Carib Scope

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  • DFA appoints Vladimir Corbette as competitions manager ahead of upcoming domestic seasons

    DFA appoints Vladimir Corbette as competitions manager ahead of upcoming domestic seasons

    The Dominica Football Association (DFA) has made two key announcements for the local football community: the appointment of a new senior administrator and confirmation that the 2026 seasons of two of the nation’s top men’s and women’s competitions are right around the corner.

    In a recent official statement, the governing body for football in Dominica revealed that Vladimir Corbette will step into the newly opened role of Competitions Manager. Tasked with overseeing all competitive activity run under the DFA’s umbrella, Corbette will take ownership of the end-to-end administration and coordination of every sanctioned tournament across the island nation. His core remit includes ensuring that all league and cup competitions operate seamlessly, from preliminary planning through to final execution, maintaining consistent standards for all participating teams, players and match officials.

    The DFA used the announcement to extend formal congratulations to Corbette on his appointment, and publicly conveyed its full confidence in his ability to deliver on the requirements of the position and drive positive improvements to the country’s competitive football landscape. The association did not share further details on the length of Corbette’s contract or his professional background in the official press release.

    Alongside the leadership appointment, the DFA confirmed that the new seasons of its two top men’s and women’s competitions – the men’s First Division and the Women’s Premier League – will kick off in the near future. At this early stage, the governing body has not released full operational details for the upcoming seasons, including match schedules, host venues, and final confirmed rosters for participating teams. A spokesperson for the DFA noted that additional information will be published in the coming weeks once all final preparations are completed.

  • Harassment is a crime

    Harassment is a crime

    A new regional cybersecurity resource aimed at building safer digital environments for Caribbean communities has been launched, accessible at https://cardtpconnect.org/safercyberspaces. The initiative is tied to the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDT P), a regional development effort backed by the World Bank that works alongside key Caribbean blocs including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to advance digital safety across the region.

    This project focuses on addressing growing cybersecurity threats that impact individuals, businesses and public institutions across Caribbean nations. Key priorities of the safer cyberspaces initiative include educating users on core protective practices, such as creating secure passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), and recognizing common cyber threats including phishing fraud, hacking, and online harassment. The effort also works to strengthen the capacity of regional Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRT) to coordinate responses to cyberattacks and criminal activity.

    NOW Grenada, the platform hosting the announcement of the resource, has issued a standard content disclaimer clarifying that the outlet does not take responsibility for opinions, statements or third-party contributor content shared on its pages. The platform also provides a reporting channel for users to flag any abusive content that violates community guidelines.

    As digital adoption accelerates across the Caribbean, driven by broader digital transformation efforts, regional stakeholders have prioritized closing cybersecurity knowledge gaps to protect users from rising cybercrime rates. This new resource is designed to centralize guidance and tools for individuals and organizations to build more resilient digital practices, supporting the region’s goal of inclusive and secure digital growth.

  • Jamaica’s birds are still recovering; conservationists say hunting can wait

    Jamaica’s birds are still recovering; conservationists say hunting can wait

    Five months after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa tore across Jamaica, leaving a trail of widespread forest destruction and decimated wildlife habitats, a fierce debate has emerged over the Jamaican government’s preliminary approval of a restricted 2026 bird shooting season. Leading conservation biologists and bird advocacy groups are sounding the alarm that moving forward with any hunting this year could deliver a fatal blow to already vulnerable bird populations still reeling from the storm’s aftermath.

    The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) confirmed last week that Jamaica’s Natural Resources Conservation Authority has given in-principle approval to a limited hunting season, with planned geographic boundaries and fewer total hunting events than pre-storm seasons. But even these adjusted restrictions are too much, according to experts, who warn the scale of habitat damage has been vastly underappreciated in the government’s preliminary decision.

    Damion Whyte, a terrestrial biologist and long-time member of BirdLife Jamaica, the island’s leading bird conservation organization, emphasized that Hurricane Melissa ranks among the most powerful storms to ever make landfall on Jamaica, and its ecological damage has been catastrophic. Official estimates from Jamaica’s Forestry Department show that 51% of the island’s total forest area sustained damage, including up to 25% of critical mangrove forests. In Jamaica’s western and northern parishes, the storm caused 76% to 100% canopy loss, effectively erasing nearly all wild bird habitats in these regions.

