Carib Scope

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  • World Cup fever grips Corporate Area

    World Cup fever grips Corporate Area

    Across Jamaica’s Corporate Area, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has ignited a nationwide wave of football passion, transforming ordinary public spaces into packed hubs of excitement where the roar of cheering fans, the clink of beer mugs, and a sea of national team jerseys from across the globe have become the new norm. As the tournament enters its most anticipated phases, local hospitality and entertainment venues have opened their doors to hundreds of avid supporters, who gather to share the thrill of every match alongside like-minded fans. With dozens of successful watch parties already held in the opening weeks of the competition, event organizers across the country confirm that crowd sizes and energy levels are only set to rise as the tournament progresses toward its final stages.

    One of the most popular gathering spots for fans is Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records (UBT&R), where thousands of football enthusiasts have already turned out to catch the tournament’s biggest headline match-ups. Jizelle Cowan, Marketing Manager at UBT&R, noted that the venue has lived up to its reputation for delivering premium sporting viewing experiences, with nonstop energy from kickoff to the final whistle. “Our patrons have come to expect top-tier event experiences for every major sport we host, and this World Cup has been no exception,” Cowan explained. She highlighted that Brazil’s opening group stage match drew an especially large, passionate crowd, with an electric atmosphere that captured the unrivaled excitement that only a World Cup can bring. “We saw a fantastic turnout for the Brazil fixture on Saturday, and we’re only expecting crowds to grow as knockout rounds approach,” Cowan added. “We’re committed to airing every high-demand match, so we encourage patrons to follow our social media channels for the latest schedule updates.”

    To elevate the match-day experience for visitors, UBT&R has launched a full slate of World Cup-exclusive promotions and offerings. Fans can purchase custom branded beer mugs, take advantage of discounted drink bucket specials, and enter prize giveaways through a partnership with leading local brewery Red Stripe. The venue has also rolled out a new limited-edition food menu, headlined by a signature sharing platter inspired by the World Cup’s three host nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

    For fans seeking a one-of-a-kind open-air viewing experience, Caymanas Park—home to Jamaica’s largest outdoor screen—has been converted into a sprawling World Cup tailgate destination by Supreme Ventures Limited. Chloleen Daley-Muschett, Assistant Vice-President of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs at Supreme Ventures Limited, explained what sets the venue’s watch party series apart from other offerings across the island. “Our tailgate format gives fans full control over their experience,” Daley-Muschett shared. “You can drive right into the infield with your group, set up your own chairs, and bring your preferred food and drinks to enjoy while you watch the match on our massive screen.” For visitors who prefer not to bring their own refreshments, the venue has partnered with local vendors including Wisynco, Rum-Bar, and Kingston Jerk to keep a wide range of food and drink options available throughout every event.

    To keep energy high beyond 90 minutes of football, organizers have added extra entertainment elements that run before kickoff, during match breaks, and after the final whistle. “We have live music running throughout the entire event, from pre-game build-up to post-match wrap-up,” Daley-Muschett told the Jamaica Observer. “After our opening Brazil match, the vibe was so good that crowds lingered for hours after the final whistle, playing dominoes and keeping the celebration going.”

    The World Cup buzz extends far beyond these major venues, with popular spots across Jamaica—including 100, Island Vibes, Summit, Lucky Play Lottery Store, and Timber Lounge in Portmore—drawing consistent crowds of fans eager to cheer on their favorite teams in lively, communal settings. Even small community bars and local chill spots have reported steady, decent turnout throughout the tournament so far. Adding a new twist to the viewing experience, Palace Amusement has also joined the 2026 World Cup frenzy, screening selected high-profile matches at its Carib 5 and Sunshine Palace cinema locations.

    With the group stage already delivering a string of unexpected, memorable moments and the high-stakes knockout rounds still on the horizon, organizers across Jamaica are gearing up for even larger crowds, bigger celebrations, and more unforgettable nights of world-class football as the tournament unfolds.

  • SCOTIA’S $54-B EXIT PROBLEM

    SCOTIA’S $54-B EXIT PROBLEM

    A proposed privatization of one of the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) most prominent blue-chip companies is set to deliver a massive $54 billion cash windfall to Jamaican minority investors, but market analysts warn that filling the gap the banking giant would leave in portfolios and the broader exchange will be a far bigger challenge than deploying the new capital.

    Scotiabank Caribbean Holdings Limited, which already controls a 71.78% majority stake in Scotia Group Jamaica Limited, has tabled a $61.50 per share offer to buy out all outstanding minority shares to take the dividend-paying banking group private. Based on the more than 878 million outstanding minority-held shares, the total payout to diverse stakeholders — from large institutional investors like pension funds and unit trusts to retail individual shareholders — would hit an estimated $54 billion.

