Carib Scope

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  • LETTER: Where is the Antigua Girls’ High School Graduation Money Going?

    LETTER: Where is the Antigua Girls’ High School Graduation Money Going?

    In a public letter that has sparked community discussion, an concerned stakeholder has put forward pressing questions about the fate of allocated graduation funds earmarked for Antigua Girls’ High School’s upcoming commencement ceremony.

    The correspondence, which began circulating among parents, alumni, and local education circles in recent days, highlights a lack of public transparency around how the money collected and budgeted for this annual milestone event is being managed. No official breakdown of expenses — from venue rental and ceremonial materials to student refreshments and commemorative items — has been released to the school community ahead of this year’s graduation, prompting growing uncertainty and calls for accountability.

    Graduation ceremonies hold deep cultural and personal significance for the students of Antigua Girls’ High School, marking the culmination of years of hard work for graduating cohorts and their families. Many community members note that the funds in question are often raised through a combination of student contributions, school budget allocations, and small community donations, meaning the money is ultimately intended to serve the graduating class directly.

    As of the publication of this letter, school administrators have not yet issued an official response addressing the questions raised about the fund tracking, expenditure reporting, or current status of the graduation budget. The letter’s sender has reiterated that their goal is not to cast blame, but to push for clearer financial oversight that aligns with public expectations for educational institutions that manage community and student funds. Local parents and alumni organizations are now awaiting a formal statement from the school’s leadership to clarify the situation.

  • APUA Fuel Charge Rises to 80 Cents per kWh in June

    APUA Fuel Charge Rises to 80 Cents per kWh in June

    Residential and commercial electricity customers across Antigua will face higher monthly bills starting in June, following a recent rate adjustment announced by the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA). The region’s top public utility regulator has lifted the fuel variation charge from 70 cents to 80 cents per kilowatt-hour, marking a 10-cent uptick from the rate applied in May.

    Official data published by APUA outlines the recent trajectory of this variable charge: for both March and April, the rate held steady at 55 cents per kilowatt-hour, before the first 15-cent increase in May that preceded this latest adjustment. Unlike fixed components of electricity pricing, the fuel variation charge is a pass-through cost that fluctuates in line with shifting global market conditions, APUA explained. This specific rate directly tracks the international market price of the fuel used to power Antigua’s electricity generation facilities, so any global volatility in fuel costs is reflected in adjusted monthly rates.

    To help customers mitigate the impact of higher rates on their monthly budgets, the authority has issued a public call for increased energy consciousness. APUA is encouraging all users to closely track their household and workplace energy consumption, and adopt consistent energy-efficient habits to bring down overall usage and keep monthly bills more manageable.

    As a core line item included in every customer’s electricity statement, the fuel variation charge is structured to pass changes in power generation fuel costs directly to end users, rather than being absorbed by the utility. This pricing model ensures that the actual cost of producing power is aligned with what customers pay, adjusting automatically as global energy markets shift.

  • Francis Hadeed Says Uncle’s Legacy Will Live On Through Family and Business

    Francis Hadeed Says Uncle’s Legacy Will Live On Through Family and Business

    On the day of Sir Aziz Hadeed’s official funeral, family and community gathered at Holy Family Cathedral to lay to rest one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most respected figures, who passed away on May 23. Speaking on behalf of the entire Hadeed family, Francis Hadeed delivered a moving tribute that painted a portrait of the late leader far beyond his well-documented business successes.

    For Francis and his brother Andrew, Sir Aziz was never just an uncle. Decades of working side-by-side alongside him turned him into a father figure, a lifelong mentor, a trusted guide, and a close personal friend. The lessons he imparted during those years remain rooted in the Hadeed family’s values, and will continue to shape generations to come.

    One of Sir Aziz’s core business principles, Francis recalled, was that every customer deserves equal care and respect, no matter their social background or economic standing. He also believed firmly that any family member joining the business must earn their position through hard work, rather than expecting preferential treatment simply because of their last name. “When Andrew and I joined the business, we did not get any special privileges,” Francis shared. “We both started on the showroom floor learning the business from the ground up.”

    Beyond boardrooms and showroom floors, Sir Aziz leaves a legacy of quiet generosity. Francis noted that throughout his lifetime, his uncle supported hundreds of individuals and families across the country, never seeking public recognition or praise for his good deeds. The overwhelming wave of public sympathy and support that has poured in since his death, Francis argued, is a testament to the deep respect and admiration Sir Aziz earned across every corner of Antigua and Barbuda.

