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  • Civil society calls for action on Escazú Agreement implementation in Dominica

    Civil society calls for action on Escazú Agreement implementation in Dominica

    In a recent capacity-building gathering held in Roseau on May 26, 2026, civil society groups across Dominica, in partnership with the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), have called on the Dominican government to accelerate full implementation of the Escazú Agreement, a landmark regional environmental governance treaty.

    Hosted by CANARI with financial backing from the Open Society Foundations, the workshop brought together delegates from a wide range of local civil society organizations. Its core goal was to deepen collective understanding of the treaty, which is formally named the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, and outline how its provisions can strengthen environmental management and defend human rights tied to natural resources in Dominica.

    Per an official CANARI statement, Dominica formally ratified the agreement and became a full participating party on July 21, 2024. As a signatory, the island nation is bound by enforceable commitments centered on four key pillars: expanding public access to transparent environmental data, creating structured opportunities for community input in environmental policy decisions, improving pathways to justice for environmental harms, and protecting environmental human rights defenders from retaliation.

    Workshop attendees uniformly emphasized that the true value of the Escazú Agreement will not be measured by ratification alone, but by tangible, on-the-ground improvements to governance and conservation outcomes. Participants stressed that systemic changes are needed to how environmental information is disseminated, how regulatory decisions are made, and how justice is delivered to communities – changes that must deliver direct, measurable benefits to Dominican citizens and the country’s vulnerable ecosystems.

    Leading the workshop was Nicole Leotaud, Executive Director of CANARI, who also serves as one of six elected public representatives to the Escazú Agreement’s governing body in her individual capacity. Reflecting on the outcomes of the session, Leotaud noted that the event successfully built critical awareness and literacy around the treaty among civil society stakeholders, adding that developing a national implementation roadmap is the most critical immediate step for Dominica to identify targeted priority actions to bring the treaty into force.

    A central, consensus recommendation emerging from the workshop discussions was the formal development of a national implementation roadmap. This strategic framework would first conduct a comprehensive audit of Dominica’s existing environmental laws, policies, and regulatory frameworks to identify gaps. It would also bring together government agencies, local community groups, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to collaboratively map priority action areas, with a focus on upholding all three core pillars of the agreement: access to information, public participation, and environmental justice.

    Notably, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has already confirmed its readiness to provide technical and operational support to the Dominican government as it develops the roadmap. CANARI and workshop participants have jointly called on Dominican authorities to launch the roadmap development process without delay, and have pledged ongoing civil society and technical support throughout every stage of drafting and execution.

    One attendee, Yvonne Armour, representing the Ayahora Communities of Excellence (ACE) Foundation Inc., shared her perspective on the workshop’s outcomes. Armour noted that the treaty enshrines environmental human rights for all Dominican people, and building a clear understanding of its three core pillars was an essential first step toward implementation. She added that participants left the workshop inspired to share their new knowledge with local communities and national leaders, to advance stronger environmental governance across the country, and to formalize the request for ECLAC support for roadmap development.

    Closing the event, CANARI reaffirmed its long-term commitment to collaborating with the Dominican government, local community organizations, and all relevant stakeholders to translate the Escazú Agreement’s core principles into actionable, real-world results. The organization emphasized that Dominica’s success with the treaty will ultimately be judged not by the act of ratification, but by the measurable, positive impacts it delivers for both Dominican citizens and the island’s unique natural environment.

  • TOT celebrates 45 years of calypso, culture and community

    TOT celebrates 45 years of calypso, culture and community

    As Saint Lucia prepares for its annual Lucian Carnival, a beloved institution deeply woven into the island’s cultural fabric is gearing up to mark a major historic milestone this year. For over four decades, the Take Over Tent (TOT) — a storied calypso fraternity that has nurtured some of the Caribbean’s most celebrated calypsonians and crafted enduring, fan-favorite calypso tracks — is celebrating its 45th year of elevating Saint Lucian culture.