    Following the announcement, Scotia’s stock climbed 1.4% or 82 cents to close at $59.40 on Tuesday, still trading $2.10 below the proposed buyout price, putting the company’s total market valuation at roughly $184.8 billion. If the transaction wins approval from minority shareholders and Jamaica’s Supreme Court, Scotia will be delisted, removing one of the JSE’s largest and most liquid domestic financial stocks from an exchange that already has a limited pool of sizable, tradeable companies capable of absorbing large institutional investments.

    Industry leaders say the flood of cash from the buyout is unlikely to be reinvested in a single replacement asset, with allocation varying based on individual investor mandates, risk tolerances and prevailing market returns. Richardo Williams, senior vice-president for asset management and head of Barita Fund Managers, explained that while the JSE may appear to have sufficient listed equities on paper, practical constraints narrow the options for large funds dramatically.

    “The binding constraint is less likely to be the existence of listed equities and more likely to be investable capacity under investment mandate and risk limits,” Williams shared in emailed responses to *Jamaica Observer*, noting that regulatory and internal rules bar large funds from concentrating too much capital in a single company or industry. Funds also need enough publicly traded shares to absorb large investments without triggering sharp price spikes, meaning many existing listed Jamaican companies are too small, too thinly traded, or already overrepresented in institutional portfolios to replace Scotia’s capacity.

    The core challenge, Williams emphasized, is replicating Scotia’s unique value proposition for most investors rather than just finding a single replacement stock. For decades, Scotia delivered a rare combination of consistent dividend income, solid exposure to Jamaica’s financial sector, a proven track record of profitability, and enough trading liquidity to accommodate large position entries and exits. Recreating that balance will require investors to spread their $54 billion in proceeds across multiple stocks, bonds and alternative assets.

    The bank’s most recent financial performance underscores its strength: it reported $10.1 billion in net income for the six months ending April 30, up from $9.2 billion in the same period a year prior, and its board recently approved a second interim dividend of 45 cents per share.

    Davie Martin, general manager for trading and treasury at JMMB Group, echoed the concern that Scotia’s departure will shrink viable options for investors prioritizing liquidity and regular dividend income. Last year, roughly 26.4 million Scotia shares traded hands, compared to 117 million for NCB Financial Group and 19.6 million for Sagicor Group Jamaica. Data shows that the top 10 shareholders of Scotia control more than 82% of the company, with most non-controlling stakes held by long-term holders like pension funds, leaving only a small portion of shares actively available for trading at any given time.

    “If the deal goes through, then minority shareholders will have to seek appropriate alternative investment options, which could be difficult, especially in the sizes required by institutional investors,” Martin told *Business Observer*.

    If a large share of the buyout proceeds stays within Jamaican equities, Williams warned, it could create upward price pressure on the small pool of remaining large-cap blue-chip stocks, increasing portfolio concentration in a handful of companies and pushing down dividend yields for new buyers unless those companies raise their payouts. Martin added that the current market environment of higher interest rates, global economic uncertainty, and muted domestic equity valuations has already pushed many investors toward fixed-income assets like government and corporate bonds, meaning a portion of the Scotia windfall is likely to flow into assets outside the domestic stock market rather than back into JSE listings.

    The proposed delisting also raises a broader question about the JSE’s ability to replace major listed companies when they exit. Based on current market values, Scotia accounts for roughly 10% of the JSE Main Market’s total capitalization, meaning its exit would remove one-tenth of the market’s value if other prices hold steady. Over the past decade, 12 companies have been delisted from the JSE with a combined pre-delisting market valuation of roughly $123.67 billion — nearly 50% less than Scotia’s current $184.8 billion valuation. While the exchange added 16 new Main Market listings over that same period, none have approached Scotia’s size, liquidity and market role. Martin noted that based on the past two years of listing activity, a direct replacement of Scotia’s scale is unlikely to come to the JSE quickly.

    In explaining the rationale for the deal, Scotiabank said taking the company private will boost capital and operational efficiency, allowing the group to respond faster to market opportunities, with no material changes to Scotia’s ongoing day-to-day operations in Jamaica. Martin noted that privatization deals typically follow similar logic: majority owners benefit from reduced public reporting requirements and greater flexibility to make long-term strategic decisions, and often move to buy out minority stakes when they believe the public market is undervaluing the business.

    This rationale mirrors the 2018 privatization and delisting of Cable & Wireless Jamaica, where the controlling owner cited low trading volumes, reduced administrative and compliance burdens, and simplified group structure as core justifications for the buyout. While Scotia’s deal has a different structure, the underlying logic of full integration over retaining a public minority listing aligns with prior Jamaican privatization transactions.

