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  • Pintard non-committal on leadership after FNM loss

    Pintard non-committal on leadership after FNM loss

    The Bahamas’ general election delivered a devastating blow to the Free National Movement (FNM) on polling day, leaving the long-established political party grappling with significant internal upheaval and growing calls for party leader Michael Pintard to step down from his post.

    In the final seat count, the FNM secured only eight parliamentary seats. While the party managed to flip the Freetown and MICAL constituencies from the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), it suffered high-profile losses that amplified the scale of its defeat. Notably, the FNM lost the St Barnabas seat; deputy party leader Shanendon Cartwright failed to win re-election in his St James constituency, and party chairman Dr. Duane Sands was defeated in his Bamboo Town race.

    Pintard, who successfully retained his own Marco City seat, offered no clear confirmation that he would stay on as party leader when questioned about his political future shortly after the results were finalized. He stated that he would first hold internal consultations with the party’s senior team in the coming days before any announcement is made.

    “I believe in party conventions,” Pintard told reporters. “I have always respected that process. Over my four and a half years as leader, we have held three conventions, two of which included leadership contests. I am fully committed to following the party’s constitutional process. First and foremost, though, I am committed to talking through our next steps with the party team, and in the next few days we will reach a decision and share it publicly.”

    Pintard’s ambiguous remarks set the stage for what could become a competitive open leadership contest as the FNM begins the slow work of rebuilding after a second consecutive election failure where its policy platform failed to connect with Bahamian voters. The FNM’s winning candidates include J. Leo Ferguson in MICAL, Lincoln Deal in Freetown, Frazette Gibson in Central Grand Bahama, Kwasi Thompson in East Grand Bahama, Dr. Andre Rollins in Long Island, Adrian White in St Anne’s, and Michela Barnett-Ellis in Killarney, alongside Pintard in Marco City.

    Shortly after the results became clear, Pintard called incumbent Prime Minister Philip Davis to congratulate him and the PLP on their election victory, formally conceding defeat. In his public concession address, Pintard paid tribute to the defeated Cartwright, calling him a close friend and brother in the party and praising his years of service to the FNM and Bahamian public.

    The FNM leader emphasized that the Bahamian people had exercised their democratic right to choose their government, and the party fully accepted the outcome of the vote. “The people of the Bahamas have spoken, and we accept their decision,” he said. “That is how democracy works. We put forward our platform, we ask voters for their trust, we count every ballot, and we honor the final result. That has always been the Bahamian way, and tonight we honor that tradition once again.”

    He thanked voters who cast their ballots for FNM candidates, noting that the party had grown its caucus size in Parliament compared to the previous term, adding that official final results would be confirmed the following day. Pintard framed the election loss as a temporary setback, not a rejection of the core values the FNM campaigned on.

    “You believe in a different kind of government,” he said, addressing supporters. “You believed in honest, accountable government that acts fairly in all its dealings, fairly in awarding government contracts. You believed in a Bahamas that works for every one of our people. That belief did not lose tonight. That belief endures, and it will outlast every election that comes.”

    Throughout the campaign, the FNM positioned itself as the standard-bearer for clean, transparent governance, but the 2024 defeat leaves the party grappling with urgent questions about its electoral strategy, leadership direction, and ability to build broad voter support following its 2021 general election loss. Even constituencies political observers had tipped as potential PLP losses, including seats in Abaco, were retained by the incumbent government. The Abaco race drew controversy before voting day, after revelations emerged that the PLP government had distributed more than $200,000 in gift cards funded by the Ministry of Finance to residents under the names of PLP candidates and officials, framed as Hurricane Dorian disaster relief – a move the opposition decried as blatant vote-buying.

    In his address to supporters, Pintard urged all FNM backers not to lose heart, speaking directly to young party members, long-time loyalists, and unsuccessful candidates. He invoked the legacy of former FNM Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, reminding the crowd that the party’s founding mission to advance government accountability and transparency did not end with Ingraham’s retirement, nor would it end with this election defeat. He confirmed that the FNM would now step into its constitutional role as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, where it would hold the new PLP government accountable and carefully scrutinize its legislative and policy agenda.

    When asked whether the Coalition of Independents (COI) and unaffiliated independent candidates split the opposition vote and aided the PLP’s victory, Pintard confirmed that his pre-election warning had been borne out. “It was clear that not just the COI, but independents as well, helped the PLP,” he said. “We made this point repeatedly during the campaign: a vote for COI or a vote for an independent is a vote that ultimately helps the PLP. We see that very clearly now.”

    That comment signals a likely line of internal debate that will emerge as FNM officials conduct their post-election review, with some expected to argue that third-party candidates contributed to the party’s poor performance.

