The Star (Jamaica)
Cancer no more
At just eight years old, Alexia Waysome was well known around the oncology ward at Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew. Staff gave her the nickname ‘Soldier’ for the calm courage she carried while battling bone cancer. On Tuesday, Alexia,...
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Mom pursues education degree to teach autistic daughter
When schools repeatedly turned away her autistic daughter, Kimmoy Gayle refused to accept that the child would be left behind. Instead, the 34-yearold mother enrolled at The University of the West Indies (UWI) and began training to become the teacher...
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Physically challenged mother of three seeking a job
Kimberly McCalla feels that she has never got a fair shot at life. Not only was she born physically disabled, but the 24-year-old has never laid eyes on her parents, as she was allegedly abandoned as a baby. She has spent the majority of her life in...
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Dad buys car for 11-year-old daughter
just a day before the graduation ceremony. “I was scrolling through the Internet and mi see a Subaru and called the youth and tell him and he knew me and made it happen. But this is now Karakay first income.” A video posted across Pearson’s social...
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‘Loose vagina’ myth hurting women
For many women, the phrase “loose vagina” is more than a crude insult tossed around in conversations, music lyrics or social media banter. It often lands as something heavier — a trigger for shame, confusion and anxiety. In that space of uncertainty,...
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Levi Roots grateful to grandma for success
Leaving Jamaica at the age of six with his grandmother’s secret ingredients tucked away in his suitcase, Keith ‘Levi Roots’ Graham had no idea that a few pimento seeds and his grandmother’s cooking skills would later reap remarkable success. The...
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‘THAT BLACK BRA’
That favourite black bra many women keep reaching for, often worn again and again between washes, may be doing more than offering comfort and support. Dermatologists are warning that this habit, especially in the heat of summer, can contribute to a...
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Freak accident claims Manchester man’s life
AManchester family has been left heartbroken after a “joyful family man” was killed in a freak accident last Thursday. Robert Vaughn South-Dawes, 60, died after he was struck by several lengths of steel being delivered by a truck in Balvenie Heights,...
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‘BUFF LIFT’ ANYONE?
Asmall but steady number of women have been heading to operation rooms seeking fuller intimate contours through fat-transfer surgery. At the end of it, the patients appear to be born and bred residents of ‘Buff Bay’. Plastic surgeon Dr Jan Hochtritt...
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Desperate cabbies await fare increase
After waiting nearly two years for a fare increase, public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators say they are geared up to accept nothing less than the 16 per cent they believe is rightfully owed to them. This, according to president of the St James Taxi...
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Teen tattoo artist unlocks hidden talent
As a child, the thought of a tattoo gave Kadeen Patterson the chills, but, these days, the 18-year-old has been bringing the ink to life through her eye-catching designs. “I wanted to be a soldier or nurse, but mi don’t know where me get my drawing...
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Family still baffled by market manager’s murder
There is still disbelief and raw grief for the family of Colleen ‘Sonia’ Bernard, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation market manager who was gunned down in a brazen daylight attack at the Papine market last Friday. For her sister, Kimone...
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‘Let them talk’
Kayla Kidd is no stranger to harsh criticisms and insults fired at her online. As a 24-year-old mother of four, all of whom are under four years old, and having a husband who is twice her age, and two years older than her father, she faces mean...
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Supreme Ventures Foundation announces 2026 community heroes
After a nationwide call for public nominations earlier this year, the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) officially announced the five finalists selected for the 2026 staging of its flagship Supreme Heroes programme. They are Veneish Wallace...
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110 YEARS OF GRACE
DEAR READERS, THE STAR will not be published on Monday, May 25, which is being celebrated as Labour Day. The publication will return on Tuesday, May 26.
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Bishop warns Jamaica losing value of human life
Popular clergyman Bishop Alvin Bailey is warning that Jamaica is slipping into “deepening decadence and insensitivity” towards human life. Bailey will be leading a group of pastors to Granville, St James, today to meet with grieving residents and...
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Church urged to teach sex education amid spike in demand for OnlyFans content
Jamaicans spent nearly $500 million on the popular subscription-based adult platform OnlyFans last year. While the figures have raised eyebrows, marriage, family and sex therapist Bishop Dr Carla Dunbar says she is not shocked by the development —...
