分类： business

NEGRIL, Jamaica — Jamaica’s tourism industry is demonstrating remarkable resilience with a powerful recovery trajectory following Hurricane Melissa, according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. Hotel operations have been substantially restored across major resort areas, with both current occupancy rates and future reservations showing significant upward momentum.

During an inspection tour of Negril’s hotels and attractions this Friday, Minister Bartlett confirmed the nation remains firmly on schedule for its official tourism sector reopening on December 15th. The minister reported exceptionally encouraging occupancy figures for November, barely a month after the hurricane’s passage, with properties like Iberostar achieving 40% occupancy and Grand Palladium nearing 30% capacity.

“The market response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Bartlett stated. “Most significantly, our forward bookings indicate strong performance through December and January, with expectations to return to normal operational capacity thereafter.”

Minister Bartlett projected full sector recovery within the next 18 months, emphasizing that Jamaica would be “cooking with gas” once all properties resume operations by mid-2026. Recent assessments have confirmed Ocho Rios’ readiness, while Negril demonstrates confident progress toward complete operational resumption, including both accommodation facilities and experiential attractions.

The minister particularly highlighted nature’s rapid recovery and the extraordinary dedication of tourism workers who maintained professional standards despite personal hurricane impacts. Bartlett praised Grand Palladium Resort’s rapid return to operation, specifically commending General Manager Alberto Grau and staff for restoring one of the Caribbean’s largest properties to impeccable condition.

Guest feedback further validates destination confidence, with Bartlett noting a 26-member family group from Cameroon currently celebrating Thanksgiving in Jamaica. “The clear message is that Jamaica is back,” Bartlett concluded. “Our guests recognize that visiting our beautiful island represents the ultimate show of support during our recovery journey.”

Spanish authorities are implementing emergency measures to contain an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) detected in the Catalonia region, marking the country’s first cases since 1994. The highly contagious animal disease, while harmless to humans, poses a severe threat to Spain’s substantial pork industry.

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that two wild boars tested positive for the virus in northeastern Catalonia, triggering immediate international trade repercussions. Agriculture Minister Luis Planas acknowledged that approximately one-third of Spain’s trading partners have already suspended pork imports, including key market Mexico, which announced its ban shortly after the detection.

Spain ranks as the world’s third-largest producer of pork and pork derivatives, exporting nearly 3 million tonnes annually to over 100 countries. Minister Planas emphasized the government’s commitment to minimizing economic damage to the agricultural sector while implementing rigorous containment protocols.

Catalan regional authorities have established dual containment perimeters around the affected zone and restricted outdoor activities to prevent further spread. The ministry is coordinating with regional governments to enhance surveillance and control measures nationwide.

The outbreak places Spain among several European nations currently battling ASF, including Baltic states and Eastern European countries. Health officials stress that the virus presents no food safety risk to consumers but requires aggressive animal health management to protect the vital industry.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Guyanese government has announced the imminent launch of a comprehensive five-year national development strategy focused on unprecedented economic expansion and infrastructure integration. President Irfaan Ali revealed the ambitious plan during his keynote address at the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber’s Annual Awards Presentation Dinner on Friday evening.

President Ali characterized the forthcoming strategy as unparalleled in both scale and national impact, designed to align with the country’s rapidly accelerating development trajectory. This growth is primarily driven by historic investments across multiple sectors including energy, infrastructure development, logistics networks, and diversified industrial projects.

“Our national journey is now gaining tremendous momentum,” President Ali declared. “Within coming days, I will present with absolute clarity our economic expansion, infrastructure integration, and development projections for the next five years.”

The President identified Wales and Berbice as emerging epicenters of a transformed national energy ecosystem. The Wales development zone is slated to receive over US$4 billion in investments during the five-year period, funding critical projects including gas-to-energy initiatives, power generation facilities, industrial fabrication plants, specialized industrial zones, and enhanced marine infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Berbice region will anchor a second major gas project featuring a deep-water port facility, industrial expansion programs, and an extensive gas pipeline system valued at over US$2 billion. Collectively, these strategic regions are expected to drive nearly US$10 billion in new infrastructure and energy-linked investments.

