Carib Scope

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  • Cuba scrambles to restore power after new blackout

    Cuba scrambles to restore power after new blackout

    HAVANA, Cuba — For the second time in under a week, Cuba experienced a complete nationwide power outage on Sunday, plunging nearly 10 million citizens into darkness and exacerbating an already severe energy crisis. The blackout, attributed to the country’s aging electrical infrastructure and compounded by a stringent US oil embargo, represents the seventh total grid failure recorded since the beginning of 2024.

    Authorities from the Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed a ‘total disconnection’ of the national electric system on Saturday. By early Sunday, partial restoration efforts had begun, with power returning to certain districts of Havana while others remained without electricity. Minister Vicente de la O Levy announced via social media platform X that several key facilities, including a gas-fired power station near Havana, another in the resort town of Varadero, a central hydroelectric plant, and a unit at a thermoelectric facility, had been successfully brought back online.

    The crisis has been severely intensified by a critical shortage of fuel. No oil imports have reached the island since January 9th, a direct consequence of the US blockade and President Donald Trump’s threats to tariff nations that engage in oil trade with Cuba. This fuel drought has not only crippled the power sector but also forced airlines to slash flights, dealing a devastating blow to the vital tourism industry. The situation deteriorated further following the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Cuba’s primary regional ally and oil supplier, in a US military operation earlier this year.

    Daily life for Cubans has become increasingly arduous. The frequent and prolonged blackouts raise fears of food spoilage in refrigerators and compound existing shortages of essential goods like medicine and food. These frustrations recently boiled over into rare public unrest, with demonstrators vandalizing a provincial office of the ruling Communist Party last weekend.

    The timing of the latest blackout is particularly poignant, as it coincides with the arrival of an international humanitarian aid convoy. The aid shipment, which includes critically needed medical supplies, food, water, and solar panels, offers a glimmer of hope for a population grappling with a multifaceted economic and infrastructural collapse.

  • World Indoors: Megan Simmonds through to women’s 60m hurdles semis

    World Indoors: Megan Simmonds through to women’s 60m hurdles semis

    Jamaican hurdler Megan Simmonds delivered a commanding performance at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, securing her advancement to the women’s 60m hurdles semifinals. Competing at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena on Sunday, Simmonds blazed through her preliminary heat with a time of 7.89 seconds, demonstrating exceptional form and technical precision.

    The reigning Jamaican champion came remarkably close to matching her personal best of 7.88 seconds, established earlier this competitive season. This strong opening performance positions Simmonds favorably as she seeks to surpass her previous championship outcome from the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, where her campaign concluded at the semifinal stage.

    While Simmonds celebrated her successful heat debut, fellow Jamaican athlete Oneka Wilson faced disappointment in her preliminary round. Wilson finished seventh in her heat with a time of 8.12 seconds, insufficient to advance to the next competitive phase of the tournament. The contrasting outcomes highlight the unpredictable nature of elite athletic competition at the international level.

  • Jamaica’s 4x400m men advance to final at world indoors

    Jamaica’s 4x400m men advance to final at world indoors

    In a display of athletic prowess at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Toruń, Poland, Jamaica’s men’s 4x400m relay squad successfully advanced to the final round of the World Athletics Indoor Championships on Sunday. The team, comprised of Reheem Hayles, Tyrice Taylor, Kimar Farquharson, and Demar Francis, navigated a highly competitive first-round heat to claim their place in the culminating race. Clocking in at 3:05.68, the Jamaican quartet secured the third qualifying position in their section. They were narrowly surpassed by Hungary, who achieved a national record of 3:05.67, while Belgium dominated the heat with a leading time of 3:05.25. In a parallel development, the defending champions from the United States also secured their advancement on time after a third-place finish in their initial heat, which was claimed by the Netherlands with Portugal following in second.

  • Building the band

    Building the band

    MONTEGO BAY, St James — A significant step toward revitalizing performing arts education occurred at Cornwall College when alumnus Albert Spence (Class of 1989) donated a complete drum set to the school’s music program on March 2, 2026. The presentation ceremony, held in the institution’s chapel, marked the beginning of what Spence described as a comprehensive initiative to rebuild the school’s cultural infrastructure.

    Spence articulated an ambitious vision for the program, stating: “We’re launching a complete transformation of the performing arts curriculum designed to establish a sustainable cultural environment where creatively gifted students can achieve their full potential. This undertaking will provide structured training, mentorship, and performance opportunities across multiple disciplines including music, drama, dance, and technical production.”

