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Casino regulatory framework strikes the right balance, says Gov’t senator

During a Friday sitting of Jamaica’s Senate, government Senator Dr. Elon Thompson publicly defended the newly approved Casino Gaming (General) Regulations 2025, arguing that the Holness administration has struck a careful and effective balance between fostering economic growth through investment, commercial development and entertainment, and putting in place robust guardrails to enforce accountability and responsible industry operation. The upper legislative chamber approved the new regulatory framework shortly after Thompson’s remarks, bringing long-awaited formal implementing rules to the 15-year-old Casino Gaming Act, which was originally passed into law in 2010.

Thompson laid out that the new regulations lay the foundational administrative structure for the Casino Gaming Commission, outlining clear protocols for the body’s procedural work, binding obligations for licensed operators, mandatory record-keeping and reporting requirements, regulatory fee structures, inspection and enforcement authority, and overarching operational standards designed to keep the industry running in an orderly, transparent fashion.

Addressing widespread public concerns that expanded casino gaming could fuel addiction, widespread financial hardship and broader social disruption, Thompson acknowledged that these anxieties deserve full respect. But he pushed back against claims the regulatory regime ignores these risks, emphasizing that the new rules are explicitly designed to anticipate harm and put legislative safeguards in place to mitigate it directly. The regulations, he noted, require operators to implement formal systems to protect player well-being and proactively prevent and manage problematic gaming behavior.

Thompson went on to detail the layers of protection built into the new framework. The rules prohibit participation by people who are intoxicated, mandate strict protocols to block access by minors, require detailed ongoing tracking of patron activity, establish formal dispute resolution processes, and set up mandatory reporting structures designed to catch patterns of harm before they escalate. When combined with the publicly available Responsible Gaming Framework hosted on the Casino Gaming Commission’s website, Thompson said the policy’s core priorities become even clearer. He stressed that the public framework is not an afterthought or peripheral add-on, but a central anchor of the entire regulatory regime.

Thompson explained that the framework is built on a clear recognition that while most people can engage in casino gaming responsibly, a subset of the population is inherently vulnerable due to preexisting psychological, social or economic challenges that can make it difficult to maintain informed, controlled decision-making. This foundational understanding, he argued, is what shifts the entire approach from passive, after-the-fact regulation to proactive, active harm reduction.

The senator highlighted that the full legal and regulatory regime establishes a three-tiered protection model that addresses risks across three overlapping levels: individual patrons, licensed operator organizations, and the wider Jamaican community. For individual patrons, the framework requires that they not only be allowed to participate voluntarily, but also be given clear, accessible information to fully understand the risks associated with gaming. For operators, the regime mandates that companies build internal monitoring systems capable of identifying early signs of problematic behavior and responding appropriately. Finally, the framework requires cross-institutional collaboration to turn abstract goals of prevention, detection and treatment of problem gambling into tangible, operational realities across the country.

17 4 月, 2026
Holness honoured with legacy award at UWI gala in New York

On a star-studded Friday evening in Manhattan, New York, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness took center stage at the 29th Annual “The Legacy Continues” Black-Tie Awards Gala, where he was bestowed the Legacy Award — one of the highest honors granted by the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI). Hosted at 538 Park Avenue, the annual gathering brought together distinguished figures from across the realms of politics, business, academia, and philanthropy, all united by a shared mission to expand access to higher education for Caribbean students.

Holness was not the only honoree of the night; he joined a cohort of outstanding leaders recognized for their exceptional contributions to regional advancement, educational access, and visionary leadership. The award was officially presented to him by a trio of senior academic and foundation leaders: AFUWI Chairman Dr. Cyrus McCalla, University of the West Indies (UWI) Chancellor Dr. Dodridge D. Miller, and UWI Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

In his introductory remarks ahead of the presentation, Sir Hilary Beckles emphasized Holness’ standing as a democratically elected leader with deep and sustained public trust, noting that the Jamaican people have granted him a governing mandate three times through national elections. In accepting the honor, Holness pushed back against widespread assumptions that a legacy-focused award signals the conclusion of an active political career. Rather than framing the recognition as a capstone to his service, he described it as a validation of ongoing work that continues to move Jamaica forward.

“Legacy is not what you receive but what you build,” Holness told the assembled audience. He went on to note that Jamaica still holds vast untapped potential, and its national development journey is far from complete. The Prime Minister also highlighted UWI’s critical role as a regional educational anchor, stressing that the institution must continue adapting to a rapidly shifting global landscape. He called for a renewed institutional focus on driving growth, boosting operational efficiency, and embedding innovation across all levels of the university.

