Carib Scope

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  • Miller left ‘puzzled’ as Calabar High hunt for new football coach

    Miller left ‘puzzled’ as Calabar High hunt for new football coach

    One of Jamaica’s most prominent boys’ high school football programs, Calabar High, has entered a period of transition after confirming that incumbent head football coach Jeremy Miller will not return for the 2026 season, when his one-year contract at the helm of the under-19 program expires. In an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer, Miller opened up about his surprise at the institution’s decision to part ways, revealing he never received a clear explanation for the non-renewal.

    Miller, who stepped into the top job ahead of the 2025 season after taking over from Andrew Price, noted his single season in charge delivered one of the program’s strongest on-field results in nearly two decades. “I am puzzled by the decision, seeing that with the exception of 2017 under Coach Simms, this is one of Calabar’s most successful seasons since Wagga Hunt,” he told the Observer. The coach also shared that the non-renewal came with unspoken expectations he only learned of after the fact: he was required to deliver a Manning Cup title to earn a contract extension, despite only being offered a one-year deal from the start. “But the writing was on the wall from the outset, when I was only given a one year contract, now knowing after the fact that the expectation was I had to win the Manning Cup in order to obtain an extension,” he explained.

    Miller’s path to the Calabar head coaching role began when he was promoted from the school’s under-16 program, following the departure of Andrew Price. Price had led Calabar to the Manning Cup second round for the first time in decades, but was denied a contract extension, opening the door for Miller’s promotion. In his lone season leading the under-19 squad, Miller guided Calabar to the quarterfinals of both the Manning Cup and Walker Cup — a milestone the program had not hit since 2017. It also marks the program’s most successful trophy run since 2019, when Miller himself led the school’s under-16 side to a national title, the last trophy any Calabar football team has claimed.

    One of Miller’s standout achievements during his tenure was engineering a thrilling 2-2 draw with defending champions Kingston College that knocked the perennial titleholder out of the Manning Cup and secured Calabar’s quarterfinal spot, a result that reignited fan excitement and belief in the program’s potential. Despite his disappointment over the decision, Miller remained gracious in his exit, thanking Calabar principal Sian Wilson for the opportunity to lead the program. “I do however want to thank the principal for going out on a limb and giving me the opportunity. She afforded me the platform and I believe I was able to display what I am capable of producing,” said Miller, the son of Reverend Al Miller, famously known as the “Reggae Boyz pastor” who accompanied Jamaica’s national men’s football team on its historic 1998 World Cup qualification run. “Personally, I’m satisfied with my accomplishments this season and the manner in which I went about achieving them,” he added.

    Multiple requests for comment from principal Sian Wilson regarding the non-renewal went unanswered as of press time.

    Miller brings a wealth of international and domestic coaching experience to any future role. A former student of Jamaican boys’ school powerhouse Wolmer’s Boys’, Miller launched his coaching career in 2003 in Chicago, where he worked with the Chicago Fire Youth Academy and served as an assistant coach at Judson University, his alma mater. He returned to Jamaica in 2016, taking an assistant coaching role at Wolmer’s that lasted through 2018. Before joining Calabar, he led Cavalier’s under-15 and under-17 squads to KSAFA titles in 2017, earned a promotion to assistant coach of Cavalier’s senior side, held head coaching roles at both Constant Spring FC and Barbican FC, where he won the KSAFA Super League and narrowly missed out on promotion to the Jamaica Premier League.

    As Calabar moves forward with its search for a new head coach, local football circles are already buzzing with speculation that the school is targeting former Kingston College head coach Vassell Reynolds for the role. Reynolds, who led Kingston College to 2024 Manning Cup and Olivier Shield titles, also saw his contract with the school not renewed earlier this off-season. For context, Andrew Price — the coach Miller replaced at Calabar — has already taken on a new role as technical director at St George’s College.

    Industry analysts and local football insiders expect Miller will not be out of work for long. With a proven track record of elevating underperforming programs and delivering consistent on-field results, his name is already expected to be high on the shortlist for other schools and clubs searching for experienced head coaching talent ahead of the 2026 season.

  • Melania Trump denies any links to Epstein abuse

    Melania Trump denies any links to Epstein abuse

    In an unannounced, out-of-schedule appearance at the White House that caught political observers and reporters off guard, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump broke her silence Thursday to deliver a forceful rejection of years of unsubstantiated rumors linking her to deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 55-year-old former model’s sudden, unexplained public statement comes as the Trump administration has largely seen the Epstein scandal fade from front-page headlines, with most media focus having shifted in recent weeks to U.S. foreign policy tensions in the Middle East.

