Residents and commuters in St Catherine, Jamaica, are facing unexpected travel disruptions after a large-scale shooting incident shut down the key Bog Walk Gorge corridor on Tuesday afternoon. Senior law enforcement official Hopeton Nicholson, head of the local police division as Senior Superintendent, has publicly confirmed the shooting took place, but could not share additional specific information about the event in his initial statement. Uncorroborated accounts obtained by Observer Online suggest the violence unfolded as an exchange of gunfire between serving police officers and unidentified armed gunmen, with multiple people sustaining injuries in the crossfire. Local authorities have not yet verified these claims, and public outlets continue to wait for official confirmation of the shootout details, casualty count, and potential motives behind the incident. The Bog Walk Gorge will remain closed to all traffic until further notice as law enforcement personnel secure the area and begin their investigation into the shooting. More updates are expected to be released to the public as new information becomes available.
作者： admin
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Serena Williams makes winning return in Queen’s Club doubles
Tennis fans around the world held their breath on Tuesday as 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams made a fairy-tale return to competitive tennis, picking up a first-round doubles win alongside teenage Canadian partner Victoria Mboko at London’s iconic Queen’s Club grass-court tournament. The 44-year-old American legend had not stepped onto a competitive court in 1,375 days, following her 2022 exit from the sport at the US Open, when she hinted she was “evolving away” from professional tennis. Her surprise announcement just 24 hours before the match that she would compete sent shockwaves through the global tennis community, with fans and analysts alike debating whether the all-time great could recapture even a fraction of her dominant past form.
Walking out into the sold-out Andy Murray Arena to a standing ovation, with fans waving “Welcome back Serena” signs and former Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn watching from the stands, Williams cut a focused figure. Dressed in a crisp white top and pastel pink skirt, she acknowledged the crowd only with a quick wave before turning her attention to the match, her husband Alexis Ohanian and two young daughters Olympia and Adira watching on from the stands.
The opening moments of the match hinted at rust after years away: Williams did not touch a ball on the first point, and put her first volley into the net on the second. But it took barely a point for the tennis icon to remind everyone of her legendary class, hitting a clean volley winner to get her comeback off the mark. From there, the match became a reminder of why Williams is widely considered the greatest women’s player of all time. She unleashed her trademark thunderous serve, hitting one unreturnable 120mph delivery late in the first set that drew roars from the crowd, and her fierce groundstrokes cut through rallies with the precision and power that defined her career. When a ferocious smash secured a break to put her side up 4-1 in the first set, Williams celebrated with a clenched fist—her competitive edge completely undimmed by time away from the sport.
The pair fought through a tight first set, winning the tie-break 7-2 to take the opening lead against the tournament’s third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez. In the second set, 19-year-old Mboko stepped up, landing winner after winner and earning impressed fist-bumps from her legendary partner, before Williams sealed the 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory with one of her signature lethal serves. After the match, Williams spoke openly about her joy at returning to the court she had never previously competed on, noting that the historic Queen’s Club had long been an all-male event for top singles players. “I had nothing better to do! I got tired of sitting at home. My kids are out of school for the summer, so why not?” she joked, adding that playing alongside Mboko had been “so fun” and that competing at the iconic venue felt “really special.”
Williams already has her next competitive stop lined up: she is set to compete in doubles at the Berlin Open from June 15 to 21. While she downplayed rumors of a full return to singles competition over the weekend, her dominant first-up performance has sparked intense speculation about a potential appearance at Wimbledon, which kicks off later in June. A seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, Williams has said the chance to play in front of her children was the key motivation for her surprise comeback, and the prospect of stepping back onto the All England Club grass appears far too tempting for the legend to turn down—especially if her winning run at Queen’s continues.
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Elegance Ballroom Experience to fuse fashion, music
A groundbreaking new sophisticated social event is gearing up to debut this summer in Jamaica, blending high-fashion aesthetics, curated entertainment, and charitable giving for an unforgettable experience for attendees across all age groups.
Organized by veteran stageshow producer Isaiah Laing — the mastermind behind Jamaica’s iconic Sting stage show — ‘Elegance: The Ballroom Experience’ is scheduled to take place July 19 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel’s grand ballroom, running from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The event is planned as the first installment of an ongoing series focused on refined, accessible entertainment for fashion and music lovers.
