分类： politics

In a dramatic revelation during Thursday’s 2026/27 Budget Debate, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness disclosed that opposition parliamentarians privately supported the controversial 2023 salary increases while publicly condemning them. The Prime Minister made these assertions while addressing the House of Representatives, directly countering accusations from Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who had earlier criticized Holness for accepting what he termed a ‘massive’ salary increase.

Holness recounted how a member of the People’s National Party’s parliamentary caucus had contacted him to express concerns that the opposition’s public stance might pressure the government to reverse the pay adjustments. According to the Prime Minister, the unnamed PNP representative indicated that all opposition MPs actually agreed with the increases and ‘could not survive without them,’ contradicting their official position.

The Prime Minister highlighted this apparent hypocrisy by noting that despite ‘self-righteous objections,’ no opposition members had declined their salary increases. He specifically mentioned that opposition members were among the first to inquire about their retroactive payments. Holness further contrasted Golding’s public criticism with his financial benefits, noting that the Opposition Leader ‘only talks, many times nonsense, and takes home $27 million,’ adding that Golding had cost taxpayers more than the Prime Minister during the previous term.

In a theatrical moment that generated laughter throughout Parliament, Holness presented Golding with a cap inscribed with the phrases ‘anti-bad mind’ and ‘clean heart’ after offering him a bag as a ‘good gesture,’ which Golding declined. The Prime Minister suggested that Jamaican voters had already settled the matter by granting his Jamaica Labour Party a third consecutive term in September.

The disclosure has intensified the ongoing political controversy surrounding parliamentary compensation, revealing a significant disconnect between political posturing and private positions within Jamaica’s legislative body.

In a landmark declaration to Parliament, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced a transformative milestone in national security, projecting that annual homicides will fall below 500 in 2026—a figure unprecedented in modern Jamaican history. This optimistic forecast comes amid sustained declines in violent crime, with official data revealing a dramatic 43% reduction in murders from 1,147 cases in 2024 to 673 in 2025. The current year shows even greater promise, with January to mid-March figures indicating a further 29.4% decrease compared to the same period last year. Holness attributed this success to comprehensive security reforms combining intelligence-led operations, legislative enhancements, and institutional strengthening. Central to this strategy has been the strategic deployment of emergency powers, enabling security forces to develop advanced capabilities while systematically dismantling criminal networks. The Prime Minister emphasized that gang violence represents Jamaica’s primary security threat, driving narcotics trafficking, extortion, and territorial conflicts. To combat this, the government has established a Joint Anti-Gang Task Force employing integrated investigative techniques, financial intelligence, and multi-agency coordination. Concurrently, Holness revealed plans for a $5 billion forward operating base in Camp Wareika, spanning 100 acres to enhance the Jamaica Defence Force’s strategic dominance over the Liguanea Plains. This facility will leverage the tactical advantages of the Wareika Hills while maintaining the military’s presence at Up Park Camp, symbolizing the administration’s commitment to long-term security transformation through technological superiority and territorial control.

BELMOPAN, Belize — Opposition Leader Tracy Panton has issued a forceful appeal to the Belizean government to assert national sovereignty by maintaining its support for the Cuban Medical Brigade program, despite mounting criticism and pressure from the United States. Panton emphasized that yielding to US demands would compromise Belize’s independent foreign policy and disregard decades of crucial medical assistance from Cuba.

Panton invoked historical solidarity, noting that Cuba was among the first nations to recognize Belize’s independence and has consistently provided vital support during times of crisis. ‘I cannot comprehend Belize failing to take a principled stand to defend our sovereignty, which is threatened by US policy directives, and to support a nation that has steadfastly stood by us,’ she stated.

The Cuban Medical Brigade project, which has operated for decades across multiple Caribbean nations, has recently come under intensified US scrutiny. Washington alleges that the program exploits Cuban healthcare workers through coercive practices, including withheld wages, passport confiscation, forced family separation, and excessive working hours. The US State Department has characterized the initiative as reliant on ‘coercion and abuse.’

In response to these allegations, Prime Minister John Briceño’s administration has acknowledged engaging in ‘delicate negotiations’ with Cuban officials but has not disclosed specific details. Panton criticized this cautious approach, arguing that Belize must not capitulate to external pressure from what she termed a ‘bully.’

Highlighting the program’s practical significance, Panton noted that numerous rural health clinics in Belize are primarily staffed by Cuban medical personnel. She warned that terminating this collaboration would severely strain the country’s healthcare system, which faces a chronic shortage of trained doctors and nurses. ‘If we abandon this support, what alternative solutions will be implemented to guarantee our population’s access to quality healthcare?’ she questioned.

The ongoing dispute reflects broader geopolitical tensions in the region, where several Caribbean governments are reassessing their participation in Cuban medical initiatives amid US diplomatic efforts to dismantle the program.