    Pintard closed his remarks by thanking the FNM’s extensive network of campaign workers, volunteers, financial donors, national headquarters staff, all candidates, and their families for their dedication and sacrifice throughout the election cycle. “To my wife and daughter, I want to say a special thank you, but the truth is, every one of our candidates has spouses and loved ones who stood with them,” he said. “To all of you who have stood beside and behind these candidates and workers, we extend a special thank you for the sacrifices you made, the price you paid right alongside them.”

    He also offered a final note of gratitude to the voters of Marco City, who re-elected him to Parliament. “To the people of Marco City who have honored me with the privilege of representing you again, I want to say thank you,” he said. “I will continue to serve you with everything that I have. To every one of you in this room tonight, I recognize every day that I stand on your shoulders, that you have given me the rarest of opportunities to serve our community, and I will do so vigilantly.”

  • Landslide for Brave

    Landslide for Brave

    The Bahamas has witnessed a seismic shift in its long-running political cycle, after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis led the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to an unprecedented second consecutive general election victory — a feat not achieved by any ruling party in nearly three decades.

    The outcome of the contest was nothing short of a landslide. Unofficial vote tallies confirmed the PLP secured 32 out of the 41 contested parliamentary seats, a result that nearly mirrored the party’s overwhelming 2021 win. In that election, the PLP took 32 of 39 seats and ousted the Free National Movement (FNM) from power after a single term in office. This year’s resounding win stands as a clear public endorsement of Davis’ first-term administration, and a decisive rejection of the FNM, which failed to convince Bahamian voters that it deserved to reclaim power after just one term as the parliamentary opposition.

    The PLP’s dominance was most pronounced on New Providence, the country’s most populous island, where the party held all but two constituencies: Freetown and Killarney. Before Davis’ historic win, the last party leader to secure back-to-back election victories was former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who led his party to wins in both 1992 and 1997.

    Despite the historic victory, the result comes alongside a notable observation: voter turnout hit an all-time low for general elections in the Bahamas, opening up public debate over whether the PLP’s overwhelming seat share stems from broad popular support, inherent weaknesses in the opposition FNM, widespread voter apathy, or a combination of all three factors. Davis himself acknowledged the lower-than-expected turnout, noting that low participation is never healthy for a democratic society, and emphasized the need for future action to ensure all eligible voters feel their ballot makes a meaningful difference.

    Even with low turnout, the voters who cast ballots delivered an unambiguous result. The PLP ran a short but fiercely aggressive campaign centered on its first-term record, which the party framed around post-pandemic economic recovery, restored international confidence in the Bahamian economy, increased foreign direct investment, expanded economic opportunity for citizens, and a platform of unfinished work that required a second mandate to complete. Throughout the campaign, Davis and PLP candidates repeatedly urged voters to return the party to office to see their agenda through.

    In his victory address to supporters, Davis framed the win as more than just a political victory for his party. “Tonight is a political victory, but this is truly a victory for the whole country,” he said. “For the first time in almost a generation, we have a historic opportunity. Let us make the most of it.” He added, “I will begin our second term as I began the first with a humble spirit and with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you for your trust and faith in me. I will not let you down.”

    Even before unofficial results were finalized, Davis had privately expressed confidence that the PLP would secure its historic consecutive win. PLP insiders noted that reports from on-the-ground poll workers indicated strong enthusiasm among voters who turned out, even as overall participation lagged. As early results began to come in, supporters gathered at PLP headquarters broke into cheers, particularly when early counts showed the party leading in key battleground constituencies including Pinewood and Tall Pines.

    As the night went on, the full scale of the PLP’s victory became clear. Incumbent PLP representatives celebrated at their constituency offices, thousands of supporters flooded Nassau’s Clifford Park, and celebratory motorcades crossed New Providence. Despite intermittent rain, crowds danced in the streets and honked car horns in celebration across the island.

    Davis used his victory speech to reach out to opposition supporters, calling for national unity and emphasizing that he would serve all Bahamians regardless of their vote. “To the Bahamians who voted today but did not vote for us, I want you to know I’ve listened to you. I’ve heard you. I want you to know that I will continue to work hard for all Bahamians,” he said. He pledged to deliver on every campaign promise with unwavering commitment, saying, “I will deliver the party’s promises with every bone in my body and every beat in my heart.”

    Davis emphasized that the election result sent an unambiguous message about the direction Bahamian voters want for their country. “You voted because you believe that together we can make some of the big changes that would fulfil our missions we share for our Bahamas,” he said. “We all want a country that has more opportunities, a country where safety and prosperity belong to all Bahamians. You want a country in which all of you and your children and grandchildren will thrive.”