    Despite welcoming the donation, music instructor Robert Green—himself a Cornwall College graduate—highlighted persistent equipment shortages that continue to hinder student development. “While this drum set represents tremendous progress,” Green explained, “our program still lacks essential instruments. We have exceptionally talented students whose growth is constrained by inadequate resources.”

    Green provided the Jamaica Observer with a detailed inventory of missing equipment critical for a professional-level program. The school currently operates without functional speaker systems, professional-grade keyboards, bass guitars, or bass amplifiers. Existing wind instruments require technical maintenance, and the available practice keyboards lack the sound quality necessary for proper training.

    Having served in various teaching roles at the school since February 2025, Green emphasized how equipment deficiencies have impacted student readiness: “It would be unfair to expose unprepared students to public performances where they might experience embarrassment. My priority is ensuring proper training and adequate instruments before arranging public events.”

    Spence acknowledged that achieving their vision requires broader support, noting plans to engage the school’s alumni network and establish partnerships with cultural institutions including the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. These collaborations aim to provide mentorship, funding, and industry connections to create viable career pathways in Jamaica’s creative industries.

  • BACK-TO-BACK BRONZE

    BACK-TO-BACK BRONZE

    Jamaican athlete Raymond Richards successfully defended his bronze medal position in the men’s high jump at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, on Saturday. Richards cleared 2.26 meters to share third place with South Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo in a competition that saw Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk claim gold and Mexico’s Erick Portillo secure silver, both achieving 2.30 meters.

    The Jamaican contingent experienced both triumph and disappointment during the championship’s second day. While Richards celebrated his podium finish, the mixed 4x400m relay team faced heartbreak when they were disqualified for a lane violation after crossing third. The quartet of Delano Kennedy, Shana Kaye Anderson, Kimar Farquharson, and Leah Anderson saw their medal hopes vanish despite a strong time of 3:17.13 minutes.

    Jamaica’s near-misses continued with Brianna Lyston finishing fourth in the women’s 60m final, equaling her season’s best of 7.05 seconds, while teammate Jonielle Smith placed fifth with 7.06 seconds. Demario Prince also finished fourth in the men’s 60m hurdles, clocking a personal best of 7.43 seconds but missing the podium by a mere 0.009 seconds to American Trey Cunningham.

    With three medals already secured—including two silver medals won on Friday—Jamaica sits twelfth in the medal standings. The team remains optimistic about adding to their tally on the final day of competition, with strong contenders in multiple events. Carey McLeod and Tajay Gayle will compete in the men’s long jump, while Nia Robinson makes her global championship debut in the women’s long jump. Megan Simmonds and Oneka Wilson will contest the women’s 60m hurdles, and the men’s 4x400m relay team will pursue additional podium finishes.

    Other Jamaican performances included Romaine Beckford’s ninth-place finish in the high jump (2.22m), Shantae Foreman’s 17th place in the triple jump (12.35m), and early exits for 800m runners Natoya Goule-Toppin and Navasky Anderson in their respective semi-finals.

  • Paralegal files lawsuit over alleged rights breaches

    Paralegal files lawsuit over alleged rights breaches

    In a significant legal development, Jamaican paralegal Ruth Kelly-Spencer has initiated a comprehensive lawsuit against seven parties including the Police Commissioner and the Government, alleging multiple violations of her constitutional rights. The Supreme Court claim, filed in February, seeks substantial damages for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and systemic breaches of her fundamental freedoms.

    The case originates from a complex legal saga dating back to 2012, when Kelly-Spencer, alongside attorney Sean Kinghorn and farmer Linton Campbell, faced allegations of conspiring to fabricate a will for an elderly returning resident in 2008. While forgery charges were subsequently dropped by prosecutors, the conspiracy to defraud allegations continue to proceed through the judicial system.

    Defendants named in the civil action include a grand-niece of the deceased client, a minister of religion, three police officers (including a detective from the disbanded Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch), the police commissioner, and the attorney general. The religious figure and family member previously served as complainants in the ongoing criminal matter.

    Central to Kelly-Spencer’s allegations is her claim of being unlawfully detained for twelve hours at C-TOC headquarters in July 2012, during which she was formally charged before eventually being released on bail. Her lawsuit contends that investigating officers ‘weaponized the justice system’ to achieve an unjust outcome, thereby depriving her of constitutional protections against arbitrary detention and entitlement to fair legal proceedings.

    The paralegal maintains that the malicious prosecution was instigated by the grand-niece and religious leader who allegedly provided misleading information to investigators. She further asserts that authorities persisted with flawed handwriting analysis evidence even after initial expert testimony was disqualified, subsequently engaging overseas specialists to support their case.