    Since the buyout announcement, Scotia shares have climbed steadily: jumping 7.78% or $4.22 to $58.43 the Friday after the announcement, adding 15 cents on Monday, and rising a further 82 cents to close at $59.40 on Tuesday. Williams advised shareholders to wait for full transaction documents and independent valuations to assess the fairness of the $61.50 offer against Scotia’s historical performance, balance sheet value, future growth prospects and dividend track record. Beyond valuation, he added, shareholders must weigh the certainty of an immediate cash payout against the potential long-term gains of retaining an ownership stake in the business.

    With regulatory and shareholder approvals still pending, the immediate debate centers on whether the offer fairly values Scotia’s shares. For Jamaica’s national stock market, however, the bigger, longer-term question is what will fill the gap left by one of its most important listed companies, if any replacement can be found at all.

  • Records back Chai Chong

    Records back Chai Chong

    A critical turning point has emerged in the ongoing scrutiny of the chief executive officer recruitment process at Jamaica’s University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), with newly unearthed official records confirming the core claims made by former board chairman Wayne Chai Chong, bolstering his public credibility this Tuesday.

    The fresh set of documents, submitted to Jamaica’s Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), upends the narrative presented just two weeks prior. During that earlier session, committee members were informed that institutional officials could only locate two short paragraphs of documentation related to the 2023 recruitment effort, tucked away in a July 2023 board meeting minute entry. That lack of paper trail triggered sharp skepticism from lawmakers, who questioned how a high-stakes senior leadership hiring could leave so little formal evidence.

    Chai Chong first testified before the committee back in May, where he consistently maintained that the UHWI board had carried out a full, formal recruitment process before settling on a preferred candidate for the top executive role. His account was called into question earlier this month, however, when acting UHWI CEO Eric Hosin told the PAC on June 2 that institutional staff could not find any records proving the board had formally approved, rejected, or altered the candidate selection. That testimony left lawmakers deeply concerned about potential procedural gaps.

    Tuesday’s document submission completely reshapes the conversation. PAC Chairman Julian Robinson read a research department summary of the newly found records into the official parliamentary record, revealing the materials include full board correspondence, formal meeting minutes, and a complete recruitment report prepared by Great People Solutions, the external consultant hired to lead the hiring effort.

    Per the summary, the UHWI board first authorized the CEO recruitment process back on December 14, 2022, when it voted to task its joint human resource and customer service subcommittee with leading the search. The board then moved to contract Great People Solutions to manage the candidate search and deliver a shortlist of recommendations to the panel.

    The documents show that by August 2023, the search process had produced a clear top candidate. To move forward with contract negotiations, directors held a formal round-robin vote to ratify the subcommittee’s recommendation. Records also confirm that while some board members raised questions about the timeline of the process and the level of scrutiny applied to candidates, those concerns were fully discussed and resolved before the vote, with a majority of directors supporting the move to begin negotiations.

    Robinson’s reading also included a key note that the human resource subcommittee intentionally structured the entire process to align with Jamaican government procurement and hiring protocols, ensuring all steps were properly documented to withstand external audit and public scrutiny.

    Beyond the recruitment itself, the consultant’s report also included broader institutional recommendations, including addressing what Great People Solutions described as an organizational culture of non-compliance with protocols, overhauling the CEO’s official job description, reducing the broad scope of responsibilities attached to the role, and implementing a more market-aligned compensation framework for senior leadership.

    After reviewing the newly submitted records, opposition MP Peter Bunting, who represents Manchester Southern, told the committee the materials create a starkly different impression from the previous hearing. “A quick scan of it paints a completely different picture from what we were led to believe at the last meeting, like the chairman was on a frolic of his own, and that what he had presented to the committee meeting before was not accurate,” Bunting explained. He also raised questions about why such a large volume of official records was missed during the initial search for recruitment-related documents, when the committee first requested the materials.

    PAC Chairman Julian Robinson echoed those questions, while also noting that the newly discovered records align perfectly with the testimony Chai Chong gave during his earlier appearance. Robinson concluded that the documents leave no room for doubt about the accuracy of Chai Chong’s account. “There’s no question that a detailed process was followed by the board at the time in dealing with the recruitment of a then CEO of the institution,” Robinson said. “I think it is important for the record of the meeting — and certainly I know for the former chairman — that this be placed on the record so that there is no question about the accuracy of his representation to the committee when he was here. I think this fully supports his testimony here before the committee.”