    Whyte shared firsthand observations of unusual bird behavior in the months after the storm, as fruit-dependent species lost their natural food sources and were forced to move out of damaged upland forests and into low-lying populated areas in search of sustenance. “We had reports from our community members of birds you almost never see on the ground – species like the protected white-crowned pigeon, mountain witches, and parakeets – wandering into residential areas because all the fruit in the high forests was destroyed,” Whyte explained. “It was a widespread, mass displacement that showed just how bad the damage was.”

    Since the storm, BirdLife Jamaica volunteers have been carrying out ongoing supplemental feeding programs across hard-hit parishes, providing wild birds with fruit and seeds as natural food sources have not yet rebounded. Community surveys conducted by the group have also documented dramatic drops in local bird populations, with some once-common species now completely absent from heavily damaged regions. Beyond the loss of trees, the hurricane eliminated nearly all natural nesting sites, leaving surviving birds stressed and far more vulnerable to predation and human disturbance.

    Whyte points to parallel research on Jamaican fruit bats that underscores the ongoing food shortage impacting frugivorous (fruit-eating) wildlife across the island. A recent post-storm study found that sampled fruit bats had significantly lower body weights than pre-hurricane populations, a clear indicator that even months after the storm, food remains scarce. “People might assume trees are already growing back, but regrowth doesn’t mean they’re producing fruit, which is what these animals depend on,” Whyte noted.

    BirdLife Jamaica is calling for the 2026 season to be canceled entirely, arguing that any decision to reopen hunting must be based on transparent, peer-reviewed population assessments that measure how well bird populations have recovered after the storm. The organization argues the precautionary principle should apply: when there is insufficient data to confirm that hunting will not threaten species survival, protection must take priority.

    The debate is not purely ecological, however. Bird shooting is a longstanding cultural tradition in many rural Jamaican communities, and the annual season supports a small but significant local economy, providing income for hunters, guide staff, and local accommodation providers. With many rural families still recovering from hurricane-related damage to their homes and property, canceling the season would bring added financial strain to already vulnerable communities.

    Whyte acknowledges these competing priorities, but argues that the core purpose of regulated hunting is long-term species protection, which cannot be sacrificed for short-term economic gains. “The bird shooting season supports an entire industry, from hunters to the local communities that host them, and we know canceling it would hurt a lot of people still recovering from the storm. But the whole point of having regulated seasons is to make sure we don’t put birds at risk of extinction,” he told reporters.

    Even if regulators move forward with a restricted season, Whyte warns it would carry major risks. Reducing the geographic footprint of hunting would concentrate pressure on the small number of remaining undamaged habitats, increasing stress on surviving bird populations and raising the risk of conflict between hunters competing for limited space. He also questioned NEPA’s ability to effectively monitor and enforce hunting restrictions in the wake of the storm, noting that widespread landscape changes have made boundary mapping far more complex.

    Beyond enforcement, Whyte raised broader social questions about holding a hunting season while many local families remain homeless after the storm. “You have to ask: does it make sense to proceed with a sport for a small group when so many people are still without roofs over their heads? That’s a question the public has a right to weigh in on,” he said.

    Jamaica’s native game bird species, which include four native dove and pigeon varieties, play a critical ecological role on the island: they spread tree seeds that support natural forest recovery, benefit agricultural pollination, and draw tens of thousands of birdwatching tourists each year, generating far broader economic benefits than hunting. BirdLife Jamaica notes that properly regulated hunting can be sustainable long-term, but only when decisions are made through a transparent process that centers independent scientific data.

    Conservation leaders are now calling for an open, multi-stakeholder dialogue bringing together hunters, government regulators, independent scientists, and community representatives to revisit the decision, with the goal of prioritizing science-based conservation and giving bird populations and their damaged habitats time to fully recover.

