Carib Scope

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  • ABWU Educates ABCAS Students on Workplace Rights Ahead of Internships

    ABWU Educates ABCAS Students on Workplace Rights Ahead of Internships

    As Antigua and Barbuda’s main labor organization continues to bridge the knowledge gap for young people entering the job market, graduating seniors at the Antigua & Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) gained hands-on, practical insight into employee protections and workplace entitlements this week.

    The interactive workshop, headed by Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) President Kem Riley, centered its discussion on Section C of the country’s official Labour Code. Over the session, attendees walked through a range of high-stakes, commonly misunderstood topics, from required employment paperwork and standard working hour regulations to overtime compensation, premium pay guarantees, paid sick leave entitlements, and the fundamental legal right to organize through a union.

    Tailored specifically for students who are gearing up to complete mandatory internships as a key requirement of their degree programs, the session was structured to encourage open dialogue around employer expectations and the legal safeguards that protect entry-level workers. Many young people transition into full or part-time employment and internships without a clear grasp of the rights guaranteed to them under local labor law, Riley explained, making this proactive education a core priority for the union’s youth outreach strategy.

    “This workshop series has been a staple of our work for several years running, and we view it as a central part of ABWU’s core mandate to educate the next generation of workers,” Riley shared in remarks during the event. “This kind of grassroots education is the foundation of our work to defend and expand the rights and benefits that all working people are entitled to.”

    Student feedback on the training was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees highlighting that the session filled a critical gap in their academic preparation for the workforce. One final-year Public Administration student noted that the group had absorbed an enormous amount of actionable information in just a single session. Another student added that the presentation demystified the role of unions and workplace advocacy for early-career workers, a topic that rarely gets covered in standard college coursework.

    “ I now have a much clearer understanding of what it means to be part of a union, and how I can advocate for myself and stand up for my rights in the workplace,” the student said.

    As the cohort prepares to enter their internships and cross the graduation stage in the coming months, the ABWU closed the session by extending well wishes to all participating students, emphasizing that the union remains a resource for them as they begin their professional journeys.

  • Jamaica revving up helmet safety through stakeholder training

    Jamaica revving up helmet safety through stakeholder training

    Motorcycle safety across Jamaica has taken a major step forward, with a targeted stakeholder training session focused on blocking low-quality uncertified helmets from entering the country and equipping both industry workers and riders with the knowledge to identify safe protective gear.

    Hosted by the National Helmet Wearing Coalition (NHWC) at Kingston’s Police Officers’ Club, the session brought together 41 key actors across the helmet supply chain and regulatory ecosystem, including government regulators, law enforcement personnel, border control officials at ports, and helmet suppliers and distributors. All attendees hold critical roles in turning Jamaica’s new national helmet safety standards from written policy into tangible public protection.

    Sydoney Preddie, lead for youth and education at the JN Foundation – a core partner of the coalition – explained that capacity building across every level of the market is non-negotiable for successful implementation. Preddie emphasized that Jamaica’s ports of entry serve as the very first line of defense against substandard helmets, making training for port officials particularly urgent. “Our core goal is simple: guarantee that only quality, certified helmets pass through Jamaican ports and reach consumers,” she said.

    Per an official release from the JN Foundation, the training was structured to build hands-on technical capacity, walking attendees through what regulatory compliance looks like in real-world practice. The curriculum covered every key detail required for accurate safety assessments, from helmet construction and recognized certification markings to mandatory labelling standards and retention system design. These skills enable stakeholders to reject unsafe helmets before they are cleared for domestic sale or distribution.

    Leading expert presentations were delivered by three seasoned specialists: Dr. Terry Smith, lead scientist at safety firm Galeatus and a helmet expert consultant to the FIA Foundation; Dr. Wendell Richards, a member of the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) Helmet Technical Committee; and Victor Anderson, Programmes Coordinator at the National Road Safety Council (NRSC).

    Dr. Smith, who supported the development of Jamaica’s new national helmet standard, used his session to underline the life-saving impact of certified helmets and the severe risks posed by untested, low-quality alternatives. “A certified helmet is not just an extra piece of gear for riders – it is a rigorously scientifically tested safety device engineered to absorb crash impact and shield the brain from catastrophic injury,” he noted. He added that peer-reviewed data consistently confirms that riders who wear helmets meeting international safety standards see a dramatic drop in their risk of death and severe head injury if involved in a collision. Dr. Smith’s participation in the initiative is supported by the global NHWC project, which assists countries around the world in strengthening their domestic helmet standards and increasing safe helmet use.