In comments to Jamaica Observer Online, Laing highlighted that the event was designed to fill a gap in the local events landscape: many patrons from diverse age groups are eager for a polished night out, but often avoid informal or unsecure party venues. To address this concern, Laing prioritized securing a safe, upscale location at the Jamaica Pegasus, giving guests the rare opportunity to show off high-end formal wear that often sits unworn in closets between major events.
The event’s musical lineup has been carefully selected to match its sophisticated vibe, with no overly loud or rowdy tracks planned. Top selectors including Master Rogj, Krazy Kris, Welton Irie, and DJ VJ Snow will bring decades of expertise to the turntables, spinning a curated mix of classic soul, disco, R&B, and lovers rock. Laing noted that DJ VJ Snow was added specifically to enhance the immersive experience, as he pairs his sets with synchronized visual projections displayed on a large screen for attendees.
Beyond music and fashion, the evening will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine for all guests. Two major prizes will be awarded: $1,000 USD each to the best-dressed couple and the best dancer of the night. A portion of all proceeds from the event will be donated to the JCF Convalescence Home in Black River, St. Elizabeth, extending the event’s impact beyond entertainment to support local community care.
Laing shared that planning for the debut event has progressed smoothly overall, though he acknowledged the logistical complexity of pulling off the sophisticated experience that attendees expect, even compared to his large-scale work on Sting. “This is a bit easier, but it’s been very technical, too, because of the location and the expectation of what it will be,” he explained.
For guests looking to secure their spots, tickets are available for purchase online via touchstonelink.com, as well as at multiple physical outlets across Jamaica. Outlets in Spanish Town include the Don P Complex and Sharmz Curry Pot, while Kingston-based buyers can purchase tickets at Fontana Pharmacy Waterloo, DLux Restaurant and Lounge, and Wok Express Restaurant.
Event publicist Ramona Samuels shared that organizers are confident the event will deliver a one-of-a-kind memorable experience for attendees. “The ballroom ambiance in summer is what makes this event unique,” she said, noting that the elegant dress code, curated throwback music selection, and focus on sophisticated fun set it apart from other local events. “We’re encouraging party lovers and lovers of souls, R&B, disco, and fans of luxury, elegance, and fashion to enjoy an evening of sophisticated enjoyment,” she added.
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David Collado says air connectivity and new hotels will drive tourism growth
Against a backdrop of mounting industry headwinds ranging from persistent sargassum inundations to shifting global geopolitical instability, the Dominican Republic is prioritizing two key strategic priorities to lock in long-term tourism growth: expanding international air access and scaling up national hotel capacity, according to Tourism Minister David Collado.
One of the most promising recent developments for the country’s tourism sector comes from Canada, a top source market for Caribbean leisure travelers. Collado confirmed that bilateral engagement has yielded a major boost in air access, with major Canadian carriers agreeing to add more than 100,000 extra airline seats for routes connecting Canada to the Dominican Republic. The expansion follows official visits by tourism officials to Toronto and Montreal, where collaboration with leading airline partners was deepened, laying the groundwork for higher visitor volumes in the coming months.
Collado emphasized that reliable, expanded air connectivity is the non-negotiable foundation for sustained tourism growth, but matching that increased access with additional accommodation infrastructure is equally critical to meet rising global demand. Even in the face of unforeseen market disruption – specifically the total loss of Russian and Ukrainian visitor markets triggered by the ongoing Eastern European conflict – the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry has maintained remarkable resilience. Current hotel occupancy rates across the country hold between 95% and 98%, a figure that underscores the unmet demand for additional accommodation.
To keep pace with projected growth over the coming years, industry estimates indicate the Dominican Republic will need to add roughly 30,000 new hotel rooms to its national inventory. As of now, approximately 16,000 of those required rooms are already under active construction. One high-profile project set to open soon that will move the needle on expansion is Moon Palace Punta Cana, a major resort that will contribute 2,500 new rooms to the country’s tourism offering and support the sector’s continued upward trajectory, Collado noted.
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Pan Jamaica strengthens pillars as risks heighten
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Amid intensifying global market headwinds and widespread economic uncertainty, Caribbean conglomerate Pan Jamaica Group Limited (PJAM) is doubling down on strengthened corporate governance and strategic business diversification to offset the challenges of a highly turbulent 2026.