    The PLP’s renewed mandate comes as the Bahamas continues to grapple with pressing domestic challenges, including a high cost of living, strained public healthcare systems, and persistent inflation. Davis first took office in 2021 amid similarly severe economic headwinds, including mounting national debt, stagnant growth caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing recovery efforts from the devastating Hurricane Dorian that struck the country in 2019. For his second term, Davis has campaigned on a broad policy agenda that includes expanded worker protections, stricter immigration enforcement, a new migrant health insurance scheme, integration of artificial intelligence into public services, expanded vocational training opportunities for workers, expanded housing support, and a range of other social and economic programs.

  • Storms spark parametric push

    Storms spark parametric push

    For years, parametric insurance flew under the radar of most Jamaican businesses and insurance brokers. But a string of destructive back-to-back hurricanes in 2024 and 2025 have shifted market attitudes, pushing local brokerage firm Fraser Fontaine & Kong Ltd (FFK) to aggressively expand access to this alternative weather risk coverage, company leaders announced at the recent Jamaica Observer Business Forum.

    FFK’s president and chairman Gerard Fontaine noted that the firm has researched parametric insurance models for more than a decade, moving forward with a tailored local offering only after addressing widespread past dissatisfaction with early iterations of the product. After years of studying successful international implementations and collaborating with risk modeling specialists, the company has designed a version of parametric coverage adapted to the unique needs of Jamaican businesses.

    The urgent push for broader adoption comes in the wake of Hurricanes Beryl in 2024 and Melissa in 2025, which laid bare critical gaps in traditional property insurance that left many local businesses grappling with extended financial strain. Executive Director Martine Fontaine explained that the core difference between the two coverage models lies in how claim payouts are triggered. For traditional insurance, payouts are only issued after lengthy on-site physical damage assessments, adjuster investigations, and forensic reviews. In contrast, parametric insurance pays out as soon as a pre-agreed weather threshold — such as hurricane wind speed or earthquake magnitude — is met, eliminating the need for time-consuming damage inspections.

    Martine shared a firsthand example from Hurricane Melissa, where the trigger condition was satisfied at 8:00 a.m. By 3:00 p.m. the same day, FFK had issued payout declarations to eligible clients, and funds were already wired to clients’ bank accounts by the following Monday. This rapid disbursement addresses one of the most common pain points of traditional insurance, where businesses often wait weeks or even months for payout while already facing post-disaster financial pressure.

    Another critical gap parametric coverage fills is “loss of market” scenarios that are rarely covered by traditional policies. For example, Jamaican hotels frequently lose millions in revenue from booking cancellations and plummeting visitor arrivals after major storms, even if their properties sustain little to no direct physical damage. Because traditional insurance requires proof of physical damage to process a claim, these indirect revenue losses are almost never recoverable. Parametric insurance also covers costs that conventional policies often exclude, including hurricane preparation expenses, forced operational shutdowns, and post-storm business interruptions. Beyond speed and expanded coverage, the simplified claims process is another major advantage: after a trigger event, clients only need to submit a one-page declaration confirming they have experienced financial loss, rather than navigating a complex maze of adjusters, deductibles, and underinsurance disputes that often leave clients feeling the traditional system is designed to deny claims.

    FFK’s custom parametric programs can be tailored to a wide range of local stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, large hotel operators, and any other property owner facing weather-related financial risk. Coverage can extend to tangible recovery costs such as re-landscaping, roof repairs, equipment replacement, and business restart expenses. Company leaders emphasized that almost any asset or revenue stream at risk of weather-related loss can be covered by a customized parametric plan.

    Despite these benefits, FFK executives caution that parametric insurance is not intended to replace traditional property coverage. Payout caps for parametric policies mean they may not fully cover extreme losses from major catastrophic events, so businesses should integrate parametric coverage into a broader, diversified risk management strategy. While consumer inquiries and coverage discussions have risen sharply since the 2024 hurricane season, the product still remains relatively unknown to most businesses in Jamaica’s local market.

  • Boasy, Jamaican visuals

    Boasy, Jamaican visuals

    For emerging creative Osunya Rose Minott, fashion styling is far more than curating attractive outfits—it is a powerful medium for cultural storytelling, rooted in personal memory and collective Jamaican identity. Her most recent work, crafting the visual aesthetic for dancehall artist Masicka’s chart-topping new single *Slip and Slide*, stands as a vivid example of this artistic philosophy, blending nostalgic cultural touchstones with fresh, contemporary energy for a global audience.

    Teaming up with Shane Creative on the project, Minott built the entire creative direction around a instantly recognizable sample of the classic Jamaican folk track *Hill & Gully* that appears in Masicka’s single. From the first time she heard the sample, she knew the styling had to balance faithful celebration of Jamaican heritage with modern youthful appeal that would resonate with viewers worldwide.

