A public dispute over child protection obligations has erupted between the head of Jamaica’s largest teachers’ union and the nation’s education minister, centered on unconfirmed allegations of inappropriate sexual activity by disaster shelter residents that was allegedly visible to students on school grounds.
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Illegal signs come down as KSAMC launches enforcement drive
The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has formally launched its long-announced enforcement campaign, initiating the removal of unapproved outdoor signage and billboards across the municipality, following a three-month compliance grace period that drew low levels of participation from regulated entities.\n\nMayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby confirmed that the operation is not a temporary, one-off initiative, and crews have already begun taking down non-compliant signage across multiple districts of Kingston’s Corporate Area starting Thursday. Swaby emphasized that the enforcement drive will continue systematically until all unauthorised displays are addressed.\n\nPublic outreach on signage compliance requirements has been underway since the start of the calendar year, Swaby explained. Municipal authorities distributed formal notification letters, held one-on-one consultations with signage owners, engaged industry umbrella groups, and ran public awareness announcements on local radio. The public education and compliance window was originally scheduled to close on March 31, and enforcement was only slightly delayed to allow teams to complete final verification of permit and payment records.\n\nUnder the rules, any publicly displayed signage — regardless of whether it is placed on private property, commercial plazas, or public road right-of-ways — is required to obtain formal approval from the KSAMC. Any display that has not gone through the application and approval process will be removed as part of the ongoing campaign, Swaby added.\n\nThe three-month grace period launched in January included an incentive for non-compliant entities: a 20% discount on all outstanding signage regulatory fees. The incentive was specifically designed to ease the burden on businesses and public agencies that faced financial hardship after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2024. The storm caused widespread operational disruptions, unexpected recovery costs, and shifted operational priorities for many entities, leaving them unable to meet regulatory obligations including signage fee payments.\n\nDespite the accommodative terms, compliance rates remained far below municipal expectations. Of the 3,421 signs audited by KSAMC officials, only 463 owners completed required payments and brought their signage into full compliance during the grace period. Swaby previously voiced frustration over the low turnout at the KSAMC’s monthly meeting on March 12, 2025, noting that while some entities took advantage of the discount, dozens of public and private entities still held outstanding obligations ahead of the grace period deadline.\n\nAt that March meeting, Swaby gave multiple public warnings that enforcement would follow immediately after the grace period closed. He noted that the entire initiative was structured to give entities a fair, low-cost path to regularize their signage status without facing penalties, and the enforcement phase was unavoidable for those that failed to act.\n\nTo carry out the campaign, the KSAMC has assembled a dedicated enforcement team tasked with coordinating all removal actions. The municipality has also reached out to senior leadership of the Area 4 and Area 5 police divisions, as well as local divisional commanders across Kingston and St Andrew, to request police support for the structured enforcement drive where necessary.\n\nWith removal operations now officially underway, Swaby reiterated his call for all property owners and businesses that still hold unapproved signage to complete the permitting and payment process promptly to avoid having their displays removed.
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Falmouth mayor warns of disorder as ‘land grabbing’ increases
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — As large-scale development accelerates across Jamaica’s Trelawny parish, the local municipal government is sounding the alarm over a growing wave of illegal land encroachment and fraudulent property reselling that threatens to upend orderly growth in the region. At the regular monthly gathering of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC) held Thursday, Falmouth Mayor and Councillor C Junior Gager issued a sharp public warning, urging all landowners across the parish to step up vigilance against bad actors illegally seizing and subdividing private property for profit.
Gager told attendees that the TMC has received multiple formal complaints about land grabbing incidents across different communities in Trelawny, including the district of Scarlet Hall, where schemers have repeatedly targeted unmonitored private land. He explained that these illegal activities often fly under the radar of municipal authorities until the encroachment has already advanced significantly, leaving rightful owners and regulators scrambling to address the damage.
“Right now, we are seeing repeated cases where unscrupulous individuals enter private land, carry out unofficial surveys, and lay claim to property that does not belong to them,” Gager said during the meeting. “More often than not, our officers only find out about these illegal subdivisions long after the work has been done.”
