LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — In a shocking case that has sent waves through the online music community, 21-year-old internet-famous singer David Anthony Burke, professionally known as D4vd, has been formally charged with the murder and dismemberment of a 15-year-old California girl. The teen’s decomposing body was discovered inside an abandoned Tesla parked in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles County prosecutors confirmed Monday.
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BGLC appoints new executive director for regulatory focus
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s primary gambling sector regulator, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), has announced the appointment of Timar Powell as its new executive director, with the leadership change officially taking effect on April 20. The hiring comes as the organization enters a pivotal new strategic period focused on raising regulatory benchmarks and building a more adaptive, robust institutional framework to oversee the fast-evolving local industry.
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Jamaican Romae Gordon recognised among age-defying models on fashion’s top runways
The global fashion industry is undergoing one of its most transformative cultural shifts in recent memory, and at the forefront of this movement stands Jamaican industry veteran Romae Gordon, whose remarkable return to the international runway has been featured in a landmark cover story by *The New York Times*. Penned by the outlet’s chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman, the in-depth profile, headlined “Ageless Beauty: A Longer Runway to Be in Fashion,” anchors Gordon as a defining face of a generation-changing push to reimagine what luxury fashion can look like. The feature was featured on the front page of *The New York Times*’ widely read Sunday Styles section, shining a bright spotlight on the growing influence of older women as trailblazers reshaping the global fashion landscape. Gordon shares the spotlight with some of the industry’s most legendary figures, including Christy Turlington and Paulina Porizkova, as one of the trailblazers redefining modern beauty standards for fashion. Across the industry, from iconic luxury houses such as Chanel, Givenchy, and Proenza Schouler to major global cosmetics brands, leading companies are increasingly signing older women as brand ambassadors. This wave of partnerships signals a deep, structural shift in who fashion is designed for, and who gets to set the industry’s beauty standards. As Friedman emphasizes in her reporting, this is not a passing trend — it is a lasting change that paves the way for older women to build long, sustainable careers in fashion and see themselves represented in the space they help support. According to statements from the Sheldon Alexander Group, Gordon’s comeback to professional modeling is nothing short of extraordinary. For more than three decades, Gordon worked behind the scenes of the fashion industry, scouting emerging talent, nurturing new careers, and launching some of the Caribbean’s most successful models, including Jeneil Williams, Jaunel McKenzie, Nadine Willis, and Oraine Barrett. Now, she has stepped back into the spotlight to claim her own place on the runway. Gordon’s return to international fashion began with a historic appearance at Versace’s Milan Fashion Week show, marking her first turn on a major global runway in more than 30 years. Following that debut, she walked in Chanel’s Haute Couture show in Paris, then delivered a standout appearance at Proenza Schouler’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection presentation in New York, and closed out the run of shows with a spot at Diotima’s presentation. Today, her decades-long journey from behind-the-scenes talent developer to frontline runway star has become one of the most compelling narratives of fashion’s growing push for inclusive, age-diverse representation. In her profile, Friedman draws heavily on Gordon’s own decades of experience and unique perspective on the shifting industry. “There’s a practical reality agencies have to face: that older women have the purchasing power to buy what is being presented and they have a desire to see themselves and their lived experiences in these spaces,” Gordon told *The New York Times* in the profile. Deeg, head of the Sheldon Alexander Group and a core member of Gordon’s team, summed up Gordon’s impact this way: “Gordon epitomises the essence of the modern woman, a mom, a versatile and exceptional multi-hyphenate.” The group added that Gordon continues to break new ground for women across the industry, while cementing Jamaica’s reputation as a source of world-class talent in the global fashion space.
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New vehicles deployed to strengthen frontline policing in St Mary
ST MARY, Jamaica – Frontline law enforcement operations in Jamaica’s St Mary parish have received a much-needed upgrade following the deployment of new purpose-built vehicles, a development set to drastically cut emergency response times, expand officer mobility, and lift overall operational efficiency across the local policing division.