  • Golding wants diaspora members on public boards

    Golding wants diaspora members on public boards

    MONTEGO BAY, St James — Addressing hundreds of delegates gathered at the Montego Bay Convention Centre for the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Mark Golding has put forward a bold proposal to expand opportunities for Jamaican community members living abroad to contribute directly to national governance by securing appointments to the country’s more than 100 public boards. He argued that tapping into the Diaspora’s deep professional expertise and enduring commitment to Jamaica would deliver tangible improvements to the quality of public administration and state governance, adding that the policy change does not require new legislative action to be implemented.

    This year’s conference, which carries the theme “Diaspora Partnerships: Re-Building a More Climate-Resilient Jamaica”, marks a key milestone for an event that first launched in 2004. Golding praised the conference’s steady growth over two decades, noting it has evolved from a small gathering into a flagship global forum that unites Jamaicans from every corner of the world to exchange insights, collaborate on development initiatives, and strengthen ties between the island nation and its overseas community. He also paid special tribute to former Senator Delano Franklin, whose early work was instrumental in establishing the biennial conference tradition.

    Golding emphasized that the Jamaican Diaspora stands as one of the country’s most valuable national assets. “Jamaica and the Jamaican family, we are a global people,” he told attendees, noting that the global community of Jamaican expats and descendants holds a vast reservoir of professional talent, financial resources, and deep emotional connection to the island, affectionately referred to by many as “yaad”.

    Beyond cultural and social ties, Golding highlighted the Diaspora’s outsized economic and social impact on Jamaica. As the nation’s single largest source of foreign exchange earnings, the Diaspora acts as a lifeline for millions of households across the island, he explained. “You are, de facto, the most important social safety net that keeps Jamaica and Jamaican society on an even keel,” Golding said.

    Beyond his proposal for expanded public board participation, Golding used the high-profile platform to pressure the Jamaican government to urgently prioritize post-disaster recovery in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 storm that made landfall on the island on October 28, 2025. Months after the storm made landfall, Golding noted that communities across the country are still grappling with the aftermath of the devastation. He cited widespread reports of persistent hardship, including elevated student absenteeism in affected regions, businesses still struggling to rebuild, and hundreds of families remaining displaced and living under temporary tarpaulin shelters in parishes including Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Hanover, southern St James, Trelawny and sections of St Ann.

    “Our priorities must be to restore the lives and livelihoods of those who are still suffering from that hurricane,” Golding stated. He called on the National Recovery and Reconstruction Authority (NaRRA) and all relevant government agencies to speed up the delivery of disaster assistance to impacted communities. “Prioritise the restoration of broken lives. Let these people get back on their feet so they can make their contribution to national development,” he added.

  • No deportee flood

    No deportee flood

    MONTEGO BAY, St James — At the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Tuesday, Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace Dr. Horace Chang publicly refuted widespread circulating claims that the Caribbean nation is in negotiations to receive as many as 10,000 deportees from the United States, while offering clear, detailed clarification on the limited third-country national processing arrangement currently under discussion.

    The false report, first published in local outlet *The Gleaner*, sparked widespread public and diaspora concern, with many fearing that thousands of non-Jamaican individuals convicted of crimes in the US would be relocated permanently to Jamaican territory. During an open question-and-answer session, conference attendee Clive Saunders pressed Chang for clarity, asking both to confirm or deny the rumor and outline any national benefits or potential public safety risks of the proposed arrangement, as well as whether a larger-scale transfer could be considered in the future.

    Addressing the crowd directly, Chang first rejected the 10,000-deportee claim outright. “The report is false. There are no intentions to bring 10,000 illegal immigrants from the United States,” he stated. He confirmed that ongoing talks center on Jamaica’s participation in a regional Third-Country Nationals (TCN) agreement, developed in partnership with the United Nations International Organization for Migration, which facilitates temporary transitional processing of irregular migrants intercepted by the US before they are repatriated to their countries of origin.

    Chang emphasized that the scale of the arrangement would be extremely small and tightly controlled. Under the proposed terms, no more than 25 third-country nationals will be present in Jamaica for processing at any given time, with total arrivals capped at fewer than 50 individuals per two-week period. The minister explained that the US has already secured similar preliminary agreements with multiple other regional nations, including Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, St Kitts and Antigua, as part of a broader strategy to manage irregular migration flows toward North America.

    To further allay public anxiety, Chang outlined strict safeguards built into the draft memorandum of understanding (MOU). If any individual staying in Jamaica for processing chooses to apply for asylum under international law and elects to stay on the island, the entire program will be immediately halted. The arrangement also explicitly bars the transfer of any individual with a criminal record, and the United States will cover 100% of all operational costs associated with the program, removing any financial burden from Jamaican taxpayers.

    In a formal press release issued later the same day, Chang reinforced that Jamaica’s national sovereignty remains fully protected throughout negotiations, and the government has not neglected its core responsibility to protect the interests of Jamaican citizens. “We were clear about our national interests and relied on our experience over many years in managing international migration matters to inform our position throughout the negotiations,” the release noted.