    Beyond its role in Carnival season, TOT is emphasizing a core message this anniversary: calypso is far more than a seasonal tradition, it is a living, year-round art form that anchors community and cultural identity. The fraternity kicked off its year-long 45th anniversary programming with a reflective thanksgiving church service two weeks prior to its opening night, held at the Lady of Fatima Church in La Clery. According to TOT’s new leader Nadiege Charles, the service offered a moment to look back on 45 years of excellence in calypso, cultural preservation, and community engagement, while giving thanks and seeking blessings for the years ahead.

    This anniversary marks a double celebration for the fraternity, as the milestone aligns with the 40-year career of Herb Black, one of TOT’s longest-serving members and a former multi-title calypso, groovy, and Road March king. At a recent event honoring media partners and sponsors, Black was recognized for his nearly flawless vocal tone and extensive, impressive catalog of work. TOT manager Cecil Charles also highlighted the decades-long support from the Folk Research Centre (FRC), noting that FRC’s Monsignor Patrick Anthony delivered the homily during the opening thanksgiving service.

    To mark its 45 years, TOT has planned 45 distinct, year-round activities — far beyond the traditional Carnival season programming — that will wrap up with a large-scale youth-focused event and a closing grand concert. In a groundbreaking move for the island’s cultural community, TOT is also rolling out multilingual promotional materials this year in Kweyol, Spanish, and Mandarin, designed to engage Saint Lucia’s diverse non-national resident communities. The fraternity is partnering with Calabash TV to produce a series of documentaries charting the evolution of calypso over the past four decades. The four-part series, titled *Decades of Dominance*, will break down the genre’s shifting landscape: the 1980s era of kaiso and social commentary alongside steel pan innovation; the 1990s takeover of Ragga Soca; the 2000s surge of power soca; and the modern era, highlighting emerging young talent and current industry trends.

    Other key events include a “clash of crowns” that pits veteran calypso legends against the next generation of artists, carrying forward TOT’s longstanding mission to nurture emerging school-aged talent. A centerpiece of this year’s programming is the “youth take over” initiative, a series of school and youth calypso showcases, skill-building workshops, and a songwriting camp. Charles emphasized that this investment in young creators is intended to lay the foundation for TOT’s next 45 years of operation.

    The 45th anniversary is symbolized by the deep blue of sapphire, and TOT leadership says they do not take for granted the widespread support they have received from sponsors and Saint Lucians both at home and abroad. To share the celebration across the entire island, TOT is bringing many of its anniversary initiatives to communities across every region of Saint Lucia. Longtime sponsor Peter & Company Auto, which has backed TOT for three consecutive years, reaffirmed its commitment at the fraternity’s recent media launch. Sales and Marketing Manager Sherani Augustin praised TOT for its decades of work keeping Saint Lucians entertained, inspired, and connected to their cultural roots.

    “We are truly honored to celebrate this incredible milestone with the entire Take Over Tent family,” Augustin said. She specifically recognized Nadiege Charles for his visionary leadership and ongoing commitment to investing in the arts, noting that Peter & Company Auto would continue its support this year. “The Take Over Tent has grown into a launching pad for so many aspiring Saint Lucian talents, and a home for preserving our beloved calypso and national culture. We salute all the veteran tent members, the legends who continue to clear a path for younger generations. At Peter & Company Auto, we are proud to stand with an organization that invests in people, culture, and community, and we could not be more excited for what’s to come.”

    Even rainy weather on TOT’s opening night could not dampen the enthusiasm of loyal calypso fans, who turned out in force to brave the conditions for the fraternity’s first anniversary showcase. Legendary acts including Herb Black, Ashe’, Alpha, Yandi, and Mica took the stage to prove TOT’s enduring cultural relevance. Saint Lucian-born John Ghoti, the reigning Virgin Island Calypso King, delivered a well-received hometown debut, while young performer Unique from the Anglican School earned a warm welcome from the crowd. During opening night, TOT also drew support for two community partnerships: a fundraiser with the Saint Lucia-Cuba Friendship Association to support vulnerable communities in Cuba, and a collaboration with the Helen Association for Persons with Autism, which will launch a junior carnival band for autistic children and their families this year.