AFUWI Executive Director Ann-Marie Grant explained the selection committee’s choice to honor Holness, pointing to his consistent leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing education, strengthening Jamaica’s economic resilience, and fostering collaborative development across the Caribbean region — all core pillars of the island nation’s ongoing progress. Grant added that the annual gala serves a dual purpose: it celebrates impactful leadership, and it brings together cross-sector leaders to raise funds for scholarship programs that support Caribbean students enrolled at UWI. All proceeds from the gala are directed toward these scholarship funds, which work to break down financial barriers to higher education across the Caribbean region.

Dr. Cyrus McCalla expanded on the event’s mission, noting that the gala exists to celebrate visionary leaders whose service and forward-thinking have helped shape a brighter future for the Caribbean, while also creating life-changing educational opportunities for talented students from low-income backgrounds.

Alongside Holness, a range of leaders from across sectors were honored for their distinct contributions. Anthony and Gregory Belinfanti took home the Pathfinder Award for Generational Impact in Education, while geographer and academic Dr. Kevon Rhiney received the Pelican Award. Trinidadian-born Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University, was awarded the Caribbean Luminary Award, and Dr. Wayne J. Riley, president of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, received the UWI Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Institutional Impact. Camille Joseph-Goldman of Charter Communications earned the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service and Community Impact, and global technology executive Jacky Wright was presented with the Phoenix Award for Global Digital Leadership. Finally, Dr. A. Norman Sabga, executive chairman of the ANSA McAL Group, received both the Chancellor’s and Corporate Awards for Excellence in Global Business Leadership.

In a statement summarizing the event’s mission, AFUWI emphasized that all awards presented during the gala recognize individuals whose achievements highlight the transformative power of education and visionary leadership, both across the Caribbean region and throughout its global diaspora.

17 4 月, 2026
NEPA signs MOU with SRC, Forestry to conserve endemic and threatened plant species

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Three leading Jamaican environmental and scientific agencies have formalized a landmark collaborative partnership aimed at reversing the decline of the island nation’s unique native plant life, signing two landmark memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to unify their expertise, resources and conservation efforts. Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) entered into the separate agreements with the Scientific Research Council (SRC) and the Forestry Department (FD), creating a coordinated framework for research, propagation, habitat restoration and public outreach centered on protecting the country’s endemic and at-risk plant species.

Jamaica holds a globally significant distinction as the fifth-ranked island worldwide for rates of plant endemism, meaning a large share of its native flora is found nowhere else on Earth. But this unique biological heritage is increasingly under pressure: leading environmental officials warn that climate change, unregulated pollution, rapid landscape development, and unsustainable harvesting have pushed dozens of native species toward extinction, eroding the island’s biodiversity and threatening the ecological, cultural and economic benefits native plants provide.

Addressing the urgency of the new partnership, NEPA Chief Executive Officer Leonard Francis noted that accelerating development has reshaped Jamaica’s natural landscapes in recent decades, putting unprecedented strain on native plant populations. Francis emphasized that every plant species is an irreplaceable piece of Jamaica’s natural heritage, which contributes an estimated billions of dollars to the national economy. Losing any endemic species, he argued, is a permanent loss for the country that can never be reversed.

NEPA Deputy CEO Anthony McKenzie, who leads the agency’s environmental management and sustainability division, echoed that warning, stressing that the MOU signing comes at a critical moment for Jamaica’s biodiversity. McKenzie named climate change and widespread pollution as the two biggest drivers of biodiversity decline across the island, adding that urgent coordinated action is the only way to preserve the country’s standing as a global hotspot of unique plant life.

Under the terms of the new partnership, the three agencies will work together to identify high-priority species for propagation and conservation, with selection based on national biodiversity goals, conservation urgency, and technical feasibility of recovery efforts. SRC Executive Director Dr. Charah Watson emphasized that cutting-edge scientific research will be central to the initiative, noting that innovative propagation methods including tissue culture will allow conservationists to scale up production of at-risk species for restoration. Watson framed the partnership as an investment in future generations, noting that Jamaica’s natural resources must be carefully protected and leveraged to ensure coming Jamaicans can benefit from the island’s unique natural heritage.