    Speaking directly to cameras, the Slovenian-born first lady pushed back hard against baseless claims that have circulated across social media platforms for years. “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she stated. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect.”

    Melania issued a categorical denial of any improper or hidden ties to Epstein, a disgraced financier who was once a fixture in New York City high society, where he crossed paths with both Melania and then-private citizen Donald Trump on multiple occasions — a connection that has been documented in old public photographs. She specifically called out manipulated media and false claims that have spread online, warning the public to treat unvetted content with skepticism. “Fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now,” she said. “Be cautious about what you believe: these images and stories are completely false.”

    The first lady went further than just addressing the rumors targeting her personally, issuing a sweeping denial of any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant. Was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island,” she said. “I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behaviour.”

    Political analysts note that the unexpected statement is likely to rekindle public and media attention on the long-running Epstein controversy, just as public focus had begun to turn away from the scandal and toward other pressing political issues. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in federal custody awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage victims, but the scandal has repeatedly resurfaced during Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Over the past 12 months, the U.S. Department of Justice has released thousands of pages of previously sealed court documents connected to the Epstein case, prompting new rounds of public discussion and speculation. President Donald Trump has previously issued his own denial of any connection to Epstein’s criminal actions.

    To close her statement, Melania Trump called on congressional leaders to take a concrete step to support survivors of Epstein’s abuse, urging the chamber to open a public hearing where victims can share their experiences under oath. This call puts new pressure on Washington to address the unresolved fallout from the Epstein case, even as it draws new attention to the unfounded rumors targeting the first lady.

  • Vaz urges caution while remaining optimistic that there is oil in Jamaica’s waters

    Vaz urges caution while remaining optimistic that there is oil in Jamaica’s waters

    A promising preliminary discovery of potential hydrocarbons off Jamaica’s coast has sparked cautious reactions, with the country’s top energy official urging the public to temper expectations until full exploratory drilling confirms whether commercially viable oil reserves actually exist.

    Energy Minister Daryl Vaz shared his measured perspective in a public voice note circulated Thursday, one day after United Oil & Gas Plc, the London-listed energy firm leading exploration efforts, published its latest survey findings from the Walton-Morant offshore licence. While Vaz acknowledged that the initial results mark a positive step forward for Jamaica’s years-long search for domestic energy resources, he emphasized that the current survey only confirmed traces of hydrocarbons, not a full, extractable reserve.

    To reach a definitive conclusion, Vaz explained, United Oil & Gas will need to complete a full exploratory drilling operation, a project that will cost an estimated $60 million to $70 million. The company currently plans to raise this capital through farm-out partnerships with major international oil companies, a process that is still ongoing. Only after core samples are pulled from the fully drilled well will stakeholders know for certain whether commercial oil deposits are present, he added.

    The breakthrough preliminary findings were first announced Wednesday in an official regulatory update published via the London Stock Exchange’s RNS news service, a primary approved information provider for UK financial markets. United Oil & Gas, which holds high-impact exploration assets in Jamaica and a smaller development project in the North Sea, completed a Seabed Geochemical Exploration (SGE) survey across the Walton-Morant licence earlier this year, collecting 42 piston core samples for laboratory analysis.

    According to the company’s official statement, analysis of the samples detected C4 and C5 hydrocarbons — including butanes and pentanes — in a subset of the collected cores. These heavier hydrocarbon compounds are not typically produced by biological processes, meaning their presence strongly suggests a thermogenic origin, the type associated with deep geological oil and gas formations.

    United Oil & Gas noted that this new finding adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the existence of an active petroleum system in Jamaica’s offshore waters. Past evidence has included recurring satellite oil slick anomalies, confirmed thermogenic hydrocarbons in samples from existing onshore and offshore wells, documented onshore and offshore oil seeps, and exposed surface outcrops of oil-bearing rock. Petroleum system modeling has also previously indicated that oil-mature source rocks are likely present in the region.

    This year’s SGE survey was the first geochemical study of the Walton-Morant licence to incorporate 3D seismic data, multibeam echosounder seabed mapping, and satellite-derived slick anomaly data to optimally position sample collections, a step the company says improved the reliability of its results. Taken together, all existing data points are consistent with an active petroleum system off Jamaica’s coast, the firm concluded.