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Jamaican brings island flavours to Master Chef kitchen
For Jamaican-American culinary chef Tkaiya Dryden, creating bold flavours has always been part of her journey. Now, as she steps onto the massive culinary of MasterChef alongside celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay with a mission to represent the Jamaican...
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‘THE KIDS LOVED IT’
The make-up artist at the centre of a viral graduation photo debate, says the parents of the basic school students fully supported their glam session and were excited to see their children “dolled up” for picture day. “I don’t see anything wrong with...
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BABY PUSH
Tax incentives, childcare subsidies and fertility support are now among the bold measures proposed by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, as Jamaica grapples with a plunging birth rate, which he says could threaten the country’s...
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Itsthickiana finds love again
Just one year ago, TikTok personality Itsthickiana could hardly speak about the future without breaking down in tears. Her social media pages became a public journal of grief after her boyfriend, 20-year-old Kaleave Thomas, was brutally gunned down in...
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Suspect identified in US citizen’s death
The Jamaica Constabulary Force said it is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Dane Watson, who has been listed as a person of interest in connection with the murder investigation into the death of 35-year-old Melissa Samnath. The US citizen...
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Born different but built strong
Although his right leg is deformed, there is no slowing down two-year-old Shavon Robinson, who spends much of his time kicking a football, playing with his five-year-old brother, and keeping up with his little friends. His father, Sharvon Robinson,...
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Shortage of some medication concerns HIV patients
Every three months, Kerry-Ann* quietly joins a line of patients at a government HIV treatment clinic, collects the medication that suppresses the virus in her body, and returns home to continue the carefully structured routine that has kept her healthy...
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Victim of child abuse wants age of consent raised
When most children her age were excited about entering seventh grade at high school, 12-yearold Mary* was attending prenatal clinic after she was impregnated by a neighbour who was almost three times her age. Now 41, the mother of three says she...
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Mom completes university assignment while in labour
Kennesha Sangster turned a hospital delivery room into an examination hall in one of the most extraordinary displays of determination imaginable as she completed a university assignment while in labour. The 29-year-oldrefused to let the moment derail...
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Sweet soup lady serves up hot soup
After years working in a call centre, Trudi-Ann Hewitt never imagined her customer service background would one day set her apart as the “polite soup lady.” For Hewitt, taking pride in her appearance is just as important as serving up hot, tasty meal...
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Stroke floors fitness advocate
Dr Sasekea Harris had spent most of her life committed to a healthy lifestyle and, at 44, she never imagined a stroke could be part of her story. “I would go jogging Mondays to Fridays, and I eat healthy,” she said. “I am the one who tell people that...
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Children’s Advocate backs raising age of consent to 18
Jamaica’s Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon-Harrison is backing a proposal to raise the age of consent from 16 to 18, saying the move could strengthen protections for minors amid ongoing concerns about teenage pregnancy and exploitative...
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Mother of two battling brain tumour
Getting ready to head out, Amanda Campbell stood in front of her mirror putting on her makeup when something stopped her cold. “I was doing my eye shadow and when mi close one eye, mi can’t find the other eye fi put it on. A then mi realise seh it...
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Dad manifests son’s track success
Years ago, a Jamaican father, Nicholas Watt, captured what seemed like a simple, encouraging moment with his son Nickoye on video – affirming where the boy would be in five years. Now, those spoken words are coming into being as young speedster...
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Pastors say church killing symbolises societal decay
Last Wednesday’s brazen gun attack inside a Montego Bay churchyard reflects a broader societal decline, according to two clergymen. The attack has left 38-year-old Corra Thompson’s family devastated and the congregation at the New Testament Church of...
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Turns nail passion into thriving business
In 2019, nursing a broken heart after a breakup and heading back home, 26-year-old Shamaya Nelson turned to a bit of retail therapy on Amazon. What began as a way to distract herself soon evolved into something far bigger, eventually pulling her out...
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PET LOVERS GO CRAZY
Trudian Johnson, an engineer and farmer who has been rearing guinea pigs for more than eight years, is expressing surprise at a recent surge in demand for the animals, particularly as pets. “It’s new to me but the popularity is growing. But I just...