Forestry Department CEO Ainsley Henry highlighted the untapped potential of Jamaica’s native flora for medical innovation, recalling childhood observations of how many common modern pharmaceuticals trace their origins to wild plant species. Henry underscored his agency’s full commitment to the partnership, noting that coordinated conservation and restoration work supports not only Jamaica’s national biodiversity targets but also global efforts to halt planetary biodiversity loss and build community resilience to climate change.

The first high-priority target for the new partnership is the Lignum vitae, Jamaica’s iconic national flower, which is currently listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Long-term population surveys conducted by NEPA between 2007 and 2024 confirm that Lignum vitae numbers have continued to decline steadily across the island, driven by land clearing for development, illegal harvesting, hurricane damage, drought and other climate-related impacts, making urgent intervention a critical priority.

To build public support for Lignum vitae conservation, NEPA launched the Lignum vitae in Schools campaign in January 2024, an outreach initiative designed to raise awareness of the species’ ecological and cultural importance and encourage planting across school campuses and local communities. Three schools have already participated in the pilot phase of the program: Sheffield Primary and Negril Primary in Westmoreland, and St Hugh’s Preparatory in Kingston. NEPA is now calling on additional schools interested in joining the program to reach out to the agency via phone at (876) 754-7540 or email at pubed@nepa.gov.jm.

NEPA’s CEO Francis stressed that biodiversity conservation is not a responsibility limited to government agencies, saying that every Jamaican has a role to play in protecting the country’s natural heritage. “We have a sacred duty to ensure that every single species, every single plant, survives in perpetuity,” Francis said, framing the new partnership as a critical step forward in fulfilling that obligation.

17 4 月, 2026
FINISH THE JOB!

As kick-off approaches for their make-or-break Concacaf Women’s Qualifier group stage finale, Jamaica’s senior women’s national team — the Reggae Girlz — have arrived at the National Stadium in peak form, with head coach Hubert Busby bullish about his squad’s chances and calling for clinical execution when the match gets underway at 7:00 pm Saturday.

Since the team’s previous victory over Antigua and Barbuda, Busby has observed a clear upward shift in energy and competitiveness within the squad. Training sessions have been sharp, high-intensity, and marked by fierce competition for starting spots, setting the stage for a critical showdown that will decide Group B’s top seed.

Busby noted that the short break following the last qualifying match gave players a much-needed opportunity to recharge, which has translated to elevated focus and energy in recent training sessions. “The training sessions since our last win have been very good, very lively, and very competitive, which have been great to see,” the head coach said in a pre-match press briefing. “The players have gotten a little chance to take time off and recharge and I think that has done them wonders because they have been back in training and the energy has been high, the focus has been good, and so may that continue.”

The stakes of the encounter could not be clearer. Entering the final group match, the Reggae Girlz hold an unblemished record: three wins from three matches, giving them nine points and the top spot in Group B. Guyana and Nicaragua trail three points behind on six points apiece, while Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica sit at the bottom of the table with one point each.

For Jamaica, any result other than a loss will lock in their position as Group B winners. For Guyana, a major upset victory by a wide margin is the only path to securing first place, thanks to the Reggae Girlz’ dominant 23-goal goal difference, compared to Guyana’s five. Busby is under no illusions about the challenge his side will face Saturday. “Guyana is a strong, organised team,” he said. “Mathematically they’re not out, and so we are expecting a very challenging match from them. They are an organised group, they look to come here looking to impose their will on us, as well, and it is for us to really go about ensuring that we stick to our tactical plan.”

A rare advantage for the Reggae Girlz heading into this qualifying window has been the extended time the coaching staff has gotten to work with the full squad on the training pitch. Unlike most previous windows, where the team only convenes three days before a match before dispersing immediately after, this camp has allowed days of focused preparation to refine tactics and align the team’s game plan. “Truth to be told, we have not had this amount of time to really work with the team at all,” Busby admitted. “It is usually we got in, match day minus three, play the game and then right after the game we are out. So we have had some time in there to work on our match plan, implement some of the things that are pertaining to our playing module which has been good.”

The coaching and medical staff have also prioritized managing player workload to avoid fatigue ahead of the decisive match, carefully balancing focused training sessions with adequate recovery time. “I think what we also have to do is to be able to manage their playing and training loads, even though we have a lot of time with them making sure they get the adequate rest,” Busby said. “We were able to do that well and credit to our medical staff and our high-performing staff because that allows us to look at a few things, tweak a few things and make sure the players have all the information that they need.”

