Bark Di Trute!

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

What's Happening

Warning

If you are studying or staying in Cuba, you should start to make plans to return home. Some airlines have already ceased flying to Cuba because they are unable to refuel there.

Based on what is happening in world politics, you should consider carefully which countries you study in or stay in for an extended period. You will recall what many of our students went through when the war started between Russia and Ukraine. It is also important to ensure that the institutions where you study the courses are recognized by the University Council of Jamaica and other similar bodies in other countries.

Man Killed By Police

A man known as Heffin was killed by the police on Windward Road in Kingston. I am awaiting further information from the police about this matter.

Dr. Trevor Golding

Dr Trevor Golding has died. He is the brother of former PM Bruce Golding.

UHWI Scandal

I understand that some companies that do business with the University Hospital of the West Indies are claiming that they were not named in the Auditor General's recent report. I am almost sure that the Auditor General did not do a 100% audit. If the auditor general's report missed you, then you can never tell if the police will not come knocking at your door. Stop squealing. Your time and others' have not come as yet. Don't get jumpy. Just make sure that the culprits who did unusual things at the UHWI did not involve you in any of their illegal acts. Have you heard about an accessory to the fact?

The Oldest Resident

Mrs Claris Blake

I have been informed that the oldest resident in Woodgrove in southern Trelawny has passed on. Her name is Claris Blake popular known as Aunt Al, and she died at 103 years old. She passed away this morning.

Omega Radio

Omega Radio is in big trouble, and I understand that the general manager is no longer in that post. Several staff members have left the station within the last six months. Omega Radio is operated by an overseas church group.

Deterioration of Oaks Bridge - No Engineer To Assure The Public About its Safety!

TVJ carried a report of the Oaks Bridge in Clarendon. The question is, should drivers traverse that area with the obvious deterioration of the bridge?

A bridge is designed by engineers, and rather than getting an engineer to assure the public about the Oaks Bridge's safety, the communications manager is giving that assurance. They probably do not have any engineers at that agency. Probably that is why our roads are not maintained properly.

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Phillip Dinnal former Knox College student in the 1960s, please WhatsApp Bark Di Trute at 876 816-5261.

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Soulchild Tanice for Jazz In The Gardens In March

Tanice Morrison

Tanice Morrison, a singer-songwriter and literacy advocate known as 'Soulchild Tanice' as a performer. She is no stranger to the entertainment industry and definitely not a stranger to Jazz In The Gardens.

This creative Jamaican artist has been writing and performing for more than a decade. She has one studio album and several singles.

Many times we say that artistes are not producing uplifting music. That means you are not listening to artistes like Tanice Morrison. Listen to a part of this uplifting music called 'Give Praises' which she did a few years ago.

This Kingston-born Jamaican, brought up in St. Ann, will be one of the powerhouse performers at the Jazz In The Gardens show on March 29, 2026. You must take your family to watch this bundle of talent, who is destined to be one of our big international stars in the future.

Here is another song she did, which will take you back in time.

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Bev Davis Is Adamant That IRIE FM Must Pay Funds Outstanding To Her

Bev Davis had her one-woman demonstration at the IRIE FM office this morning at 1b Courtney Walsh Drive. Kingston. It has been a long fight that has taken over seven years to be resolved. Beverly Davis claims that she was unable to continue working at the station due to environmental issues. She is therefore due medical redundancy benefit, outstanding commissions, and other benefits.

Bev Davis was the leading salesperson at IRIE FM, and she has received various awards for her achievements.

She plans to continue with her demonstations which will take her to the company's office in Ocho Rios. The aim is to highlight her plight and let it known how organisations treat women who have given their best working years to these organisations. Various women's organisations have been made aware of the situation. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the various trade unions are aware of this matter.

Ms Davis spoke to Bark Di Trute this morning. Click on the icon below to listen to her.

Davis is fighting to get her funds from IRIE FM.

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Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Breaking News - JDF Member Killed?

I just got a report that a JDF member was killed a few minutes ago on Stephens Lane off Waltham Park Road in Kingston.

Police have confirmed that the JDF person was shot, but cannot confirm if he died.

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Phillip Dinnal former Knox College student in the 1960s, please WhatsApp Bark Di Trute at 876 816-5261.

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Minister Vaz Says Extreme Crisis Demands Immediate Action

Press Release From Minister Daryl Vaz—February 4, 2026

Minister Daryl Vaz

I have taken note of findings from the Auditor General concerning an alleged procurement breach related to Starlink devices which were obtained after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica and destroyed connectivity across several sections of the island.

I strongly reject any suggestion of wrong doing for my justifiable actions. Let me first outline the context in which the devices were procured. It must be noted that in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, catastrophic damage was wrought upon the physical and digital infrastructure networks across Jamaica. Connectivity was lost in several parishes in western Jamaica, and hundreds of messages were being passed on to Government Ministers and agencies from people in desperate need to communicate with their loved ones.

The Auditor General’s claim that my “involvement breached Section 20 of the Public Procurement Act, 2015, which assigns sole responsibility for procurement activities to the head of the procuring entity” is both uninformed and grossly inaccurate.

It must be noted that all actions taken were in keeping with the “Guidance Note on the Acquisition of Goods, Services and Works in the Situation of Emergency or Extreme Urgency” issued by the Office of Public Procurement Policy.