    Drawing deep inspiration from legendary Jamaican folklorist and cultural trailblazer Louise Bennett-Coverley—universally known as Miss Lou—Minott wove everyday, iconic Jamaican objects and textiles into the video’s wardrobe: traditional bath pans, head kerchiefs, clothespins, mesh merino garments, and classic native prints. Rather than simply replicating a bygone era, she reinterprets these familiar elements through the dynamic lens of modern dancehall culture. “We wanted the visuals to feel familiar, almost nostalgic, but still current and alive,” Minott explained. “Everyone in Jamaica has that memory of washing and drying clothes on the line, whether at home or at your grandma’s house, so we really wanted to tap into that shared nostalgic feeling.”

    Every styling choice in the video is intentional, designed to amplify the song’s narrative and lyrics. One standout sequence features a model washing compact discs—a playful, clever nod to Masicka’s unbroken streak of hit releases. In another scene, dancer Ghaniah wears a handcrafted belt embellished with working watches, a visual interpretation of the track’s lyric “her waist just a tick like a timer.” For Minott, clothing should never be passive: “I don’t want the clothes to just sit on the body. I want them to respond to what’s being said and felt in the music,” she said. Embracing the joyful, rhythmic energy of *Slip and Slide*, she leaned into the effortless, sexy, contemporary spirit that defines modern dancehall, and leaned into bold, saturated color palettes that reflect the vibrant energy of Jamaica and its people.

    Minott calls the opportunity to lead styling for a Masicka project a deeply meaningful milestone, crediting the collaborative team’s shared creative vision and mutual trust for giving her the space to fully lean into her artistic instincts. “There was a point where the dancers were in motion, the wardrobe was flowing, and you could feel the Hill & Gully influence without it being forced,” she recalled. “That’s when I knew we were creating something special.”

    Since its release, the *Slip and Slide* video has garnered growing attention across Jamaica, striking a powerful chord with local viewers who see their own upbringings and cultural experiences reflected on screen. For Minott, this outpouring of connection is the project’s greatest reward. “I’ve been getting messages from people saying how much they love the styling and how Jamaican it feels,” she shared. “That means a lot because it shows people are connecting to the culture behind it.”

    Raised between New York City and Jamaica, Minott draws creative influence from both worlds, but Jamaica remains the beating heart of her artistic identity and aesthetic approach. Born into Jamaican creative royalty—she is the daughter of legendary reggae artist Sugar Minott and cultural producer Maxine Stowe—she grew up immersed in music, fashion, and unapologetic creative individuality. “Jamaica heavily influenced my fashion sense and who I am as a person overall,” she said. “We’re naturally expressive, vibrant and bold, so even when I’m creating something elevated or global, that boldness is always underneath.”

    Though Minott has only worked as a professional stylist for roughly three years, her portfolio already boasts an impressive roster of collaborations with A-list global and Caribbean artists, including Vybz Kartel, Shenseea, Wizkid, Rauw Alejandro, Tyga, and Moliy. As a new wave of Jamaican creatives pushes dancehall visual culture into more concept-driven, narrative-focused territory, Minott says her core goal is to build a legacy as a storyteller who centers authentic Jamaican identity in every project.

    “At the end of the day, I want to be known for storytelling through styling, not just creating looks,” she said. Moving forward, she aims to continue developing culturally rooted projects that elevate Jamaican visual creativity on the global stage, naming iconic Jamaican artists like Chronixx, Sizzla, and Buju Banton as dream future collaborators. When it comes to long-term goals, she adds with characteristic openness: “And, of course, my dream collaboration would be Rihanna. That’s been on my vision board for a long time. So, yeah, I’m just staying open, grateful, and ready for what’s next.”

  • HIGHWAY CASH MACHINE

    HIGHWAY CASH MACHINE

    TransJamaican Highway Limited (TJH), Jamaica’s leading toll road operator, has delivered a stunning 46% year-over-year surge in first-quarter net profit, fueled by higher overall traffic volumes and outperformance from its newly launched May Pen-to-Williamsfield highway extension. For the three-month period ending March 31, the firm reported net income of $13.2 million, up sharply from $9.1 million logged in the same quarter last year. Total quarterly revenues also climbed 29% annually to hit $29 million, marking one of the company’s strongest quarterly growth stretches in recent years.

    The new 1C extension of Jamaica’s Highway 2000, which connects the parishes of Clarendon and Manchester via the May Pen-to-Williamsfield corridor, entered full commercial operation in late December 2025. In its first full quarter of service, the leg contributed $3.5 million in total revenue, equal to roughly 12% of the company’s total group revenue for the quarter. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, TJH Chief Executive Officer Ivan Anderson explained that the new corridor has exceeded all internal revenue projections, driven by higher-than-expected adoption among motorists.

    “What we have seen is that most people now utilise the full length of the roadway from May Pen to Williamsfield,” Anderson said. “We’re seeing a little different mix in terms of traffic — more long-haul and less short-haul traffic — which has boosted the revenues as well.”

