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The fireman Capleton has confirmed that his annual charity event, ‘A St. Mary Mi Come From,’ will not be held this year.

The event, renowned for its star-studded lineup and charitable mission, is traditionally staged during the first week of August in St. Mary.

Speaking during a recent interview on IRIE FM’s E-Buzz with Kshema Francis and DJ Bones, Capleton explained that the event is a costly undertaking.

Founded in 2000 by Capleton, who hails from St. Mary, ‘A St. Mary Mi Come From’ has raised funds to support schools, hospitals, community projects, and family-focused initiatives across Jamaica.

The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is calling on road users to be extremely vigilant over the Emancipendence celebrations and the rest of August.

The plea follows a fatal crash on Manchester Road in Mandeville, Manchester, last evening.

The deceased is 47-year-old Junior Samuels, a resident of Bailey’s Pen district, Toll Gate in Clarendon.

Police reports are that about 7:30 p.m., Samuels was driving a Toyota HiAce minibus on Manchester Road when he lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle then overturned and hit a Honda CR-V that was travelling in the opposite direction.

The injured persons were taken to hospital, where Samuels was pronounced dead.

According to Vice Chairman of the NRSC Dr. Lucien Jones, 40 per cent of the 186 road fatalities since January occurred in June and July.

He said with increased activities expected in the upcoming holidays, road users should exercise increased caution.

Jamaica’s law enforcement agencies conducted 79 human trafficking investigations in 2025, resulting in the arrest and charge of nine alleged traffickers.

The disclosure was made by State Minister for National Security and Peace, Juliet Cuthbert Flynn as she read an address on behalf of Portfolio Minister Dr. Horace Chang at the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons town hall meeting.

It was held at Emancipation Park yesterday.

According to Dr. Chang, the government regards trafficking in persons as not only a violation of human rights, but also a serious transnational organized crime that requires a comprehensive response.

He said the arrests of the traffickers last year showed that the country’s law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and international partners are committed to dismantling human trafficking networks.

Meanwhile, it was indicated that Jamaica will continue to improve on its Tier 2 ranking in the United States Department of State’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons report.

She was reading an address on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Dr. Horace Chang.

The water ministry has allocated $86 million towards the trucking of water to residents in communities badly impacted by the drought.

Portfolio Minister Matthew Samuda says the allocation was made two weeks ago to Members of Parliament.

It’s part of measures being undertaken by the government to address the drought.

Mr. Samuda adds that black tanks are also being distributed to areas with serious water woes.

He adds that the government is prepared to allocate millions more to ensure key sectors benefit from the trucking of water.

Mr. Samuda states that as of August 10, the cost of drought response would be in the range of half a billion dollars.

The Water Minister says the construction of 30 loading bays in proximity to wells will be undertaken to significantly improve drought response.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says El Hydro Limited is honouring the maintenance contracts for the 110 buses it supplied the government over a year ago.

Mr. Vaz’s assurance is in response to a call for an update on the contracts from his opposition counterpart, Mikael Phillips.

Spokesperson Phillips said the fire, which destroyed one of the buses on Wednesday, has raised serious questions about the existence of effective maintenance, covering periodic pre-dispatch checks, routine servicing, and whether all units have working fire extinguishers on board.

In a statement, Mr. Vaz said the buses are being serviced.

He said the probe has not ruled out sabotage.

The judiciary has been plunged into mourning following the passing of Senior Parish Judge of the Western Regional Family Court, Dionne Gallimore Rose.

Mrs. Gallimore Rose, whose legal and judicial career spanned over thirty years, passed away yesterday morning.

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes described her as an individual who served faithfully and whose career has left a lasting impact on the lives of countless Jamaicans.

Seventy-three of the National Water Commission (NWC’s) water supply systems are showing decline, ranging from 20% to a high of 80%.

NWC Corporate Public Relations Manager Delano Williams told a press conference yesterday that the systems are spread across the country.

The NWC has 450 water sources with two-thirds being surface sources – meaning water from rivers or springs.

He said 133 are historically prone to drought or water supply decline.

Mr. Williams stated that the sources showing signs of decline are in St. Mary, Portland, sections of St. Ann as well as the east and west rural areas of Kingston and St. Andrew.

Mr. Williams indicated that the water sources in western Jamaica are in a better state.

Turning to water systems in the Corporate Area, Mr. Williams presentation compared water levels at the Mona Reservoir and the Hermitage Dam over the last three years.

Water restrictions for customers served by the Constant Spring network are already in place. Restrictions for people served by the Mona system are slated to commence on Monday, August 3.

The NWC provides water to over 550,000 customers, serving about 2.2 million people.

Prohibition orders will be implemented in the coming weeks if there is no improvement in the drought conditions being experienced across the island.

Water Minister Matthew Samuda made the announcement at a press conference earlier today.

It was called to update the nation on the current drought condition and actions being taken by the authorities.

Mr. Samuda said forecasts are that the next three months, August to October will be dry and underscored the importance of water conservation.

The Minister added that if the situation does not change or if it worsens, prohibition orders will come into effect.

Noting that the new academic year begins in September, Mr. Samuda said the measures are aimed at safeguarding the reopening of schools.

Mr. Samuda explained that prohibition orders would ban the non-essential use of water. 

Four parishes were experiencing drought conditions up to the end of last month.

They are St. Elizabeth, St. James, St. Ann and St. Mary.

Principal Director of Met Services, Evan Thompson says it’s anticipated that by the end of this month, the number will increase to six with the inclusion of Manchester and St. Catherine.

Mr. Thompson says the El Niño phenomenon which has resulted in lesser-than-normal rainfall and higher-than-normal temperatures is expected to continue impacting the country into next year. 

He adds that in the first week of August more dryness is expected with lower-than-normal rainfall. 

State Minister of Education Rhoda Crawford has lauded principals in Region 5 for being the driving force behind Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts.

She said post-storm academic successes were built on the resilience, sacrifice and leadership of school administrators who refused to let the disaster derail learning.

Citing the results of the recent Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams, Crawford commended school leaders for their strength amid adversity.

 She was speaking at the Ministry’s Region 5 Gala Awards for principals yesterday.