One-Minute Reads: News from across Jamaica

Foreign national held with firearm at airport

Forty-eight-year-old Roland Douglas II, a firefighter of Guntersville, Alabama, in the USA, has been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorised possession of ammunition following a seizure at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, on Sunday.

Reports are that at 12:45 p.m., Douglas' checked luggage was screened and an anomaly was detected. The bag was searched in his presence, during which a disassembled silver and black Sig Sauer 380 pistol with two magazines and thirteen 380 rounds of ammunition were found. He was subsequently arrested and charged. His court date is being finalised.

Farmers urged to plan for water demand

The Water Resources Authority (WRA) is urging farmers to take a more proactive approach to planning for their water demand by assessing their agricultural needs.

Farmers are also being encouraged to store water to supply their crops due to instances of drought and intermittent rainfall.

"In terms of having that resilience for water availability, [farmers] can be aware of that to say if the rain doesn't fall where I need it to fall, 'where can I then secure my water for my irrigation and how can I increase storage for my agricultural needs'. Know what your water demand is and then plan for it," said Deputy Managing Director at the WRA, Geoffrey Marshall. He was speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, in Kingston. He emphasised that planning for water needs will require "farmers being ready to take responsibility and prepare for what may come". He added that the WRA is always there to help with giving advice in terms of available water resources on the wider scale. Meanwhile, the WRA is encouraging the use of best practices for irrigation of agricultural lands, including the utilisation of drip irrigation rather than flood irrigation, if possible.

Man and woman arrested in gun seizure

Possession of prohibited weapon and unauthorised possession of ammunition charges have been laid against a man and a woman following the seizure of a Glock pistol with a magazine affixed containing nine 9mm cartridges at Oak Glades, Kingston 11, on Sunday.

Charged are 31-year-old Adrian Gobern, a labourer of Oak Glades, and 32-year-old Roberta Marshall, a security guard of Tamarind Turn, Tower Hill, Kingston 11. Reports from the Hunts Bay police are that at 9 p.m., a joint military operation was conducted at the aforementioned location, where the firearm and ammunition were found in a closet during a search. Gobern and Marshall, who were present at the address, were then taken into custody, where they were subsequently charged.

Their court date are being finalised.

Bellevue leads call for suicide prevention

Bellevue Hospital joined the global observance of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, with a week-long campaign under the theme 'Choose Life' from September 5-12.

The initiative raised awareness about suicide prevention, highlighted common warning signs, and reminded the public that support is available. According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the National Health Fund, Jamaica has a suicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 people, one of the lowest globally. Nonetheless, the country recorded 67 suicide deaths in 2024, a slight increase from 2023. While comparatively low, each loss is devastating to families and communities, underscoring the urgent need for awareness, early intervention, and access to support.

As part of the campaign, Bellevue hosted an internal motivational session for staff featuring author and mental health advocate Tameka Coley, who shared her powerful, personal journey with suicidality. Her message emphasised that support often begins with simple, human action: trusting your instincts, reaching out, and offering compassion.

Bellevue's campaign also emphasised public awareness and community outreach. Across Instagram, TikTok, and X, the hospital shared educational content encouraging help-seeking behaviour and reminding Jamaicans that support services are available. Bellevue also reminded the public of common warning signs that someone may be at risk, including withdrawal, dramatic mood changes, expressions of hopelessness, talk of being a burden, and suicidal ideation.