    Chang added that the draft document is a non-binding MOU, not a formal treaty, and will not take effect until all pre-implementation requirements — including the finalization of detailed operational guidelines and safety protocols — are completed. The arrangement does not create any automatic obligation for Jamaica to accept any individual, and both the Jamaican and US governments retain the right to terminate the agreement at any time. No transfers will begin until both parties have signed off on all required operational procedures. The government has committed to sharing regular public updates as negotiations progress.

  • MAGNIFIQUE!

    MAGNIFIQUE!

    East Rutherford, United States – In a landmark opening Group I FIFA World Cup fixture at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, French captain Kylian Mbappe cemented his place in his nation’s football history, striking twice to secure a 3-1 victory over Senegal and overtake Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading international goalscorer. The Real Madrid superstar now boasts an impressive 58 goals from 99 caps for Les Bleus, a milestone that earned glowing praise from head coach Didier Deschamps in the post-match press conference.

    Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018, pushed back against ongoing criticism of the 24-year-old forward, framing him as a generational talent that can turn the tide of any match in a single moment. “There are still critics out there who question his impact, but make no mistake: he is an extraordinary player,” Deschamps told reporters. “Not every play went his way on Tuesday, but we all know he can win a game out of nothing with one flash of brilliance. As captain, he contributes so much to this squad both on and off the pitch, despite unfair claims that he is selfish.”

    The match got off to a rocky start for the two-time World Cup champions, who looked disjointed and unconvincing in the first half. Deschamps admitted his side wasted multiple promising opportunities and were fortunate to go into the break level, avoiding falling behind against a sharp, well-organized Senegal side. A tactical shift early in the second half turned the tide of the game, when Deschamps moved Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise from the right flank into a central midfield role.

    The adjustment immediately unlocked France’s attacking threat, with Olise’s close control and incisive passing linking the midfield to the front line far more effectively. “The second half was a massive improvement after that switch,” Deschamps explained. “Michael tied our entire attack together. The more he gets on the ball, the more dangerous we become, because he consistently finds our strikers in dangerous positions.”

    It was Mbappe who broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, slotting home the opening goal to put France ahead. Young winger Bradley Barcola extended Les Bleus’ lead just minutes later, before Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back to keep the African side in the game. Mbappe put the result beyond doubt late in the match with his second, sealing the 3-1 win and writing his name into the French record books.

    Deschamps noted that the milestone carries extra weight for Mbappe, who had failed to find the net in France’s pre-tournament warm-up friendlies. “I’m genuinely so happy for him. Breaking the record at a World Cup makes this achievement even more special, it has far greater impact than it would anywhere else,” the coach said.

    Deschamps had previously warned his squad against complacency coming into the match against Senegal, a test he always expected to be demanding. With three points on the board in their opening fixture, France now enter their remaining Group I matches against Iraq and Norway in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage. “Getting that first win against a very good Senegal side was huge for us,” Deschamps added. “We had our difficulties, we were wasteful at times, but three points is what matters, and that first win was critical given how competitive our group is. We’re all looking forward to what comes next.”

    France will face their next group stage opponent Iraq in Philadelphia next Monday, as they continue their bid for a third World Cup title.

  • $200 JOKE

    $200 JOKE

    A high-profile standoff between Jamaica’s parliamentary oversight body and a top public hospital chief has thrust long-dormant flaws in the island’s contempt of Parliament legislation into the national spotlight, after University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Chief Executive Officer Fitzgerald Mitchell failed to appear for a third summoned meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday.

    Mitchell’s repeated absence is tied to a months-long PAC probe into a damning Auditor General’s report that uncovered widespread systemic failures at the prominent public medical facility, including broken procurement protocols, gaping governance gaps, and inadequate record-keeping practices. Lawmakers had already extended multiple informal invitations to Mitchell to answer questions about the irregularities outlined in the audit before issuing a formal summons, making his unexcused no-show on Tuesday an unprecedented break from protocol. To date, neither Mitchell nor his legal representation have submitted any correspondence to the committee explaining his failure to attend.

    “It is very concerning that a public official who is in a position of authority – having been invited, first [to have] not responded, [then] having been summoned, [there was] no response either from himself nor his lawyer — is in contempt and in breach of the Parliament,” PAC Chairman Julian Robinson told members during Tuesday’s sitting at Gordon House. Robinson added that the committee had exhausted all reasonable alternative avenues to secure Mitchell’s voluntary attendance prior to moving forward with a formal summons, making his conduct particularly alarming.

    Following Mitchell’s latest absence, the PAC voted unanimously to advance the matter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, officially requesting that the case proceed under the existing Senate and House of Representatives Powers and Privileges Act. During the meeting, Senior Legislative Counsel Tiffany Stewart walked committee members through the current legal framework for addressing contempt of Parliament, and her confirmation of the law’s outdated penalties immediately sparked a wider debate about the urgent need for legislative reform.

    Stewart confirmed that all procedural requirements for serving the summons to Mitchell had been fully met, and that his failure to comply legally qualifies as contempt of Parliament. But she also emphasized that the current legislation is woefully outdated, calling for a full comprehensive review led by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Law Reform Department, and the Office of the Parliamentary Council. Stewart specifically recommended amending Section 18 of the Act to strengthen penalties and expand available sanctions, a change she framed as critical to upholding public accountability for Jamaican public officials.

    Under the 70-plus-year-old existing law, the maximum penalty for a conviction of contempt of Parliament is a fine of just $200, with a maximum 12-month prison sentence as an alternative for those who fail to pay the fine. For Robinson, this weak penalty scheme exposes a fundamental vulnerability in Parliament’s ability to compel compliance from public officials, threatening to erode the legislative body’s constitutionally mandated oversight role.

    “It can’t be that a committee designed to ensure accountability, transparency, and good governance will have its work subverted simply because a public officer refuses to appear before it,” Robinson said. He noted that Mitchell’s refusal to cooperate stands in stark contrast to the full cooperation the committee has received from other senior UHWI officials tied to the audit, including former CEO Kevin Allen and former board Chairman Wayne Chai Chong, both of whom appeared voluntarily to answer questions about the audit’s findings.

    Opposition MP for Manchester Southern Peter Bunting described Mitchell’s actions as a deliberate affront to parliamentary authority, arguing that the committee must pursue contempt proceedings even with the current limited penalties available. “This behaviour of the CEO is outrageous and unacceptable. It is contemptuous of Parliament’s role in giving oversight to the executive and it cannot be allowed to stand or we’re just wasting our time coming here to attend PAC and other standing committee meetings,” Bunting said. While he acknowledged that a $200 fine amounts to little more than a minor nuisance for a senior public official, Bunting argued that securing a contempt conviction remains a critical step to register the committee’s formal disapproval and set a precedent for future cases.

    “The litany of mismanagement that we have read in the Auditor General’s report and for this level of contempt to be offered to this committee is just plain unacceptable. While the $200 may be a nuisance… I still think we should go through with the conviction for contempt. At least let that be on the person’s record if that is the only thing to signal to the public that this committee is completely dissatisfied and we find this behaviour absolutely unacceptable,” Bunting added.

    Veteran PAC member Lothan Cousins, the Opposition MP for Clarendon South Western, echoed Bunting’s criticism, noting that Mitchell’s repeated unexcused absences are unprecedented during his years of service on the committee. “We’re speaking about a CEO serving the hospital and receiving compensation. We are dealing with serious matters that need interrogation and it’s not only about criticism but we are here to assist as well, as you have seen over the last couple of weeks… This is most unacceptable and I sincerely hope that the minister is looking on, the board is taking note and that serious disciplinary action must be taken as it relates to this particular individual and the office that he holds,” Cousins said.

    Responding to the committee’s frustration, Errol Greene, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Wellness, noted that the formal authority to discipline Mitchell rests with the UHWI board of directors. He nonetheless pledged to formally escalate the committee’s concerns to the board immediately following the meeting. “What I can assure you is that I will be writing as soon as I leave here to the chairman of the board to express the concerns and the angst of the PAC, and to ask that due diligence be done and whatever disciplinary actions can be taken by the board of directors of the University Hospital of the West Indies after they do their due diligence that that be done. That’s what I’m committing to do,” Greene said.

    The PAC’s ongoing investigation was launched in response to the Auditor General’s 2024 report, which detailed significant operational and governance failures at UHWI, one of Jamaica’s leading public teaching hospitals. Over the past several weeks, the committee has interviewed a string of current and former senior UHWI officials, aiming to pinpoint the root causes of the irregularities and assign accountability for the documented mismanagement.

  • Food in every fashion

    Food in every fashion

    Last Wednesday, Jamaica’s Terra Nova All Suite Hotel became a hub for culinary innovation and cultural celebration, as emerging young food enthusiasts and seasoned industry leaders gathered for the 2026 Foodie Seminar. Held under the evocative theme “Unbreakable Spirit”, the full-day event featured expert-led panel discussions spanning critical topics from food safety and national food security to small business resilience, artisanal confectionery craft, and the future of Jamaica’s booming culinary sector. The seminar serves as a lead-up to the 27th Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards, the island’s most prestigious annual celebration of culinary excellence, bringing together a diverse roster of 9 expert panellists from across the industry and non-profit space.