    TOT’s 45th anniversary celebrations will conclude with a mega-concert featuring 45 artists, a mix of legendary and contemporary calypso stars, alongside the presentation of new legacy awards to honor outstanding contributions to the genre. Upcoming events include the tent’s next public showing on June 3 and quarter-final competitions on June 20, hosted at Saint Lucia’s National Cultural Center.

  • Honourable Spencer Brand Minister responsible for Disaster Management in the Nevis Island Administration Address to mark the Start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season

    Honourable Spencer Brand Minister responsible for Disaster Management in the Nevis Island Administration Address to mark the Start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season

    Marking the official start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season on June 1, Honourable Spencer Brand, the Nevis Island Administration’s Minister responsible for Disaster Management, has delivered a public address urging collective preparedness across the Caribbean island, even amid forecasts for a quieter-than-average storm cycle.

    Opening his remarks, Brand emphasized that shared unity and proactive planning have long been Nevis’ most reliable defense against extreme weather, drawing on the island’s past experience navigating hurricane threats. He highlighted two core institutional commitments the government is reinforcing for this season: turning forecast data into prompt, actionable action for all groups, and centering communities in emergency response.

    Under the first commitment, meteorological data from leading agencies will be used to issue timely public alerts, translated into clear, practical steps for households, local businesses and public agencies to follow. For the community-centered response framework, Brand noted authorities have expanded local disaster committees, completed additional training for volunteer response teams, and streamlined emergency operation protocols to cut response times when supporting vulnerable residents.

    Brand also tied hurricane preparedness to broader climate action, acknowledging that human-caused climate change has amplified storm intensity, shifted regional rainfall patterns, and put increased pressure on Nevis’ coastal ecosystems. He shared the official 2026 season outlook from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which projects an 55% probability of a below-normal season, a 35% chance of a near-normal season, and just a 10% chance of an above-normal season. Between 8 and 14 named storms (packing winds of 39 mph or higher) are forecast for the full season, with 3 to 6 strengthening to hurricanes (winds of at least 74 mph). Of those, 1 to 3 are expected to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds exceeding 111 mph).

    Despite the favorable forecast, Brand stressed that complacency poses a major risk to the island. “It only takes one storm to cause irreparable damage to our island home,” he said, urging all residents and visitors to rush final preparations to completion. He framed the island’s hurricane adaptation plans as tightly integrated with long-term sustainable development goals, designed to protect current livelihoods while preserving Nevis’ natural heritage for future generations.

    Brand issued targeted preparedness guidance for different sectors of the population: for business leaders and small entrepreneurs, he advised diversifying supply chains, maintaining emergency stockpiles, and setting up cash-flow contingency plans; for local farmers, he recommended securing irrigation infrastructure, sheltering livestock, and implementing erosion control measures for croplands; for all households, he urged families to draft a clear emergency evacuation plan, assemble a well-stocked go-bag, identify a designated safe space in their home, and memorize the location of their nearest public emergency shelter.

    Brand listed all approved public emergency shelters across Nevis’ parishes: In St. Thomas’ Parish, shelters are located at Jessup’s Community Center, Cotton Ground Community Center, and Barnes Ghaut Community Center; St. James’ Parish hosts a shelter at Franklyn Browne Community Center; St. George’ Parish shelters are at Ebenezer Church of God and Charles L. Walters Community Center; St. John’s Parish operates a shelter at Pond Hill Community Center; and St. Paul’ Parish hosts emergency capacity at the Girls Guides Headquarters.

    He closed by urging all people on the island to review evacuation routes regularly, update emergency contact information with local authorities, and take all preparedness guidance seriously regardless of the season forecast. Brand also extended formal gratitude to Brian Dyer, Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department, Deputy Director Jack Ngumbah, all department staff, volunteer response teams, cross-sector partners, and regional and international organizations for their ongoing work to protect Nevis and its residents.