The mayor stressed that without immediate action from landowners and stronger oversight, Trelawny risks sliding into widespread disorganization as illegal squatting and unregulated development spreads. He urged both large and small landholders to implement routine checks of their holdings to catch encroachment early.
“I am appealing to large landowners to assign someone to patrol your property at least once a month; take a drive around your land and check for any unauthorized activity,” Gager said. “Small landowners need to do the same – you cannot afford to ignore what is happening on your own land.”
Gager warned that unregulated illegal development creates unsafe, unplanned communities that lack proper infrastructure: without formal roads, the areas cannot be effectively patrolled by police, and emergency services cannot access properties in crisis. He added that even landowners will face official action when illegal construction is discovered, noting “when our team goes to serve eviction notices on these illegal structures, we also have to notify the legal landowner, because as the title holder, you have a responsibility to monitor your property. We cannot allow Trelawny to become a parish defined by chaos and squatting.”
To illustrate how brazen these land-grabbing schemes have become, Gager shared details of a recent high-profile incident in Scarlet Hall, where a large landowner discovered that a man from St Catherine had started clearing his property for illegal subdivision. In that case, the encroacher exploited a single year of missed property tax payment by the rightful owner: the schemer paid the outstanding one-year tax bill, then tried to use the receipt as fraudulent proof of ownership to claim the entire parcel of prime real estate.
“To show you how cunning these people are, a large landowner – who we are not identifying – got word that heavy equipment was on his property clearing land,” Gager explained. “He blocked the access road and went to investigate, and found an excavator clearing his prime land to be split up and sold illegally. The rightful owner had paid his taxes consistently for years, but missed payment for just one year. That was all the window the schemer needed – they paid that single year’s tax, and claimed that gave them full right to the land. They planned to subdivide it, make a huge profit, then disappear.”
Under Jamaican law, individuals can legally claim ownership of a property through adverse possession if they occupy the land without challenge for at least 12 consecutive years. Gager noted that simple preventative steps, such as putting up clearly visible “no trespassing” signs, can block these claims and protect a landowner’s title.
Beyond warning current landowners, Gager also urged prospective property buyers to carry out full due diligence before completing any land purchase, noting that buying fraudulently listed land can lead to total loss of investment.
“If you cut corners on verifying ownership, you stand to lose not just the land, but every dollar you put into building a home or developing the property,” he said. “I hope people will take this warning seriously. Stay vigilant.”
The mayor also warned buyers to be deeply suspicious of deals that seem too good to be true, calling these obvious fraudulent schemes run by organized criminal actors. “There is no seafront land in Trelawny selling for $600,000 per lot – everyone knows that cannot be real. These are criminals running sophisticated scams. When you see a seafront lot that looks like a steal, and you hand over your hard-earned $600,000 as full payment, you are walking straight into a trap that will leave you with nothing,” he added.
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Justice system buckling under poor infrastructure, says Court of Appeal president
Jamaica’s most senior judicial officials have issued a blunt, public call for comprehensive modernization of the country’s crumbling courthouses, warning that outdated infrastructure is crippling the delivery of justice and holding back a new generation of legal professionals.
Appeals Court President Marva McDonald-Bishop laid out the case for reform during a swearing-in ceremony for eight newly elevated senior judicial officers at King’s House on Thursday, using a well-known biblical metaphor to frame the crisis. Drawing from Matthew 9:17 — the passage that states new wine cannot be poured into old, inflexible wineskins without both being ruined — she argued the metaphor perfectly describes Jamaica’s current justice system.
“New transformative ideas cannot survive in rigid, outdated structures without intentional renewal,” McDonald-Bishop told the assembled crowd. “These newly appointed judges are that new wine, full of fresh energy and perspective — but the question remains: are they being placed into new, fit-for-purpose wineskins, or crumbling old ones?”
She went on to detail a long list of critical deficiencies across Jamaican courthouses that are stifling the productivity of the country’s legal professionals, from outdated architectural and operational designs ill-suited to modern justice delivery to inadequate, unsafe spaces for crime victims and witnesses. Even basic accommodations for jurors are lacking, she noted, with no dedicated, comfortable facilities for jurors to deliberate on cases, on top of longstanding issues with unpaid juror stipends. Most notably, the country’s push to expand virtual court hearings to increase access to justice has been held back by a near-total lack of upgraded digital and technological infrastructure across courthouses.
McDonald-Bishop specifically called out the downtown Kingston Court of Appeal building, which may appear renovated and well-maintained from the street, but hides serious internal flaws that create daily disruptions and safety risks. “It looks new on the outside, but it’s crumbling from within,” she said. “Sewage is actively seeping into the building, affecting our work every single day. Homeless individuals camping near the entrance create major security concerns, as do unregulated taxi operators who park directly on the court steps and street vendors who set up stalls along the perimeter.”
She stressed that as the world becomes increasingly digital and globalized, Jamaica’s legal community must be given functional, modern workspaces to evolve with changing global norms. Echoing the biblical metaphor, she added that inflexible, outdated structures cannot adapt to new pressures and will ultimately block systemic change. McDonald-Bishop joined Chief Justice Bryan Sykes in formally calling on national government leaders to prioritize the justice system’s infrastructure needs.
Sykes, who also addressed the swearing-in ceremony, backed up McDonald-Bishop’s concerns with a firsthand account of government inaction following last year’s Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm made landfall in Jamaica in October 2024, causing widespread damage to multiple courthouses across the island, including the main court facility in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.
Sykes explained that shortly after the storm, judicial leadership met with Ministry of Justice officials to request either major renovations or full reconstruction of the damaged Savanna-la-Mar court. Five months on, however, he said the government has not issued any formal response or indication that it plans to move forward with the work.
“Can you believe that five months after a Category 5 hurricane, nothing has been done to restore or replace the main court in Savanna-la-Mar? If a storm of that scale can’t spur urgent action, what reason is there to believe anything will ever get done?” Sykes asked.
To address the gap left by government inaction, Sykes announced that the judiciary has reallocated funds from its own existing budget to carry out critical repairs at multiple court facilities across western Jamaica. The judiciary has already completed upgrades to the circuit court in Westmoreland and the family court in Trelawny, ensuring local judicial officers have safe, functional workspaces.
Sykes used the stalled Savanna-la-Mar project to make the case for broader institutional reform, arguing that the judiciary should be given greater direct control over infrastructure resources. “This is a simple division of labor: let the government build the facilities, then hand them over to the judiciary to maintain. As Hurricane Melissa has made clear, government ministries have proven to be unreliable partners in this critical work,” he said.
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Tank-Weld gets green light for judicial review of FTC finding
In a landmark legal ruling delivered on Tuesday, an acting justice of Jamaica’s Supreme Court has granted Tank-Weld Metals Limited the green light to pursue a full judicial review challenge against a key decision made by the nation’s Fair Trading Commission (FTC). The contested decision saw the FTC approve and adopt an August 2025 staff report that originated with Tank-Weld’s industry rival, Arc Manufacturing, which accuses the company of unfair pricing practices in the local market for steel reinforcing bars, commonly referred to as rebar, a critical construction material.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Sharon Millwood-Moore issued a series of preliminary rulings following an initial hearing on Tank-Weld’s application for both judicial review and injunctive relief. Among the court’s grants are approval for the company to seek an Order of Certiorari, a legal mechanism that would quash the FTC’s decision to accept the competitor-initiated staff report. The court also approved a request for an Order of Prohibition, which would bar the FTC from publishing or taking any further action based on two formal letters dated March 23, 2026, sent to Tank-Weld’s legal team at Hart Muirhead Fatta that confirmed the commission’s acceptance of the report.
Beyond these measures, the court has granted Tank-Weld leave to pursue an Order of Mandamus that would compel the FTC to fully withdraw both the contested staff report and its decision to endorse the document. The company is also cleared to seek a court order requiring the removal of the report and associated FTC decision from all public and private electronic platforms where the materials may have been posted. Additionally, the court approved the pursuit of a separate Order of Mandamus to force the FTC to conduct a full new investigation that adheres to the procedural requirements laid out in Jamaica’s Fair Competition Act and broader principles of administrative law.
One key protective measure granted by the court is an order that seals both the FTC’s preliminary investigation report and the contested August 2025 staff report, with the ruling stipulating that neither document can be unsealed without explicit authorization from the court. Justice Millwood-Moore also set out clear procedural timelines for the next steps in the case: the full judicial review application must be filed and served on all relevant parties within 14 days of Tuesday’s order, and any pending applications related to the transfer of the case are scheduled for a hearing on April 23, 2026, a date previously set by Jamaica’s Commercial Court.
This latest ruling builds on an earlier stay issued by the Supreme Court’s commercial division on April 2 of this year, which paused all enforcement action connected to the FTC’s investigation into the pricing allegations from Arc Manufacturing. That earlier order explicitly stated that the FTC’s March 2026 decision could not remain in effect or be acted upon until a full inter partes hearing is held or the court issues a new order.
In a public statement released following Tuesday’s ruling, Tank-Weld framed the court’s decision as a critical win not just for the company, but for Jamaican consumers and construction stakeholders. The company noted that the ruling provides immediate protection for ordinary Jamaican households, independent builders, and contracting firms from the sudden risk of spiking construction costs. Tank-Weld emphasized that it has operated in the Jamaican market for 35 years, maintaining accessible pricing for rebar and other core construction materials in an entirely open market that allows duty-free rebar imports from any country around the globe, a market structure that the company argues makes sustained anti-competitive high pricing impossible.
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‘Vibes cyaan done’ at Illuminate
Downtown Kingston transformed into a vibrant, neon-soaked celebration of Carnival spirit on Wednesday night, as the annual Illuminate pre-party drew thousands of festival-goers to kick off the most anticipated week of Caribbean revelry. From the moment the sun dipped below the skyline, it was clear this edition of the event would surpass all expectations, with electric anticipation hanging in the air and bold, colorful displays turning ordinary city streets into an open-air playground for music and dance.
Attendees embraced the festive theme head-to-toe, with women stepping out in eye-catching, daring ensembles and men swapping heavy jeans for lightweight shorts, all prepared to dance late into the night as Carnival season gains momentum. The first energy jolt came early, when popular Trinidadian soca artist Rico Suave took the decks to set the tone for the evening. Without hesitation, he launched into a string of his most beloved anthems, including fan favorites *Escape*, *Cyah Behave*, *Too Real*, *Someone Else*, and *Good Spirits*, drawing the growing crowd closer and urging attendees to let loose from the very first beat.
As thousands more revellers flooded into the downtown venue, the energy climbed to new heights, and DJ Tyler and Fyahman stepped in to take the experience to the next level. What followed was a nonstop barrage of hit tracks including *Happiest Man Alive*, *Ring Finger*, and *Worst Behaviour*, each sending ripples of excitement through the tightly packed crowd that had the entire venue shaking. Party-goers abandoned all inhibitions, turning the open space into a single, pulsating sea of movement: couples paired off to move in sync with the bassline, while other attendees joined the popular “free-whine segment”, a wildly popular Carnival tradition of uninhibited, expressive open dance that left no one sitting on the sidelines. The crowd followed every cue from the DJs, arching, dipping and gyrating along to the rhythm as the night sky glowed neon overhead.
When *Vibes Cyah Done* blared through the massive speaker systems, attendees lifted their drinks in a collective toast to the freedom, joy and community that defines Caribbean Carnival. As neon confetti drifted down over the crowd, Tyler and Fyahman passed the DJ baton to event organizer Bloodline Franco, who was joined by Creep Chromatic and Brush1 The Road Marshal for the final stretch of the night. The trio launched straight into fan favorites *Rum Is Meh Lover* and *Greatest Bend Ova*, interspersed with chart-topping dancehall hits from Jamaican stars Masicka and RDX, and kept the energy at a constant high, never letting the momentum dip for a single minute.
For revellers, the night became far more than just a pre-Carnival party: it was a collective declaration of fun, a much-needed break from the stress of daily life. As Problem Child’s hit *Holiday* rang out across downtown, the crowd spilled out onto the surrounding streets, giving onlookers a preview of the massive energy expected for the official Road March Sunday, the culminating event of Jamaica’s annual Carnival celebrations.
In a post-event interview, Bloodline Franco reflected on how far Illuminate has come since its launch, calling the 2024 edition a truly special milestone. “We started off very humbly at this venue downtown with one sound truck, now we need two trucks and so we’re grateful,” he said. “This year we took the party onto the streets for a full road march experience, and that is testament to the growth and our commitment to giving the people a new experience every year. The core aim of Illuminate was always to give the people who have never experienced Road March Sunday, and always wished they could go, the chance to get that authentic feeling ahead of the big day. This year the Road March experience was superb because we had Lil Kerry performing his hit song, *Bury All*. This was his first time in Jamaica and so it was a truly international experience at Illuminate this year.”
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2025 MG4 EV: Zero gas, zero stress
For many consumers considering a shift to electric mobility, sticker shock and complicated design have long been major barriers to entry. The new MG4 EV is aiming to change that narrative, positioning itself as an accessible, no-fuss entry point into the electric future with a starting price of $4.5 million – making it one of the most affordable brand-new electric vehicles currently available on the market.
As a compact family hatchback, a segment traditionally defined by conservative, risk-averse styling, the MG4 EV strikes a careful balance between familiar design and modern electric-focused flair. While it avoids radical design overhauls that would alienate traditional hatchback buyers, it embraces its all-electric identity with a contemporary, forward-looking aesthetic. Sharp, muscular body lines and a low, grounded stance give it a distinctly sporty profile, separating it visually from MG’s lineup of SUV models. Its unique look often draws curious attention, with most observers reacting positively to its understated yet distinctive design.
Step inside the MG4 EV, and the all-electric philosophy immediately becomes apparent. Unshackled from the requirements of a traditional internal combustion engine, the vehicle’s cabin layout breaks from convention in small, user-focused ways: there is no dedicated start button, for example. The vehicle automatically powers on when the driver approaches with the key fob, and shuts down when the driver exits, streamlining the entire driving experience.
Contrary to what many would expect from a budget-priced EV, the MG4 EV delivers generous interior and cargo space, thanks to its long wheelbase adapted for an all-electric platform. Road and wind noise are effectively muted, adding to a serene cabin experience, while the standard cloth seats offer extensive adjustability to fit drivers of all body types. The cabin leans into a clean, minimalist modern design, with build quality that matches competing models in the same segment. The standout design feature is the floating-style centre console, which angles back to place an illuminated rotary gear selector within easy reach of the driver.
Unlike many modern vehicles that overload the cabin with physical buttons, the MG4 EV keeps only the most frequently accessed core functions controlled by physical inputs, including the gear selector and steering wheel controls. All other vehicle and infotainment functions are consolidated into a crisp 10.25-inch central touchscreen, complemented by a 7-inch digital driver display. The interface uses a logical, uncluttered menu structure that is intuitive to navigate, allowing drivers to set automated convenience features or monitor vehicle status with minimal distraction.
The shift to electric powertrains has been particularly transformative for smaller mass-market vehicles, replacing underpowered, slow-responding small displacement gas engines with smooth, instant torque. The MG4 EV fully leverages this advantage of electric mobility. Depending on the selected trim configuration, the vehicle offers a maximum driving range of 530 kilometres on a full charge, while the base model delivers a still-practical 350-kilometre range.
Charging flexibility is built into the vehicle, which uses the universal CCS2 port standard compatible with both Level 2 home chargers and high-output DC fast chargers for rapid top-ups. A professionally installed home charger is included in the vehicle’s purchase price, adding extra value for new EV owners. For drivers looking to maximise efficiency, one-pedal driving mode can be activated to work with the regenerative braking system, recapturing kinetic energy to extend range.
On the road, the MG4 EV delivers a well-rounded driving experience: the suspension is tuned for comfort, while direct steering offers solid control over the rear-wheel-driven powertrain’s instant acceleration bursts. For long highway trips or stop-and-go urban commutes, the MG Pilot advanced driver assistance system takes over core driving tasks, combining automatic cruise control and lane keep assist to reduce driver fatigue.
In the final assessment, the MG4 EV exceeds expectations for a budget-priced electric hatchback, checking every box that a small family needs from a daily driver while adding unique benefits of its all-electric layout. It delivers cabin space, ride comfort, practical utility, and overall refinement that are rarely found in affordable EV segments. The core takeaway for prospective buyers is that the low starting price does not equal low value: the MG4 EV offers exceptional value for first-time EV owners making their first gas-free purchase, as well as existing EV owners seeking to add a second electric vehicle without a heavy financial outlay.
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SHELTER SHOWDOWN
A fiery public dispute has erupted between the president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Mark Malabver, and Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, centered on disturbing allegations of inappropriate sexual activity by remaining hurricane evacuees still housed in school buildings. The claims, which state that JTA students have witnessed evacuees engaging in sexual acts on school grounds, have turned a routine local governance meeting into a platform for public disagreement, dragging the issue of post-disaster shelter management into the national spotlight. The controversy first emerged during the monthly general meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation held on Thursday, where the simmering tensions between the two leading public figures boiled over into open conflict. Compounding the urgency of the situation, the Ministry of Local Government has already set a firm deadline: all remaining people displaced by last October’s Hurricane Melissa must vacate school-based shelters by May 8. For his part, Malabver has pushed back against any criticism of his handling of the allegations, asserting that he has fully met both his legal and ethical responsibilities by officially reporting the claims to the relevant government agencies. As the deadline for evacuating the shelters approaches, the clash between the JTA leader and the education minister has intensified public scrutiny over how Jamaican authorities have managed long-term post-hurricane displacement, and raised questions about student safety in campuses that continue to double as emergency housing months after the storm passed.
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IN THE CROSS HAIRS
The National Stadium in Kingston is gearing up for a high-stakes clash on Friday evening, as Jamaica’s senior women’s national football team, the Reggae Girlz, kick off their much-anticipated Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifier against Antigua and Barbuda. With Group B standings hanging in the balance and a spot at the upcoming Concacaf Women’s Championship on the line, the Jamaican side is gunning for a three-point win in front of their home crowd.
Entering the fixture, the Reggae Girlz sit atop Group B with a perfect record of six points from two matches. While Nicaragua and Guyana also hold six points, both have played one extra match, leaving Jamaica in a strong position to extend their lead with a victory. At the bottom of the group, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have yet to pick up a single point from their opening two outings. Only one team from each group will progress to the continental championship later this year, making every remaining fixture a must-win for title contenders.
For head coach Hubert Busby, returning to play on home turf adds extra weight to the match. It marks the first time in months the squad has competed together in front of Jamaican supporters, and the team is eager to deliver a memorable performance. “It’s been a while since we’ve been on home soil, and it’s great to be back in Jamaica as a group,” Busby told reporters ahead of the game. “We want to make sure we get the result and do well in front of our own people. The camp has been good thus far, and we’re obviously looking forward to kickoff.”
Despite the excitement of a home game, Busby has emphasized to his squad that complacency has no place in World Cup qualifying. Every fixture carries the same high stakes, he argues, even against a side that has already been eliminated from tournament contention. After securing a hard-fought road win in Nicaragua earlier in the campaign, Busby said the team has remained locked in on their goal, one match at a time.
Against Antigua and Barbuda, Busby warned his players that elimination could work in the opposition’s favor. “We know that they’ve been officially eliminated, and that comes with a different sort of challenge,” he explained. “The reality is that they can maybe play with a little bit more freedom than they did before – the pressure is off for them.” He also noted that as group leaders, the Reggae Girlz now face a new test as the hunted, rather than the hunter, a shift that requires extra focus and preparation.
Busby reiterated his gameplan ahead of kickoff: “Overall we are going to take one game at a time. We’ll deal with Antigua, turn the page, take the learnings and findings from that, and then move on to the Guyana match. But right now our sole focus is dealing with what we need to do and take care of Antigua.”
The Jamaican side will face one unexpected hurdle going into the fixture, however, as star striker Jody Brown has been ruled out of the match as a precautionary measure by her club. Brown, who recently returned from a injury spell, was held back to protect her long-term fitness – a decision Busby said he respects, even if he is disappointed to lose her for the home game.
Busby acknowledged Brown was heartbroken to miss the opportunity to play in front of her home fans, but he expressed full confidence in his squad’s depth to cover the gap left by her absence. “She will be missed, but when she is not there another opportunity comes along,” he said. “We have a deep pool of players, and we have no doubt that someone will take that mantle along and do very well at this camp.”
The fixture also brings a historic milestone for one Jamaican veteran: midfielder Chantelle Swaby is on the brink of becoming the first player in Reggae Girlz history to earn 50 senior international caps. Swaby received a special commemorative jersey from Busby during pre-match events on Thursday, and she said she is thrilled to hit the milestone in front of a home crowd.
“I am definitely feeling excited for the game,” Swaby said. “It’s really exciting to be back home, back in front of the fans, and having a really good group of girls here with us and being able to get us through the next round. I am really excited about the game.”
The entire Reggae Girlz squad wrapped up their final training session at the National Stadium on Thursday, fine-tuning their tactics and getting accustomed to the pitch ahead of the 7:00 pm kickoff. As anticipation builds across the country, all eyes will be on Jamaica to see if they can secure the win that keeps their World Cup dream on track.
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Russia’s Oil Revenues Expected to Double as US/Israeli War on Iran Drives Prices Up
Tensions stemming from U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have triggered a cascading series of disruptions to global energy markets, delivering an unexpected windfall to Russian oil exports while creating new momentum for challenges to the U.S. dollar’s dominance in global energy trade, according to industry and policy sources cited by Reuters.
The crisis began with coordinated strikes targeting Iranian assets on February 28, and in the months since, global crude prices have climbed nearly 50% following Iran’s decision to severely restrict traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical chokepoint for seaborne oil shipments. In a typical 24-hour period, the narrow Persian Gulf passage accommodates roughly 140 vessels carrying nearly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply. But as of mid-April 2026, just six ships made the transit through the strait’s main lanes in one day, after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard redirected most vessels to an alternate route near Larak Island and warned of naval mines deployed in primary shipping lanes.
Even after a two-week ceasefire was implemented to ease tensions, more than 180 oil tankers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf. Major shipping firms have refused to resume full regular operations until they receive binding, long-term safety guarantees for crews and vessels. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, one of Japan’s largest shipping conglomerates, confirmed Thursday that it had successfully moved three tankers through the passage during the ceasefire window, but the company remains on pause for full operations pending official guidance from the Japanese government.
As global buyers that rely on Gulf oil exports are left scrambling for alternative supplies, Russia – the world’s second-largest oil exporter – has seen a dramatic surge in demand for its crude, translating to a near doubling of monthly oil tax revenues for the Kremlin. Independent calculations from Reuters show that Russia’s core oil extraction tax revenue is projected to hit roughly $9 billion in April 2026, up from just $4.7 billion in March of the same year. The average price of Russia’s flagship Urals crude has also jumped to $77 per barrel, a peak not seen since October 2023 and far higher than the $59 per barrel benchmark the Russian government used to draft its 2026 national budget.
Beyond energy market volatility, the crisis has accelerated long-simmering efforts by Iran and China to reduce global reliance on the U.S. dollar for energy transactions. For decades, the vast majority of international oil deals have been settled in U.S. dollars, a pillar of Washington’s global financial influence. But with control of the Hormuz passage, Iran has begun requiring some shipping firms to settle oil trade payments in Chinese yuan instead of U.S. dollars. China’s Ministry of Commerce has publicly confirmed the yuan-based transactions, while Iran’s embassy in Zimbabwe framed the shift as a long-overdue addition of the “petroyuan” to the global oil trading system.
Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff, a leading expert on global currency dynamics, explained the dual motivation behind Iran’s policy shift in comments to Al Jazeera. “At one level, Iran is aiming to poke its thumb in the United States’s eye, adding insult to injury,” Rogoff said. “At another level, Iran is dead serious about preferring yuan to avoid US sanctions and to cultivate its ally, China.”