Ground has been broken for a $124-million cold storage facility at the greenhouse cluster in Content, Kirkvine, Manchester, which is expected to benefit more than 1,500 farmers and producers. The initiative is being implemented by the Government of Jamaica through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) under its Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) II. “Two 40-foot containers will be retrofitted to provide 135 cubic metres of cold storage capacity. Additionally, we will have another 40-foot container retrofitted to provide 67 cubic metres of dry storage capacity. We are doing it for all the different types of produce that we have in this area,” said Floyd Green, minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, at the ceremony on Thursday. The facility will also include a processing area for weighing, washing, sorting, and grading produce. A photovoltaic solar system will be installed to meet energy needs. “We will also be covering the cold...

There was an increased security presence at the St Catherine Parish Court today as dancehall artiste Kiprich, whose given name is Marlon Plunkett, made his first court appearance on allegations of promoting gang violence. Kiprich was charged by the police over a song that they claim endorses gang violence and pays tribute to alleged One Order Gang leader Othniel ‘Thickman’ Lobban, who was fatally shot by police. The 45-year-old has been charged with the use of audio and audiovisual communication to promote criminal activity. In court today, it was revealed that a file from the police’s Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division is still outstanding. Kiprich, who is out on bail, was ordered to return to court on May 20. His attorneys, Patrick Peterkin and Michael Jordon, informed the court that on that date, a decision will be made on whether to file an application to take the matter before the...

On the heels of an announcement that global tech giant Meta intends to make significant investments into artificial intelligence (AI)-powered humanoid robots, one local information technology (IT) professional is adding his voice to the call for Jamaican students to position themselves for greater opportunities in digital technology. Pointing to what he describes as an ‘explosion in the digital age’, Daniel Bruce, the IT manager at Access Financial Services, says a career in tech has never been more attractive. “Are we doing enough as a people to ensure that our students can take full advantage of the opportunities that are available now, and those that will continue to emerge? Maybe not. Yes, government can do more, but it has to go further than that. We need a whole mindset shift, starting with parents of school age children getting ready to decide what career path to take. Parents give their kids phones....

Deputy Superintendent of Police Gary Chambers was today freed of a charge of indecent assault in the St Catherine Parish Court. Chambers was accused of assaulting a female colleague in October 2016 while they were travelling en route to Linstead in a service vehicle. She claimed that he touched her inappropriately. The policewoman subsequently made a report to the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse. Chambers was charged in 2021 following a ruling from the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions. Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox He was taken to court, where he was offered bail. When the matter was called up today, the judge freed the policeman after receiving further evidence, noting grave inconsistencies in the Crown’s case. Chambers was defended by attorneys-at-law King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie and Richard Lynch. Chambers made numerous court appearances and maintained his innocence throughout. – Rasbert Turner Follow The Gleaner...

Excelsior Community College recognised Robert Hill, Chief Executive Officer and Town Clerk of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, as a distinguished past student during its annual graduation ceremony (Class of 2024) held at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Thursday, February 13. A proud alumnus of both Excelsior Community College and Excelsior High School, Hill has dedicated over 30 years to public service, becoming a specialist in local governance. His career in the Government has been marked by significant contributions, including his appointment as CEO of the City of Kingston on March 10, 2014. Prior to this, he served as the Senior Director of Local Government Administration and Community Services in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and as Project Manager for the ‘Enhancing Civil Society Participation in Local Government for Community Safety’ Project, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). While accepting his Distinguished Past...

Firefighters are battling a massive warehouse fire on Great George Street in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. There are no reports of casualties. Just after 6 p.m., Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Danree Delancy, said the fire was still “raging” but was “somewhat under control” based on a report from the local fire department. “I think we have passed the worst in terms of the threat posed by the fire,” he said. There are fears the fire could spread to a nearby gas station and church. The fire reportedly started at the tyre warehouse around 3 p.m. Thick plumes of smoke have covered sections of the parish capital. Five fire units are currently on the scene. They are being assisted by five water trucks. The mayor commended several private water truck operators and the National Water Commission for their assistance. He said the closest hydrant was experiencing low water pressure. More details to come. -Ashley...

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Authorities in Haiti have issued more than a dozen arrest warrants against suspects accused of backing gang members that have been attacking a peaceful community near the capital for the past three weeks. Dozens of people have been killed in Kenscoff this month, including three police officers and one soldier, police spokesman Lionel Lazarre said Tuesday at a press conference. Among those accused of plotting against the government and backing the gangs is former Senator Nenel Cassy and former Kenscoff legislator Alfredo Antoine, Lazarre said. Neither could not be immediately reached for comment. Among the victims of the attacks was a two-month-old baby, according to the Cooperative for Peace and Development, a local human rights group who called for the creation of a special international criminal tribunal to try all those accused of killing thousands of people, including children, across Haiti in recent years. “Road access...

The Kingston Western police have listed 10 individuals as persons of interest who may assist with ongoing investigations in the division. They are to report to the Denham Town Criminal Investigations Branch immediately. They are: 1. Nicholas ‘Wilbert’ Coke, otherwise called ‘Wilbert’ 2. Ted Berry, otherwise called ‘Badz’ or ‘Kong’ Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox 3. Orlando ‘Sparks’ Edwards 4. Romaine ‘Rum Bar’ Wright 5. Oshane ‘OB’ Cooper, otherwise 6. Ryan McFarlane, otherwise called ‘Engine’ 7. Jason ‘Liz’ Campbell 8. Kemar Miller 9. Troy Rodgers 10. Jermaine Balfour The police say anyone with information on the whereabouts of these individuals is urged to contact the Denham Town CIB at (876) 948-6443, the police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station. Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at [email protected] or [email protected].

In 2025’s off-year elections in the United States (US), a number of Jamaicans or persons of Jamaican descent have thrown their hats into the political ring, the biggest prizes being the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia. Sean Spiller, the mayor of Montclair in New Jersey, who boasts Jamaican roots through his mother, has signalled that he is running for governor of the state. In Virginia, current Lt Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who is Jamaica-born, is running for governor of that state. Michael Blake, who also has Jamaican roots, is one of the candidates running to become mayor of New York City, seeking to succeed current Mayor Eric Adams. Also running in this off-year elections is Lawman Lynch, who is seeking to become the first Jamaica-born male to win a seat on the New York City Council. Eddie Edwards, who is Jamaica-born, is running to be a commissioner in the city...

The police have seized a firearm and taken a man into custody following a targeted operation in St Catherine on Sunday. According to a police report, law enforcement officers conducted a snap raid around 1:15 p.m., during which they searched a location and discovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol. The weapon was seized, and the man was detained in connection with the find. Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox