Jamaica's government cautioned donors on Thursday about criminal schemes targeting relief funds after Hurricane Melissa battered the island nation.
Minister Andrew Wheatley reported that cybersecurity officials discovered 28 deceptive donation platforms by late afternoon, a sharp increase from eight identified the previous night. Fraudsters constructed these impostor sites to resemble legitimate government pages, using addresses such as jamaicahurricanehelp.net and melissareliefjamaica.com to mislead contributors. Wheatley explained that all authentic Jamaican government domains conclude with .gov.jm, making supportjamaica.gov.jm the sole authorized collection point for hurricane donations.
Officials urged potential contributors to...
Jamaica's tourism sector has set a target of December 15 for complete operational restoration following Hurricane Melissa, according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. The ministry established a Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee to align rebuilding efforts across government agencies and private enterprises.
John Byles from Chukka Caribbean Adventures leads the task force, which includes representatives from Sandals Resorts International, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, and multiple tourism agencies. The group will expedite damage evaluations and coordinate infrastructure repairs at hotels, beaches, transportation hubs and visitor corridors. Minister Bartlett emphasized that...
Jamaica confronts massive destruction after Hurricane Melissa tore through the nation on Tuesday, striking near New Hope in Westmoreland parish shortly before noon with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. The Category 5 system has become the most powerful storm ever to hit the island directly, leaving 19 people dead and triggering catastrophic flooding, mudslides and structural devastation. St. Elizabeth parish absorbed the worst damage, though Hanover, St. James, Trelawny, Manchester and Westmoreland also faced severe impacts. Eastern areas, including St. Thomas and Portland, experienced coastal flooding, while Kingston and central regions largely escaped major harm.
Five hospitals sustained critical damage: Falmouth Hospital, Noel...
Miramar officials joined forces with Jamaica's Miami Consulate and Food for the Poor on Sunday to coordinate humanitarian assistance for Jamaica following catastrophic damage from Hurricane Melissa. Mayor Wayne M. Messam described the storm as the most powerful ever documented, with peak winds reaching 185 mph that surpass Florida's most rigorous construction standards. He warned that even Miramar would lose most rooftops if struck by such a tempest, adding that Jamaica faces years of recovery ahead.
The city established collection sites at multiple fire and police facilities for essential supplies, including generators, tarps, canned goods, flashlights, batteries and medical equipment. Commissioner Maxwell Chambers praised Jamaica's...
St. Vincent and the Grenadines received cricket stars Courtney Walsh, Sir Curtly Ambrose, and Ridley Jacobs at Argyle International Airport as part of independence festivities that include a master's exhibition game. The three West Indies veterans arrived ahead of a T20 contest pitting their regional squad against international counterparts at Arnos Vale Cricket Stadium on Saturday, November 1, at 7 p.m. Organizers announced free entry beginning at 5 p.m.
The athletes will participate in community activities before the main event. An under-19 demonstration match at Cumberland Playing Field on Friday, October 31, at 1 p.m. allows students from North Leeward schools to meet the accomplished players. Tourism Minister Carlos James called...
The Pan American Health Organization has mobilized a comprehensive Caribbean relief operation following destruction from Hurricane Melissa, delivering more than 2.6 tons of medical equipment to Cuba while readying 5.5 tons of aid for Jamaica pending full airport resumption.
Eastern Cuba absorbed a Category 3 impact early on Tuesday when winds reached 205 kilometers per hour, producing severe flooding and power failures across multiple provinces. Nine emergency health kits departed from Panama, containing medicines and surgical materials sufficient for 5,000 individuals across three months, plus chlorine tablets capable of purifying eight million liters of water. Dr. Mario Cruz Penate, representing PAHO in Cuba, stressed that rapid...
Jamaica's health ministry has issued an urgent request for blood donors after Hurricane Melissa disrupted collection operations and delivery routes across several regions. The National Blood Transfusion Service canceled scheduled drives and struggled to transport supplies to medical facilities, creating shortages that endanger patients requiring emergency operations, trauma treatment and maternity care.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie asked residents to contribute once travel becomes safe. She noted that hospitals remain in crisis response mode and every contribution matters significantly. Officials advised prospective donors to confirm safe passage before visiting centers, consume adequate food and fluids...
The Caribbean Telecommunications Union marked four decades of operation with its largest gathering at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, drawing more than 800 participants from 52 nations. Secretary General Teresa Wankin characterized the assembly as demonstrating regional readiness to construct a gigabit society benefiting all territories and populations. Two Caribbean prime ministers attended alongside 10 ICT ministers, telecommunications executives and international regulators to address digital transformation strategies under the theme Towards a Unified and Sustainable Caribbean Gigabit Society.
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis emphasized that technological advancement must extend beyond infrastructure to improve lives through expanded...
A Dutch appellate court extended reggae artist Jah Cure's prison term to eight years and four months on Thursday, October 30, following his 2021 stabbing of concert promoter Nicardo Blake during a payment dispute in Amsterdam. Voice messages that emerged during appeal proceedings showed the performer, whose legal name is Siccature Alcock, telling an acquaintance he planned to confront Blake and had obtained a blade beforehand. Judges determined these recordings demonstrated calculated intent rather than impulsive action.
The Never Find vocalist initially received a six-year sentence for attempted manslaughter in March 2022 before gaining release when that conviction was overturned. Prosecutors pursued harsher punishment through appeals...