    The solid quarterly results underscore the inherent strength of TJH’s toll road operating model, where fixed infrastructure costs mean that incremental revenue growth from new traffic translates directly to disproportionate gains in bottom-line profit. Beyond the new corridor lift, the company’s ongoing strategy of debt reduction also supported the sharp rise in profitability. While total revenues grew 29% year-over-year, TJH’s finance costs continued a steady decline as the firm paid down outstanding borrowings and redeemed outstanding preference shares.

    For the quarter, pre-tax earnings rose to $16.8 million, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) climbed 31% annually to $23.7 million. Total borrowings fell to $182 million at the end of March, down from $192 million at the same point last year, continuing the company’s multi-year trend of deleveraging its balance sheet.

    Aligning with its commitments to investors made during its initial public offering, TJH declared a $13 million dividend during the quarter that was paid out to shareholders in April. Anderson noted the company has stayed true to its promise of distributing nearly all excess cash to shareholders after accounting for planned maintenance, infrastructure upgrades and debt repayment obligations.

    “We gave some commitments when we went to the IPO, which was that we would distribute almost all the cash we had except for what we needed for routine maintenance, major renewals, and paying down our debt,” Anderson said. “As our profits grow, we continue to pay out more in terms of dividends.”

    Even with the strong contribution from the new extension, Anderson emphasized that TJH’s core earnings still come from the broader Highway 2000 network that spans from Kingston through Clarendon. “Phase 1C is not a significant portion of our revenues,” he said. “But obviously, because our costs are fixed, the additional revenues tend to flow to our bottom line.”

    Looking ahead, TJH is actively positioning itself to bid for upcoming toll road operation concessions across Jamaica, starting with the Montego Bay perimeter road that is currently being developed by the Jamaican government. Anderson noted that the company expects the completed project will be opened to competitive bidding for experienced toll road operators, though he confirmed TJH holds no exclusive rights or first refusal option on the asset.

    “We expect that once it is completed, it may be offered to the entities who can operate toll roads in Jamaica to provide a bid,” Anderson said.

    The company is also monitoring additional proposed highway expansion projects connected to Jamaica’s North-South Highway, including planned new corridors linking to Discovery Bay and White River that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has publicly discussed. “We are very interested in those as well,” Anderson said. “Should they become opportunities, then obviously we’ll look at those in terms of trying to take advantage of those as well.”

    Currently, TJH holds a 35-year concession to operate Highway 2000 East-West, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional 35 years, which would extend the operating rights through 2071.

  • Get in or get out!

    Get in or get out!

    As the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League’s knockout stage reaches its decisive phase, two of the competition’s top clubs will lock horns at Kingston’s National Stadium on Wednesday evening, with a coveted semi-final spot up for grabs. Defending back-to-back champions Cavalier FC will face off against Waterhouse FC in the second leg of their quarter-final tie, which hangs perfectly balanced at 2-2 after a dramatic opening encounter on Sunday.

    What made Sunday’s result all the more remarkable was Cavalier’s comeback from an early two-goal deficit. Waterhouse got off to a blistering start, with striker Neron Barrow and midfielder Denardo Thomas finding the back of the net inside the opening seven minutes to put the title holders on the ropes. But Cavalier refused to collapse, pulling level by the final whistle through second-half strikes from young forwards Daryl Massicot and Kimarly Scott, securing a vital draw that keeps their seven-year semi-final streak alive heading into the decider.

    Speaking after the match, Cavalier assistant coach David Laylor admitted his young side got off to a lethargic start that put them in trouble. “We just gifted them two early goals – we started very slow, and Waterhouse made us pay for that,” Laylor said. “This is one of the strongest Waterhouse squads I’ve seen in many years, and they dominated the first seven or eight minutes of play. We had to make key in-game adjustments to claw our way back into the tie.”

    History is firmly on Cavalier’s side heading into Wednesday’s clash: the club has reached the league’s semi-final stage in every single playoff season since earning promotion back to the top flight in the 2017/2018 campaign. Even though the side lost several key players from last season’s title-winning squad, Laylor says he has full confidence in his young core to deliver another semi-final spot.

    Cavalier have also struggled against their upcoming opponents in recent meetings, having not beaten Waterhouse since September 2024, but Laylor pointed to Sunday’s comeback as proof the team’s young players are growing into their roles at the top level. “The youngsters are really coming into their own now. Two of them got the goals on Sunday, which shows their growing confidence and how much they’ve matured in just one season in the league,” he explained. “That’s a really positive sign for us as we go into this second leg.”

    For Waterhouse, though, Sunday’s result feels like a missed opportunity. Head coach Javier Ainstein, who took over the club in January, says his side squandered a major advantage that makes Wednesday’s game far more challenging. The Argentine coach slammed his side for reckless defensive lapses and complacency that allowed Cavalier back into the tie. “We were so irresponsible at the back. We underestimated their attacking quality, and that allowed their strikers to get the goals they needed,” Ainstein said. “This is a playoff, not a casual weekend kickabout with friends. It’s a serious competition, and we have to approach it that way.”