“These figures are truly remarkable,” President Ali told attendees. “If this level of development doesn’t excite us as a nation, I cannot imagine what would.”

The address included significant production forecasts, with Guyana expected to close the year producing approximately 930,000 barrels of oil daily, substantially increased from 650,000 barrels earlier this year. Conservative projections indicate production could reach 1.3 million barrels per day by 2030.

President Ali simultaneously issued cautious notes regarding global market conditions, noting that industry forecasts suggest an oil oversupply environment between 2025 and 2030. He emphasized that Guyana must consequently build a competitive, efficient, and technologically advanced energy ecosystem to navigate market volatility.

“Our industry remains acutely sensitive to price fluctuations, operational costs, technological advancements, and regulatory frameworks,” the President stated. “Every risk inherent in global commodity markets becomes magnified within oil and gas sectors.”

The President identified human capital development as equally critical to national success, addressing current private sector concerns regarding workforce shortages. He urged workers to embrace upskilling initiatives, higher productivity standards, and a culture of excellence to match the nation’s transformative pace.

Warning against complacency, President Ali noted that “workforce maturity gaps or operational inefficiencies could threaten our competitiveness and undermine national development.” Despite Guyana’s rapid economic ascent, he advocated for disciplined planning and long-term strategic thinking.

“While our future appears exceptionally promising, we must temper expectations and avoid being swept away by overwhelming optimism,” President Ali counseled. He affirmed the government’s commitment to converting oil revenues into productive national assets including transportation infrastructure, port facilities, energy systems, human capital development, and diversified industrial capacity.

Concluding on an assured note, President Ali stated: “Our nation’s economy remains in secure hands—your hands, our collective hands, the steady hands of our nation.”

Domino’s Pizza has strategically enhanced its market presence in Jamaica with the inauguration of a new store in Havendale, St Andrew. This expansion underscores the brand’s dedicated focus on maximizing customer accessibility and convenience across the island nation.

The new establishment, situated at 1 Border Avenue in direct proximity to a competing Pizza Hut location, commenced operations on November 10th, with an official grand opening ceremony held on November 14th. Adrian Kerr, General Manager of Convenient Brands Limited—the operator of Domino’s Pizza Jamaica—emphasized that the selection of this specific location was driven by a core corporate objective: to ensure effortless customer access to their products.

“As the nation’s leading pizza company, our fundamental strategy revolves around eliminating barriers for our customers,” Kerr stated. “Positioning our stores within easy reach, particularly in residential communities, is paramount to our operational philosophy.”

Initial customer response has been overwhelmingly positive, with patrons specifically praising the convenience factor. Kerr highlighted how the Havendale location addresses a critical pain point for Kingston residents: the city’s notorious afternoon traffic congestion. “The challenging traffic conditions after 2 PM make any travel across Kingston considerably tedious. By establishing a store near residential areas, we significantly reduce both travel time and inconvenience for our customers,” he explained.

Currently, Domino’s Pizza Jamaica maintains an active network of 16 stores across multiple parishes including Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Mandeville, May Pen, and Ocho Rios. The company’s Montego Bay location remains temporarily non-operational due to electrical infrastructure issues resulting from Hurricane Melissa’s recent impact.

Kerr confirmed that while the hurricane caused operational disruptions, the physical infrastructure of their stores remained largely intact. “Thankfully, our properties sustained no major structural damage. We resumed operations promptly as utilities were restored in most areas. The Montego Bay store will recommence operations once stable electricity is restored,” he assured.

The hurricane has prompted a strategic reassessment of the company’s expansion blueprint. While Domino’s maintains its ambition to achieve comprehensive island-wide coverage, Kerr acknowledged the necessity of revisiting development plans post-natural disaster. “We continuously evaluate market conditions to identify optimal expansion opportunities. The recent hurricane necessitates a thorough review of our planned locations to ensure their continued viability and our ability to maintain the accessibility standards we’re committed to,” Kerr elaborated.

The company remains cautiously optimistic about its growth trajectory, balancing expansion ambitions with pragmatic considerations regarding infrastructure resilience and location viability in Jamaica’s evolving post-hurricane landscape.