    Dr. Richards next outlined the NCRA’s enforcement strategy that will take effect once the national standard is fully implemented, with a sharp focus on monitoring imported helmets at border entry points. “Our port enforcement model is both risk-based and standards-driven,” Dr. Richards explained. “We will conduct mandatory pre-shipment inspections to ensure all imported helmets meet national standard requirements, including assessments of certification paperwork, product labeling and third-party test results. This system ensures non-compliant, unsafe helmets are stopped before they ever enter the domestic market.” Post-clearance surveillance of retail markets will complement these pre-shipment checks to catch any unsafe products that slip through, he added. Dr. Richards also noted that close ongoing coordination with the Jamaica Customs Agency and other border control agencies will be critical, particularly during the initial rollout phase of the new rules.

    Helmet suppliers and distributors were active participants in the training, using the forum to ask questions and seek clarification on inspection protocols, documentation requirements, certification criteria and compliance timelines. Multiple suppliers raised concerns about the potential financial impact of the new standard, specifically noting they face potential losses on inventory of uncertified helmets already held in stock once the regulation goes into full effect.

    Training organizers confirmed they have heard these concerns, noting that including suppliers in early stakeholder engagement was a deliberate choice. The process allows suppliers to clearly understand their regulatory responsibilities, while also creating transparency around enforcement plans and transition arrangements to minimize unnecessary disruption.

    For Preddie, regulating imported products is only half of the work: educating retailers and riders is equally important to driving long-term safety improvements. “We want every motorcyclist and their passenger to walk into a retail shop confident that they can tell the difference between a certified safe helmet and a substandard unsafe one,” she said. “Most importantly, we want them to understand that choosing a certified helmet drastically increases their chance of surviving a crash and walking away without life-altering head trauma.”

    To support consistent, long-term implementation of the new standard, the NHWC and its partner organizations have announced plans to roll out a broader structured training program. Additional sessions will be held in coming months to reach more stakeholders across every segment of the import, distribution, retail and enforcement chains, ensuring nationwide alignment on the new safety rules.

  • Health ministry launches citizens’ chapter and wait experience programme

    Health ministry launches citizens’ chapter and wait experience programme

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark move to upgrade the island nation’s public healthcare infrastructure and rebuild public confidence, Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has formally introduced two coordinated initiatives: the Citizens’ Charter and the Wait Experience Programme. Designed to embed consistent, people-first service standards across Jamaica’s entire public health network, the effort covers more than 300 community health centres and 24 state-run hospitals, representing a formal institutional commitment to raising care quality nationwide.

    The launch event, held May 13 at the Courtyard by Marriott in New Kingston, brought together health sector leaders to outline the initiative’s core structure. Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister Christopher Tufton announced that the program includes the creation of a dedicated new internal unit focused exclusively on elevating the experience of patients and visitors accessing public health services.

    While customer service and patient-centered care principles have long been formalized in Jamaica’s public health system — including through existing patient charters outlining rights and responsibilities — Tufton explained that inconsistent implementation across facilities created gaps in care that eroded public trust over time. The new specialized unit is intended to standardize and enforce these standards uniformly at every level of the system.

    A central pillar of the Citizens’ Charter is clarifying the dual expectations for both patients and care providers. Tufton emphasized that patients must have a clear understanding of not only the rights they are entitled to when accessing care, but also their responsibility to treat healthcare workers with respect, noting that abuse of frontline personnel cannot be tolerated. At the same time, he stressed that compassionate care must begin from the moment a patient enters a facility, long before they reach a clinician for treatment: “therapy really should start at the gate, not right on the prescription pad,” he said.

    Currently, multiple channels exist for patients and their families to submit complaints and raise concerns, including on-site customer service representatives, facility supervisors, regional health authorities, and escalation pathways to the ministry’s corporate headquarters. However, Tufton acknowledged that these existing mechanisms have often failed to deliver timely, effective resolutions, creating a gap that the new department will fill by strengthening accountability and improving institutional responsiveness to public feedback.