    Moving forward, the new geochemical data will be integrated into the company’s geological models and risk assessment frameworks, while supporting ongoing technical evaluations and ongoing farm-out negotiations with potential industry partners.

  • Jamaica’s Oshane Nation named among referees for 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Jamaica’s Oshane Nation named among referees for 2026 FIFA World Cup

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico this coming June and July, has finalized its panel of match officials, and Jamaican referee Oshane Nation has earned a coveted place on the roster, according to official announcements.

    In a public statement published to FIFA’s official website this past Thursday, the global governing body of soccer revealed the full slate of 52 referees selected to oversee matches at the 48-team tournament. Among this select group, Nation stands out as one of only seven match officials drawn from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), the regional governing body that manages soccer across the North American and Caribbean region.

    The full official lineup of World Cup officials extends far beyond the lead match referees. FIFA also named 88 assistant referees and 30 video assistant referees (VAR) to join the on-field team, bringing the total cohort of match officials to 170 ahead of the historic first three-nation co-hosted World Cup this summer.

    This report by Paul A Reid

  • JTA president rejects deflection accusations, stands firm on shelter concerns in schools

    JTA president rejects deflection accusations, stands firm on shelter concerns in schools

    In Hanover, Jamaica, the leader of the nation’s most influential educators’ organization is escalating a high-stakes confrontation with government authorities over the ongoing use of school campuses as long-term emergency shelters, drawing attention to shocking allegations that students have witnessed sexual activity by storm-displaced shelter residents. Dr. Mark Malabver, president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), used a Thursday press conference held at the Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Green Island to deliver a firm rejection of any efforts to deflect attention from or weaken the core demand: immediate relocation of all shelter occupants out of active learning spaces. Malabver emphasized that the dispute transcends personal conflicts or partisan politics, centering instead on a non-negotiable obligation to protect the safety and well-being of students and teaching staff.

    “This is not a question of bruised egos, public relations posturing, or political performance art, nor is it about the embarrassment recent disclosures have caused the Ministry of Education,” Malabver told reporters. “This is fundamentally about upholding our duty of care, addressing verified risks, and safeguarding children and educators in spaces that are meant exclusively for teaching and learning.”

    Malabver first raised the alarming allegations during the opening session of the JTA’s 2026 three-day Education Conference, where he outlined the situation that has unfolded in the months following Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica in October 2025. Months after the storm passed, hundreds of displaced residents remain housed in temporary shelters set up on school grounds that continue to operate for daily classes, leaving students regularly exposed to inappropriate behavior by shelter occupants. Among the most disturbing claims are multiple reports that shelter residents have engaged in sexual activity in full view of attending students.

    “These conditions are profoundly unsettling, and every member of the public should be outraged that children are being exposed to this kind of conduct in a learning environment,” Malabver stated.

    Following the JTA’s initial disclosure, government officials pushed back against the claims, questioning why the concerns were not raised earlier. In a statement released Wednesday, the Ministry of Education said it had never received formal notification of the allegations during its regular monthly coordination meetings with the JTA, and claimed it had no prior knowledge of the severity of the claims before the conference. The ministry added that it had launched a preliminary review of the unconfirmed allegations.

    But at Thursday’s press conference, Malabver categorically refuted the ministry’s account, dismissing claims the concerns were never formally communicated as completely false. He said the JTA has submitted repeated, documented, clear concerns to relevant government bodies about the dual use of school campuses as both active learning facilities and long-term disaster shelters dating back to the immediate aftermath of the storm. Those concerns, he confirmed, were officially sent to the Ministry of Education, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and the Ministry of Local Government.

    “These were not unsubstantiated rumors. They were rooted in credible on-the-ground reports, professional assessment from our educators, and the JTA’s clear legal and ethical responsibility to act whenever the safety of children is put at risk,” Malabver said.

    He went on to detail his own direct outreach to top education officials: “To be perfectly clear, I personally raised these specific concerns with Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon during a private phone conversation. Targeted issues were also brought up repeatedly in our monthly official meetings with the ministry, and formal correspondence was sent via letter.”