    “Let us face this season with vigilance, compassion, and resolve. By working together, Nevis will emerge stronger, safer, and more resilient,” Brand said, closing his address with a blessing for the island, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the wider Caribbean region, and all residents ahead of the storm season.

  • Flow prepared for 2026 hurricane season, says operators

    Flow prepared for 2026 hurricane season, says operators

    KINGSTON, JAMAICA – As the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season prepares to kick off officially on June 1, leading regional telecommunications provider Liberty Caribbean – parent brand of consumer service Flow, enterprise-focused Liberty Business, and Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) – has announced it is fully positioned to support communities, customers, and government partners across the Caribbean through extreme weather events.

    The company’s latest readiness push comes one year after Hurricane Melissa battered Jamaica, a disaster that company leadership says underscored just how critical robust, disaster-resilient communications infrastructure is for the hurricane-prone Caribbean region. In a formal public statement released Monday, Liberty Caribbean emphasized that its more than 100 years of operating across the Caribbean has guided its ongoing work to boost preparedness, systems resilience, and emergency response capacity for regional stakeholders.

    “Hurricane Melissa reminded us once again that connectivity is far more than technology. In moments of crisis, it becomes a lifeline for families, businesses, emergency responders, and governments,” said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Caribbean.

    Smidts added that the hard lessons learned from last year’s storm have reinforced the company’s commitment to expanding regional investments in network hardening, operational preparedness, and post-disaster recovery capabilities. “We remain committed to ensuring our customers and communities can rely on us when it matters most,” she said.

    Over the 12 months following Hurricane Melissa, Liberty Caribbean has rolled out a series of strategic infrastructure investments across its multiple Caribbean market footprints to boost disaster resilience. In Jamaica alone, upgrades include a full modernization and expansion of the island’s mobile network, expanded spectrum capacity, increased transport route diversity to avoid single points of failure, hardened physical infrastructure to withstand high winds and flooding, expanded backup power systems, and additional network redundancy measures designed to improve overall service reliability and cut down on recovery time after outages.

    Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the company has also conducted a full cycle of emergency simulation exercises and response drills across all operating markets, finalized pre-season fuel stockpiling and logistics coordination plans, and aligned cross-functional response teams to enable rapid mobilization if storms trigger service disruptions this season.

    “Our teams have worked tirelessly to modernise our infrastructure, strengthen operational readiness, and improve how we respond during emergencies. While no network is immune to extreme weather events, our focus remains on building stronger, smarter, and more resilient systems capable of supporting the Caribbean through disruption and recovery alike,” Smidts noted.

    Forecasters at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Weather Service are projecting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which will run through the end of November. NOAA’s outlook puts the odds of a below-normal season at 55%, compared to a 35% chance of a near-normal season and just a 10% chance of an above-normal season.

    The official NOAA forecast calls for 8 to 14 total named storms (systems with sustained winds of at least 39 miles per hour, or 63 km/h). Of those, 3 to 6 are expected to strengthen into hurricanes with sustained winds of 75 miles per hour or higher, with 1 to 3 projected to intensify into major Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricanes that carry sustained winds of 115 mph or more. By comparison, an average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.

    Smidts emphasized that even with a milder forecast, Liberty Caribbean remains committed to standing by regional communities before, during, and after any storm event. “We understand the responsibility that comes with serving the Caribbean. Our commitment extends beyond connectivity alone. It is also about supporting the resilience of the communities we serve and standing beside them before, during, and after times of crisis,” she said.

    To close, the company is urging all residential and business customers across its service footprint to update and review their own personal hurricane preparedness plans, and to stay updated on official weather forecasts throughout the June to November hurricane season.

  • Police-community collaboration hailed for reduction of crime in Salt Spring

    Police-community collaboration hailed for reduction of crime in Salt Spring

    ST JAMES, Jamaica — For a neighborhood long defined by violence and fear, Salt Spring in St James is celebrating a remarkable turning point: law enforcement officials confirm no homicides or shootings have been recorded in the community since the beginning of 2026, marking the most dramatic downward trend in violent crime the area has seen in decades.