  • CISOCA encourages students to prioritise their mental health

    CISOCA encourages students to prioritise their mental health

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Amid growing recognition of unaddressed mental health struggles among young people, Jamaica’s Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) brought together students and educators from across Kingston and St. Andrew this Thursday for the All About Me Advocacy Workshop, a gathering centered on elevating youth mental well-being at the Office of the Commissioner of Police.

    Throughout the day, every speaker reinforced a core message: students must be equipped to understand and prioritize their own coping strategies as they navigate a range of widespread mental health challenges. Opening the event, Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Josephs shed light on the hidden burdens many children carry in silence, noting that too many young people are privately grappling with anxiety, trauma, depression, abuse, community violence, bullying, and persistent uncertainty about what comes after graduation. For many, he added, these struggles add weight far beyond what their developing years should demand.

    Josephs pushed back against common narrow misconceptions of mental health, explaining that the term encompasses far more than just diagnosable illness. True mental well-being, he emphasized, is built on emotional strength, resilience, self-confidence, and the ability to adapt when life becomes difficult. He went on to outline the far-reaching ripple effects of supporting young people’s mental health: a child who feels seen, supported, safe, and valued is far more likely to thrive across every area of life, from academic performance to social connection to emotional regulation. Most critically, these supported children grow into engaged, productive citizens who lift up their entire communities.

    That positive impact, Josephs argued, is why collective action from all parts of society is non-negotiable. Parents, teachers, community leaders, faith-based groups, and law enforcement all have a role to play in building safe, respectful environments where young people feel empowered to show up as they are. He urged the adult educators and stakeholders in attendance to normalize open conversations about mental health, build accessible support networks, and work to dismantle the long-standing stigma that keeps too many young people from asking for the help they need.

    “Let us commit to listening more carefully, supporting more intentionally, and protecting more passionately, the mental well-being of our children,” Josephs said in closing his address. “When we strengthen the minds of our young people, we strengthen the future of our nation.”

    CISOCA’s commanding officer, Superintendent Kerry-Ann Bailey, explained that the “All About Me” workshop was intentionally designed to center student voices, rather than just deliver top-down guidance. The event aligned with national Child’s Month, which this year places a specific focus on youth mental health, creating a structured, safe avenue for students to share their experiences directly with law enforcement and support organizations.

    “We wanted to hear from them. We know that some of them are facing bullying and other challenges, and because Child’s Month is also focused on mental health, we wanted them to come here so we could hear from them, hear their voices, and hear their stories,” Bailey said. “We also have our partners here so we can provide them with additional information that will help them cope.”

    Held under the official theme “Prioritising Our Children’s Mental Health: Strong Minds, Safer Future,” the workshop did more than raise awareness: it gave students practical, actionable tools to navigate the daily challenges they face. Beyond skill-building, the event’s core function was to provide a judgment-free space for young people to share their experiences and feel that their concerns were being taken seriously. Students also took the opportunity to submit suggestions for new initiatives they would like to see added to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s existing Safe Schools Programme. CISOCA team members documented all feedback, reaffirming their ongoing commitment to centering student needs in ongoing youth mental health and safety work.

  • Diabetes is more than ‘just a little sugar’; UK-based advocate urges Jamaicans to take disease seriously

    Diabetes is more than ‘just a little sugar’; UK-based advocate urges Jamaicans to take disease seriously

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — As Jamaica grapples with a rapidly rising national diabetes prevalence, a prominent UK-based diabetes awareness advocate has called on both healthcare leaders and the general public to abandon the common dismissive attitude toward the condition and confront its growing public health threat head-on.

    Tony Kelly, who has managed his own diabetes diagnosis for over 20 years, traveled to Jamaica at the invitation of the Jamaica Medical Foundation (JMF) to headline a series of public health education forums kicking off at Mico University College. Addressing a crowd that included insurance industry leaders and public health stakeholders, Kelly pushed back against the widespread misperception that diabetes is a harmless condition often referred to casually as “just a little sugar”.

    Kelly emphasized that when left unmonitored and unmanaged, diabetes can trigger life-altering, fatal complications. These severe downstream outcomes include cardiovascular disease, permanent vision loss, end-stage kidney failure, and lower-limb amputations, outcomes he has avoided through decades of consistent clinical care and disciplined lifestyle adjustments. Drawing from his personal experience, Kelly shared that following his healthcare team’s guidance on medication, diet, and regular exercise has allowed him to live without major secondary health issues, a model he says all people living with diabetes can follow.