With all preparation complete, the match will come down to 90 minutes of play in front of a home crowd. “We respect what they [Guyana] need to do but it’s really about us looking to go out there and executing the things we want to do on our home pitch. So it is a good leeway into this last game, for sure,” Busby said.

Senior defender Deneisha Blackwood said the team plans to set a dominant tone from the moment they step onto the pitch for warm-ups, aiming to establish psychological advantage before kick-off. “I think going into this final one as players and senior players is just making sure we are setting the standard even from the warm-ups,” Blackwood said. “You know as always the other team’s coaches will be watching the warm-ups and so we want to make them fear us from then, make them see how we are warming up, see how we are approaching the warm-ups. And so the standard is set there and then I think going into the game is just quality and pride and dominating the game.”

Only the six group winners across the qualifying stage will advance to the Concacaf Women’s Championship scheduled for later this year. The Reggae Girlz held their final training session at the National Stadium on Friday, with key players including Khadija Shaw and Allyson Swaby taking part in preparations.

17 4 月, 2026
New cannabis rules remove barriers for small farmers, says CLA head

Jamaica has rolled out landmark updates to its medicinal cannabis regulatory framework, designed to tear down long-standing barriers for small-scale producers and strengthen the nation’s competitiveness in the fast-growing global medical cannabis market, top industry regulators and government officials confirmed this week.

The changes, formally launched Thursday at an event hosted at the AC Hotel in St Andrew, build on the foundation laid by the 2015 Dangerous Drugs Act amendment, which first established a formal licensing system for cannabis used in medical, therapeutic, and scientific research. Speaking at the launch, Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) CEO Farrah Blake explained that the revisions were developed after months of collaborative input from across the industry, to address shifting global demand and fix gaps in the previous interim regulatory system.

“To keep pace with evolving global trends and build a more inclusive, efficient regulatory environment, updating our earlier interim rules was a critical step,” Blake noted. “Through open stakeholder discussions that included on-the-ground feedback, constructive criticism, and problem identification, we landed on changes that modernize our legislative structure, streamline administrative processes, and expand industry participation — all while keeping Jamaica aligned with its international obligations.”

At the core of the reforms are two new no-fee special permit categories tailored specifically to lower the bar for small and traditional Jamaican farmers, who have long been locked out of the formal regulated market due to high costs and complex bureaucracy. The first, the Special Community Permit, allows farmers to operate as a collective rather than as individual producers, eliminating steep application fees and reducing financial barriers to entry. Unlike previous requirements, permit holders do not need to base all operations on a single contiguous plot of land, and participants gain full access to technical support from the CLA’s Cannabis Specialisation Unit, as well as the right to sell cannabis through licensed domestic market channels. Most notably, Blake emphasized, the permit carries zero application or administrative fees.

The second new offering, the Traditional Cultivator Special Permit, provides a structured two-year transitional window for small farmers to integrate into the regulated system. During this period, producers have time to build the operational capacity required to upgrade to a full tier-one cultivation license, while still enjoying access to technical support, licensed domestic sales channels, and fee-free entry, mirroring the benefits of the community permit.

Beyond the new permit programs, the regulatory overhaul includes a suite of additional administrative changes designed to make operating in the industry smoother for all participants. Industry employees will now receive official identification cards that let them move between different employers without requiring new authorization from the CLA, cutting down on red tape for both workers and businesses. All license tenures have been standardized to a uniform three-year term, and rules now allow operators to continue running their businesses uninterrupted during license renewal periods, eliminating gaps in operation that previously created uncertainty. Applicants also now have access to flexible payment plans for license fees, and operational requirements have been updated to include uniform national fencing standards, as well as formal authorization for licensed retailers to deliver cannabis directly to patients and approved caregivers.

Delano Seiveright, State Minister in Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, who delivered the event’s keynote address, told the Jamaica Observer that the core goal of the amendments is to break down historic barriers and broaden participation across the sector. “Previously, bureaucracy was overly burdensome, costs were seen as too high, and there were far too many layers of administrative process that frustrated small producers looking to enter the legitimate market,” Seiveright explained. “Our top priority with these updates is to expand access. We want to see far more micro and small farmers take part in the legal industry.”

The reforms, he added, are part of a broader national strategy to drive inclusive, sustainable growth across Jamaica’s emerging medicinal cannabis sector. “We have pushed through these amendments, which are now officially gazetted into law, that allow farmers to enter through community groups, transitional permits, and special access programs. They can organize as cooperatives, enter the regulated space, and pay no fees at all for that initial engagement,” Seiveright said. “At its core, this is about expanding access and ensuring micro and small players have a meaningful, significant role in the industry.”