Jeffrey Hall, PJAM’s chief executive officer and vice-chairman, outlined the group’s risk-mitigation strategy to shareholders on Thursday, emphasizing that the current global landscape demands deliberate, proactive planning for stakeholders who entrust the firm with their capital. “This is not an ordinary time for markets, and it is critical that we are transparent about the risks we see on the horizon,” Hall stated.
His remarks followed the release of the group’s first-quarter financial results, which delivered a 14% year-over-year rise in consolidated revenue to JMD $11.13 billion, but a sharp decline in net earnings driven by overlapping global and local shocks. Consolidated net profit plummeted 56% from $2.11 billion in the prior year period to $924.47 million for the quarter ending March 31, while net profit attributable to shareholders fell even more sharply, dropping 71% to $487.26 million.
Multiple interconnected factors drove the earnings slump. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran have sent global fuel prices soaring, amplifying inflation across markets and squeezing margins for PJAM’s operating subsidiaries spread across the Americas and Europe.
Extreme weather events also dealt major blows to the group’s agricultural and logistics segments. Hurricane Melissa destroyed nearly 100% of PJAM’s banana and plantain farms, pushing first-quarter operating costs $120 million higher as the group works to rebuild production. Two subsequent North Atlantic storms disrupted the group’s ocean logistics division, which operates five refrigerated cargo vessels, causing $150 million in losses. Hall detailed that one storm knocked deck-stored containers overboard into the ocean, triggering costly delays that threw the vessel’s entire scheduled route off course.
Adding to the financial pressure, the group recorded a $200 million foreign exchange loss during the quarter, driven by appreciation of the Jamaican dollar against the U.S. dollar that hit the conglomerate’s long FX position, which includes its 43% stake in subsidiary Kingston Wharves Limited. The group also logged a $249.57 million unrealized loss on its domestic Jamaican listed securities holdings, a stark reversal from the $16.71 million unrealized gain recorded in the same quarter last year. Even with these headwinds, the group is actively working to divest $5.5 billion in non-core assets to streamline its balance sheet.
Hall stressed that the group’s core strategy to weather volatility remains centred on governance, diversification and maintaining healthy cash reserves, rather than pulling back from expansion plans. “We are not stepping away from growth; we are just proceeding with greater care,” he explained. “We believe our business is structured effectively to remain resilient through these challenges.”
Even amid broader market uncertainty, PJAM is pushing forward with targeted growth across key segments. Its specialty foods division is rapidly expanding its juice business across Europe, where the group already owns four operating companies across Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. In October 2025, PJAM acquired a 64.1% stake in Danish firm Frankly Juice A/S for $410 million to solidify its footprint in the Nordic market, and sales to Eastern European markets are now hitting all-time highs. The firm is currently rolling out new operations in the Czech Republic and Romania, even amid ongoing global risk.
In its global services division, flagship subsidiary Kingston Wharves is pursuing growth via acquisitions of freight forwarding and logistics businesses, with plans to expand its presence in Western Jamaica. On the property and infrastructure front, subsidiary Baywest Development Limited has secured all necessary approvals to build a new resort development in Freeport, Montego Bay, with construction slated to begin in 2027. Separately, Capital Infrastructure Group Limited is set to begin benefiting from operations next year, when Rio Cobre Water Limited completes construction of a new 5-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant.
PJAM also plans to support upcoming debt and equity raises for the Sagicor Group Caribbean Limited (SGC) restructuring transaction, scheduled to close later this year, which will see Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited and Sagicor Life Inc become subsidiaries of the new regional holding company. Hall noted that periods of market disruption often open the door to transformative long-term opportunities, pointing to the group’s history of making successful big moves during past crises.
As of the end of the first quarter, PJAM’s total assets declined 1% year-over-year, with $39.72 billion held in associates and joint ventures and $8.79 billion in cash and deposits. Total liabilities fell 3% to $37.06 billion, including $23.68 billion in outstanding debt, while consolidated equity rose to $114.62 billion, with $85.61 billion attributable to shareholders.
PJAM’s share price closed Thursday at $45.03, marking a 12% decline for the year to date and giving the firm a market capitalization of $73.29 billion. The group will pay a $0.175 per share dividend, totalling $284.85 million, on June 25 to shareholders of record as of May 29.