    Malabver argued that the ministry’s attempt to avoid action by hiding behind the lack of “confirmed reports” or “formal incident filings” is not just insufficient, but recklessly dismissive of child protection obligations. “Child protection does not wait for 100% confirmation of an incident before action is taken. It starts the moment a credible concern is raised,” he emphasized.

    The JTA president also voiced deep criticism of requests from top education officials for specific identifying details, including the name of the police station where reports were supposedly filed and the exact name and location of the school where the alleged incidents occurred. Malabver noted that both Education Minister Dixon and Permanent Secretary Dr. Kasan Troupe made these requests, calling the demands inappropriate, misdirected, and evidence of a fundamental misunderstanding of how sensitive child protection cases must be handled.

    Malabver stressed that the JTA is not an investigative body, and it has no responsibility to reveal confidential sources or institutional details that could put the safety of students and educators at risk or compromise ongoing due process. Neither, he added, do the minister or permanent secretary hold legal authority to demand this type of sensitive information for internal administrative inquiries.

    “The JTA will not release confidential information to the Ministry of Education, the permanent secretary, or the minister responsible for local government and shelter oversight. None of these offices are the legally designated investigative body for matters of this nature,” Malabver said. “We will not help disclose sensitive data to unauthorized individuals, and we will not put our educators in harm’s way under the pretense of an administrative inquiry.”

    Malabver received unified public backing from the educators in attendance at the press conference. JTA President-Elect La Sonja Harrison and other senior association leaders joined him on stage to offer formal and spiritual support for his position, underscoring that the entire organization stands behind the demand to relocate shelter occupants immediately.

  • Cuba accuses US of ‘extorting’ Latin America in doctors row

    Cuba accuses US of ‘extorting’ Latin America in doctors row

    HAVANA, Cuba – In a sharp rebuke of United States policy this Thursday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has levied serious accusations that Washington is coercing and extorting Latin American nations into scrapping long-standing contracts for Cuban medical professionals, a key economic lifeline for the island communist state. The verbal assault comes on the heels of a string of withdrawals from the Cuban medical program by four regional nations – Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, and Guyana – moves that Rodriguez frames as the end result of sustained US pressure on countries seeking closer alignment with the administration of former US President Donald Trump. For more than six decades, Cuba’s international medical brigade program has stood as both a point of national pride and a critical source of foreign revenue, generating billions of dollars for the Cuban economy each year. But the program has faced sustained criticism from Washington, which claims the Cuban government engages in forced labor by requiring medical workers to turn over large portions of their salaries to the state – an assertion Rodriguez calls a baseless falsehood. With Cuba already grappling with the imminent threat of total economic collapse, worsened by a decades-long US energy blockade that has gutted access to critical fuel and infrastructure, the loss of this major income stream represents a substantial new blow to the island’s fragile economic standing. “The US Government is persecuting, pressuring and extorting other governments to end the presence of Cuban Medical Brigades in various countries, under false pretenses,” Rodriguez wrote in a post on social platform X. Official Cuban data shows that as of 2025, roughly 24,000 Cuban doctors, nurses, and other trained healthcare workers were deployed to serve communities across 56 countries worldwide, a program that has long provided affordable medical access to low and middle-income nations around the globe while propping up Cuba’s struggling domestic economy. Rodriguez emphasized that the US campaign is not just a political attack on Havana, but a move that cuts off critical healthcare access to vulnerable populations across the developing world, all as part of a broader effort to fully strangle Cuba’s already reeling economy.

  • Probe underway into video of murder suspect arrest at Mandeville Police Station, says commander

    Probe underway into video of murder suspect arrest at Mandeville Police Station, says commander

    MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A formal investigation is underway after footage of a high-profile murder suspect’s arrest at Mandeville Police Station spread widely across social media platforms last week, according to the top local law enforcement official. Carey Duncan, Superintendent of the Manchester Police Division, confirmed the probe into the origins of the viral clip, which captures the detention of 27-year-old Damanice Tyrone Williamson, a serving member of the Jamaica Defence Force. Williamison has been formally charged with the murder of his 29-year-old girlfriend Tanzanya Dunkley, an air conditioning technician based in the parish. Law enforcement records show that the suspect confessed to fatally attacking Dunkley at her private residence in the Three Chains community of Manchester on the same day the arrest took place. Following the killing, authorities say Williamson travelled directly to the Mandeville Police Station while armed with an object identified in preliminary reports as a knife. Upon arrival, he allegedly confronted officers and demanded that they shoot and kill him on site. In a statement to media, Superintendent Duncan praised the response of on-duty officers during the encounter, noting that their professional, controlled conduct allowed them to take the armed suspect into custody without additional casualties. Even as the department commends the arresting officers, however, it is now turning its attention to the unauthorized recording of the arrest. While investigators have not yet identified the person who recorded and uploaded the video that has since gone viral across local social media, Duncan made clear that consequences will follow if the person responsible is found to be a serving member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. If a police officer is linked to leaking the footage, Duncan said, formal disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against the individual, in line with departmental policy. The case has drawn significant local public attention due to the suspect’s military background and the unusual circumstances of his arrest, with the viral video amplifying public interest in the investigation into both the murder and the unauthorized recording.