    Deputy Superintendent Rodrick Reid, acting operations lead for the St James Police Division, told attendees at a recent Project STAR-hosted town hall held at the Salt Spring New Testament Church that this unprecedented progress is the product of years of consistent, intentional partnership between local residents and law enforcement. The town hall gathering was convened to share updates on Project STAR’s community transformation work and collect resident feedback to refine ongoing programming.

    “What we’re seeing right now is a significant, sustained drop in criminal activity that’s already changed daily life for people who live here,” Reid said in comments included in an official release from Project STAR. “Not long ago, Salt Spring was a place most people avoided, too worried about violence to walk through the neighborhood. That reputation is finally starting to change for the better.”

    To put the progress in context, Reid noted that the community recorded two murders in all of 2025. While he emphasized that any loss of life to violence remains unacceptable, the 2025 numbers already represented a massive shift from the community’s bloodier past, paving the way for the historic milestone achieved in 2026. “Zero murders and zero shootings at this point in 2026 is incredibly encouraging, but we can’t let our guard down,” Reid said, urging residents to continue their close collaboration with police to keep the community safe.

    Reid singled out the five-year community transformation initiative Project STAR as a critical driver of the crime reduction gains, noting that targeted investment in social and economic development has created the stable conditions needed for safety to take root. “When all stakeholders come together with a shared goal, this is the kind of success we can deliver,” he said.

    He also highlighted the transformed relationship between police and the Salt Spring Community Development Committee (CDC), a partnership that once was fractured but now forms the backbone of local crime prevention work. “There was a time when the CDC and local law enforcement didn’t see eye to eye, that’s all in the rearview now,” Reid explained. “Today, CDC members are core partners, and we work side by side to move Salt Spring forward.”

    Saffrey Brown, director of Project STAR, explained that the initiative’s community-centered model is designed to address the root causes of violence by strengthening crime prevention systems and rebuilding broken trust between residents and institutions. “One of our biggest wins has been mending the divide between residents and local police,” Brown said. She added that programming ranging from youth sports leagues to peace building workshops and social support networks has given young people, who are often most vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups, positive alternatives to a life of crime.

    Launched as a five-year effort to drive social and economic change in under-resourced communities grappling with persistent high crime, Project STAR selected Salt Spring for intervention in late 2023. Full implementation kicked off in 2024, starting with community consultations and rolling out programming focused on expanding social protection, boosting local economic opportunity, and centering community leadership in public safety work.

    Gregory Harris, the city councillor for the Salt Spring Division, echoed praise for the initiative, saying its impact goes far beyond lower crime numbers to reshape how residents see themselves and their neighborhood. “Project STAR hasn’t just changed the physical and social conditions in Salt Spring — it’s changed the mindset of our people,” Harris said. “By listening to residents and working with them instead of for them, the project has broken down decades-old barriers and built a level of trust and unity we’ve never experienced before. What we’re seeing now is a community that’s come together as one, and that’s the strongest possible foundation to keep violent crime down for good.”