In leadership news, PJAM Chief Operating Officer Philip Armstrong will step down from his executive role on June 30 to take up the position of lead independent director on July 1. Armstrong joined the group in September 2022 as chief strategy officer and oversaw the successful amalgamation of PJAM and Jamaica Producers Group Limited. Hall noted that as the group has grown into a complex, multi-sector, multi-country enterprise, robust governance has become more critical than ever. Armstrong will lead the development and rollout of stricter, more robust governance frameworks for each of the group’s operating businesses.
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Dominican Republic concludes first Dominican Week in Europe
After a week of targeted diplomatic, economic, and cultural engagement across Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic has successfully concluded its first-ever Dominican Week initiative, closing out the event with an official ceremonial reception in The Hague. The landmark gathering was designed to advance the Caribbean nation’s strategic goal of deepening multifaceted ties with European partners across political, commercial, academic, and cultural spheres.
Helmed by Carlos de la Mota, the Dominican Ambassador to the host nations, the week-long series of events worked to highlight the Dominican Republic’s attractiveness as a global trade and investment partner, while advancing shared priorities including innovation, climate action, and cross-border institutional collaboration. The initiative also successfully positioned the country as a reliable, strategic ally for European countries seeking new partnerships in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Throughout the week, the official Dominican delegation held productive working sessions with senior Dutch government officials to strengthen bilateral political dialogue. It also moved forward with new collaborative frameworks tied to the Port of Rotterdam, one of the world’s largest and most strategically important maritime hubs, opening new avenues for trade and logistics cooperation between the two sides. A centerpiece of the agenda was the Dominican Republic–Netherlands Business Forum, which brought together private sector leaders and policymakers to explore opportunities in cross-border investment, export expansion, the blue economy, sustainable development, and the global energy transition.
Beyond economic and trade cooperation, the initiative yielded tangible progress in academic and scientific exchange. Two of the Netherlands’ top research institutions, Wageningen University & Research and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, formalized new research and training partnerships with Dominican stakeholders. These new collaborations will focus on critical shared challenges including agricultural innovation, global food security, climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable water resource management, and workforce capacity building.
To cap off the week of engagement, organizers hosted a vibrant cultural showcase that brought authentic Dominican culture to European audiences. The event featured live performances of iconic Dominican musical genres including merengue and bachata, alongside tastings of local gastronomy and premium Dominican rum. The showcase underscored the Dominican Republic’s commitment to leveraging cultural diplomacy as a core tool for building people-to-people connections and strengthening long-term bilateral ties.
Event organizers and senior Dominican officials have described the inaugural Dominican Week as a defining milestone in the country’s efforts to expand its diplomatic, economic, and cultural footprint across Europe, laying the groundwork for years of expanded strategic partnership with European nations.
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ITA launches major recruitment drive as transition to statutory body gathers pace
KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark step to reshape the country’s traffic management ecosystem, Jamaica’s Island Traffic Authority (ITA) has rolled out one of the most expansive hiring initiatives in recent memory, opening more than 30 vacancies to build out its operational capacity following a broadened mandate under the new Road Traffic Act.
The open positions cut across nearly every core function of the organization, ranging from senior leadership roles in management, finance, legal services, and human resources to frontline operational posts in transport, procurement, communications, and records management. This cross-departmental hiring push signals a deliberate, large-scale expansion of both the ITA’s administrative capacity and regulatory reach, as the agency transitions out of its old institutional structure.
When questioned by local media outlet Observer Online, ITA representatives confirmed that the recruitment drive is a core component of the agency’s institutional transition: moving from a subordinate department within the Ministry of Transport and Mining to an independent statutory body, a structural change mandated by the 2018 Road Traffic Act.
“The roles we are filling align directly with the mandate laid out in the 2018 Road Traffic Act, which formally established the ITA as a standalone statutory body tasked with carrying out the expanded functions outlined in the legislation,” the authority stated in an official response. It added further context, clarifying that the shift formally ends its decades-long status as a department within the national ministry that oversaw transport and energy portfolios.