  • Food For The Poor secures release of 67-y-o St Catherine inmate

    Food For The Poor secures release of 67-y-o St Catherine inmate

    In St Catherine, Jamaica, a 67-year-old farmer has walked free after 10 months of detainment at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, brought about by the targeted intervention of international charity Food For The Poor (FFP) through the organization’s specialized prison outreach program.

    The elderly man’s entanglement with the justice system began in early 2025, when a long-simmering family disagreement over inherited land devolved into a contempt of court charge. The conflict stemmed from his claim to a rightful portion of the property left by his deceased father, despite the late parent’s legally binding will that bequeathed the entire parcel to his brother. When the man refused to vacate the land in compliance with a formal court order, the judiciary issued a $114,000 fine. With no financial means to cover the penalty, he was taken into custody and remained behind bars for 10 months.

    After learning of the man’s case through local community outreach networks, Food For The Poor moved quickly to coordinate relief. The organization drew on pooled contributions from its donors to settle the full outstanding fine, a move that triggered the man’s immediate release and resulted in all related contempt charges being formally cleared from his record.

    Looking beyond securing his release, FFP has enrolled the recently freed man in its flagship Fresh Start Programme, an initiative under the charity’s prison ministry that was created specifically to support former inmates as they work to rebuild their lives after incarceration. As a lifelong farmer by trade, the man will first complete a personalized needs assessment interview to identify the specific barriers he faces in reintegrating into community life and restarting his livelihood. Following the assessment, he will receive targeted practical support tailored to his agricultural work, which may include starter kits of seeds, fertilizer, hand tools, or other essential farming supplies.

    Former inmates across Jamaica and the Caribbean frequently face systemic barriers to securing stable employment and housing after release, a reality that often increases rates of recidivism and leaves people transitioning out of prison trapped in cycles of poverty and justice involvement. The Fresh Start Programme was designed to directly address this gap, offering individualized support rather than one-size-fits-all assistance to empower released people to rebuild independence. By providing concrete resources and wraparound support, FFP aims to ensure that people like the 67-year-old farmer get a meaningful second chance to regain personal stability, financial independence, and social dignity after incarceration.

  • Jamaica Tourist Board named agents’ favourite national tourist board at Travel Gossip Awards 2026

    Jamaica Tourist Board named agents’ favourite national tourist board at Travel Gossip Awards 2026

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has secured one of the travel industry’s most meaningful honors, taking home the title of Agents’ Favourite National Tourist Board at the 2026 Travel Gossip Awards. Unlike industry awards judged by panels, this distinction is granted directly by the travel agents who promote and sell Jamaican getaways to travelers every single day, making it a true reflection of on-the-ground industry sentiment.

    This recognition is no random win: it directly mirrors the JTB’s long-term, consistent investment in the United Kingdom’s travel trade sector, and its unwavering dedication to arming frontline agents with the resources, professional training, and ongoing support they need to confidently market Jamaica as a top travel destination.

    Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett emphasized the central role that partner agents play in Jamaica’s tourism success, noting that these industry professionals act as the destination’s most reliable ambassadors. Even through periods of global uncertainty and local disruption, Bartlett shared, agents have continued to showcase Jamaica in a positive light to their clients. “We are therefore grateful that they have recognized the JTB as their tourism board of choice. This speaks to our continued partnership and mutual confidence,” Bartlett said.

    The award was formally announced during the 2026 Travel Celebration ceremony, and it comes on the heels of a remarkable show of industry support for Jamaica after the island was hit by Hurricane Melissa in late 2025. In the wake of the storm, the UK travel trade rallied behind the destination, driving a surge of agent enthusiasm that has now translated to this top honor.