    To help the public catch the condition early when it is most manageable, Kelly outlined the four key early warning signs of undiagnosed diabetes, which he calls the “Four Ts”: persistent tiredness, more frequent urination than usual, unrelenting excessive thirst, and unexplained weight loss. Anyone experiencing these symptoms, he stressed, should seek immediate medical testing for diabetes. He added that individuals with a family history of the condition face elevated risk and should maintain extra vigilance around their blood sugar levels and overall health.

    A core pillar of Kelly’s message centered on proactive prevention through healthy daily habits. He noted that regular physical activity is non-negotiable for maintaining steady blood sugar, and encouraged Jamaicans to shift away from frequent fast-food consumption by prioritizing home-cooked, nutrient-dense meals. Most importantly, he urged all residents to get regular diabetes screenings, even if they do not display obvious symptoms, to catch the condition early before complications develop.

    Kelly’s outreach comes as new 2024 data paints a concerning picture of diabetes’ spread across Jamaica: approximately 12.5% of all Jamaican adults between the ages of 20 and 79 — equal to more than 235,000 people — currently live with diabetes. That marks a more than 40% jump in prevalence since 2017, a surge driven primarily by three modifiable risk factors: nutrient-poor diets, widespread physical inactivity, and rising obesity rates. Diabetes is already ranked among the leading causes of death in Jamaica, making the upward trend a critical public health emergency.

    The series of educational forums led by Kelly is a joint public health initiative organized by the JMF in partnership with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health & Wellness. The events are held as a tribute to the late Dr Winston “Winty” Davidson, the foundation’s former director who passed away two years ago and was a passionate champion for accessible public health education across the country. Following the opening forum in Kingston, the JMF hosted a second session at Manchester Parish Church Hall in Mandeville on May 14, with a third public event scheduled for May 29 at 8:00 a.m. at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay.

    During the opening launch at Mico University College, JMF Chairman Emeritus Dr Oliver Jones presented a special tribute to Dr Davidson’s widow, Dr Sonia Davidson. JMF Chairman Orville Johnson also publicly recognized the event’s supporters, naming main sponsor Guardian Life Ltd, as well as associate sponsors Cari-Med, the National Health Fund, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness for their ongoing commitment to the initiative.

  • Sagicor Group Jamaica delivers resilient Q1 performance amid global volatility

    Sagicor Group Jamaica delivers resilient Q1 performance amid global volatility

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – Leading Jamaican financial services conglomerate Sagicor Group Jamaica (SGJ) has announced solid first-quarter financial results for the three months ending March 2026, delivering a net profit of $2.01 billion attributable to its shareholders, even as it navigates persistent global market volatility and unexpected storm-related costs.

    Against a challenging macroeconomic backdrop defined by elevated geopolitical friction, persistent inflationary pressures, and widespread investor uncertainty driven largely by ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, SGJ’s performance outpaced many industry expectations, powered by robust growth across its insurance lines and steady expansion of its overall balance sheet. The firm did face one notable headwind during the quarter: an additional financial provision set aside to cover claims from Hurricane Melissa, which hit its short-term insurance segment and weighed on that division’s bottom line.

    Across both its long-term and short-term insurance divisions, SGJ recorded solid improvements in core insurance revenue, underscoring the strength of its sales pipeline through the first three months of the year. By the end of the quarter, the group reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.52 for stockholders, alongside a seven percent Return on Equity (ROE).

    Christopher Zacca, President and Chief Executive Officer of SGJ, emphasized that the Q1 2026 results speak to the inherent stability of the firm’s diversified business model. “Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and continued market uncertainty, our first quarter performance reflects the resilience of our diversified business model and the strength of our core operations,” Zacca said.

    He added: “While market conditions impacted investment valuations during the period, we continued to see robust insurance sales, strong banking activity, and disciplined execution across the Group. Importantly, we remain well capitalised and focused on delivering long-term value for our shareholders, clients and wider stakeholders.”