    Ainstein is aiming to lead Waterhouse back to the semi-finals after the club missed the playoffs entirely last season under former coach Marcel Gayle. He warned his players that they cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes against the champions, who thrive on capitalizing on opponent errors to launch dangerous counter-attacks. “I know exactly what Cavalier’s strengths are – they are dangerous on set pieces, well-organized across their defensive blocks, and deadly on quick transitions,” he noted. “We need to be more composed in possession, because Cavalier will pounce on any mistake we make. We have to eliminate those errors if we want to get through.”

    Wednesday’s match at the National Stadium will feature a second decisive quarter-final clash later in the evening, kicking off at 9:00 pm. That tie is also level after the first leg, with Portmore United and first-time playoff qualifiers Racing United locked at 3-3. Portmore is chasing its first semi-final appearance since 2019, while Racing United – promoted to the top flight in 2024 – is one win away from making history by reaching the final four in its debut playoff campaign.

  • Tufton announces $1-b Health Infrastructure Maintenance Fund

    Tufton announces $1-b Health Infrastructure Maintenance Fund

    As Jamaica pushes forward with a nationwide program to upgrade and expand public hospitals and community health centers, national officials have unveiled a landmark $1-billion initiative to address longstanding gaps in the upkeep of critical medical equipment and facility systems. Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton made the formal announcement of the new Health Infrastructure Maintenance Fund (HIMF) Tuesday, during his address to the 2026-27 Sectoral Debate held in Jamaica’s House of Representatives.

    Tufton emphasized that the fund is designed to correct a repeated past mistake that has undermined Jamaica’s public health system: investing billions in new construction and upgrades while failing to allocate sufficient resources for ongoing maintenance. He framed the HIMF as a transformative shift toward a more organized, proactive framework for managing public health infrastructure across the country.

    Under the plan, the HIMF will be funded through an earmarked portion of the national annual health budget, with resources allocated to both scheduled routine maintenance and emergency repairs for unexpected system failures. The initiative outlines three core operational priorities: building a centralized, comprehensive baseline inventory of all equipment and facility systems, rolling out standardized routine maintenance schedules across all public health sites, and outsourcing monitoring and maintenance services for high-need critical systems. These priority systems include mechanical infrastructure, electrical networks, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and building elevators.

    “The intention is to develop operational manuals and a terms of reference and performance criteria with critical success factors and outsource the routine maintenance of these specific functions for our health facilities,” Tufton explained to parliamentary representatives.

    Preparatory work for the fund is already underway, housed within the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Health Infrastructure Planning and Project Management Division. To lead the development of the new program, St. Andrade Sinclair, the former regional director of the Western Regional Health Authority, has been reassigned to the ministry’s central headquarters to oversee the rollout process.

    Per the ministry’s timeline, the 2025-2026 financial year will be dedicated to completing foundational work, including a free pilot program to test operational frameworks, ahead of a full national launch in the subsequent financial year. Roughly $1 billion has already been set aside in the current fiscal year’s budget to launch the initiative. Tufton stressed that the proactive maintenance model is critical to eliminating the unplanned equipment and facility breakdowns that have disrupted patient care for years, noting that such disruptions are entirely avoidable with proper advance planning.

  • Crumbling roads, flooding push Oakland Crescent residents to breaking point

    Crumbling roads, flooding push Oakland Crescent residents to breaking point

    For nearly two decades, residents of Oakland Crescent and surrounding neighborhoods in St Andrew South Western have navigated crumbling, flood-prone roads — and their patience has finally run out. The community is issuing an urgent, desperate plea to Jamaica’s National Works Agency (NWA) to intervene immediately, after years of stalled repairs under a national infrastructure initiative have left daily life all but unmanageable for locals.

    What makes the current crisis particularly acute, residents explain, is that even light rainfall turns the community’s main thoroughfare into a rushing makeshift river, thanks to an undersized, chronically clogged drain upstream that overflows with every storm. When floodwaters surge, they carry discarded household appliances, rotting dead animal carcasses and old mattresses downstream along the damaged road, leaving behind debris, foul odors and even more potholes that worsen the street’s decay.

    One long-term resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recalled that the road’s decline dates back at least to 2004, when Category 4 Hurricane Ivan tore through Jamaica, destroying the original road surface. While state crews have carried out patchwork repairs over the years, those temporary fixes never last, he said, and the road always reverts to its dangerous, impassable state within a short time.