    Tufton also contextualized the reform against a backdrop of growing demand for public health services. Data from the last full year shows the Jamaican public health system recorded nearly 3 million total patient visits, with more than 1.5 million visits at community health centres and roughly 1.3 million at public hospitals. Tufton framed these numbers as a win for the country’s long-standing focus on primary and preventive care: more Jamaicans are now seeking routine care at the community level, rather than delaying treatment until conditions become life-threatening emergencies.

    Even with the majority of patient interactions proceeding successfully, Tufton noted that a single negative experience can significantly damage widespread public confidence in the system. Dissatisfied patients often turn to traditional media or social platforms to share their grievances when they believe no adequate internal resolution process exists, he added. One of the new unit’s first priorities will be to educate the public on formal internal complaint channels, encouraging patients to pursue resolution through the system before escalating issues publicly to reverse negative public perception.

    Addressing the pervasive issue of wait times, a common pain point for patients globally, Tufton noted that some delays are inevitable in any large healthcare system. Instead of focusing solely on eliminating all waits, the new Wait Experience Programme targets improving how patients experience waiting periods through proactive communication, empathetic staff engagement, and timely status updates. He explained that patients waiting for care often face intense anxiety and fear, particularly when accompanying sick family members, noting “Every client that comes in is of the view that either them or the relative that they carry is on the verge of death.” This emotional context, he stressed, requires healthcare personnel to respond with consistent sensitivity and professionalism.

    The reform also recognizes that quality patient care depends on investing in the well-being of the workforce. Tufton argued that frontline healthcare workers can only deliver compassionate, high-quality service if they work in supportive environments. As part of the program, the ministry will prioritize upgrading workplace amenities this year, including improving staff lounges, rest areas, and other facilities across hospitals and health centres to reduce worker burnout and support well-being.

    Accountability will be a core guiding principle of the entire initiative, Tufton confirmed. The program will include unannounced facility inspections, regular structured performance assessments, and stronger enforcement actions for underperforming institutions and personnel. Ultimately, the reform’s overarching goal is to ensure that every Jamaican accessing public healthcare receives not just clinically effective treatment, but also psychological support and dignified care across every stage of their interaction with the system.

  • Gov’t to undertake $800 m greenhouse expansion

    Gov’t to undertake $800 m greenhouse expansion

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s national government has unveiled an $800 million initiative to build 95 climate-resilient greenhouses across four of the island’s parishes, with completion targeted for the end of 2026. The plan was announced by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green on Wednesday, May 13, during his 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate address to the country’s House of Representatives.

    Minister Green emphasized that protected agricultural infrastructure is a critical component of strengthening resilience for Jamaica’s farming sector, which is disproportionately exposed to the impacts of climate change. He framed the project as the largest single investment in protected agriculture structures in the nation’s history. The greenhouses will be distributed across strategic growing regions: 40 units will be constructed in Mocho, Clarendon; 20 in Water Valley, St Ann; 15 in Black Stone Edge, also in St Ann; 10 in Lancaster, Manchester; and the remaining 10 in Damhead, St Catherine.

    Beyond the new construction, the government also plans to redevelop the existing greenhouse cluster in Content, Manchester into a fully functional dedicated protected agricultural zone. The upgraded site will include new on-site storage facilities and an improved access farm road to support local producers.

    The project forms part of the broader $50-million US ADAPT Jamaica initiative, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). A key innovation of this program is that all new greenhouses will be engineered to withstand the force of Category Five hurricanes, a design tailored to Jamaica’s frequent exposure to extreme tropical weather events.

    “This is one of the defining features of the project,” Green told lawmakers. “We are designing greenhouses that fit our specific climate reality, and we will invest more than $1.5 billion over the next five years to roll out this resilient infrastructure across the island.”

    Over the five-year timeline of the GCF ADAPT Jamaica project, the overarching goal is to boost climate resilience for roughly 700,000 smallholder and vulnerable farmers across Jamaica’s central parishes, helping to protect food supplies and support livelihoods amid growing climate uncertainty.