    Year-over-year, SGJ’s total insurance revenue climbed by $0.90 billion, a six percent increase that reflects strong new business uptake across both long- and short-term coverage lines. Net investment income hit $7.34 billion for the quarter, including substantial realised and unrealised investment gains, while fees and other operating revenue reached $4.59 billion, a gain driven largely by growing activity in the group’s commercial banking division.

    Breaking down results by segment, the Long-Term Insurance division – which offers products with contract terms exceeding one year and reports under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 17 framework – delivered a net profit of $2.08 billion for the quarter. The segment maintained strong double-digit revenue growth, benefiting from a $1.63 billion release of Contractual Service Margin (CSM) alongside $1.72 billion in new business CSM generated during the period. Insurance service results for the division came in at $1.53 billion, marking a clear improvement over the same period last year.

    For the Short-Term Insurance segment, which covers products with terms of less than one year and uses the Premium Allocation Approach (PAA) under IFRS 17, the division reported an increase in insurance revenue to $9.36 billion. However, that revenue growth was fully offset by $9.36 billion in higher reinsurance-net insurance expenses, which included the aforementioned Hurricane Melissa claims provisions. As a result, the short-term division closed the quarter with a modest net loss of $0.02 billion. Despite this, new business sales for group health and life products hit $0.20 billion, with most of that growth coming from the firm’s corporate client portfolio.

    SGJ’s Commercial Banking segment turned in a strong performance, posting a net profit of $0.83 billion. The division recorded healthy revenue growth, supported by higher net interest income and increased transaction volumes across its card payment business. The group’s total loan portfolio continued to expand, with $12.46 billion in new loans issued during the quarter, which contributed to a $0.56 billion increase in interest income. Deposits and other funding liabilities also grew by $8.65 billion over the three-month period, strengthening the division’s capital position.

    The group’s Investment Banking segment recorded a net profit of $0.12 billion for the quarter, with net investment income coming in at $1.12 billion. Results for the segment were affected by comparison to the prior year, when the division booked large one-off trading gains that inflated its 2025 Q1 results.

    Looking at the broader operating context, global economic conditions in Q1 2026 remained heavily influenced by geopolitical conflict, sticky inflation, and increased market volatility, most notably fallout from tensions in the Middle East. Rising energy costs, ongoing supply chain disruptions, and uncertainty across global equity markets combined to dampen broader investor sentiment during the quarter.

    On the local front, Jamaica continued its transition into the post-Hurricane Melissa reconstruction phase during the quarter, with utility services largely restored and domestic economic activity gradually improving. The Bank of Jamaica has maintained its policy focus on reining in inflation and preserving foreign exchange stability, while continuing to project moderate full-fiscal-year economic growth for the island nation.

    Zacca noted that even as the operating environment remains unpredictable, the company is optimistic about its trajectory and the resilience of the Jamaican economy. “While the operating environment remains dynamic, we are encouraged by the continued strength of our core businesses and the resilience of the Jamaican economy,” he said. “Our focus remains on disciplined risk management, operational efficiency, innovation, and creating sustainable long-term value. We believe the Group remains well positioned to navigate uncertainty while continuing to support our clients and communities.”

  • Redefining Men’s Wellness Conference & Award Ceremony to focus on men’s mental health

    Redefining Men’s Wellness Conference & Award Ceremony to focus on men’s mental health

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — On June 13, a transformative new initiative focused on reframing national conversations around men’s mental health, emotional wellness, and community leadership will debut in Kingston as the Redefining Men’s Wellness Conference & Award Ceremony. Hosted at the Hope Fellowship Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the event is the brainchild of author and veteran life coach Shareka Swaby, whose years of working directly with Jamaican men revealed a widespread, hidden crisis of unaddressed emotional distress.

    Swaby explained that the idea for the conference grew out of consistent patterns she encountered in her coaching practice. “Almost every man I work with tells me the same thing: that society tells men they are not allowed to feel or show vulnerability,” she said. These anecdotal observations, paired with ongoing public discourse and local media reporting that laid bare the systemic emotional and social barriers facing Jamaican men, reinforced the urgent need for a dedicated, judgment-free space where men could engage openly with their struggles.