Seiveright also framed the regulatory updates as a key step in the government’s ongoing push to position Jamaica as a leading, trusted player in the global medicinal cannabis market. “We are actively engaging with international partners to build our country as a competitive, respected participant in the global market,” he said. “With the right standards, robust quality assurance, and targeted innovation, we can expand our reach beyond our borders and bring Jamaican cannabis products to the world stage.”

17 4 月, 2026
Consultation controversy

A public dispute has erupted between Jamaica’s insurance sector and the country’s top financial regulator over planned industry-wide fee increases, with the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) formally opposing the proposal over claims of a severely flawed consultation process and systemic lack of transparency.

At the heart of the conflict is a fundamental disagreement over whether the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Jamaica’s financial regulator, properly engaged the industry before submitting the fee changes to Parliament’s Regulations Committee for approval. IAJ Executive Director Everton McFarlane told the Jamaica Observer in an interview Friday that critical FSC financial data was withheld from industry stakeholders during pre-submission talks, leaving insurance providers unable to conduct a thorough assessment of the proposed hikes or deliver a meaningful, informed response to policymakers.

McFarlane emphasized that the FSC’s financial statements have been chronically out of date throughout the consultation period, making it impossible for the industry to verify whether the requested fee increase is reasonable or justified. “Our position is clear: we cannot support this increase in its current form,” McFarlane stated. “We asked for detailed data to help us understand the reasoning behind the proposal, but we received nothing. Without up-to-date FSC accounts, we have no way to measure how much the regulator’s operating costs have risen — how can we be expected to judge if this hike is fair?”

The IAJ further revealed that transparency issues extend beyond closed-door consultations: the FSC has not published a full annual report with audited financial statements on its official website since the 2021 fiscal year, creating what McFarlane describes as critical gaps in public accountability that amplify the industry’s concerns. He added that while the association recognizes the FSC requires stable funding to carry out its regulatory mandate, the current process is unfair. “Fairness demands balance, not imposing increases just because the regulator has the authority to do so. We expected open, ongoing dialogue, not a rushed push for approval,” McFarlane said.

These claims stand in direct opposition to statements from FSC Executive Director Lieutenant Colonel Keron Burrell, who told the parliamentary committee Thursday that the regulator had conducted consistent, productive engagement with insurance industry representatives throughout the process. Burrell defended the proposed increases, noting that the FSC has not raised industry fees in 18 years, and that the regulator has already adjusted its timeline in response to industry disruptions caused by extreme weather events, including 2024’s Hurricane Beryl. He also reaffirmed that the FSC held multiple consultation events and ongoing discussions with stakeholders over an extended period.

Beyond the procedural dispute, the IAJ is challenging the substantive justification for the fee hikes. Burrell told the committee that Jamaica’s insurance sector has grown dramatically since the FSC’s founding in 2008, expanding from $170 billion in total assets to more than $728 billion over 18 years, arguing that the larger, evolving sector requires increased regulatory funding.

But McFarlane pushed back on that logic, noting that the FSC’s existing fee structure is already tied to the total value of the sector’s assets. As the industry grows, the regulator’s annual revenue automatically increases alongside asset values. McFarlane argued that this organic growth has already outpaced inflation over the past 18 years, meaning the current funding shortfall cited by the FSC is not the result of outdated fee rates, but rather poor management of existing revenue. He also rejected claims that the insurance sector has become significantly more complex to regulate, noting that most core products remain unchanged, and the sector is already well-capitalized, highly liquid, and governed by strict existing capital and investment rules.

McFarlane also raised alarm over the scale and timing of the proposed increases, which he said include some hikes of more than 100 percent. He warned that the steep increases would impose an unsustainable heavy burden on insurance companies that are still working to recover from financial losses caused by recent severe weather events that have impacted the island.

The IAJ is now calling for renewed, transparent dialogue between the two sides, and is asking policymakers to consider either delaying the implementation of the fee increases or rolling them out in a gradual phased approach. “Any adjustment to industry fees must be fair, and it must be properly explained to all stakeholders,” McFarlane said.

The disagreement played out publicly during Thursday’s parliamentary committee deliberations, when Kingston Central Member of Parliament Donovan Williams pressed Burrell on whether the industry would publicly oppose the proposal. Asked whether he expected to see public pushback in headlines after the meeting, Burrell acknowledged the issue is sensitive and that public pushback was possible, but stood by the FSC’s process.