    Opening the seminar, veteran food regulatory inspector Allison Richards centered the conversation on one of Jamaica’s most pressing industry challenges: long-term food security. During her presentation, she challenged attendees and the broader public to question whether the island can truly achieve the capacity to feed its own population. Breaking down the four core pillars of food sustainability—availability, access, utilisation, and stability—Richards urged Jamaicans to align their local actions with the 2026 World Food Safety Day theme, “From burden to solution – safe food everywhere”. In a call to action that resonated across the room, she asked: “If every household grew just one thing, what do you think Jamaica would look like? Start with you.”

    Food security and the unbreakable spirit highlighted by the seminar’s theme took center stage in the conversation from Romario Creary and Adrian Wilson, co-founders of the fast-growing Soup King food brand. Just one week before the brand’s planned grand opening in 2025, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastated the island, triggering widespread fresh produce shortages and skyrocketing ingredient costs that threatened to sink their new venture. Rather than abandoning their dream, the pair persevered through the crisis, and this year celebrated the launch of their first permanent retail location. Wilson shared the brand’s unlikely origin story: back in 2015, he was operating a local car wash, and began serving homemade soup to waiting customers as a small weekend perk. Today, the car wash is gone, but the soup business has grown into a recognizable local brand. “Opportunity does not always come from creating something new; it can come from something that was always right in front of you,” Wilson told attendees. “Sometimes it comes from improving something very familiar.” Creary emphasized that passion for both product and community, paired with unwavering consistency, are the foundation of long-term success: “In order to innovate, you have to be consistent first…and then you will recognise avenues to innovate; those will come.”

    The conversation shifted to the intersection of food, community empowerment and mental wellbeing when Dr. Altreisha Foster, a former vaccine scientist who now owns boutique bakery Sugar Spoon Desserts, introduced her non-profit initiative “Cake Therapy”. The program provides a safe, supportive space for underprivileged young girls to build confidence and life direction through the art of baking. Foster explained that the initiative goes far beyond teaching baking skills: the kitchen acts as a metaphor for life, teaching participants to turn chaos into something meaningful, while offering a judgment-free space to create. “It is about human connection,” she said. “Food carries memories, it carries identity, it carries my culture.”

    Attendees left with overwhelmingly positive impressions of the day’s discussions. Shelly-Ann Brown and Garfield Allen, both employees of the National Certification Body of Jamaica, which certifies local food businesses, called the event exceeding expectations. “It definitely exceeded my expectations, the presentations were superb. The organisers should be lauded, and I think the presenters should be lauded,” Allen said. Brown echoed the praise, noting: “Having that interconnection, looking at building your own business and also social responsibility being included, it was just a beautiful connection…coming together just talking about food and how it is evolving, it was excellent.”

    Looking to the future of Jamaican culinary tourism and industry growth, Joseph Johnson, owner and CEO of popular Peckish restaurant, laid out his vision for downtown Kingston as the island’s next top culinary destination. Johnson argued that the area already has the foundational cultural and community infrastructure to grow into a world-class culinary hub, with an organic street food culture that mirrors the beloved open-air energy of Manhattan’s iconic street food scene. “What we are witnessing downtown is more than just restaurants. We don’t need to invent food culture downtown, we simply need to recognise it…downtown’s best days are ahead,” he predicted, outlining a vision of walkable streets lined with sidewalk cafes and open-air dining spots.

    Additional presentations covered the craft of Jamaica’s award-winning artisanal chocolate from panellist Nadine Burie, while industry leaders Suedi Ann Hamilton, Kishauna Armstrong, and Robyn Fox shared their own stories of resilience amid industry challenges. Throughout the day, attendees actively engaged with every panel, asking questions about accessing capital, building successful business partnerships, effective networking, and navigating day-to-day industry operations. Creary urged young emerging entrepreneurs not to rely solely on industry connections, stressing that self-belief and unwillingness to compromise on core values are far more critical: “It is very important, especially for younger persons, links are nice…but let me tell you, we can do it without that, we can do it [by] believing we can do it and don’t ever compromise yourself to [do] it. Hard work and exposure are key to the future of the culinary industry, through youth.” He also praised the Jamaica Observer for creating collaborative forums that lift up the next generation of culinary professionals.

    Jamaica Observer Managing Director Dominic Beaubrun, who attended the event with his son to expose the younger generation to industry opportunities, explained that the seminar was designed to highlight the full, complex ecosystem that supports the food Jamaicans enjoy every day. “We can’t really begin to pay homage to the level of service and effort and thought and ingenuity that goes into it, but here we are laying face to people and their experiences and stories, histories, successes, failures and learning, and all of that goes to inform and educate even more,” he said.