To support this entirely new organizational structure and allow the ITA to fully carry out all responsibilities assigned by the new law, the agency must build out entirely new departments and fill key leadership positions that did not exist under its previous structure. The list of open senior roles includes directors for human resource management and development, finance and accounting, as well as specialized posts such as senior internal auditor, legal officer, communications officer, senior financial accountant, payroll manager, transport manager, and senior public procurement officer, among others.
Ultimately, the overarching goal of these new appointments is to reinforce the ITA’s operational foundations and raise the quality of services it provides to Jamaican motorists and the general public. “These hires will strengthen the ITA’s overall capacity, streamline internal operations, and improve service delivery to the public by ensuring the organization has the full resources it needs to meet its regulatory and administrative obligations,” the authority explained.
The 2018 Road Traffic Act, which began phased implementation across Jamaica starting in 2022, not only redefined the ITA’s institutional status but also vastly expanded its scope of responsibilities, while modernizing the country’s entire national traffic management regulatory framework. Long known primarily for its core work conducting motor vehicle fitness inspections and mandatory driver testing, the ITA now holds expanded responsibility for regulating national vehicle emission and safety standards, leading nationwide road safety public initiatives, and carrying out a broad suite of new administrative and enforcement functions connected to Jamaica’s entire transportation network.
The sheer size of the current recruitment exercise makes clear that the ITA is now accelerating its work to put these new mandated responsibilities into practice, by building a more robust, full-capacity organizational structure capable of handling its expanded remit. The application window for all advertised positions closed last week, with the ITA expected to announce final appointments in the coming months as it completes its transition.
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FOP, Give Back Jamaica strengthen communities through education and healthcare outreach
In a powerful display of collective purpose and community impact, two Jamaican community organizations – Friends of Porus (FOP) and Give Back Jamaica (GBJ) – have wrapped up a multi-faceted outreach mission in May 2026 that delivered critical support to students, healthcare providers and rural families across the island. The initiative paired targeted literacy advancement for young primary school learners with the donation of life-saving medical supplies to under-resourced rural health facilities, addressing two of the most pressing needs for marginalized Jamaican communities.
The educational pillar of the mission aligned with Jamaica’s annual Read Across Jamaica Week, and expanded FOP and GBJ’s reach through a new collaboration with Winsome Wishes for Kids, a 2020-founded nonprofit focused on closing literacy gaps for Jamaican children. Over its five years of operation, Winsome Wishes has built a strong reputation for delivering tangible results by providing tailored learning resources and targeted support to students struggling with academic barriers, making the organization a natural partner for the literacy drive.
For Friends of Porus, expanding access to educational tools remains a core organizational priority, according to FOP Vice President Vassell Ogilvie, who also serves as founder and CEO of New York-based Hudson Valley Dynamic Counseling, the primary funder of the 2026 mission. “Education is far more than textbooks and lessons – it is the most transformative gift we can offer a young person,” Ogilvie shared in an interview during the outreach. “When we put locally authored books in the hands of Jamaican children, we are not just teaching them to read. We are opening doors to new opportunities, sparking their imagination, and laying the foundation for lifelong success. Every child, regardless of their geographic or economic circumstances, deserves the tools to learn, grow and chase dreams bigger than their current surroundings. Participating in Read Across Jamaica Week is not just a one-time donation drive – it is an investment in the future of our nation.”
Ogilvie also credited GBJ President Hopeton Brown for forging the cross-organizational partnership that made the widespread impact possible. “Meaningful community change never happens in isolation. It only comes when groups set aside individual goals and come together around a shared mission to lift people up,” he noted. “We are deeply grateful to Mr. Brown and the entire GBJ team for creating spaces for organizations like Friends of Porus to contribute to collective service for the Jamaican people. These partnerships let us extend our reach far beyond what we could accomplish alone, so we can make a real difference where need is greatest.”
Three rural primary schools – Broadleaf Primary School, Harmons Primary School, and Porus Primary School – were selected as beneficiaries of the literacy initiative. Each institution received a curated collection of books written by Jamaican scholars, donated to the schools’ libraries to expand student access to diverse, locally relevant reading material. All book acquisition and distribution costs were fully covered by Friends of Porus as part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to advancing educational equity across rural Jamaica.
After completing school visits and book presentations, the joint delegation shifted its focus to strengthening rural healthcare, delivering a large shipment of much-needed medical supplies to two community facilities: the Bog Walk Health Centre in St Catherine and the Porus Health Clinic in Manchester.