On a formal handover ceremony, Superintendent Anthony Wallace formally turned over two new fully equipped patrol vehicles and two high-performance motorcycles to frontline teams. The addition underscores the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)’s sustained commitment to upgrading public service delivery and embedding stronger safety frameworks for local communities across the island.
For years, St Mary’s policing division has grappled with intermittent gaps in its operational vehicle fleet, leaving officers stretched thin and slowing responses to emergency calls. This latest fleet expansion is not an isolated investment, but a core component of the JCF’s island-wide strategic initiative to modernize its aging vehicle stock, better equip frontline officers with the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, and build safer neighborhoods through faster emergency responses and proactive, community-focused patrol work.
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Eastern Hanover gets more hurricane relief courtesy of BGLC
KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than six months after Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica in October 2025, recovery efforts continue to confront persistent barriers, particularly in isolated inland areas. In a demonstration of ongoing commitment to disaster response, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) has launched a second round of targeted aid for eastern Hanover, extending life-changing support to the region’s most vulnerable groups by venturing into hard-to-reach rural districts.
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Dr Carlene Davis humbled by IRAWMA nomination
Veteran Jamaican gospel recording artiste Dr. Carlene Davis has expressed profound gratitude and humility after securing a nomination in the coveted Best Gospel Entertainer category at the 2026 installment of the International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA).
The 2026 IRAWMA ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 17 at the Lauderdale Performing Arts Center in South Florida, bringing together top talent from across the global reggae and world music landscape for a night of celebration and recognition. Davis joins six other talented nominees in the category: DJ Nicholas, Kevin Downswell, Papa San, Judith Gayle, Prince Saj, and Jason Mighty, all of whom have made significant contributions to gospel music within the reggae genre.
In a reflective statement following the nomination announcement, Davis shared that while industry nods are never a given expectation, she deeply values the recognition from IRAWMA organizers, particularly for the space they reserve to center gospel messaging in an international awards platform. “Nominations are a part of life, something that happens based on how people see things and not necessarily what you expect. I do appreciate the nomination, especially from where the message of the Gospel is recognised and is so necessary in our society. So much so that the organisers of IRAWMA would give the Gospel of Jesus Christ a category,” Davis explained.
For the long-serving gospel minister, the nomination carries far deeper meaning than just industry acclaim: she frames it as a tangible reminder of enduring hope, aligned with her faith. “It means ‘as long as there is life there is hope’, according to how the Holy Spirit guides us through all truth—including myself—who I seek to give me guidance in all that I do and say,” she said.
Davis is no stranger to recognition from IRAWMA, with a history of award wins dating back to the 1980s, when the organization was known as Martin’s International Reggae Music Awards. Over the decades, she has taken home honors including Best Female Vocalist, Best Music Video, Best Gospel Oriented Entertainer, and 1992’s Best Gospel Album. Most recently, she claimed the IRAWMA Best Gospel Album title in 2015 for her project *Dripping Blood*.
Even with her extensive trophy case, Davis emphasizes that any future win would not be a personal victory, but a win for the global Christian ministry she has built over decades. “I am not a competitive person by nature. But, by being nominated in this international event that gives recognition to persons in the music industry on a global level, I am already a winner being a part of the Kingdom of God and if Carlene Davis wins, it is a victory for the Kingdom and for that I say to God be the glory,” she shared.
Davis remains active in ministry and music production, with a packed schedule of engagements across North America and the Caribbean in recent months. She has ministered to congregations and audiences across Jamaica, multiple Caribbean nations including Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, and Guyana, as well as cities across the United States. Her latest creative work includes the co-produced project *Songs of Zion* and the single *Holy Forever*, released under the Glory Music label in partnership with VPal Music. Another of her recent singles, *No Regrets*, earned the 2025 Outstanding Reggae Recording honor at The Marlin’s Awards in the Bahamas.
The celebrated artiste has also earned high-profile non-music recognition in 2026 already: in February, she received the Marcus Garvey Iconic Award from the Commission of the City of Miramar, Florida. Most recently, she delivered a ministry set on the Love & Harmony Cruise on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, continuing her streak of active outreach through her music.
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Levell, Thompson-Herah star at Velocity Fest
Jamaica’s National Stadium played host to a thrilling edition of Velocity Fest 19 on Sunday, where emerging talents and seasoned Olympic champions delivered a day of electric sprinting action and unexpected upsets that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
The men’s 100m delivered one of the standout performances of the entire event, rising star Bryan Levell cementing his status as one of the world’s top sprinters with a blistering 9.90-second finish (+1.3 m/s wind assistance). Fresh off his bronze medal win in the 200m at the 2025 World Championships, Levell outpaced Sprintec’s Kadrian Goldson, who crossed the line second in a 9.99s personal best. Levell’s result marks the second-fastest men’s 100m time globally this season, trailing only Botswana’s Busang Kebinatshipi’s 9.89s, while Goldson’s effort slots him into seventh place on the year’s world rankings.
In the women’s 100m, double Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah turned heads even before the final, clocking an impressive 10.92s (+0.8 m/s) in the qualifying heat to secure the top seed for the final. However, the Jamaican star later withdrew from the championship round, opening the door for Dynamic Speed’s Lavanya Williams to take the title in a personal best 10.96s (+0.7 m/s). MVP’s Jonielle Smith closed hard to claim second in a time that matched her own personal best of 10.99s, with Sprintec’s Jodean Williams rounding out the podium in 11.09s. Thompson-Herah still holds third place on the women’s 100m world rankings this year, and the event highlighted Jamaica’s unprecedented depth in the discipline: six of the top 10 fastest women’s 100m times this season belong to Jamaican sprinters, with Williams fourth, Shanoya Douglas fifth, Smith seventh, and Jodean Williams 10th.
The most shocking upset of the day came in the men’s 200m, a race stacked with elite World Championship medalists. The field featured 2025 100m World champion Oblique Seville, 2023 400m World champion Antonio Watson, and 60m Indoor bronze medalist Ackeem Blake—all widely expected to dominate the podium. But it was relative unknown Adrian Kerr who stole the show, crossing the line first in 20.28s (+0.4 m/s) to take the win. Seville, who appeared out of peak racing shape, finished second in 20.43s, with Blake holding on for third in 20.58s, while Watson crossed fourth in 20.82s. Kerr’s winning time moves him into 18th place on the global 200m rankings for the season, announcing his arrival as a new contender to watch.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Shaniqua Bascombe, competing for Uptimum Track Club, claimed the women’s 200m title in a personal best 22.68s, upsetting a talented trio of young Jamaican stars: Alana Reid (22.89s), Tina Clayton (23.02s), and Tia Clayton (23.04s), all of whom notched personal best times in the race. Top sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent finished fifth in 23.91s.
In other track events, Deandre Watkins of Elite Track Club took the men’s 400m title in 45.50s, beating Racers’ Jeremy Bembridge (45.63s) to the line. In the women’s 400m, MVP’s Shericka Jackson, a multiple World Championship medalist, was upset by her clubmate Sada Williams of Barbados, who won in 51.38s. Jackson crossed second in 52.55s, with Sprintec’s Shiann Salmon taking third in 52.77s. High school standout Dejour Russell continued his successful comeback from injury, winning the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.53s (+0.8 m/s), while Racers’ Alexi James claimed the women’s 100m hurdles title in 12.94s.
In field events, Shawn-D Thompson of Sprintec won the men’s long jump with a 7.78m leap, while UTech’s Canniga Powell took the women’s long jump title with a 5.68m mark. Tio-Josh Mowatt of Explosive Movement claimed the men’s shot put with a 15.29m throw, and UTech’s Altonique James won the women’s shot put with a 13.00m effort. MVP’s Samantha Hall broke the event’s meet record in the women’s discus with a 64.00m throw, adding to her already impressive season: her 66.39m throw at the Throw Town meet in the U.S. earlier this season slots her into seventh place in the global discus rankings.
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Sav to White House road cleared after early morning protest
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A morning demonstration that shut down a critical stretch of highway between Savanna-la-Mar and White House has ended, with the roadway reopened to traffic three hours after protesters first gathered. Organized largely by local taxi operators who carried protest placards highlighting their grievances, the demonstration began before 7:00 a.m. on the day of the event, drawing attention to years of neglected road maintenance that has made daily travel dangerous and costly for commercial drivers.
The poor condition of the route is not a new issue, but it deteriorated dramatically after Hurricane Melissa swept through the region last October, leaving deep potholes, uneven pavement, and broken infrastructure in its wake. Mitchell Scott, a 66-year-old taxi driver who has operated along this corridor his entire career, called the current state of the road the worst he has witnessed in his lifetime. Born and raised in the local area, Scott said the deterioration has reached a breaking point that local drivers can no longer ignore.
Scott, who operates a Toyota Vosi minivan common in the local commercial transport industry, explained that the rough road surface causes constant mechanical damage to his vehicle. He noted that monthly repair costs add up to a significant financial burden, with even basic suspension components running to more than JA$40,000. Every part of the vehicle’s front end requires frequent replacement, Scott added, pointing out that modern passenger vehicles were never engineered to withstand the constant stress of driving on the severely damaged pavement.
Collin Kaye, another taxi driver who works the same Savanna-la-Mar to White House route, echoed Scott’s frustration, confirming that all commercial operators along the corridor face similar mounting costs and safety risks. While the road has been cleared following the protest, drivers say they will continue pushing for urgent government intervention to repave the heavily used route before more serious accidents or vehicle damage occur.
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PLP touts $1.4bn investment during Exuma campaign rally
As the Bahamas’ general election draws near, the two leading national political parties held simultaneous campaign rallies across different islands this week, reinforcing their core messaging and clashing over their competing visions for the country’s future. The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the current governing party, hosted a well-attended rally in Exuma, where top party officials doubled down on their pitch to voters for a renewed term, framing the PLP as the only force capable of delivering sustained, inclusive progress across the archipelago.
PLP leader and incumbent Prime Minister Philip Davis told assembled Exuma and Ragged Island residents that the upcoming election is far more than a routine vote – it is a decision that will shape the entire trajectory of the nation for years to come. Davis emphasized that only his party has the track record and plan to push the country forward, pointing to the strong local leadership delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Exuma and Ragged Island. “There is still much work left to do,” Davis noted, highlighting ongoing priorities to lower the cost of living for Bahamian families and ensure that economic growth and development reach every community across the islands.
Davis spotlighted a slate of ongoing infrastructure and development projects across Exuma and Ragged Island that the PLP administration has advanced, including the construction of a new airport, a new hotel development, and the successful completion of a hurricane-resistant solar microgrid on Ragged Island – a project designed to protect the island’s power supply from the extreme weather that threatens the Caribbean regularly. “We are not just investing in concrete and roads; we are investing in the Bahamian people,” Davis added, noting that the administration’s work has gone far beyond just recovering from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the country’s tourism-dependent economy.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Cooper laid out the governing party’s full track record and future agenda for his constituents, noting that the PLP has attracted more than $1.4 billion in new investment to Exuma, delivered value-added tax reductions to ease consumer costs, and upgraded critical public infrastructure across the district. Cooper outlined upcoming projects, including additional road repairs on Little Exuma, completion of airport upgrades at Black Point, new affordable housing developments in the Exuma Keys, and strengthened local immigration enforcement. He also laid out plans for further expansion of affordable housing, construction of a new primary school, a new centralized government administrative complex, and a multipurpose youth facility, adding that expanding access to high-quality healthcare remains the administration’s top unwavering priority.