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Cycling queen feels heat
For nearly seven years, Shellysha McCarthy-Grandison was a familiar sight in Kingston as she weaved through traffic confidently in stilettos, turning heads while quietly sidestepping the daily grind of gridlock and rising transport costs. What began...
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Former pickpocket now saving youth
Oshane Larmond was once stealing from his own parents, bleaching his skin and partying every day, chasing a version of himself he now says never truly existed. “I was living a purposeless life … stealing, lying, partying, skin bleaching, all because...
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Mongrel gets lavish funeral
After laying one of his fourlegged friends to rest in 2022, Peter Perry, owner of Perry’s Funeral Home, is once again taking special pride in saying goodbye to a beloved pooch. Perry, who has conducted hundreds of burials – but only of the human...
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Artificial Jesus offers salvation
AJamaican pastor is warning that artificial intelligence tools (AI) designed to simulate conversations with Jesus Christ could distort Christian belief and “reduce the living Lord to a digital construct”. The caution from Pastor Shawn S. Wilson, a...
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Lawyer weighs in on Jaii Frais shooting drama
Veteran attorney Christopher Townsend is highlighting a key principle in Jamaican law, arguing that a person may still lawfully act in self-defence even if they are illegally in possession of a firearm. Townsend made the point amid ongoing public...
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Students benefiting from extra classes programme
Hundreds of students who lost classroom time due to Hurricane Melissa are benefiting from an extra classes programme aimed at getting them back on track ahead of upcoming examinations. The $10-million initiative, spearheaded by the Jamaica Public...
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Innocence stolen
Thirteen years ago, when Motanya was just 14, her life was violently altered by someone she knew and trusted within her own community. The young teen said she was subjected to trauma that not only shadowed her adolescence, but shaped many of the...
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Dust choking Campbell Town
Adust nuisance in Campbell Town in the Corporate Area has disrupted the livelihood of the residents and small business operators within the space. The dust is caused by road repairs being carried out in the community. Among those affected are...
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Two Tel Avivs, two realities
There was a time, not so long ago, when Tel Aviv in downtown Kingston echoed with fear. A bitter gang feud in the Central Kingston community had people fleeing the streets and many opting to stay inside their yards. For the past two years, however,...
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LOCK-UP HORROR!
ASt Ann-based woman is threatening to take legal action against the State, alleging that she developed a severe case of scabies while in police custody and was subjected to degrading and unsafe conditions. Pansy Henry, 55, said the skin infestation...
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DEAR READERS:
THE STAR will not be published on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6. Publication will resume on Tuesday, April 7. Have a blessed and peaceful Easter!
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Parents urged to monitor children’s online use
Parents are being warned to take responsibility for what their children are exposed to online, as concerns mount globally about the popular gaming platform Roblox. Launched in 2006, Roblox is an online platform where users, many of them children,...
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Educator lauds benefits of vocational subjects
Technical and vocational education traning (TVET) Teacher of the Year 2025, Gavin DeRizzio, is urging male students to take construction education seriously. The passionate educator, who has been making an impact at Vauxhall High School and other...
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Projects under way to strengthen national water access
The Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change is advancing several major initiatives to ensure universal access to water for all Jamaicans, in keeping with the 2019 National Water Sector Policy and Implementation Plan. Senior Director in the...
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Little Jayce had a happy spirit
At 1 p.m. on a typical weekday, three-yearold Jayce Pinnock would have been in his classroom at the Edward Seaga Infant School, but instead his body lay in a tiny blue and white casket inside the Pentecostal City Mission Church on Blount Street in...
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Mom’s sacrifices spur educator daughters to excel
As Shaneika Davidson Francis stood anxiously waiting to hear who would be named LASCO Teacher of the Year, one woman in the crowd could not contain her excitement. “I am the mommy!” her mother Cynthia Ellis Tucker shouted proudly. Moments later, her...
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Single father getting new house
Single father Jermaine Bentley says he was granted a miracle after he was offered a threebedroom prefab house, courtesy of a Good Samaritan, US businesswoman Anethan Lothian. But the Jones Town, Kingston resident told THE STAR, while he breathed a...