  • JUTC loses $100 b in 10 years, says Phillips

    JUTC loses $100 b in 10 years, says Phillips

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a scathing critique delivered during Wednesday’s Sectoral Debate in Jamaica’s House of Representatives, opposition transport spokesperson Mikael Phillips has launched a blistering attack on the current administration’s stewardship of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), claiming that the state-owned public bus service is facing its gravest crisis since the agency’s launch nearly 30 years ago.

    Drawing on a stark medical metaphor to illustrate the severity of the transit agency’s troubles, Phillips compared the JUTC to a critical patient abandoned in a hospital’s emergency waiting area. “For a decade now, the JUTC has been languishing in the hospital’s accident and emergency department, left on a bench without even a bed,” he told lawmakers. He went on to criticize the government’s misaligned response to the crisis, adding, “They have called on a carpenter to examine the patient, when what is truly required is oxygen and a skilled physician to diagnose the ailment and prescribe a cure.”

    Founded in 1998 to provide affordable, reliable public transit across Jamaica’s main urban centers, the JUTC has steadily deteriorated under the current government’s watch, Phillips argued, reaching a nadir unseen in its 26-year operational history. The core of the crisis, he emphasized, is a crushing decade-long financial decline that has left the agency on the brink of collapse.

    According to figures presented by Phillips to the House, the state-run transit provider has accumulated cumulative losses exceeding 100 billion Jamaican dollars over the past ten years, a shortfall he attributes directly to government indifference. “This is a direct consequence of this Administration’s apathy that has left the company in this pathetic state,” he stated. Compounding the bleak financial picture, Phillips added that projections show the JUTC is on track to rack up an additional 14.8 billion Jamaican dollars in losses during the current fiscal year, deepening the agency’s ongoing financial crisis.

  • ‘No patois in the House!’ Speaker shuts down Burchell’s attempt to present in Jamaican dialect

    ‘No patois in the House!’ Speaker shuts down Burchell’s attempt to present in Jamaican dialect

    On Wednesday, a landmark attempt to bring Jamaican patois into official parliamentary debate was cut short moments after it began, igniting a heated clash between government and opposition lawmakers over linguistic identity and institutional rules.

    Nekeisha Burchell, the opposition’s spokesperson for creative industries, culture and information, had stepped to the floor to deliver her first ever Sectoral Debate address, opening her remarks in the creole language spoken by the vast majority of Jamaicans: “Madam Speaker, mi git up dis afta noon fi mek mi fuss sectoral speech pon mi portfolia…”

    Before she could continue, House Speaker Juliet Holness interrupted immediately, invoking the chamber’s long-standing Standing Orders that mandate the use of standard English for all parliamentary proceedings. “Hold on, hold on, hold on. Standing Orders. And I think you are fully aware,” Holness stated, issuing a clear warning that any further attempt to use patois would result in Burchell losing her allotted speaking time: “If I have to stop you again during your presentation you will not get any additional time.”

    The interruption quickly spilled over into cross-party bickering across the parliamentary chamber. Government members rallied behind the speaker’s adherence to existing rules, while opposition lawmakers pushed back, arguing that Burchell should be granted permission to use the national dialect that forms a core part of Jamaican cultural identity.

    Opposition MPs also drew a parallel to a high-profile incident six months prior, when State Minister Alando Terrelonge was stopped mid-address by ruling party MP Everald Warmingong after he spoke Spanish to visiting Cuban guests in the chamber. Warmington had also cited the Standing Orders at the time, asserting his right as an elected representative to follow parliamentary rules and understand all proceedings. Critics of the Wednesday ruling point to that incident as evidence of inconsistent enforcement of the language rule.

    After the brief disruption, Burchell resumed her address, framing her attempt to use patois as a deliberate statement about cultural acceptance in Jamaica’s most formal public institutions. “Madam Speaker, perhaps I should abandon that attempt to use our local language because I have been reminded of the linguistic conventions of this honourable House,” she said. “Because maybe there is no more fitting way to begin a presentation on culture than to speak briefly in the language understood by the overwhelming majority of the Jamaican people, even if that language still struggles for full acceptance in some of our most formal, national spaces including this very Parliament.” She then switched to standard English, often referred to locally as the “Queen’s English,” to deliver the remainder of her address.