17 4 月, 2026
PM doubles down on need to import skilled workers

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has publicly reaffirmed that the Caribbean nation is actively considering bringing skilled workers from international markets to address a critical labor gap that threatens to derail the country’s post-disaster reconstruction and long-term economic growth agenda after Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at the one-day Recover Better Conference, hosted by Jamaica’s Consulate General in New York last Thursday, Holness framed the incoming labor question not as a matter of if Jamaica would turn to overseas workers, but when. The gathering was convened to unite Jamaican diaspora members and key industry stakeholders to mobilize cross-border capital, professional expertise, and collaborative partnerships to support recovery efforts after the Category 5 storm that swept across portions of the island last October, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

One of the conference attendees, David Mullings, founder and CEO of Blue Mahoe Capital – a leading Jamaican housing developer with active projects across the island – laid bare the severity of the skilled labor shortage for the country’s construction and development sectors. Mullings, whose firm raises capital from U.S. investors, recently completed a 700-unit residential development in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, valued at US$17.5 million, and is currently preparing for an initial public listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Mullings told the audience that he recently polled one of Jamaica’s largest affordable housing developers on the single biggest barrier to scaling operations, even with unlimited access to new capital. The overwhelming answer, he confirmed, was a lack of available skilled workers. “No matter how much capital we inject into the market, even if we have all the construction materials, all the structural steel, all the operational systems we could need, we still can’t move projects forward at the pace we need,” Mullings added.

In response, Prime Minister Holness outlined the structural context driving the labor shortage: Jamaica currently holds a 3.5% national unemployment rate, meaning the country has effectively reached full employment – a historic milestone that has been sustained for nearly a decade. Even with this record low unemployment, the national labor force participation rate sits at roughly 67%. Holness explained that the gap does not reflect a lack of working-age people, but rather structural barriers: many working-age adults remain out of the workforce to fulfill unpaid care responsibilities for family members, while a large share of unemployed workers lack the specialized skills required for open construction and development roles.

“This is the first time we have hit this mark in our history, and it is not a temporary blip – we have maintained near-full employment for almost 10 years, which means labor scarcity is a persistent, structural challenge we have to address,” Holness told delegates. “We do have people who can work, but many are tied up in the unpaid care economy, staying home to care for family, or are not choosing to enter the formal labor market. At the same time, we still have a large group of people who are out of work or unemployable specifically because they do not have the specialized training that industries need. Our first job is to bring those people into training programs to prepare them for these roles.”

Holness emphasized that the Jamaican government will put local workers at the center of all policy planning around labor, even as it moves forward with plans to allow targeted overseas labor inflows. “There is a vigorous national debate around importing labor right now, so let me be perfectly clear: the government’s top priority is upskilling and empowering Jamaican workers first. But we cannot afford to turn down critical economic opportunities while we train our local workforce. While we scale up training programs, we may need to adopt strategic, targeted measures to let industries access the skilled labor they need to keep operating and growing.”

If overseas workers are brought in, Holness mandated that any scheme must include a mandatory skills transfer component, to ensure local workers learn new specialized skills from incoming laborers and can eventually fill the gaps permanently. “This is not a plan to bring foreign workers in to permanently take local jobs,” he explained. “It is a temporary measure to keep projects moving while we train our own people to step into those roles over time.”

Looking beyond the immediate post-hurricane recovery, Holness argued that Jamaica’s long-term development vision cannot be achieved with the country’s current population of 2.8 million. To build a thriving nation that attracts people to live, raise families and retire, Holness said Jamaica should plan to grow its population to between 5 and 7 million, which will require proactive immigration and labor policies paired with investments in governance, public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure. “That is the future we are building. But we always remember: we build first for Jamaicans, so that Jamaicans can thrive. It is that prosperity and happiness that creates the open, welcoming culture that lets us embrace new people who come to join our nation.”

Holness closed by reaffirming the government’s commitment to scaling up local skills training, but stressed that delaying action on the skilled labor gap would cost Jamaica critical economic growth opportunities that cannot be recovered. “We are ramping up our training efforts, but we cannot keep passing up the economic opportunities that are right in front of us just because we lack skilled workers in key sectors right now,” he said.