  • PM: Many Public Works Recruits Quit Because They ‘Don’t Want to Work’

    PM: Many Public Works Recruits Quit Because They ‘Don’t Want to Work’

    In a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne pushed back against opposition claims that the Antiguan government has laid off hundreds of workers hired through the Public Works Department’s employment initiative, reframing the narrative to center on widespread voluntary absenteeism instead.

    Addressing questions raised by Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle, Browne stressed that circulating reports of mass staff terminations do not reflect official government policy. The core issue, he told assembled lawmakers, is not mass layoffs but widespread reluctance among many hired workers to show up for their assigned shifts. “We have a problem. A number of them don’t want to work,” the prime minister stated plainly during the debate.

    The government-led employment program was specifically crafted to bring jobless Antiguans back into the workforce, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups and young people deemed at high risk of falling into criminal activity. Workers hired through the initiative were assigned a range of public-facing tasks, from routine road maintenance and roadside trash clearance to municipal beautification projects and repainting of state-owned public buildings. Browne emphasized that the administration deliberately reached out to these marginalized groups with the explicit goal of giving them a stable path to earning income. “We sought them out. We wanted to provide them an opportunity to work,” he added.

    According to Browne, consistent attendance has emerged as a major systemic challenge for the program. Some hired workers only show up for shifts occasionally, while others have abandoned their positions entirely without formal notice. He also alleged that a portion of participants attempted to hold down separate private employment while collecting pay from the government program, failing to meet the basic commitments required of their public roles.

    Despite the attendance struggles, the prime minister reaffirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to the program and the workers it was designed to support. “We’re not going to give up on them,” he said. Browne went on to restate the core policy goal of the initiative: providing steady formal work remains a central pillar of the government’s strategy to keep young people engaged in productive, legal activity and steer them away from cycles of crime and disengagement.

  • Aristo Kelly officieel belast met waarneming directeurschap Volkshuisvesting

    Aristo Kelly officieel belast met waarneming directeurschap Volkshuisvesting

    After a year-long preparation and transition process, Aristo Kelly has formally taken over the role of Acting Director of the Housing Directorate at Suriname’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo), effective June 15. The official appointment was formalized in a public circular issued by Minister Diana Pokie, marking the completion of a recruitment and onboarding process launched more than 12 months prior.

    The Sozavo ministry is structured around two core directorates: one focused on social affairs, and the other dedicated to housing policy and implementation. Before Kelly’s appointment was finalized, Sherwin Valies, the serving Director of Social Affairs, held the acting position for the housing directorate in accordance with the ministry’s existing organizational rules. Following the publication of Minister Pokie’s circular, Valies formally transferred all acting responsibilities to Kelly this month.

    Kelly confirmed that he had already been carrying out the directorate’s leadership duties on a de facto basis for an extended period. Dating back to July 18, 2025, he joined the Housing Directorate as a senior policy advisor, working closely with Deputy Minister Danielle van Windt to build familiarity with the role and prepare for full leadership. “Over the past year, I have served as a policy advisor within the Housing Directorate, and I have already performed the director’s role in practice. Working alongside Deputy Minister Danielle van Windt, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of government administrative processes. Now that my appointment is formally complete, I can officially take on this responsibility,” Kelly stated in remarks following the announcement.

    Bringing more than a decade of private sector experience to the government role, Kelly holds a Master’s degree in International Business from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Prior to his government appointment, he also worked as a lecturer in business administration and a graduation supervisor at the FHR School of Business. For his tenure leading the housing directorate, Kelly has laid out a clear agenda centered on upgrading the department’s operations and expanding access to housing for Surinamese people. “My core goal is to make it easier for people across Suriname to plan for home ownership as part of their long-term lives,” he said.

    According to Kelly, the directorate has already achieved one key milestone in advancing its modernization: the full rollout of digital services. Surinamese residents can now apply for housing subsidies and register for housing allocation through a new online portal, without needing to visit a government office in person.

    Looking ahead, Kelly has outlined five key priorities for his acting term. First, he will drive further professionalization of the entire directorate to streamline operations and improve service delivery. Second, he plans to implement a more effective, targeted strategy to address the country’s persistent housing shortage. Third, he will work to place the revolving fund managed by the Suriname Housing Foundation on a stable, financially sustainable footing. Fourth, he will strengthen the institutional capacity of the Housing Foundation to allow it to resume independent large-scale housing construction projects. Finally, he will prioritize greater transparency and public communication between the directorate and the Surinamese people it serves.

    “I am confident that these steps will ensure every person in Suriname has the opportunity to plan and build their own home,” Kelly said. Under his leadership, he added, the Housing Directorate will evolve into a modern, professionally managed public institution that can better meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the country.