As Jamaican businesses confront climate-related disruptions, evolving market conditions and increasing pressure on critical infrastructure, resilience has become more than a business continuity consideration. It is now a strategic imperative for organisations seeking to protect operations, sustain growth, and remain competitive in an increasingly complex environment.

Patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) are expected to benefit from faster diagnoses, expanded access to specialist treatment and enhanced critical care services following a major expansion of the hospital’s clinical capabilities and healthcare workforce.

WESTERN BUREAU: Residents of St James are being encouraged to contact the relevant authorities for assistance whenever they see homeless people, including those who may have mental health challenges, roaming the streets of Montego Bay and the wider parish. In recent times, there have been complaints about the actions of certain homeless people in Montego Bay. Reports include one man taking up residence at the Jarrett Park complex and another setting up a living space on the sidewalk near the Decarteret Hotel along Jimmy Cliff Boulevard.

Allegations that have emerged about the operations of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) should be urgently addressed, a former senior regional diplomat has asserted. “It is not a trivial matter, and I am hoping that those responsible for the CCJ itself will in fact treat it with the urgency and the seriousness with which it deserves,” Ambassador Byron Blake, former assistant secretary general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), told The Gleaner yesterday.

Two Jamaican lottery scammers directed their elderly American victims to deposit millions of dollars into accounts they used to operate separate used-car dealerships in Jamaica, United States (US) authorities have charged. The allegations were detailed in documents filed in a US court in the case against Jordan Trought, the Jamaican lottery scammer who pleaded guilty for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud scheme that stole more than US$9 million, or about J$1.4 billion, from more than 200 elderly American citizens through a sweepstakes scam.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) A suspended Catholic priest on a tiny Caribbean island is embracing calypso to make his voice heard on topics including Gaza and sexual abuse within the church. Father Gerard Paul, who hails from Grenada, can no longer officiate masses, funerals, weddings or baptisms after repeatedly criticising the church and clergy. But that hasn’t stopped him from preaching via the lilting rhythms of calypso, an Afro-Caribbean music genre known for its witty lyrics and satirical social commentary.

Heightened security and growing unease gripped Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) on Saturday, a day after a major cocaine bust led to the arrest of eight people and intensified an investigation into an alleged drug-smuggling syndicate with connections to the facility. The Sunday Gleaner has learnt that the container seized during Friday’s operation was scheduled for export and was laden with goods labelled “jerk seasoning”, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

WESTERN BUREAU: They are two Kingston women with different lives and different histories of alleged abuse, but when Karen P.* and Janice Q.* speak about the policeman they say finally listened, the name is the same. Corporal Adrian Cornwall. After years of frustration, fear and what they describe as disappointing encounters with some members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), both women credit Cornwall with giving them something they desperately needed: the feeling that somebody believed their complaints required action. Karen goes even further.

A heavy influx of foreign plastic waste bearing Spanish and French labels is piling up along Jamaica’s eastern coastline, creating a severe environmental hazard that threatens marine life and the food chain. In Holland Bay, St Thomas, the pile-up of largely non-biodegradable debris includes beverage containers, household packaging, and commercial waste from products widely distributed in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Haiti, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.

Just 22 minutes apart on July 28, two police officers in different parishes accidentally shot themselves with licensed firearms. A few days later, a policewoman was injured after her Glock pistol was discharged inside her home, an M16 rifle was unintentionally fired at a Kingston police station, a correctional officer accidentally discharged his service weapon while carrying out a prescribed safety procedure, and a one-year-old girl was shot with her father’s police-issued firearm.

São Paulo, Brazil: Brazil is awaiting Jamaica’s response to a proposed sanitary agreement that would clear the way for poultry and pork exports to the island. Although Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of animal protein, it is currently not authorised to export poultry or pork to Jamaica because no bilateral sanitary certification agreement is in place. Brazilian beef exports to Jamaica are also limited to processed or canned products.

The Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) was under a virtual lockdown for several hours until late Friday as security forces continued a high-level operation into a major cocaine bust that the police have estimated at approximately J$1 billion. The operation reportedly began Thursday morning and remained active late Friday as police, the Jamaica Customs Agency and other members of the security forces restricted movement in and around the port while pursuing leads into the shipment and persons who may have been involved.

For some boys, the journey from childhood to manhood is shaped by challenges that are not always visible in the classroom. Low self-esteem, peer pressure, limited motivation, difficult home circumstances and the absence of positive male role models can influence how they learn, behave and see themselves.