In keeping with the Guidance Note, there can be no doubt that the “Requirements for Employing Emergency Procurement Procedures” were satisfied. These requirements are a genuine situation of emergency or urgency and the necessity of the procurement activity.

The guidelines further state that, subject to fiscal responsibility considerations, procurements in situations of emergency or extreme urgency may be approved by the head of a procuring entity, regardless of the value and the method of procurement utilised.

As we sought to respond in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the only reliable source of connectivity was through Starlink. As a result, the demand for the devices increased and quickly depleted the local supply. Households, businesses, government services, emergency services, disaster response teams, the security forces, the financial sector, local representatives, and many others were all in need of the devices at the same time. It must be noted that even our very own telecoms sector was being boosted through the assistance of Starlink. Jamaica received a donation of devices for emergency response, and this donation was quickly depleted with the demand for more simultaneously increasing.

The procurement of the devices was as a result of the emergency situation which we found ourselves in during the initial stages of the rescue and recovery process and the demand for telecommunication and connectivity in the worst-affected parishes. The communication void was a critical impediment to relief response, and an immediate solution was vital.

Acting in my capacity as Co-Chair of the Relief and Recovery Oversight Committee, I took a decision that ensured that the Government was able to secure the available devices quickly and have them distributed to the relevant state agencies and recovery teams in the quickest possible manner.

The procurement of the devices was possible as a result of the swift and decisive actions taken, and I make no apologies for this. This was done in my capacity as co-chair and Minister with responsibility for Telecommunications. The devices were procured via the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.

If even one life was saved, or even one family rescued as a result of the decision taken, then it would have been worth it. Normal times call for normal actions, but in times of disaster and emergencies, such as the position that Jamaica was placed in following Hurricane Melissa, the ability to respond immediately can often save lives and mitigate harm and widespread public panic.

Finally, the statement from the Opposition is both disingenuous and an attempt to seek relevance. I must remind Opposition Spokesman Phillip Paulwell that the devices he referenced are the same Starlink devices which Opposition members, including those in the leadership of the PNP, were clamouring for and received during the most challenging of times.

Councillors and Members of Parliament in the affected areas were all recipients of these procured devices. This also includes the fulfillment of the request that was made by the Leader of the Opposition. The accountability that Paulwell and the Opposition demand may therefore begin with the devices that they received.

At a time when Jamaica was at its most vulnerable and most fragile, I could not, as a coChair of the Relief and Recovery Oversight Committee, an elected official, and the Minister of Telecommunications, sit idly by during what constituted a telecoms emergency.

Extreme times require extreme, decisive, and effective leadership. I stand resolutely behind my actions which were in the best interest of the Jamaican people.

Editor's Note

Procedures are there to guide the operations, but if such procedures become shackles, they should be removed. During an emergency, urgently required actions cannot be sacrificed on the altar of procedures. It is the editor's view that if the minister, through his contacts, can procure items during an emergency and the documentation is done after, as stated in the Auditor General's report, then it means there was consensus between the minister and the head of ODPEM. If the equipment ended up in people's personal possessions, then that would be a matter for the police.

Where procedures are not followed, and those in charge can give a credible reason for the procedures not to be followed, this should be noted in the audit report.

If one did not read the audit report carefully and follow the news media, one would get the impression that some fraud was committed involving these Starlink devices. Procedures cannot be more important than an organization or a country. It is possible that the auditor general is not seeing things in a holistic way. The smooth and efficient operation of an entity is of paramount importance, especially in an emergency.

I believe this issue was a storm in a teacup, and it only provided political fodder. Mrs Pamela Munroe-Ellis, you need to do some serious introspection.

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Councillor Winston Maragh Saddened After Killings in Rocky Point

Councillor Winston Maragh

Rocky Point in Clarendon is in the news again. This time, it is about the shooting of three people, and two are dead. This incident took place on February 09, 2026. It is the same Rock Point where it was reported that a plane landed in 2021, and nothing has been heard from the occupants since. A month ago, three family members were chopped to death in the community.

This is a community where the social workers should step in. I understand that Rocky Point is a small community of approximately 3,000 residents.

The councillor for the area, Winston Maragh, was saddened by the event, and he had this to say:

We must remember that although murders are down in Jamaica, we don't know if a significant number of murderers are still in society. Jamaica is a criminal's paradise. Bark Di Trute commentator Michael Spence says that if crime drops significantly, it will negatively impact economic activities.

The shocking reality is that murderers no longer face the death penalty, and they can always plead guilty to manslaughter and end up with a shorter sentence.

Jamaica is certainly a criminal's paradise.

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Phillip Dinnal former Knox College student in the 1960s, please WhatsApp Bark Di Trute at 876 816-5261.

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Wednesday, 11 February 2026

What's Happening

Warning

Man Killed By Police

Dr. Trevor Golding

UHWI Scandal

The Oldest Resident

Omega Radio

Deterioration of Oaks Bridge - No Engineer To Assure The Public About its Safety!

Subscribe Now!

Soulchild Tanice for Jazz In The Gardens In March

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Bev Davis Is Adamant That IRIE FM Must Pay Funds Outstanding To Her

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Breaking News - JDF Member Killed?

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Minister Vaz Says Extreme Crisis Demands Immediate Action

Press Release From Minister Daryl Vaz—February 4, 2026

Councillor Winston Maragh Saddened After Killings in Rocky Point

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