Turning to Ragged Island, which was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017, Cooper said the PLP has restored hope to a community that he claimed the Free National Movement (FNM), the main opposition party, abandoned after the storm. “After Irma, the FNM wrote you off,” he said, outlining the PLP’s ongoing investments in the island, including construction of a new medical clinic, expansion of sustainable eco-tourism, and development of heritage tourism centered on the HMBS Flamingo monument. “You are never an afterthought to this government,” Cooper told Ragged Island residents, “I work for you every single day.”
Cooper repeatedly attacked the FNM, arguing that the opposition party has little more than empty rhetoric and no substantive policy plan to move Exuma and the country forward. Prime Minister Davis doubled down on that criticism, framing the FNM as a divisive political force that would halt, stall and roll back all the economic and social progress the PLP has delivered over its term. Davis claimed the FNM would “break up progress” the same way the party fractured its own internal unity in recent years, adding: “That is the core difference between our two parties. We build opportunities for the many, they are focused on taking from the many to benefit the few.”
The PLP rally in Exuma featured additional campaign speeches from other prominent party figures, including Fred Mitchell, Glenys Hanna-Martin, Clay Sweeting, and Robyn Lynes, who all echoed the party’s core messaging to voters ahead of the election. The event took place at the exact same time the opposition FNM held its own campaign rally in North Abaco, where FNM candidates stuck to the party’s long-held campaign message that the FNM works for all Bahamians, not just a small, privileged elite. This election cycle has followed familiar partisan framing: the PLP campaigns as the party of steady progress and inclusive development, while the FNM has positioned itself as a populist alternative focused on delivering for working and middle-class Bahamian families.
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New E-class sloop ‘Catherine’ christened for all-girl crew
In a traditional maritime ceremony steeped in centuries of sailing history, British High Commissioner to The Bahamas Smita Rossetti has officially launched a new E-class sailing sloop, Catherine, at Nassau Yacht Club over the weekend. Following longstanding custom, Rossetti broke a bottle of champagne across the vessel’s bow to mark its entry into service, capping off a public christening event that also brought the top diplomat together with emerging young Bahamian sailors and their coaching staff.
Catherine is the first of two purpose-built sloops created through a collaborative initiative between the British High Commission and the Bahamas National Sailing School, designed exclusively to expand access to sailing for the country’s youth. The second vessel, named Independence, will join Catherine in serving young Bahamian competitors for years to come.
The launch of Catherine comes just one day ahead of the start of the much-anticipated annual Exuma regatta, where the new sloop will make its competitive debut under an entirely female crew. The event organizers note the project doubles down on efforts to celebrate and sustain The Bahamas’ deep-rooted maritime and sailing heritage, which relies on passing skills and passion to the next generation of seafarers.
The sloop draws its name from Catherine, Princess of Wales, an experienced sailor who has maintained a lifelong connection to the sport. Princess Catherine grew up sailing and often integrates the activity into her public and charitable royal engagements. Most notably, she and Prince William went head-to-head in a charity race during the 2022 Bahamas Platinum Jubilee Regatta during their royal tour of the country.
Sailing holds unique cultural status in The Bahamas, after being formally designated the country’s national sport in 2023. Speaking at Saturday’s ceremony, Rossetti emphasized the shared commitment between the UK and local partners to growing youth participation in the iconic pastime.
“Through this partnership between the UK and the Bahamas National Sailing School, we want to encourage more young Bahamians to get onto the water and try their hand at sailing,” Rossetti said. “It’s a sport that is about teamwork, resilience and perseverance – skills that are so valuable in life whatever you go onto do.”
She added that the project team was particularly proud to see an all-girl crew take the helm of Catherine for its first competitive outing at the Exuma Regatta.
The British High Commission is currently open to inquiries from individuals and organizations interested in supporting the expansion of the youth sailing partnership. Interested parties can reach the initiative’s team via email at ukinthebahamas@fcdo.gov.uk.