  • Judge to rule on dismissing Yahweh Qahal case

    Judge to rule on dismissing Yahweh Qahal case

    In the Jamaican parish of St. James, a high-stakes legal case involving a local faith organization facing multiple serious charges related to children remains unresolved, with a senior judge set to deliver a key ruling on dismissal later this month. The case centers on Yahweh Qahal, a Montego Bay-based faith group, whose 13 members first saw criminal charges filed against them in June 2023. The allegations span three different areas of Jamaican law: 13 defendants face charges under the nation’s Education Act for running an unregistered educational facility without official government approval; additional charges of child cruelty were brought under the Child Care and Protection Act; and one count of indecent assault was laid under the Sexual Offences Act. The push for a full dismissal of all charges came in a formal application submitted to Senior Parish Judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce on May 29, made after the prosecution wrapped up its presentation of evidence in the case. Attorneys for the accused, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie and Samoi Campbell, argued in their submission that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case sufficient to warrant moving forward with trial against their clients. In a notable development, prosecutors themselves conceded after reviewing the defense’s arguments that the indecent assault charges brought against two of the 13 accused could not be substantiated in court, given the lack of evidence connecting the defendants to the alleged offense against a child in the group’s care. Prosecutors have maintained, however, that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the remaining charges still on the books. Central to the child cruelty allegations are claims that the group provided substandard living conditions for the children in its care, with environments described as unsanitary and posing a direct threat to the children’s physical health and well-being. After hearing full arguments from both the defense and prosecution, Judge Grant-Pryce has opted to reserve her decision on the dismissal application, scheduling the ruling to be publicly delivered on June 17, 2024. The outcome of the ruling will determine whether the case will proceed to a full trial on the outstanding charges against the 13 group members.

  • Jamaican winners head to World Cup with Coca Cola

    Jamaican winners head to World Cup with Coca Cola

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — For football fans across the globe, a trip to watch a FIFA World Cup match in person ranks as a bucket-list dream. For two Jamaican women, that dream is about to become a reality, after they claimed the grand prize in Coca-Cola Jamaica’s popular “Score with Coca-Cola” promotion. Tashaa Catnott and Brenda Morgan will soon depart for Atlanta, Georgia to attend the hotly anticipated Group Stage clash between Morocco and Haiti on June 24, with all travel and event costs covered by the brand. What makes this win even more special, however, is that for both winners, the experience is tied to deeply personal memories and beloved family bonds, not just a once-in-a-lifetime sports outing. For 28-year-old Catnott, the invitation to the World Cup match feels less like a random prize and more like a full-circle moment stitched together by family and football. Her father, who sparked her lifelong love of the game, passed away in 2017, but their shared connection to the sport shaped every part of her childhood. “I was born November 9, 1997, and Jamaica qualified for the World Cup just a week later. He always joked I was his little good luck charm,” Catnott recalled. For years after that historic 1998 qualification, a framed photo of Jamaica’s iconic Reggae Boyz national team hung in her family home, serving as a dual reminder of the nation’s proud milestone and the quiet moments she shared with her father watching matches together. Now, Catnott plans to bring her stepdad, who has kept that shared love of football alive by watching games with her for years, along on the trip. “He never thought he’d get a chance to go to a World Cup match, so he’s incredibly excited,” she said. For Morgan, the trip is an opportunity to revisit childhood joys and explore a new city while soaking up the electric energy of global football fandom. Raised in the tight-knit community of Aenon Town, Clarendon, Morgan grew up watching local residents gather for casual friendly football matches, and the trip brings back those warm, nostalgic memories. She has never visited Atlanta before, and she says she’s just as excited to explore the city and connect with fellow fans from across the world as she is for the match itself. “I’m looking forward to soaking in the culture, being around people who share that same excitement for the game, and doing a little sightseeing,” Morgan said. “This feels like the perfect kickoff to what I hope will be an amazing summer.” Like Catnott, Morgan is bringing a family member along for the experience: her stepbrother. As a neighbor to Haiti in the Caribbean, Morgan says her loyalties are already locked in for the upcoming match. “I’m rooting for Haiti,” she said with a smile. “It means a lot to me to support our island neighbors, so I’ll be cheering them on the whole time.” The “Score with Coca-Cola” promotion, which ran across Jamaica from February to April, invited fans to purchase participating Coca-Cola Original or No Sugar products, submit unique product codes via WhatsApp to enter, and win both instant small prizes and entry into the grand prize draw for the World Cup trip. The two Jamaican winners will join other promotion champions from across the Latin America region for the match, which is expected to draw a packed crowd of passionate football supporters from around the globe. At an official handover event for the winners in Kingston, Coca-Cola representatives noted that this promotion aligns with the brand’s decades-long partnership with FIFA and core mission of bringing people together over shared passions. Coca-Cola’s official partnership with FIFA first launched in 1974, making it one of the longest-running corporate partnerships in global sports history. “Football has this unique power to bring people together across all backgrounds in the most powerful way, and that’s exactly what our brand stands for: creating and sharing unforgettable moments,” said Victoria Cameron, Marketing Coordinator at Coca-Cola Jamaica. “When we heard the personal stories behind each of our winners, we couldn’t have been prouder to give them this chance to be part of a global moment, not just as spectators, but as part of something truly special.”