    “When I looked at how little space we dedicate to this issue, paired with consistent media coverage of the declining state of men’s welfare across our country, I knew we had to create a place where men could not only learn about wellness, but also speak their truth without fear of judgment,” Swaby added.

    The one-day gathering will center on four core themes: emotional fitness, mental wellness, intentional leadership, and responsible fatherhood. The overarching mission is to encourage men to reach out for support without the shame and stigma that has long surrounded male vulnerability in Jamaican culture. A primary goal of the event is to close the gap between the cultural norm of emotional suppression and accessible, stigma-free emotional healing.

    Swaby notes, “We want to take men from the mindset of ‘it’s not safe for me to open up’ to the confidence of feeling comfortable booking an appointment with a therapist or wellness coach. We also aim to help men understand that unaddressed emotional instability doesn’t just destroy their own lives — it ripples out to damage the well-being of their partners, children, and entire families.”

    What began as a standalone conference has evolved into a joint venture with community organizer Thriecia Tyndale, who previously hosted annual Father’s Day recognition dinners and award ceremonies. The pairing was an immediate natural fit, Swaby says, combining educational programming with celebration of men’s positive contributions to families and communities.

    Beyond panel discussions and educational sessions, the event will close with an inclusive award ceremony that centers participation over prestige. Every man who attends the conference will receive a certificate of appreciation simply for showing up and engaging with the work, a choice Swaby says reflects the reality that taking the first step to prioritize wellness is one of the bravest actions a man can take in the current cultural climate.

    “Just showing up speaks volumes,” she said. “That alone is one of the biggest steps a man can take toward improving his overall well-being.”

    Special recognition tokens will also be distributed to fathers, uncles, brothers, and nephews to honor the critical roles they play in family and community life, while separate honors will go to men who have made outstanding contributions to Jamaican society across public and private sectors, particularly those with a track record of service to others.

    Expert keynote speakers with specialized backgrounds in men’s wellness and leadership development have been hand-selected to lead sessions, which will tackle provocative topics including Breaking the ‘Man Up’ Myth, Emotional Fitness for Modern Men, and Intentional Fatherhood.

    Mindful of the deep cultural sensitivities around men’s mental health across the Caribbean, organizers have taken intentional steps to cultivate a safe, comfortable space for participants. “This is a strictly male-centered environment,” Swaby explained. “As much as possible, both presenters and attendees will be men, with female organizers only serving in support roles as ushers and facilitators. We believe that educating men in a space by and for them first helps build that critical sense of safety that allows for open conversation.”

    Any form of ridicule or mockery of participants’ experiences is strictly prohibited, with zero tolerance for behavior that undermines the safe space ethos of the event.

    Looking beyond the one-day gathering, Swaby and the organizing team hope the conference acts as a catalyst for long-term cultural change in how Jamaican society approaches men’s mental health and emotional well-being. “As a society, we are losing too many men to this silent crisis, and when we lose men, we lose families and whole communities,” she said. “If you are a man who has ever felt frustrated, overwhelmed, exhausted, angry, or just fed up with carrying it all alone, this is the space for you on June 13.”

    Organizers envision the initiative growing into both an annual national event and a broader regional movement that expands access to men’s wellness resources across Jamaica and the entire Caribbean. “This is just the first step,” Swaby confirmed. “It is always intended to become a yearly gathering, and the foundation for a larger movement for men’s wellness across the region.”

    While sponsorship outreach is still ongoing, several major Jamaican institutions have already pledged their support: HEART Trust has confirmed its official attendance, and the Ministry of Health has contributed educational resources to advance the initiative’s mission. Organizers say they remain open to additional partnerships and sponsorships, both financial and in-kind.

    Ultimately, Swaby emphasizes that the conference’s mission extends far beyond a single day of events. “Jamaica has a tendency to pull off great one-off events that fizzle out quickly, but what we want to see is ongoing conversation and sustained change,” she explained. “We intend to keep this work going with more programming and resources down the line, and we welcome all stakeholders and participants to join us on this journey.”

