Rita Marley 80th celebrations set for Saturday as Herflow aids women in care

KINGSTON — Friday’s CVM Sunrise Morning Show led with community and culture stories, including plans for Dr. Alpharita “Rita” Marley’s 80th birthday observances and a fresh round of menstrual-product donations by the Herflow Foundation.

Anika Young, marketing manager of the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation, said Thank You J 80 events on Saturday, July 25, begin with a Rising Grace wellness session at the Bob Marley Museum from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., facilitated by Camela McDonald. Activities then move to Tuff Gong International Studios at 220 Marcus Garvey Drive for a public family fun day with free health screening, children’s attractions and a 1:00 p.m. lunch-hour concert featuring Jamaica Festival Song Competition finalists. A tribute concert streamed on Tuff Gong YouTube TV at 5:00 p.m. is set to include Tessanne Chin, Roma, Virgo, Ala, Nadine Sutherland and Mada.

Young credited Marley — known as Nana Rita — with securing and expanding the former Federal Records site into the Caribbean’s largest recording studio, and with sustaining education, culture and sports work through the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation, including support for the Reggae Girlz.

Hosts also reported that the Herflow Foundation completed its annual gift of personal care and menstrual supplies to women at Bellevue Hospital and the South Camp Adult Correctional Centre, and ran a menstrual-health education session with female residents at Bellevue. The foundation has distributed more than 16 million menstrual products and leads Jamaica’s National Menstrual Health Equity Initiative with the government. Presenters praised founder Dr. Shelan Weeks for the sustained drive.

Separately, reggae icon Marcia Griffiths and gospel singer Petra K were named among featured performers for Jamaica’s 2026 Emancipation Jubilee Vigil at Civil Heritage Park in St. Ann.

In the news desk, Transport Authority operations manager Nicola Brown Reed said the agency has intensified enforcement after a 16 per cent public passenger vehicle fare rise rolled out in two phases on June 2 and July 1, amid reports of overcharging. She said more than 317 vehicles had been seized since the increase, over 14,000 vehicles checked in June and July, 12 overcharging prosecutions filed, and other licensing and marking offences pursued with the Island Traffic Authority and Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby, also chairman of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, is the only Caribbean mayor among 46 mayors from 15 countries in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. The Caribbean Public Health Agency opened its antimicrobial resistance regional laboratory on Wednesday, with Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton and CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar noting faster testing — results in about 40 hours — after Jamaica previously sent samples abroad. National Under-20 women’s coach Lee Croft Lethman will serve as interim head coach of the senior Reggae Girlz at the Central American and Caribbean Games while Hubert Busby Jr. steps back for family commitments and remains in an advisory role.

Guests Dwayne Stewart and filmmaker Leslie discussed Films That Move 2026, described as the Caribbean’s only mental health film festival, under the theme “Breaking the Silence: Healing in the Aftermath,” with workshops and screenings planned for Sunday. Founder and CEO Lisa Hannah also previewed a Lisa Hannah Beauty pop-up at the Jamaica Pegasus from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. the following day.