Opposition Spokesman on Energy Phillip Paulwell says while his government counterpart, Daryl Vaz, has reportedly suggested that the high price of electricity was attributed chiefly to the terms of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) licence, there was no legal barrier at this time preventing the Government from initiating early negotiations to grant a new licence to supply power to the country. The licence granted to JPS expires in July 2027.

Minister of National Security and Peace Dr Horace Chang says that after a massive slash in major crimes last year, Jamaicans are now set to reap a “peace dividend”, putting the benefits of safer communities at the forefront of the country’s progress. He explained that this “peace dividend” refers to the tangible social, economic, and developmental gains flowing directly to communities as crime declines, including safer streets, stronger families, expanded opportunities for young people, and an overall improved quality of life.

WESTERN BUREAU: A viral video showing a barbed wire fence blocking a section of Negril’s famed Seven Mile Beach has sparked public outrage and swift action, but the man at the centre of the controversy insists the intention was never to deny access. Diego Heaven, an instructor at Reef Explorer dive centre, said the fence was misunderstood. “Our intention is never ever to lock anyone out from the beach … . All we’re trying to do is protect our property,” he explained.

The mother of a three-month-old boy, whose body was found wrapped in a blanket in house in Rockfort, Kingston, on Sunday night, has been placed in a mental health facility as investigations continue into the child’s death. The child, identified by the police as Judah Shaw, reportedly had abrasions on his head. Relatives spoke to The Gleaner on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, saying that the development underscores long-standing concerns about the woman’s “on-and-off” mental state.

A simmering feud between two teenage schoolboys, marked by repeated clashes, taunts and reports to authorities, erupted in deadly violence on Monday, with both families insisting that the teen’s death could have been prevented had both sides come together earlier to peacefully resolve the dispute.

The mother of the former Jamaica College (JC) schoolboy who suffered injuries after a violent attack weeks ago believes her claim that the school has a gang and bullying culture has been supported by the emergence of footage showing another boy being assaulted at the school last week. The video, which has drawn the ire of the Ministry of Education, which has begun a probe of the events, showed a group of uniformed boys around another boy who is repeatedly being slapped in the face and whipped with a belt.

The shooting of a teenage girl at an entertainment event early Monday morning has intensified concerns about the frequency of gun-related incidents at entertainment events, with several security lapses this month alone. The victim, who police reports seen by The Gleaner suggest is 16 years old, was attending a party at Chocolate Hole in Junction, St Elizabeth, when she was shot by a male patron reportedly known to her. She remained hospitalised up to news time last night.

The education ministry has ordered an immediate investigation after a video emerged showing students in school uniform violently assaulting a fellow student at what «appears to be a prominent corporate area high school». «Violence and bullying have no place in our schools, and we will use every resource at our disposal to ensure those responsible face appropriate consequences,» said portfolio minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon in a statement issued on Monday. The ministry did not name the school.

Western Bureau: Young Jamaicans are being urged to harness their creative ideas so that they can develop the skills needed to shape the future of Jamaica’s tourism. Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism, noted last Thursday that students play a crucial role in generating the ideas that will drive the next phase of tourism development. Bartlett was speaking at the Jamaica Youth Tourism Summit & Artisan Experience, which was hosted by the western campus of The University of the West Indies, and held under the theme, ‘Jamaica Wi Cyaa Dun: Resilient Tourism Roots’.

Parents of a child diagnosed with either Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism often face a range of emotions in dealing with the impacts of the situation. In terms of autism, some parents experience fear as they are uncertain about the child’s future and safety, while others may experience shame or guilt because of the social stigma attached and the reaction of people in general.

WESTERN BUREAU: Deputy Superintendent of Police Linroy Edwards, the operations officer for the St James Police Division, says that while the 20 murders recorded in St James this year is one more than the corresponding period last year, the police remain fully committed to keeping the murder tally low. Edwards, who was speaking during a press briefing in Montego Bay on Friday, disclosed that the St James police have also strengthened their operating capacity with the addition of 31 personnel, five motorcycles, and three pickup vehicles.

Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate Donna Scott-Mottley is urging the Government to put stronger safeguards in place to protect vulnerable Jamaicans as the country moves to grant three casino licences under its integrated resort development model. Contributing to debate in the Upper House on Friday on the Casino Gaming (General) Regulations, 2025, Scott-Mottley warned that gambling is an industry that often exploits human vulnerability and can lead to addiction.

When Courtney Anderson went to court last Thursday, the last thing he expected was that the judge would order his arrest, have him jailed, and place a stop order against him.

NEW YORK (AP): Before Megan Pilatzke was diagnosed with autism, she wondered why she always felt drained when she got home from work. All day long, she’d laboured to understand when to speak up or stay silent in meetings. She replayed conversations in her head, worrying she’d misunderstood or said the wrong thing. Noisy environments distressed her. She watched her peers receive promotions when she didn’t.

Just minutes from St Mary’s seaside capital of Port Maria, the Frontier (Phase 2) Housing Scheme appears at first glance to be an idyllic residential enclave with its elevated lots gazing out towards Pagee Beach. But a closer look tells a different story – uneven roads riddled with potholes break its polished image, street lighting is scarce, and residents have for years been without piped water, and proper garbage collection.

After nearly three decades protecting the public, retired Jamaican police officer Marlon Campbell* sits at home, sometimes unable to pay his light bill. He gave his working life to the State, but more than four years after leaving the force, he has not received his final pension letter and the full pension he is entitled to remains unpaid. “It’s one of the things where you leave now and you have regrets. It is that bad,” said the retiree, who served over two decades in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) before retiring almost a decade ago.

The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) did not turn over hundreds of documents that were critical to an operation and turnaround plan it commissioned for millions of dollars, the Canadian consulting firm that was contracted to draft it has alleged. This claim by Williams Pragmatic Services (WPS) comes amid scrutiny of its contract with the UHWI by Jamaican lawmakers. Hodine Williams, chief executive officer (CEO) of WPS, dismissed questions raised publicly about the qualification and competence of the consultants.

Scientific and Medical Supplies has rejected findings by the auditor general that the company benefited from a “misuse” of the University Hospital of the West Indies’ (UHWI) tax-exemption status for imports, and has signalled it has no intention of repaying a cent. Managing Director Howard Lau dismissed the audit conclusions outright, maintaining that the shipment of 40 specialised waste bins linked to his company belonged to the hospital and not his company.

Attorneys decry cops’ decision to lay shooting charges against Jaii Frais, Jahvy Ambassador despite podcaster’s and music producer's duelling claims that they were acting in self defence Defence attorney Isat Buchanan has raised concerns about what he describes as a troubling signal being sent by law enforcement following charges laid against popular podcaster Jhaedee Richards, more popularly known as Jaii Frais, in connection with Sunday’s shooting incident at a carnival afterparty in St Andrew.