    Kelly-Spencer reports suffering substantial personal and professional damages, including diagnosed depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Medical documentation indicates impaired work functionality and consideration of abandoning her legal career entirely. Financial claims exceed $4 million Jamaican dollars for combined legal and medical expenses, plus additional transportation costs and comprehensive compensation for lost earnings and future damages.

    The criminal trial regarding conspiracy charges continues separately, with proceedings scheduled to resume in May. The case had previously been suspended in 2020 due to pandemic-related court closures under Chief Justice Bryan Sykes’ emergency orders, before recommencing when restrictions were lifted.

    Defendants retain the right to file responses within 42 days of formal service of the claim documents.

  • THE BLUFF DESIGNER: Credit to Ja/Canadian Antoinette Messam

    THE BLUFF DESIGNER: Credit to Ja/Canadian Antoinette Messam

    In the highly anticipated action-adventure film ‘The Bluff,’ Jamaican-Canadian costume designer Antoinette Messam emerges as the creative force behind the production’s distinctive visual identity. Directed by Frank E Flowers and produced by AGBO’s Russo brothers, the Amazon MGM Studios feature stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Ercell ‘Bloody Mary’ Bodden—a former pirate forced to confront her violent past when her notorious captain (Karl Urban) threatens her newfound family life in the Cayman Islands.

    Messam’s costume design philosophy centered on tactical functionality, blending period authenticity with practical movement requirements. Her creative collaboration with director Flowers began in June 2023, with both sharing Caribbean heritage—Flowers from the Cayman Islands and Messam from Jamaica—which informed their shared visual language. The design approach deliberately contrasted the organic textures and muted colors of the islanders’ homespun fabrics against the durable, globally-sourced materials of the pirates’ attire, featuring denim and leather to convey toughness.

    The designer’s most celebrated creation—a custom cuirass (armor) worn by Chopra Jonas’s character—became such an artistic statement that the lead actress wore it to the film’s world premiere. Created by Australian artisans over three months, the piece exemplified Messam’s commitment to craftsmanship and narrative-driven design. Her team of approximately 40 skilled craftspeople executed her vision, with leather specialists Meg Ashforth and Lolly Ruby Redpath bringing the armor to life and art finishers adding weathered detailing.

    Set against the dramatic backdrop of Cayman Brac’s Skull Cave, ‘The Bluff’ represents a convergence of action cinema and high fashion, with Messam’s costumes receiving acclaim from cast, crew, and global audiences alike. The film premiered on Amazon Prime Video on February 25, 2026, marking another milestone in Messam’s ascending career following her previous work on ‘The Harder They Fall’ and ‘Lift.’

  • Renewables can’t carry grid during hurricanes, JPS warns

    Renewables can’t carry grid during hurricanes, JPS warns

    Jamaica’s ambitious transition to renewable energy is confronting a harsh climatic reality, as extreme weather events reveal critical vulnerabilities in solar and wind infrastructure. The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), the nation’s sole grid operator, has issued a stark warning that renewable systems coupled with battery storage cannot maintain grid stability during hurricanes, forcing renewed dependence on traditional thermal generation during crises.

    The limitations became dramatically apparent during Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 assault, when renewable sources failed completely—solar panels produced no power days before, during, and after the storm, while wind turbines were secured for safety. Acting JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant revealed that only 23% of customers maintained electricity post-hurricane, exclusively through fossil fuel resources. “When storms hit, the power system depends heavily on traditional, dispatchable generation,” Grant stated during a utilities regulation forum in Kingston.

    This reality creates significant tension within Jamaica’s energy policy, which targets 50% renewable penetration by 2030. While supporting renewables as part of Jamaica’s long-term strategy, Grant emphasized that battery technology remains insufficient for prolonged outages, with utility-scale storage currently limited to approximately eight hours duration—inadequate for multi-day hurricane recovery periods.

    In response to these challenges, JPS has implemented substantial grid-hardening measures including enhanced vegetation management, reinforced utility poles, reduced span distances for improved load-bearing capacity, and strategic circuit re-routing. The company is exploring underground infrastructure despite prohibitive costs—15 times higher than overhead systems—requiring targeted implementation and cross-sector cost sharing.

    The hurricane exposed not only physical infrastructure limitations but also critical financing gaps. Government intervention through a $150 million loan covered less than half the $350 million estimated reconstruction costs, highlighting inadequate disaster funding mechanisms. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz clarified the government’s role is not to bail out utilities but to establish financial frameworks enabling rapid restoration while protecting consumers and the economy.