    The incident has reignited long-running national discussions about the status of Jamaican patois, which is recognized as the country’s primary spoken language but has yet to gain full official status in formal government and institutional settings.

  • South Florida- based FOGS marks 30 years of service to Jamaica

    South Florida- based FOGS marks 30 years of service to Jamaica

    MIRAMAR, Florida — Against the backdrop of South Florida’s vibrant community, Friends of Good Shepherd International (FOGS) gathered recently to mark a major milestone: its 30th annual fundraising gala. The event was far more than a celebration; it was a reflection of three decades of unwavering commitment to lifting up communities across Jamaica, carrying with it the quiet gravity of 30 years of impactful, mission-driven service.

    The evening’s most anticipated guest was Archbishop Emeritus Charles Dufour of Kingston, the founding visionary behind both FOGS and its parent organization, The Good Shepherd Foundation (GSF). Traveling from his home in Jamaica to attend the anniversary gathering, Dufour brought a legacy rooted in decades of leadership across Jamaica’s Catholic community. A uniquely prominent figure in the country’s church landscape, he holds the distinction of being the only clergy member to have served in all three of Jamaica’s dioceses: the Archdiocese of Kingston, and the Dioceses of Montego Bay and Mandeville. His presence alone anchored the gala in a spirit of deep gratitude and renewed purpose, setting a heartfelt tone for the entire event.

    In one of the evening’s most moving moments, FOGS leadership reaffirmed its annual funding commitment to the Archbishop Dufour Education Scholarship, a program launched one year prior to honor Dufour’s lifetime of achievement. The $1,000 annual award is designed to support high-achieving, deserving Jamaican students pursuing secondary education. The inaugural 2023 scholarship was awarded to Kelliesha Davis, a student at Mount Alvernia High School in Montego Bay, a reminder of the tangible, life-changing impact FOGS’ work creates for young people across the island.

    The keynote address was delivered by Phillip Rose, Jamaica’s Deputy Director of Tourism, who centered his remarks on the island’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Melissa, the devastating storm that made landfall on Jamaica on October 28, 2023. Rose offered a grounded, deeply personal account of the storm’s destruction and the slow, steady work of rebuilding, emphasizing the irreplaceable role that diaspora organizations like FOGS play in disaster response. Unlike large-scale formal aid efforts, Rose noted, FOGS and similar groups deliver consistent, compassionate support directly to local communities, meeting needs that often go unaddressed by institutional relief.

    Rose’s narrative was amplified by a short, powerful documentary presented by Edward Raine, CEO of Food for the Poor, the gala’s headline sponsor. The video captured raw, on-the-ground footage of the hurricane’s aftermath, paired with stories of local resilience as communities worked to rebuild their homes, schools, and livelihoods.

    The gala also included an awards segment to honor outstanding partners and volunteers whose contributions have advanced FOGS’ mission. Longtime FOGS volunteer Michelle Buteau, whose years of dedicated service have left an indelible mark on the organization, was awarded the 2024 FOGS Humanitarian Award. Buteau was unable to attend the event in person, so her mother Marie accepted the honor on her behalf. The FOGS Corporate Award went to The Yogi Foundation, recognized for its transformative $75,000 donation that will support seven separate community initiatives across Jamaica. Judy James accepted the award on behalf of the foundation.

    Importantly, every dollar raised at the 30th anniversary gala will go directly to expanding Hurricane Melissa relief and recovery efforts across Jamaica, providing critical support to communities still rebuilding months after the storm.

    FOGS operates as the international outreach arm of The Good Shepherd Foundation, a pair of volunteer-led nonprofit organizations with bases in Miramar, Florida and Montego Bay, Jamaica. For 30 years, the organizations have centered their work on improving quality of life for Jamaican communities across three core focus areas: education access, improved healthcare services, and emergency disaster relief.

  • Diving into Opportunity: Students benefit from swimming development classes

    Diving into Opportunity: Students benefit from swimming development classes

    In Kingston, Jamaica, a community-focused swimming initiative is transforming opportunities for dozens of young students across four local primary and basic schools, blending water safety education with long-term career preparation to empower youth from diverse backgrounds.