    Donovan White, JTB’s Director of Tourism, stressed that the award is not just a win for the board, but for every UK agent that has stood by Jamaica through both prosperous periods and unexpected challenges. “The love and confidence agents have shown for Jamaica, particularly in recent months, has been inspirational,” White shared.

    Over the 12 months leading up to the award, the JTB’s dedicated UK team has prioritized deep, consistent engagement with travel agent partners. Key initiatives included the 2025 Jamaica Travel Market, a one-of-a-kind destination showcase that brought agents and tour operators together for an immersive, firsthand experience of Jamaican culture and hospitality. Beyond the flagship event, the team has rolled out ongoing professional training, hosted familiarization trip programmes for agents, and launched collaborative co-operative marketing campaigns designed to drive more bookings.

    This latest Travel Gossip Award adds to a breakthrough season of industry honors for the JTB. Earlier in 2026, the organization claimed the title of Best Tourist Board at the Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards, one of the UK travel industry’s most prestigious annual events, where winners are selected by thousands of agent readers across the country.

    Elizabeth Fox, Regional Director for the UK and Northern Europe at JTB, noted that the organization has made targeted investments in its agent partnership work over the past year, expanding its regional team to add more on-the-ground support and personalized engagement for trade partners. “We have committed ourselves to our travel agent partners in the last 12 months, dedicated staff, expanded the team, more faces, more smiles. And the trade has responded in kind. Seeing agents actively selling Jamaica through every challenge is the greatest recognition of all,” Fox said.

    Back-to-back top honors from the UK travel trade have cemented Jamaica’s position as the most popular Caribbean destination for British travelers, while reinforcing the JTB’s reputation as the most supportive, responsive tourist board partner in the industry. Eight weeks after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, Jamaica had already restored 80% of pre-hurricane visitor arrival capacity, and roughly 80% of the island’s hotel accommodation is now fully operational. Today, the destination is open, flourishing, and ready to welcome visitors from across the globe.

    Looking ahead, the JTB confirmed it will continue expanding its agent support infrastructure, rolling out new professional development training opportunities, and deepening the collaborative partnerships that have earned the organization consecutive honors from the UK travel trade.

  • Yoni Epstein resigns as PFJL Finance Committee chairman

    Yoni Epstein resigns as PFJL Finance Committee chairman

    ST JAMES, Jamaica — In a sudden shake-up of Jamaica’s professional football administration, Yoni Epstein, chairman of the Finance Committee of Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) and head of top-flight club Montego Bay United, has stepped down from his finance committee post with immediate effect. Announcing the move in an official statement released Thursday, Epstein stated his resignation was driven by a desire to safeguard his long-standing professional reputation.

    In his resignation notice, Epstein pulled back the curtain on what he calls a repeated, troubling pattern of questionable decision-making by the PFJL board. According to him, the governing body has consistently prioritized payouts to its own members over meeting outstanding operational debt obligations. He emphasized this practice amounts to a fundamental violation of core principles of sound financial governance, and poses a direct threat to the entire organization’s financial integrity.

    Epstein made clear that no finance committee chair committed to upholding professional and ethical standards could publicly endorse or associate themselves with such problematic conduct. He pointed to a recent controversial board decision that directly contradicted formal recommendations put forward by his Finance Committee as the final straw.

    Citing current PFJL financial figures, Epstein explained that the organization holds just $7.6 million in total available cash reserves, while facing approximately $29 million in unpaid obligations to external creditors. Despite this severe imbalance, the PFJL board chose to allocate $5.6 million — equal to 74% of all available cash on hand — to distribution payments to member clubs. In contrast, the large outstanding creditor debts that keep the league’s daily operations running remain almost entirely unpaid.

    Epstein argued that this decision fails to meet any basic standard of financial prudence, and in his professional view, reflects conduct that falls far short of the fiduciary responsibilities required of a properly governed corporate entity.

    While he has formally left his post, Epstein confirmed he stands ready to support an orderly handover of his finance chair duties, and will provide all required transition documentation to ensure no disruption to ongoing work. That said, he issued an urgent call for PFJL leadership to immediately address the outstanding creditor liabilities, and overhaul the organization’s decision-making processes to bring financial governance into alignment with widely accepted industry standards. Epstein warned that changes must be made quickly to prevent the organization’s financial position from deteriorating even further.