  • KC defend Under-16 ISSA cricket title

    KC defend Under-16 ISSA cricket title

    In a commanding display of cricketing skill at Chedwin Park on Thursday, Kingston College (KC) etched its name into local youth cricket history by successfully defending its ISSA Under-16 Championship crown, securing a decisive 58-run victory over a determined St Jago side. The match, ultimately, will be remembered for one player’s career-defining all-round performance that turned a competitive contest into a runaway win for the defending champions.

    KC won the pre-match coin toss and opted to set a target batting first, a decision that looked questionable through much of their innings. By the time they were bowled out in the 48th over, KC had posted a modest total of 135 runs. It was all-rounder Rajae McGeachy, opening the batting for KC, who anchored the innings to a competitive score, finishing as the match’s top batsman for KC with 28 runs off 33 deliveries, including three well-placed fours. Ajani Bond, coming in at the number seven batting position, contributed a valuable 18 runs with three fours, while Kyrie Rhone chipped in with 15 runs to push KC past the 130-run mark. For St Jago, seamer Dominic Hinds turned in an excellent bowling performance of his own, claiming four wickets while conceding just 21 runs across his 10.4 overs to help restrict the defending champions to a chaseable total.

    St Jago entered their run chase confident, needing only 136 runs to claim the title. But McGeachy, already having shone with the bat, produced a bowling spell for the history books that dismantled St Jago’s batting line-up entirely. St Jago collapsed all out for just 77 runs, handing KC the 58-run win. The only bright spot for St Jago was a resilient 33 runs from number four batsman Wayne Plummer, who hit four fours and one six to top all scorers in the match and kept St Jago in the contest for much of the innings.

    Once McGeachy bowled Plummer, however, the St Jago innings unraveled rapidly. The most iconic moment of the match came when McGeachy claimed a stunning hat-trick that all but sealed the title. With St Jago at 35 runs for 4 wickets, McGeachy bowled Rajiv Bacchus for a single run, followed by back-to-back wickets with his next two deliveries, clean-bowling Winaldo Faulknor and Naquane Johnson for ducks, dropping St Jago to 35 runs for 6 wickets. Plummer would eventually be the eighth wicket to fall, with the St Jago total at 77. McGeachy finished the rout by taking the final two wickets: he trapped Rajani Hinds leg before wicket for a duck, then clean-bowled Caja Burnett also for zero to end the innings at 77 all out. McGeachy finished with the incredible bowling figures of 7 wickets for just 26 runs, paired with his top-scoring 28 runs with the bat to cement his role as the undeniable hero of KC’s title defense.

  • Potential US hantavirus case tests negative

    Potential US hantavirus case tests negative

    In an update on the potential hantavirus exposure linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, public health officials confirmed Thursday that a passenger who initially returned an inconclusive “mildly positive” test result for the rare pathogen has now tested negative on two separate gold-standard assays.

    The patient, who never developed symptoms of hantavirus infection, was first placed in a specialized biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) after the initial unclear result. As of Thursday, both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which detects viral genetic material, and serology testing, which identifies antibody responses to the virus, came back negative, UNMC media coordinator Kayla Thomas told AFP. The former asymptomatic patient has since been moved to a general quarantine unit at the facility, which is purpose-built to monitor people exposed to high-risk infectious diseases.

    UNMC is currently monitoring 15 other asymptomatic MV Hondius passengers, all of whom remain under observation. Two additional people connected to the cruise, one of whom experienced potential hantavirus symptoms before returning a negative test result, are being monitored at Emory University Hospital in Georgia. All told, 18 passengers from the vessel are under clinical supervision in the two states, part of a larger group of 41 people across the United States being tracked by federal and local health authorities following possible exposure to Andes hantavirus, the only strain of the pathogen confirmed to spread between humans.

    The remaining 23 people under monitoring include passengers who disembarked the MV Hondius and returned to their homes before the outbreak was detected, as well as air travelers who may have been exposed to infected individuals during commercial flights. The Kansas Department of Health also announced Thursday that three people who had high-risk close contact with a confirmed hantavirus case have been admitted to a University of Kansas hospital for observation, though the agency has not released further details on their conditions.