    Beyond the flooding, the deeply pockmarked, uneven road has disrupted nearly every part of daily life for residents. Vehicle owners struggle to navigate the craters, taxi drivers refuse to enter the neighborhood, and essential service vehicles including garbage trucks and emergency vehicles are blocked from accessing most streets. Locals are forced to haul their household trash half a mile uphill to the main road for collection, visitors have no choice but to park on overcrowded sidewalks, and even construction supply trucks can’t reach properties to carry out home repairs. For the Bible Apostolic Church based in the community, the crisis has kept worshippers away: many congregants now refuse to travel to the church, instead parking at distant neighboring churches or skipping services entirely.

    Resident Kerry-Ann, who joked that the persistent flood pools on the road are big enough to turn into a fish pond, said locals held out real hope for change earlier this year when workers from China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) arrived to repair neighborhood sidewalks. CHEC is the primary contractor for the Jamaican government’s $45-billion SPARK (Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network) programme, a national initiative managed by the NWA designed to rehabilitate Jamaica’s crumbling road network, upgrading both local community streets and major national highways to improve safety and accessibility across the island.

    But that hope quickly faded. Months after sidewalk work wrapped up, full road repairs have not started, and the road’s condition has only deteriorated. “When you take taxi, they don’t want to come on this road. When people are coming to you, they cannot access you. You have to drive on the sidewalk,” Kerry-Ann explained. “And then the main issue is the gully, when rain falls, all the water comes right down on this road. Everything floods out. It’s terrible.”

    Fellow resident Harrison said that while he understands the project is part of a larger infrastructure programme, the community can no longer wait for work to resume. “We want the road now, we really want it. Vehicles can barely enter my yard. I see my neighbour doing construction and the truck that’s carrying the material cannot make it inside the yard. It’s almost like the tyre was about to burst. We‘re asking the authorities to start the work now,” he said.

    Area Member of Parliament Dr. Angela Brown Burke, of the People’s National Party, told the Jamaica Observer she has repeatedly pushed the NWA for answers after the project stalled. After residents began raising alarms about worsening flooding and road conditions once preliminary work began, Brown Burke said she sent multiple formal inquiries to the NWA but has never received a formal response.

    “I was glad to see the road started because I know just how much persons in that area were looking forward to the work being completed,” Brown Burke said. “Several months later, they are nowhere because they basically abandoned the work as far as I am concerned; totally stopped the work and we cannot get a proper update.”

    Brown Burke criticized the government’s approach to the stalled project, saying officials appear to treat public infrastructure work as an arbitrary backyard project rather than a core responsibility to impacting residents’ daily lives and livelihoods. “It’s totally unacceptable,” she stressed. As of press time, repeated attempts by the Jamaica Observer to reach the NWA for comment on the stalled project and residents’ complaints have been unsuccessful.

  • Heat on former UHWI chairman

    Heat on former UHWI chairman

    A routine Tuesday meeting of Jamaica’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) devolved into a fiery, courtroom-style interrogation Tuesday, as two ruling-party Members of Parliament pressed former University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Board Chairman Wayne Chai Chong over the institution’s controversial 2023 international chief executive officer search that ultimately led to the board’s dissolution.

    Government MPs Zavia Mayne, who also serves as a State Minister in the Ministry of Finance, and Heroy Clarke spent hours challenging Chai Chong’s version of events, casting doubt on whether the full dissolved board had actually signed off on critical steps of the hiring process. The interrogation revisited the governance tensions that roiled the prominent public hospital last year, reopening one of the most divisive episodes in the institution’s recent history.

    The failed permanent CEO search, which concluded in the collapse of Chai Chong’s board in late 2023, sparked widespread accusations of ministerial interference, systemic dysfunction, and a total breakdown of institutional governance at the facility. Throughout the tense sitting, the two lawmakers repeatedly pushed back on Chai Chong’s claims, particularly surrounding the level of unified board support for the top overseas candidate and key decisions made during the hiring process.

    Clarke led the aggressive line of questioning around travel costs for the preferred candidate, repeatedly demanding clarity on whether the board had formally approved the airfare and associated expenses to bring the applicant to Jamaica for final interviews. “Did you authorise, did you instruct, did you ask, did you recommend anyone on the board to pay the travelling amount to the person that came from wherever you said she came from?” Clarke asked.

    Chai Chong pushed back against claims of unilateral decision-making, insisting every step of the process had received full board approval. He explained that the board had made the final in-person due diligence a mandatory step for the candidate, who resided outside Jamaica, making the travel arrangement a necessary part of the process. “The board indicated that it wanted to see the individual and complete final due diligence with that individual, and that individual lives overseas so that final due diligence is necessary to be conducted,” Chai Chong said.

    Tensions rose further when Clarke questioned whether the full board was actually aligned behind the international recruitment effort. Chai Chong rejected suggestions he had acted outside of board authority, stressing that the entire search followed formal protocols and was managed by a professional third-party recruitment firm with deep experience in Jamaican public sector hiring.