    Last Thursday, the Progress Learn to Swim Classes (PLSC) held its fourth annual development swim meet at the University of the West Indies Mona Swimming Pool, a showcase designed to highlight the growth and skills built by participants from New Hope Preparatory, St Jude’s Primary, Panton’s Home School, and Bethel Basic School.

    The atmosphere across the venue was electric throughout the day. Young competitors splashed through the pool lanes, laughed between events, and bounded around the pool deck, drawing loud cheers from crowds of parents, teachers, and supporters gathered along the sidelines. Unlike traditional competitive swim events, the meet centered inclusive, age-appropriate activities, ranging from fun object-find challenges and paddle boat races to structured freestyle races that let students of all skill levels test their abilities.

    For PLSC programme coordinator Ainsworth Reid, the annual showcase is far more than a chance for children to show off their new skills—it is a key milestone in the initiative’s core mission: building life-changing skills from early childhood that open long-term economic opportunities.

    “The intention is really to create life skill from early,” Reid explained, outlining the programme’s pipeline model: it introduces swimming to children starting at the basic school level, supports their development through primary and secondary school, and ultimately equips advanced participants with the training to work as swimming instructors or certified lifeguards, even supporting pathways to self-employment. “The sport of swimming carries within itself the opportunity for jobs so we want to kind of bring it from the basic school level all the way through to the high school and beyond,” he added, noting his upcoming goal to expand the programme into five Jamaican high schools.

    Reid framed this fourth staging as clear proof of the programme’s steady growth. While lower full-capacity turnout due to conflicting community events created a small setback, he emphasized that participation levels still marked a noticeable increase from previous years.

    For parents and educators, the impact of the initiative has already been deeply meaningful. Laytoya Rowe, a parent whose daughter Amia Bell of New Hope Preparatory competed, shared that watching her child participate was one of her most joyful recent moments. Though Rowe herself never learned to swim, she has prioritized making sure her child gains the critical skill, echoing the programme’s focus on long-term safety and empowerment.

    Justina Woodstock, a teacher at New Hope Preparatory, echoed that excitement, noting that students have committed to weekly practice sessions at the National Stadium for months ahead of the meet. “They have worked hard. Every Friday they are at the National Stadium practicing and to see them now in action is just a joy,” she said.

    St Jude’s Primary turned out one of the largest groups for the event, with 25 students and six parents in attendance. Teacher Tishana Downer shared that she entered the meet full confidence in her students’ preparation.

    The event also drew interest from secondary education leaders looking to replicate the programme’s success. Rohan Gray, Acting Vice Principal of Edith Dalton High School, attended the meet to observe the initiative’s model, noting that it could fill a critical need for his students, many of whom come from low socio-economic backgrounds. “What I have seen so far is very encouraging and I see where at my school this could actually help our boys to be disciplined and rounded,” Gray said, adding that swimming training would not only build personal discipline but also create accessible career pathways for his students after graduation.

    When the day’s events wrapped up, St Jude’s Primary claimed the overall championship title with 245 total points, followed by Panton’s Home School in second place with 180 points, and New Hope Preparatory in third with 160 points. Even Bethel Basic School students, who participated unofficially in the event, were recognized for their participation alongside all other competitors. Every student took home a certificate of participation to mark their achievement, while each competing school received a trophy for their overall placement, capping a day of growth, community, and celebration for the growing initiative.

  • Four STETHS schoolgirls charged after series of fights

    Four STETHS schoolgirls charged after series of fights

    In the southwestern Jamaican parish of St Elizabeth, a wave of unruly violent clashes at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) has led to legal action and major campus disruption, leaving school leaders and local law enforcement grappling with how to address youth violence in local education settings.

    Local police authorities have confirmed that four current STETHS students are facing charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, connected to a brutal attack on a 15-year-old fellow student carried out last Wednesday. The four accused include two 14-year-old girls, alongside a 16-year-old and a 13-year-old student, whose genders have not been released to the public.

    The charged assault was not an isolated incident: it unfolded amid a string of successive brawls that broke out across the STETHS campus between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm that same day. Earlier in the morning, an initial confrontation had already left one student injured, requiring police officers to be called to the campus to intervene. Unconfirmed reports from local sources indicate one of the Wednesday clashes involved a student carrying a knife, a detail that amplified safety fears across the school community.