    David Fitter, incident manager for hantavirus response at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outlined strict protocols for all monitored individuals during a press briefing Thursday. “Everyone under monitoring stay at home and avoid being around people during the 42-day monitoring period. We emphasise not to travel across all these groups,” Fitter said, referring to the maximum incubation period for the virus.

    Throughout the response, public health authorities have repeatedly stressed that the broader risk of widespread community transmission to the general American public remains low. As of the latest update, the global death toll linked to this hantavirus outbreak stands at three.

  • Monkeys on the loose: What could it mean for Jamaica?

    Monkeys on the loose: What could it mean for Jamaica?

    Jamaica is facing a growing ecological and public health threat after recent online sightings of non-native white-faced capuchin monkeys, which wildlife and environmental authorities warn could wreak havoc on the island’s agriculture, native biodiversity, and community health if the feral population becomes established. The alert comes after unconfirmed videos of the monkeys, which are not indigenous to the Caribbean island, circulated widely across social media platforms, prompting government agencies and conservation groups to launch a public reporting effort to track the wild animals.

    According to Damion Whyte, a leading terrestrial biologist based in Jamaica, the capuchins are almost certainly victims of the booming illegal exotic pet trade that has taken root on social media. The island’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has confirmed that the animals were likely smuggled into the country through unregulated channels, bypassing the strict biosecurity screenings required for all legally imported animals.

    This unregulated entry creates severe disease risks for humans, domestic animals, livestock, and native wildlife, experts emphasize. Unlike legally imported animals, which undergo rigorous health testing to prevent the introduction of foreign pathogens, smuggled monkeys can carry a range of harmful, previously unseen diseases, including rabies, which is not currently present in Jamaica. Even a single parasite, such as an unchecked tick carried by a smuggled monkey, could trigger devastating outbreaks that damage agricultural production and threaten public health. A simple scratch from an infected animal, Whyte notes, is enough to transmit a dangerous illness to a human, while unrecognized pathogens could also jump to native species with no natural immunity, with unknown long-term consequences.

    Beyond public health risks, the introduction of invasive capuchin monkeys threatens Jamaica’s already fragile unique ecosystems. Non-native primates are known to raid native bird nests, outcompete endemic species for limited food and habitat resources, and disrupt delicate ecological balances that support the island’s one-of-a-kind biodiversity found nowhere else on Earth. NEPA has stressed that this invasive species poses an existential threat to many of Jamaica’s vulnerable native plants and animals.

    To illustrate the scale of the potential long-term crisis, experts point to two well-documented cases of invasive monkey populations causing widespread harm. Over 350 years ago, green monkeys were introduced to the neighboring Eastern Caribbean island of Barbados from West Africa. The population has grown exponentially over generations, and the primates are now classified as major agricultural pests that destroy cash crops and smallholder produce annually. Half a world away in Nepal, regional authorities recently took the extraordinary step of declaring a public holiday to organize a mass monkey culling and displacement campaign, after exploding feral monkey populations destroyed hundreds of acres of farmland and left farmers facing devastating financial losses.

    Whyte attributes the rise in smuggling of exotic primates to a dangerous social media-fueled trend that frames exotic wild animals as luxury status symbols. Many social media users now acquire animals like capuchin monkeys to populate private “exotic zoos” and gain viral attention, likes, and virtual gifts on live streaming platforms, without considering the far-reaching public and ecological consequences of their actions. The trade is not one-way: Whyte adds that native Jamaican species, including endemic parrots, snakes, and crocodiles, are also exploited on social media, where creators display the animals to drive engagement and profit.

    Under current Jamaican legislation, the illegal importation, possession, and trade of unapproved wildlife carries penalties of up to JMD $2 million under the Endangered Species (Protection, Conservation and Regulation of Trade) Act. NEPA and local conservation groups have issued a clear warning to Jamaicans: do not approach, feed, chase, or attempt to capture any sighted capuchin monkeys. Instead, authorities are urging the public to report any potential sightings immediately to allow response teams to locate and remove the invasive animals before they can establish a breeding population in the wild.