17 4 月, 2026
Clarendon Jerk Fest delivers on fun

Jamaica’s Clarendon parish welcomed a vibrant new community tradition over the Easter weekend, as the inaugural Clarendon Jerk Fest drew enthusiastic crowds to Woodleigh Estate, blending iconic local flavors, family-friendly entertainment and charitable impact despite scattered rain showers.

Organized by returning resident Lance Roache, the full-day celebration kicked off in the late afternoon, designed to cater to guests of all ages. Young attendees jumped into a lineup of interactive games, while adult visitors grooved to curated musical sets from popular DJ iKon. Media personality and event host Talia Soares-Brown kept energy high throughout the afternoon, engaging the crowd with sponsor-provided giveaways that added extra excitement to the day.

One of the festival’s most anticipated highlights was a star-studded celebrity cookoff, which brought together prominent local figures from across different sectors. Participants included Orrett Wallace, principal of Foga Road High; Suzette Camille Buchanan, CEO of Bellevue Hospital; well-known comedian and digital content creator Evert “Evy Royal” Johnson; and Eugena Clarke James, CEO of May Pen Hospital. Wallace ultimately took home the top prize in the friendly competition, partnering with local favorite Murray’s Fish and Jerk Hut to craft a crowd-pleasing rasta pasta paired with signature jerk chicken.

Beyond food and fun, the festival carried meaningful community purpose: a portion of all proceeds will benefit May Pen Hospital, which serves approximately 300 patients daily from Clarendon and surrounding neighboring communities. Clarke James emphasized the importance of the event for her institution, noting that participating in the first edition of the festival held huge value for the hospital and the communities it supports.

Corporate partner The Best Dressed Chicken, one of the event’s key sponsors, echoed that commitment to community connection. Brand manager Arielle Oliver noted that the festival aligned perfectly with the company’s core values, offering an ideal platform to connect with local residents and give back to the Clarendon community while celebrating the things that bring Jamaicans together: great food, shared joy, and family-focused fun.

As daylight faded and evening fell, the festival’s main stage opened for a stacked lineup of comedic and musical performances. Comedy duo Apachie Chief and Sarge kicked off the evening entertainment, followed by sets from rising recording artists Deizzle, Pipelyne, Inpha Reblitive and Ching Boss, before headlining acts Shane O and Ding Dong took the stage to cap off the night.

In addition to the celebrity cookoff, the festival hosted two competitive categories for local food vendors: Kevin “Antsman” Smith claimed the title of Best Pan Jerk Chicken, while local favorite Lorraine’s Kitchen won the award for Best Jerk Vendor.

Roache, the festival’s host and organizer, shared that he was pleased with the outcome of the first staging, even with multiple other events happening across the parish and the wider region over the Easter weekend that split potential crowds. Despite that, he called the turnout a strong showing for the new festival, praising all participating performers from local up-and-coming acts to the big-name headliners for delivering standout sets that kept the crowd engaged. Even sporadic light rain throughout the day failed to dampen attendees’ enthusiasm, with guests staying to sample the wide range of jerk and local food offerings and enjoy every moment of the celebration.

17 4 月, 2026
Lost In Paradise finds home in Kgn

Last Friday, the verdant, sprawling gardens of Jamaica Pegasus Hotel underwent a stunning transformation, reborn as a dreamlike floral oasis to host Lost In Paradise – an all-inclusive premium fete that has injected a bold, playful new energy into Jamaica’s annual Carnival lineup.

Originating as a beloved signature event from Barbados’ world-famous party circuit, Lost In Paradise made its highly anticipated Jamaican debut via an innovative collaborative partnership with local Carnival powerhouse Xodus Carnival. This cross-island collaboration delivered a seamless blend of distinct Caribbean cultural energies, crafting a one-of-a-kind elevated celebration that brought island synergy to vivid life.

From the moment guests crossed the entrance, they were enveloped in a sensory-driven atmosphere crafted to delight and enchant. Whimsical, oversize floral installations stretched across the grounds, soft romantic lighting cast a warm glow over the space, and carefully crafted photo backdrops turned every corner into a shareable moment. The event’s aesthetic struck an effortless balance between refined elegance and unapologetic playfulness, ensuring every attendee left with lasting memories and a camera roll full of stunning shots.

The entire night hummed with electric energy, powered by a stacked lineup of top-tier Caribbean musical talent. Virgin Islands soca star Adam O kicked off the live performances with a high-octane set led by his popular track *Warming Up*, getting the crowd on their feet from the first note. Following his set, Trinidadian DJ Major Penny surprised attendees by bringing soca heavyweights Voice, V’ghn, and Skinny Fabulous to the stage for an unplanned, high-energy collaborative set that kept the crowd dancing and amplified the venue’s electric vibe through the final hour of the event.