    Jamaica Stock Exchange CEO Livingstone Morrison suggested utilities might need more aggressive capital market engagement to fund resilience projects. Meanwhile, policymakers face the complex challenge of balancing renewable expansion with maintaining reliable power through increasingly severe weather events, ensuring energy transition doesn’t compromise grid stability during critical periods.

  • Inspired by family, fuelled by science

    Inspired by family, fuelled by science

    Dr. Jhodi Webster’s scientific journey began with a personal tragedy—watching her stepfather’s memory gradually deteriorate following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. This profoundly painful experience ignited a determination that would ultimately define her career path and research ambitions.

    Now a 28-year-old post-doctoral research fellow at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the Jamaican scientist is conducting cutting-edge research on the very disease that affected her family. Her work focuses on understanding neurodegenerative mechanisms while building connections with patients and caregivers facing similar challenges.

    Webster’s academic journey began at St Andrew High School for Girls in Jamaica, where she initially aspired to become a medical doctor. Her stepfather’s early-onset dementia diagnosis, however, redirected her ambitions toward medical research. In 2016, she migrated to the United States on scholarship to pursue neuroscience studies at Agnes Scott College.

    Her research examines the intriguing overlap between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases—two progressive neurodegenerative disorders with distinct symptoms but shared characteristics of cognitive decline and dementia. Webster’s doctoral work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham involved developing novel animal models that incorporate toxic proteins found in patients’ brains, enabling detailed study of neuroinflammatory responses.

    “We’ve demonstrated that when Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s pathology overlaps in brains, it triggers a distinct immune response not seen in cases with pure protein pathology,” Webster explained. This critical insight opens new therapeutic possibilities targeting both the toxic proteins and inflammatory responses in the brain.

    Her research has garnered significant recognition, with numerous presentation awards and scholarships from organizations including the Parkinson’s Association of Alabama. Beyond laboratory work, Webster has prioritized community engagement, connecting with caregivers and patients whose experiences mirror her family’s journey.

    “Seeing someone you’ve known for years become a shell of themselves is devastating,” Webster shared. “That personal connection makes this research profoundly meaningful—it’s not just about finding a cure but about connecting with those directly affected.”

    At Mayo Clinic, Webster continues her pioneering work, investigating how neuroinflammation contributes to Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS. Her research aims to develop targeted immunotherapies that could modify disease progression rather than merely addressing symptoms.

    While acknowledging that a complete cure remains ambitious, Webster remains committed to developing treatments that improve quality of life for neurodegenerative patients. “Patients can live 10-20 years with these diseases, but it’s often with low quality of life,” she noted. “Developing targeted therapies to prevent neuronal death and cognitive decline is my immediate mission.”

    Reflecting on her journey from Jamaica to elite medical research, Webster expresses both pride in her accomplishments and gratitude for the mentors who supported her path. Her work stands as a testament to how personal experience can drive scientific innovation and compassion in equal measure.

  • SVL expanding remittance network

    SVL expanding remittance network

    Jamaican gaming conglomerate Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) is aggressively expanding its footprint in the financial services sector through a rapid scaling of its remittance operations. Executive Chairman Gary Peart announced the company’s strategic plan to grow its network from the current 22 locations to approximately 80 by year-end, representing a significant diversification beyond its core gaming business.

    The expansion leverages SVL’s existing infrastructure of nearly 1,200 retail locations across Jamaica, many operated by third-party agents at community outlets and gas stations. According to Peart, this network provides a natural advantage for remittance services as these locations already handle substantial cash flows from gaming operations. The integration allows agents to disburse and circulate cash more efficiently, reducing operational costs for both operators and the company.

    SVL re-entered the remittance market through subsidiary Supreme Ventures Fintech Limited (SVFL), which received Bank of Jamaica approval as a primary agent in late 2023 with Ria Money Transfer as its international partner. This marks a return to the sector after SVL previously sold its Moneygram operations to Lasco Financial Services Limited in 2011 for $38 million.

    The expansion occurs amid a transformative period in Jamaica’s remittance landscape where traditional cash-based models face increasing competition from digital channels. Industry data reveals that while digital transactions surpassed cash transfers globally for the first time in 2025, physical locations remain strategically important despite a 10% reduction in outlets to 442 nationwide.

    Remittance inflows showed remarkable resilience following Hurricane Melissa, bouncing back to $334.9 million in December after a temporary slowdown. SVL’s expansion positions the company to capture market share during this period of industry transformation while creating synergies with its existing gaming operations.