In a significant clarification of its sanctions policy, the United States Treasury Department issued an amended general license on Thursday, explicitly excluding shipments to Cuba and North Korea from its temporary sanctions relief on Russian oil transported by sea. The revised directive maintains the authorization for the sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that were loaded onto vessels prior to 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on March 12, permitting these transactions until April 11. This measure was initially enacted to mitigate soaring global energy prices exacerbated by regional conflict. However, the updated license explicitly prohibits any such transactions involving the adversarial nations of Cuba and North Korea, broadening the original exception which solely pertained to Iran to also include certain Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. This development occurs amidst reports from maritime intelligence firms Windward and Kpler that at least two Russian tankers, one carrying diesel and another carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil, are currently en route to Cuba using deceptive navigation tactics. Their potential arrival would mark the first delivery of fuel to the island since early January, following a stringent US blockade that has triggered a severe economic crisis and widespread blackouts.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant legislative move, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness presented the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill to the House of Representatives on Thursday. This landmark legislation establishes a specialized agency dedicated to overseeing Jamaica’s comprehensive recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

Prime Minister Holness emphasized that NaRRA represents a strategic departure from conventional bureaucratic approaches, characterizing it as “a deliberate intervention in how Jamaica executes” reconstruction projects. The authority will function as a centralized hub of technical expertise for project preparation and implementation, ensuring that developmental ambitions are matched by high-quality planning and execution capabilities.

The innovative structure of NaRRA will serve as a unified national coordination point, eliminating procedural fragmentation and delays that have historically impeded large-scale infrastructure initiatives. The authority will operate through a public-private partnership model specifically designed to attract private capital alongside government investment, thereby maximizing resource efficiency while minimizing taxpayer burden.

NaRRA will be granted special powers to expedite development approvals and procurement processes, enabling the rapid implementation of resilient infrastructure projects at an unprecedented scale and pace. Beyond mere project delivery, the authority will focus on creating interconnected economic networks in disaster-affected regions, potentially generating the most substantial economic expansion in Jamaica’s history within the shortest timeframe.

HAVANA, Cuba – A prominent Cuban opposition activist remains in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest during a prolonged hunger strike protesting his detention on political charges. Roilan Alvarez Rensoler, 40, was resuscitated by medical staff but faces imminent risk to his life according to human rights organizations monitoring his case.

The activist, affiliated with opposition movements Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and Cuba Decide, initiated his hunger strike following his January 31 detention in Holguin province. Authorities charged him with “propaganda against the constitutional order” for allegedly displaying anti-government posters and defacing a billboard featuring former leader Fidel Castro.

His deteriorating health necessitated hospitalization on March 4, though family members report being denied access to his medical facility. “His situation is quite delicate,” stated his sister, Arianna Alvarez Rensoler, in communications with international media.

The case has drawn international attention, with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issuing an urgent call for his immediate release alongside all individuals detained for political reasons. This development occurs amidst limited prisoner releases following Vatican-mediated discussions between Cuban authorities and various stakeholders.

According to monitoring group Justicia11J, which tracks arrests stemming from the massive July 2021 anti-government protests, Cuba currently holds at least 760 political prisoners. Among these, 358 were detained during the historic 2021 demonstrations, though Cuban officials consistently deny holding political prisoners, characterizing dissidents as foreign-backed mercenaries.

The Cuban government recently acknowledged plans to release 51 prisoners through diplomatic channels, with 14 July 2021 protesters already freed according to independent verifications. Hunger strikes remain a recurrent protest method among detained government critics in Cuba’s penal system, highlighting ongoing tensions between authorities and opposition movements.

In a significant infrastructure announcement during the 2024/25 Budget Debate, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness revealed ambitious government plans to develop the Hopewell and Lucea Bypass project. This major transportation initiative will originate from a connection point on the Long Hill Bypass in St. James, extending westward with strategic link roads serving both Hopewell and Lucea before concluding on the western side of Lucea.

The proposed alignment will run approximately three kilometers south of the current coastal roadway, representing a substantial infrastructure enhancement for the region. Prime Minister Holness emphasized the transformative economic potential of this project, stating it will ‘unlock the entire waterfront stretch between Montego Bay and Negril as prime resort land,’ creating significant opportunities for tourism development and investment.

In a complementary initiative, the government plans to develop Lucea Harbour into a premium boating destination. Holness highlighted the natural advantages of the location, noting its shelter from prevailing winds, deep natural waters, and strategic proximity to the emerging resort corridor between Montego Bay and Negril.

The Prime Minister also addressed climate resilience concerns, warning that Lucea faces similar storm and wave action risks as Black River in St. Elizabeth. In response to these vulnerabilities, authorities are considering the eventual construction of a new town center for Lucea once the bypass project is completed, signaling a comprehensive approach to both development and environmental challenges.