The St Thomas Health Department will host a series of free back-to-school medical clinics and vaccination drives across the parish throughout August, as part of its annual public health outreach programme. Medical teams will provide health assessments, administer HPV and other routine vaccines where required, and complete school medical forms, to help ensure students are prepared for the new school year.

Experienced attorney-at-law Kelly-Ann Murdock has officially been installed as the country’s chief corruption prosecutor, about four months after acting in that role at the Integrity Commission (IC). Murdock, who is the director of corruption prosecution at the IC, has the task of prosecuting acts of corruption and related offences, including illicit enrichment, bribery, and failing to file or filing false statutory declarations. At the same time, Sashein Wright-Chin has been appointed director of corruption prevention, stakeholder engagement and anti-corruption strategy.

São Paulo, Brazil: Brazil is awaiting Jamaica’s response to a proposed sanitary agreement that would clear the way for poultry and pork exports to the island. Although Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of animal protein, it is currently not authorised to export poultry or pork to Jamaica because no bilateral sanitary certification agreement is in place. Brazilian beef exports to Jamaica are also limited to processed or canned products.

The Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) was under a virtual lockdown for several hours until late Friday as security forces continued a high-level operation into a major cocaine bust that the police have estimated at approximately J$1 billion. The operation reportedly began Thursday morning and remained active late Friday as police, the Jamaica Customs Agency and other members of the security forces restricted movement in and around the port while pursuing leads into the shipment and persons who may have been involved.

A Jamaican man recently pleaded guilty for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than US$9 million from over 200 elderly Americans in a decade-long sweepstakes fraud scheme, United States federal prosecutors announced. Thirty-year-old Jordan Trought entered a guilty plea on June 1 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud. Trought was arrested in Jamaica in August 2025 and extradited to the United States to face charges.

AP – Airline passengers know to expect possible flight delays when weather forecasts call for thunderstorms, heavy snow or strong wind. The omens are less obvious on a hot summer day with clear skies. Yet extreme heat also disrupts flights and travel plans. On the hottest days, thinner air can make it harder for aircraft to get off the ground safely. Airlines may have to lighten the load by removing passengers or cargo, or carrying less fuel.

WESTERN BUREAU: As Jamaica celebrates its 64th year of independence this year, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says that the nation’s growth over the decades is connected to the history of the African continent, with the Caribbean and African regions’ collaboration being indicative of strength across borders.

WESTERN BUREAU: Montego Bay-based reggae artiste Hezron Clarke never expected to be publicly honoured on Independence Day for his musical contributions to St James and the wider Jamaica.

FALMOUTH, Trelawny: The historic Water Square in Falmouth provided a fitting backdrop on Thursday as the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), in partnership with the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, hosted the parish’s Independence Civic Ceremony. The ceremony, commemorating Jamaica’s 64th Anniversary of Independence under the theme ‘United in Celebrating Resilience’. brought together government officials, civic leaders, members of the uniformed services, students, and residents in a patriotic observance celebrating Jamaica’s achievements.

WESTERN BUREAU: Disappointment over low public turnout overshadowed St Elizabeth’s Independence Day observance on Thursday, as civic and municipal leaders gathered with only a handful of residents to mark Jamaica’s 64th year of Independence. The flag-raising ceremony, a symbolic display of resilience and national pride, was held against the backdrop of the parish’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Melissa, which destroyed homes, public facilities and the municipal offices.

NEW YORK: Jamaicans across the United States and Canada have been well represented among the 140 people in this year’s list for national honours and awards list. At least 12 diasporans are set to be among those honoured on National Heroes Day in October. Heading the list is Donette Chin-Loy, who has been awarded the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the nation’s fourth highest national honour. She has been honoured for her contribution to nation building in Jamaica and Canada.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WESTERN BUREAU: Twenty-six students from Knockalva Polytechnic College (KPC), in Hanover, who were impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa, have received scholarship support to the tune of J$4 million from the school’s overseas based past students to help ease their financial burden going into the new school year.

A cluster of four suspected suicides reported across Jamaica in less than 24 hours has heightened public concern and renewed scrutiny of the country’s mental-health challenges amid a string of similar incidents reported across the island in recent months. The latest cases began unfolding on Monday at the May Pen Police Station in Clarendon, where serving Police Constable Kenroy Pitter was found with a wound to his neck inside an office after colleagues reportedly forced open the door when they became concerned about his whereabouts.

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.

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.