  • NBA star Curry signs 10-year sneaker deal with China’s Li-Ning

    NBA star Curry signs 10-year sneaker deal with China’s Li-Ning

    SAN FRANCISCO – After months of open negotiations following his departure from Under Armour last fall, 4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry has closed one of the most significant athlete endorsement deals in recent basketball history, penning a 10-year partnership with Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning. The 38-year-old Golden State Warriors star broke the news to his millions of followers across social media platforms Monday, describing the new alliance as “the partnership of a lifetime” that goes far beyond a traditional signature sneaker contract.

    The far-reaching agreement unlocks ambitious global growth opportunities for Curry’s eponymous Curry Brand, extending the label’s footprint beyond basketball footwear to cover new product lines including golf equipment and apparel, casual leisure wear, and opens the door for Curry to recruit and sign other elite athletes to his brand under the Li-Ning umbrella. In a video announcement posted alongside the news, Curry emphasized that the partnership is rooted in shared commitment to product quality, noting “This is bigger than a show deal, bigger than a signature series. Li-Ning will deliver sneakers that I believe in that will continue to deliver at the highest level.”

    Curry is no stranger to Li-Ning’s roster of elite basketball talent: the brand already counts NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and Curry’s current Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler as signature sneaker athletes, giving the company a proven track record of elevating player-led brands in the global sportswear market. Prior to this move, Curry enjoyed a 13-year tenure with American athletic brand Under Armour, which helped turn him into one of the most marketable athletes in North American sports. Since splitting with Under Armour last November, the future Hall of Fame guard has tested out a range of different footwear brands throughout the ongoing NBA season as he weighed his long-term options.

  • Popcaan to perform full ‘Nothing Without God’ album in live show

    Popcaan to perform full ‘Nothing Without God’ album in live show

    International dancehall icon Popcaan is preparing to deliver a historic first for his critically acclaimed *Nothing Without God* project, bringing the full album to a live Jamaican stage at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on June 13. The landmark show will mark the first time the full tracklist, which includes high-profile collaborative cuts with his brother Natebadz and celebrated dancehall artist Chronic Law, has been performed from start to finish in the artist’s home country. Event organizers have framed the gig as a one-of-a-kind, can’t-miss experience, giving local fans a rare chance to engage with the entire studio project in a live setting. The upcoming Jamaican show follows a string of wildly successful album release parties held across Canada, where Popcaan drew massive crowds of diaspora fans and cemented the project’s growing global footprint. The artist’s momentum continues to build off-stage too: just weeks before the homecoming show, Popcaan scored a coveted feature on Drake’s brand-new album *Maid of Honor*, appearing on the fan-favorite track “Amazing Shape.” The feature came as part of three new album drops from the global megastar on May 15, exposing Popcaan’s work to an even wider international audience. The June 13 event’s lineup extends far beyond the headliner, pulling together a stacked roster of standout Jamaican talent. Fresh off the release of his own new album *SupaNova*, forward-thinking artist Runkus will take the stage, alongside Grammy-winning vocalist Nordia Mothersille and iconic reggae-dancehall performer JahVinci. Far from framing the night as just another concert, organizers say the event is a holistic celebration of four core pillars that shape Popcaan’s work: faith, music, Jamaican culture, and purpose. Attendees can expect a fully immersive production experience, unannounced special guest moments, and a purpose-built atmosphere focused on uplifting and inspiring audiences from the opening note to the closing set. For the team behind the event, the show carries deeply personal meaning. “This event is deeply personal for us because it represents faith, growth and gratitude,” shared Unruly Squid, one of the event’s organizers and Popcaan’s sister. “We wanted to create an experience where people can connect through music, feel inspired and leave with something special. It’s going to be a powerful night for Jamaica and for the culture.” Fans looking to secure their spot or find more details can access ticket information and updates via the official event Instagram account @UnrulyEnt.Events.