The first healthcare stop at Bog Walk Health Centre drew widespread local media attention, with popular broadcaster Roger Hasfal covering the donation live on IRIE FM’s long-running community program *Come In Unity*. During the segment, Hasfal interviewed frontline healthcare workers and special guest Eric Donaldson, the iconic Jamaican reggae artist and GBJ’s official celebrity ambassador. Widely known as Jamaica’s “King of Festival Songs” and creator of the global classic *Cherry Oh Baby*, Donaldson has long used his platform to advance charitable work that benefits communities across the island, and he joined the delegation to highlight the importance of the outreach mission.
The following day, the team traveled to the Porus Health Clinic, where a second shipment of medical supplies was delivered to clinic staff, who greeted the donation with gratitude for the support that will directly benefit thousands of local residents relying on the facility for care. All medical supplies distributed across both sites were shipped from the United States and fully funded by Hudson Valley Dynamic Counseling. Organizers also extended special recognition to individual donors, particularly Beverly Graham, whose significant financial contribution was a key factor in the initiative’s overall success.
Leaders from both FOP and GBJ reaffirmed their long-term commitment to advancing educational equity, strengthening rural healthcare systems, and building sustainable cross-organization partnerships that drive lasting positive change for Jamaicans across all regions of the island. As the two groups plan their next round of outreach, they say they hope their work will inspire other individuals and organizations across Jamaica and the diaspora to invest in community development, proving that collective action around a shared purpose can deliver meaningful, transformative change for those who need it most.
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Track and field fraternity mourning death of former sprinter/coach Patricia Elaine Thompson
The Bahamian track and field community is mourning the passing of Patricia Elaine Thompson, a multi-faceted pioneer who shaped the sport across the nation as an athlete, coach, administrator and team official. Thompson, a former elite sprinter, long-time coach and Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) executive, died yesterday, leaving behind a decades-long trailblazing legacy that laid the groundwork for the country’s future international athletic success.
Thompson first made her mark on the sport as a standout sprinter at Eastern Secondary School, where her explosive starts out of the starting block earned her a reputation as the institution’s fastest female competitor. She went on to join the iconic Pioneers Track Club, where she rose to national prominence alongside teammates Gail North, Christine Jones and Althea Rolle. Together, the four women made history as the first Bahamian female 4x100m relay team to compete at the 1962 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games held in Kingston, Jamaica. The quartet finished fifth in the event, but more importantly, blazed a trail that would lead to the historic gold medal-winning success of the Bahamian “Golden Girls” sprint teams between 1999 and 2000.
After retiring from competitive racing, Thompson seamlessly transitioned into coaching, where she helped elevate programs at two of the country’s top high school programs: AF Adderley Tigers and SC McPherson Sharks. Under her guidance, both programs emerged as dominant forces in Bahamian interscholastic track and field during an era when public and private schools competed in a unified circuit.
Beyond her work on the high school track, Thompson also dedicated decades of service to the national governing body of the sport, serving more than 20 years as a member of the BAAA council. She also took on key roles with Bahamian national teams at international competitions across the globe, serving as a coach, manager and chaperone at dozens of major events including the CARIFTA Games, the Olympic Games, and the inaugural IAAF World Athletics Championships.
One of her earliest key international roles came as chaperone for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Team, which marked the country’s participation with just one female competitor, Shonel Ferguson. She would later reprise the chaperone role for the 1984 and 1988 Olympic squads, and served as team manager for the very first World Athletics Championships hosted in Helsinki, Finland. Beyond those top-tier global events, she was a constant presence at regional competitions including CARIFTA, even leading logistics and accommodations when The Bahamas played host to both CARIFTA and the CAC Championships.
Off the track, Thompson built a 44-year career in education, after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics with a minor in physical education from Florida Memorial College and a Diploma in Education from the University of the West Indies. She spent the majority of her teaching career at AF Adderley Senior High School, with her final decade of service spent at SC McPherson.
As news of her passing spread across the Bahamian athletic community, tributes and condolences poured in from current and former athletes, coaches and administrators who worked alongside Thompson throughout her career. Many highlighted her warm, nurturing personality that made her a beloved mother figure for generations of young Bahamian athletes.