    He told the committee that the board had identified hiring a permanent CEO as an immediate top priority when it took office, responding to ongoing operational and governance challenges that had left the hospital without stable leadership. “Certainly, as a board, the person that is most important to us is the CEO who we will hold accountable for the performance of the institution. You needed to have someone in place who is permanent, who is conducting the activities and the goals of the institution,” Chai Chong said.

    The board determined the critical leadership role could not be filled through internal promotions, Chai Chong explained, leading it to greenlight an international search conducted by a well-regarded recruitment firm with a track record of work for the Jamaican government and other major national institutions. According to Chai Chong, the process drew more than 90 applicants from across Jamaica and abroad, including candidates from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and other Caribbean nations.

    He also disclosed that the board secured private sector support to top up the successful candidate’s salary, after receiving advice that existing public sector compensation caps would not attract a high-caliber executive capable of turning around the struggling hospital.

    Confrontation flared again when Clarke pressed Chai Chong to recall the exact amount spent on the preferred candidate’s travel, pressing the former chairman after he repeatedly stated he could not remember the specific figure. “You can’t recall? But you know it’s a she, and you can’t recall the money that was paid over to the she, and you were a part of the board at that time, and you were the chairman?” Clarke asked pointedly. After Chai Chong stuck by his claim of not recalling the amount, Clarke openly questioned his credibility, saying, “You know, I came in here this morning and I looked at your face and I said, ‘Here is an honest man’. But then you take all that away from me just now.”

    Mayne also raised questions about the board’s decision to shortlist an overseas candidate who had already reached the standard retirement age, an issue that emerged during the hearing. Chai Chong responded that the retirement age question was not raised during the early stages of the search, but after the board sought clarification, members concluded it was not a barrier to moving forward with the candidate.

    The PAC sitting also revealed new details about why the recruitment ultimately failed. Chai Chong disclosed that the preferred candidate ultimately refused to sign the employment contract over concerns about the hospital’s existing internal reporting structure. The candidate demanded a guarantee that the senior director of clinical services would report directly to the CEO, a condition the board could not resolve before the contract was finalized. “The candidate indicated that the most important person for them to be able to achieve the objectives of the institution was the senior director of clinical services and in their experience in the other organisations that she was in charge of, that person needed to report to the CEO position. So she felt that unless she could be guaranteed by the board that we were able to resolve that position and that situation, she would not be able to effect her duties,” Chai Chong said.

    The hearing then shifted to the dispute that led to the board’s collapse, with opposition MP Christopher Brown, who represents St Mary South Eastern, asking Chai Chong about claims that the Minister of Health intervened to overrule the board’s decision on an acting CEO appointment after the international search fell through.

    Chai Chong confirmed that he resigned from his post because he believed the board’s institutional authority had been irreparably undermined. “Well, I felt that if the board had taken a decision, which is one of the most critical decisions that a board has to make as to the position of the CEO, and if that decision was being overturned, then in essence the board was being told that it had no power, and I was not willing to continue serving where decisions of the board could be overturned without any kind of consultation with the board,” he said.

    Mayne pushed back directly on Chai Chong’s account, denying that the minister had interfered in the process and suggesting the former chairman resigned only after the minister publicly labeled the board dysfunctional. “It is very unusual. I want to put it to you, Mr Chong, that the minister did no such thing and that you are upset because the minister described you as being dysfunctional,” Mayne argued.

    Chai Chong rejected that claim, noting that the description of the board as dysfunctional came after his resignation, so it could not have been the motivation for his departure. “Well, I believe the description of dysfunction took place long after I resigned. So, in that situation, your assertion that I did so because my board was being described as dysfunctional would not be correct,” he said.

  • Fathers who cook for mothers a huge success

    Fathers who cook for mothers a huge success

    On Mother’s Day Sunday, the 10th iteration of Lodge Portmore’s beloved annual ‘Fathers Who Cook for Mothers’ charity gathering unfolded at Ham Stables in St Catherine, drawing widespread acclaim as a resounding community success.

    This decade-old Mother’s Day tradition doubles as a fundraising initiative, and this year’s event directed all proceeds toward covering operational costs for Clifton Basic School, a local primary education institution serving the St Catherine region. Roughly 700 community members turned out to support the cause, and they left fully satisfied after sampling an extensive spread of flavorful, expertly prepared dishes crafted by the participating fathers. Attendees also enjoyed lively entertainment throughout the day from performer Dwight Richards.

    Several standout moments marked the celebration, including a gift presentation where Leighton McKnight awarded a set of custom pillows to Phyllis Scott, with Courts Brand Ambassador Suthania Henry on hand to share in the joyful occasion. In a highlight of the culinary portion of the day, McKnight also took charge of preparing a large, hearty pot of soup for the gathered crowd, showcasing the hands-on spirit that defines the annual gathering.