  • Jamaican-born matriarch launches memoir to acclaim in Nigeria

    Jamaican-born matriarch launches memoir to acclaim in Nigeria

    On Sunday, May 10, 2026, a landmark literary launch unfolded at Lagos’ iconic Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island, drawing a crowd of prominent Nigerian and international dignitaries to celebrate the release of *Echoes of Survival*, the extraordinary autobiography of 83-year-old Lolo Betty Patricia Mgbenwelu. Born in Jamaica, Lolo Patricia’s decades-long life has woven together experiences across three continents, multiple cultures, and some of the 20th century’s most tragic upheavals, making her memoir one of the most anticipated personal narratives of the year.

    The memoir traces the author’s remarkable life trajectory from her early years growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, to her life-altering marriage that led her to relocate to newly independent Nigeria in the 1960s. Unlike many accounts of the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War that center military or political figures, *Echoes of Survival* offers an intimate, unfiltered perspective from an ordinary Caribbean civilian mother, whose highest stake in the conflict was protecting her family and keeping them alive through years of chaos and deprivation.

    Serving as the event’s special guest of honour, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lincoln C Downer, paid tribute to Lolo Patricia as one of Jamaica’s most outstanding representatives in the West African nation. He called her a proud cultural ambassador who has embodied Jamaican resilience and grace for six decades in her adopted home. Reviewing the memoir, Downer described the work as authentic, bold, and deeply uplifting, noting that it bears every mark of a future bestseller. He specifically highlighted Lolo Patricia’s survival of the Kendal train crash — Jamaica’s deadliest recorded rail disaster — as a early demonstration of the grit and divine protection that have shaped her purpose-driven life, commending her choice to preserve these experiences for coming generations.

    The guest list at the launch reflected the cross-border and cross-sector significance of the book and its author. Attendees included Dr Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State; former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke; Ambassador Dr Maureen Tamuno, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Jamaica; Dr Christopher Kolade, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; and Aima Lijadu, Honorary Consul of Jamaica to Lagos. Ego Boyo, founder and managing director of leading Nigerian entertainment firms Temple Productions and Temple Media, fulfilled the role of chief book launcher at the event.

    Lolo Patricia’s husband of 64 years, Chief Barr Peter Chukwuemeka Mgbenwelu — one of Imo State’s longest-serving active legal practitioners, known colloquially as the “Cock of the Imo Bar” — called his wife one of the greatest blessings in his life, and urged families across the world, particularly women and mothers navigating life’s challenges, to engage with the memoir and learn from its lessons of perseverance.

    Born Betty Patricia Bethel Monica Bingham in Kingston, Jamaica in August 1943, Lolo Patricia first met her future husband in London in 1962, before building a life and legacy in Nigeria that has now spanned six decades. She is a mother of six, grandmother of 18, and great-grandmother to three children. A graduate of London Guildhall University, she built a respected corporate career, holding roles at Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Golden Guinea Breweries Ltd where she earned multiple professional awards, before founding her own travel agency, Genika Travel and Tours Ltd. She also served as president of the Nigerwives Owerri Chapter, supporting other women building cross-cultural lives in Nigeria.

    Beyond the war years, *Echoes of Survival* delves into Lolo Patricia’s childhood in Jamaica, her brush with death in the Kendal train disaster, the joys and challenges of a cross-continental marriage, and the decades of post-war life defined by unwavering faith, constant resilience, and repeated personal reinvention. The memoir is currently available for purchase through all major global book retail platforms and at selected independent bookstores across Nigeria and beyond.