    Following the initial violent outbreak, additional fights broke out across the school grounds – some even occurring directly in front of senior school administrators. In response to the widespread disorder, STETHS principal Keith Wellington made the decision to suspend all regular classes and close the campus to most students for two full days, limiting access only to students sitting external standardized exams and those preparing for upcoming competitive sporting events.

    Wellington immediately notified parents and guardians of the shutdown, explaining that the extreme measure was implemented to protect the physical safety of every student, teacher and staff member on campus, and to give school leadership time to reestablish order and enforce campus discipline. In an interview with Jamaica Observer Online earlier this week, Wellington noted that school officials would be compiling multiple detailed reports for education oversight bodies, and that any further disciplinary action against students involved in the brawls would only be decided after those reports are reviewed.

    Campus operations have since resumed for all students, with school administrators expressing cautious optimism that normal order has been restored. This latest outbreak of school violence has sparked renewed local conversation about student safety and conflict resolution in Jamaican secondary schools.

  • Club Kingston named best airport lounge in Latin America, Caribbean by Priority Pass

    Club Kingston named best airport lounge in Latin America, Caribbean by Priority Pass

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark win for Jamaica’s travel and hospitality sector, Club Kingston has secured the coveted title of “Lounge of the Year” for the Latin America and Caribbean region from Priority Pass, outperforming over 350 competing airport lounges across the area to claim the top honor.\n\nThis industry recognition lands at a pivotal juncture for Jamaica, which has been working steadily to rebuild and revitalize its tourism sector following the widespread disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa. Beyond celebrating the high quality of Jamaica’s hospitality offerings, the award serves as a powerful vote of global confidence in the country as a travel destination, underscoring its ability to deliver world-class experiences to visitors from around the globe.\n\nAs the world’s preeminent airport lounge and curated travel experience program, Priority Pass boasts an extensive network that spans more than 1,800 lounges and unique experiences across 725 airports in over 145 nations. The program’s awards draw directly from feedback collected from its millions of global members, who submit more than 700,000 independent reviews and customer surveys each year. This data-driven, traveler-centered approach has made the Priority Pass awards one of the most respected and credible honors in the international travel industry.\n\nFor the 2024 cycle of awards, global travelers placed Club Kingston firmly at the head of the regional rankings, with consistent top ratings across all key service and experience metrics.\n\n“This recognition is incredibly meaningful because it does not come from an industry panel—it comes directly from the travelers we welcome and serve every single day,” explained Tanya Beckford, Chief Executive Officer of VIP Attractions Limited, which operates both Club Kingston and Jamaica’s popular Club Mobay lounge. “To be recognized by global passengers in this way is a tremendous honor, not just for our entire team, but for the whole of Jamaica. It reflects the warmth, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence that define our people and our national tourism product.”\n\nAt the official award ceremony held Tuesday in Kingston, Jeremy Dalkoff, Vice President of Partnerships at Priority Pass, echoed Beckford’s remarks and praised the lounge’s standout achievement. Dalkoff emphasized that the award reflects unfiltered, authentic sentiment from travelers across the world.\n\n“Club Kingston consistently delivers a standout, memorable experience for our Priority Pass members,” Dalkoff noted. “What makes this win especially significant is that it is 100% driven by direct, unedited feedback from the travelers who use the lounge. Earning the top spot across the entire Latin America and Caribbean region is a remarkable accomplishment, and it speaks volumes about the entire team’s relentless dedication to service excellence.”\n\nFor the Club Kingston staff and leadership, the award carries deeper meaning than just industry acclaim: it offers a ongoing platform to showcase the best of Jamaican hospitality and culture to international visitors before they even leave the country.\n\n“Every guest who walks through our doors gets an authentic taste of the legendary spirit of Jamaica long before they board their departing flight,” Beckford added. “This award proves that those small, personal moments of hospitality leave a lasting impact, and that matters more than anything.”\n\nThe honor comes as Jamaica ramps up national efforts to boost traveler confidence, expand international air connectivity, and upgrade the full end-to-end visitor experience for guests. This award will further solidify Jamaica’s competitive position in the crowded Caribbean tourism market, while reinforcing the value of strategic investment in high-quality guest experiences across every touchpoint of a traveler’s journey, from arrival to departure.