Jamaica news roundup: Teen dies, police killings draw scrutiny, World Cup opens under controversy

Jamaica’s major stories this week ranged from local grief over the death of 13-year-old Excelsior High student Khamelia Paul to renewed debate about police accountability after 11 men were killed by officers in 24 hours across four parishes.

Paul died about a month after she was stabbed while trying to intervene in a domestic dispute at her home. Her mother, Josephine Mitchell, told The Gleaner that doctors had reported an infection. Paul had been hospitalised since May 9, including time in a coma, and Jamaicans had supported the family with blood, supplies and money. Kemar Mitchell, 28, who was first charged with assault, now faces a murder charge.

INDECOM said none of the officers involved in five fatal shooting incidents in St. James, St. Catherine, Clarendon and St. Andrew had body-worn cameras. The cases included four men killed at the Retirement dump in St. James and five men killed in the Bog Walk Gorge, where a policeman was also seriously wounded. Seven guns were reportedly recovered. Justice Minister Delroy Chuck said Jamaica does not have a human rights problem, but opposition justice spokesperson Zuleika Jess called the statement “entirely delusional” and cited 153 police-related fatalities so far this year.

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz told Parliament that Jamaicans and businesses affected by the June 5 all-island power outage have no legal right to compensation under current law. JPS has linked the blackout to lightning damage at Rockfort and a broken conductor, but Vaz said the preliminary explanation was inadequate. The OUR has opened a special review and expects JPS to submit a final report within 30 days of full restoration.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said Cabinet will soon receive research on social media’s effect on Jamaicans and possible restrictions for children up to age 16. The 2026 FIFA World Cup also began in Mexico, with Mexico defeating South Africa at Azteca Stadium, while disputes over US immigration restrictions and high ticket prices overshadowed the opening. Separately, Robert Montague warned that new squatters on Crown lands will be excluded from settlement programmes, and opposition tourism spokesperson Andrew Parkes accused parts of the tourism sector of blocking Jamaicans from senior posts.