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Bun company faces heat
The family of the man who tragically died at a bun-eating competition has opened talks with the pastry company that hosted the promotion, seeking answers and support. Kerron Powell, 38, of Litchfield, Trelawny, was reportedly participating in the...
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Ailing farmer refuses to quit
For 64-year-old farmer Albert Faulknor, agriculture is not just a livelihood, it is a calling that continues to anchor him, even from a hospital bed. Though currently admitted, Faulknor remains mentally rooted in the soil he has spent decades...
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CANCER WARRIOR Shaunice Dean preaches positive energy
When THE STAR spoke with colorectal cancer warrior Shaunice Dean earlier this week, she radiated positivity. The past year has been pain-free for the 33-year-old, a blessing she says gives her every reason to smile. “I am not in any pain or anything...
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Woman says God wants Kartel to be a prophet
ASerbian woman says she has been divinely instructed to deliver a message to dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel, urging him to use his influence for good and step into his true calling as a prophet. “The Lord wants him to become a preacher. I love him...
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Crippling illness leaves Manchester woman struggling
After living for more than 10 years with a neurological condition that has left her struggling to walk and care for herself, 60-year-old Minnette Powell says her greatest fear is being placed in an infirmary. “Mi nuh wah leave mi cat dem … mi nuh want...
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Jamaica-born US soldier learns harsh lessons from Middle East
According to a Jamaica-born US Army Specialist, war has a way of stripping things down to their most basic truth. “People talk about war like it’s strategy or politics,” she said. “But when you’re the one standing there in the middle of it, you...
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Mother of three fighting to save her sight
Shanice Laird’s life went black, figuratively and somewhat literally, overnight on February 22. “I went to my bed the Sunday night and did my regular routine, ate my dinner, prayed, went to my bed. I was okay when I went to sleep. The Monday I woke up...
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FAYVAL BATS FOR WOMEN
Jamaica’s first female finance minister, Fayval Williams, has urged women and girls across the island to speak out against abuse or harassment and never allow gender to limit their dreams. In opening the 2025/2026 Budget Debate in Parliament...
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Noel Maitland feels strongly about innocence
Convicted policeman Noel Maitland is already setting his sights on the next legal battleground. His attorney, Christopher Townsend, says Maitland strongly maintains his innocence and is prepared to take the fight to the Court of Appeal — and possibly...
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Grinding for success
At 39 years old, Nickie says every minute she steps onto the dance floor or in a brothel room is driven by her singular goal of ensuring her daughter finishes university. The mother of three has spent years navigating a life many judge harshly,...
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PROMISE SHATTERED
Kevaughn Goldson’s life was a bright, blazing promise to his family, his downtown Kingston community, and himself. At just 23 years old, the Jamaican sprinter had the world ahead of him, and a heart full of ambition to lift everyone he loved out of...
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ETCHED IN PAIN
At the far end of a quiet, disorganised row of marble headstones, beneath the generous shade of a plum tree in the cemetery at St Andrew Parish Church, lies the final resting place of Melissa Silvera. But unlike the graves that flank it, Melissa’s is...
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Silvera faces 15 years to life
Convicted wife killer Jolyan Silvera could be handed a prison term of no less than 15 years when he returns to court on Friday for sentencing before Chief Justice Brian Sykes. Silvera, 52, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to using a firearm to...
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Narrow escape!
Israel-based Jamaican striker Javon East said he and his family narrowly escaped danger after leaving the country just before Iranian missiles struck a section of it where he was based on Saturday afternoon. Iran retaliated strongly following a joint...
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Boxing for a better future
The hum of punching bags and the rhythmic shuffle of feet filled Fun Robics Fitness in Greater Portmore, St Catherine, last Friday. Among the watchers was Taneica McLean. Her eyes were fixed on her 16-year-old son, Demarco Smith, as he practised his...
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Premature baby needs million-dollar surgery
Three-month-old D’Shawn Fulconer has never felt sunlight on his skin. Since arriving 12 weeks early, the Santoy, Hanover, infant has known only the steady hum of machines inside the neonatal unit at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay. Now, his...
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Help save a life
With her daughter behind bars accused of setting a woman ablaze, Erica Cope is making an emotional plea — not for sympathy for her child, but for help to save the very woman police say her daughter burnt. “I sympathise with the girl that got hurt. It...
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