A core highlight of the experience was its premium open bar offering, headlined by luxury cognac brand Courvoisier. The brand’s signature smooth profile and reputation for sophistication became a foundational part of the event’s upscale identity, adding a refined touch to every guest’s night of indulgence. The curated bar service ensured a steady flow of expertly crafted high-quality cocktails, perfectly matching the event’s elevated, chic ambience.

Dominic Bell, Communications Manager at J Wray & Nephew Ltd., shared insight into the event’s core vision following its successful run: “Lost In Paradise was always about creating a specific feeling – something soft, beautiful, and fully immersive, yet undeniably vibrant. Partnering with Xodus Carnival to bring this Bajan staple to Jamaica was a natural fit, and the public response exceeded every one of our expectations.”

With its wildly successful first run in Kingston, Lost In Paradise has already cemented its place as a standout new addition to the Jamaica Carnival calendar. The event offers a refreshing reimagining of the traditional Caribbean fete experience, blending chic aesthetic, unbridled energy, and cross-cultural collaboration to create an unforgettable experience for attendees.

As the last song faded and guests departed Friday night, one thing became abundantly clear: Paradise has found a new permanent home in Kingston.

17 4 月, 2026
Bartlett: Task force to make large events safer

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Just days after a shooting at the 2026 Carnival Big Wall Revolution after-party left three people injured, Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has unveiled plans for a dedicated special task force to upgrade security protocols for large entertainment gatherings across the country.

Bartlett made the announcement Thursday on the sidelines of the Jamaica Youth Tourism Summit, an event organized by students from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Western Jamaica Campus, held in Montego Bay. He confirmed that the new security initiative will be led by the Linkages Network, a specialized body within the Ministry of Tourism that already oversees high-profile national events including Jamaica Carnival and the annual Coffee Festival, both of which draw thousands of international and local visitors each year.

“Across all our major events, we must constantly re-evaluate our approaches to reinforce safety and add long-term value. Our goal is to make the Jamaica Carnival experience one that guests remember for all the right reasons — joy, celebration, and peace of mind, not violence,” Bartlett told reporters following the summit.

The newly formed task force will conduct full reviews of existing safety frameworks across all major tourist-facing events hosted by the ministry, implementing targeted updates to prevent similar violent incidents from occurring in the future, he confirmed. “This body’s core mandate is to strengthen every layer of security planning to ensure that the unfortunate incident we saw on Sunday is never repeated,” Bartlett added.

Despite the shooting, Bartlett emphasized that the 2026 Jamaica Carnival season has delivered a powerful global statement about the nation’s resilience, vibrancy, and unshaken confidence moving forward. The 2026 staging came on the heels of Hurricane Melissa, a natural disaster that disrupted travel and event planning across parts of the island, making this year’s turnout even more notable.

This year’s carnival drew roughly 11,000 registered participants, hosted 70 individual celebratory events — the highest number of activities in the history of Jamaica Carnival — and saw record levels of local spectator support. All indicators point to 2026 being one of the strongest carnival seasons the island has ever hosted, according to the minister.

While a full formal economic analysis of the 2026 event is still ongoing, Bartlett noted that early projections point to total economic impact staying close to 2025’s benchmark figures. For context, the 2025 Carnival generated an estimated JMD 7.7 billion in direct visitor expenditure, with a total overall economic contribution of JMD 165.7 billion. Matching or nearly matching that figure in 2026 would mark a major milestone for Jamaica’s ongoing tourism recovery post-hurricane, Bartlett said.

He added that the 2026 event’s underlying success reinforces a core truth about Jamaica’s cultural economy: when the nation’s unique cultural offerings take center stage, the economic benefits spread across every sector from hospitality to transportation to small local businesses.

Looking ahead, Bartlett stressed the critical importance of maintaining the positive momentum of Jamaica’s tourism and events sector, and protecting the global reputation of “Brand Jamaica” as a safe, world-class travel destination.

“That reputation is our most valuable asset, so we have to be intentional about protecting it,” Bartlett said. “I have formally tasked the Linkages Sub-Committee with a full review of safety and emergency response protocols ahead of the 2027 Carnival season. Our goal is to ensure this iconic product continues to grow stronger, safer, and more competitive on the global stage.”

17 4 月, 2026