Rolando “Lonnie” Greene, now the head track and field coach at the University of Kentucky, was coached by Thompson during his time as a sprinter at AF Adderley. “We lost a good one and heaven gained an angel. She will be missed,” Greene said. “It always amazes me how things like this hits us so seriously. But we never stay in touch the way we should. I guess we need to learn from things like these and improve upon our connection with one another. I got to be better.”
Andrew Tynes, a former elite sprinter who now coaches in The Bahamas, recalled Thompson’s steady, caring presence on a 1990 Junior World Athletics Championship trip that spanned three weeks, including a pre-competition training camp in Florida. “We went on a training camp in Florida and two weeks later flew off to Belgrade where the Junior Worlds was held,” Tynes said. “She was always that mother figure and that nurturing person you could go to. She was a very pleasant person you could go to. May she forever rest in peace.”
Bernard Newbold, a rising BAAA administrator who worked alongside Thompson during events hosted in The Bahamas, remembered her calm, approachable demeanor. “I also had the pleasure of working with her when she was at SC McPherson during many of the high school championships,” he said. “A very calm and pleasant person.”
Long jumper Jackie Edwards summed up the widespread sentiment shared across the community, calling Thompson a “wonderful, kind person. She will be missed.” Versatile former athlete Linda Woodside echoed that tribute, noting simply: “Elaine was one of a kind.” In a tribute written ahead of an inaugural BAAA gala awards reception, BAAA official Renee Pargo highlighted Thompson’s place as a foundational trailblazer who opened doors for every female Bahamian track and field athlete that came after her.
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Mailpac opens Barbican location in bid to ‘revolutionize customer experience’
Jamaica’s longest-running and most trusted delivery services provider Mailpac has launched its strategically positioned new branch in Barbican, St Andrew, marking the first step in a company-wide transformation aimed at redefining package shipping and collection experiences for Jamaican consumers. In an official statement released Tuesday, the brand framed the opening of this new location as the start of a bold new era for the decades-old delivery enterprise. Operating in an increasingly saturated market dominated by generic, one-size-fits-all delivery solutions, Mailpac says the future of parcel services goes far beyond simply moving packages from origin to destination. Instead, the company argues that successful delivery providers must integrate their services seamlessly into customers’ daily routines, delivering higher convenience, greater efficiency, and more affordable pricing than existing offerings. The new Barbican outlet is the first tangible demonstration of this customer-centric vision put into practice. Photos from the launch event show Mailpac Chief Operating Officer Everton Jhulur and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Gonzales posing outside the newly opened branch, with the full local team already on site ready to serve customers. Per the company’s release, the new location was intentionally placed in one of Kingston’s most dynamic and fast-growing lifestyle-focused communities. It sits adjacent to popular local amenities including pickleball courts, fitness and wellness centers, and a range of everyday retail and service spots that residents already visit regularly. A key differentiator for the Barbican branch is its extended operating hours, closing at 7:00 PM daily to accommodate customers’ busy schedules. This extended window means shoppers can collect their parcels on their own time, whether that is after finishing work, wrapping up a workout, or completing other daily errands, without having to rearrange their entire day around a rigid pickup schedule. In remarks on the launch, Dr. Gonzales emphasized what sets Mailpac apart from newer, smaller competitors in the crowded delivery space: decades of earned consumer trust and deep institutional expertise that the brand brings to every new strategic move. “We have never been a company that rests on past success. Every few years, we take an honest look at where the market is heading, and we evolve to meet customers’ changing needs. The Barbican branch is a perfect example of that approach,” Dr. Gonzales explained. He noted that the delivery market is currently filled with providers offering identical services in identical ways, but today’s Jamaican customers are busy, dynamic people who deserve a service that fits around their lives, not the other way around. “Barbican is just the first step. Extended operating hours, locations integrated into popular lifestyle hubs, and an unwavering focus on convenience, efficiency, and value: this is the direction we are moving as a company, and we have only just gotten started,” the CEO added. Mailpac confirmed that it is re-evaluating every customer touchpoint across its network, from outlet placement to operating hours, drawing on its decades of local industry knowledge and brand trust to guide its overhaul. In the coming months, the company says customers can expect more announcements as it rolls out its full suite of next-generation customer experience initiatives across Jamaica.