    Reflecting on his decades-long personal relationship with his uncle, Francis called Sir Aziz one of the greatest men he has ever had the honor of knowing. He credited Sir Aziz’s mentorship, steady guidance, and loyal friendship for shaping both his personal life and professional career into what they are today.

    In closing his tribute, Francis pledged that the entire Hadeed family would continue to uphold the core values and principles that guided Sir Aziz through his entire life. “We will carry forward the lessons you taught us, uphold the standards you set and ensure future generations understand and appreciate the foundation you worked so hard to build,” he said. Following the funeral service at the cathedral, Sir Aziz was laid to rest, with family members affirming that his legacy will live on through the businesses he built, the institutions he supported, and the countless lives he touched over his lifetime.

  • PM Browne Says Sir Aziz Hadeed’s Legacy Extends Beyond Business Success

    PM Browne Says Sir Aziz Hadeed’s Legacy Extends Beyond Business Success

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — Hundreds gathered at Holy Family Cathedral on Saturday for the official funeral of Sir Aziz Hadeed, one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most decorated public figures, where Prime Minister Gaston Browne paid tribute to a life defined by far more than corporate achievement. In a moving address to mourners, Browne framed Sir Aziz’s legacy as one rooted in lifelong generosity, dedicated public service and unwavering commitment to advancing the development of his adopted homeland.

    “We gather today to mourn the passing of one of our nation’s most exceptional citizens, a man whose entire life embodied the values of grit, entrepreneurial vision, charity, faith and patriotic devotion,” Browne told the assembled congregation. The prime minister recalled attending the iconic community leader’s 79th birthday celebration just a few months prior, noting that the announcement of Sir Aziz’s death on May 23 came as a sudden, devastating shock to the country.

    Browne walked attendees through Sir Aziz’s remarkable life journey: the young boy who left his native Syria as a child, arrived in Antigua and Barbuda with limited fluency in English, and worked alongside his family to grow a small local trade operation into one of the nation’s largest and most successful business conglomerates. But the prime minister emphasized that Sir Aziz’s impact stretched far beyond the boardroom.

    “His legacy extends far beyond his business success,” Browne said. “He understood that true achievement carries with it a responsibility to lift up those around you and serve the broader community.”

    Throughout his decades in Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Aziz was a quiet but consistent supporter of ordinary individuals, struggling families, local churches, educational institutions and a wide range of charitable initiatives, Browne recalled. Far from seeking public recognition for his giving, most of his philanthropic work went unannounced and unacknowledged outside of the communities he helped.

    Beyond his private charity and business work, Sir Aziz made significant contributions to the nation’s public life. He served as a government minister and later took on the role of chairman of the Council of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, helping to shape higher education opportunities for generations of Antiguans and Barbudans.

    Browne remembered Sir Aziz as a unifying figure across the country, describing him as “friend of all, enemy of none” who treated every person he met with equal dignity and respect, no matter their social standing or background. The prime minister also used the occasion of the funeral to highlight the outsized contribution of immigrant communities to Antigua and Barbuda’s growth and prosperity. Though Sir Aziz remained proud of his Syrian heritage throughout his life, he dedicated nearly his entire life to advancing the prosperity of the country he called home.

    “Today we celebrate a life well lived,” Browne said. “A dedicated person who was dedicated to enterprise, service, generosity and nation building.”

    After offering formal condolences to Sir Aziz’s loved ones, the prime minister affirmed that the late leader’s legacy will endure long after his passing: through the thriving businesses he built, the public institutions he helped strengthen, and the countless individual lives he improved through his kindness and generosity. Knighted earlier in 2025 in recognition of his contributions to national development, education, philanthropy and public service, Sir Aziz was laid to rest following the funeral service.

  • JCI Antigua Donates Water Tanks to Bendals Primary School

    JCI Antigua Donates Water Tanks to Bendals Primary School

    Bendals Primary School in Antigua is on track to receive a critical infrastructure upgrade, after local chapter of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Antigua announced a donation of large-capacity water tanks that will boost the institution’s water storage capabilities for students and staff. This charitable contribution is the latest delivery under JCI Antigua’s long-running Adopt-A-School Initiative, a community-focused program designed to support local educational facilities through hands-on problem solving and collaborative civic engagement projects. The project was led by JCI Antigua’s Youth Empowerment Committee, and the new water tanks were officially handed over to the school during a small, formal ceremony attended by organization leaders, school administration, and students. During the handover event, JCI Antigua President Collet Gordon shared special words of goodwill with Bendals Primary School students who are preparing to sit their upcoming Common Entrance Examinations. Gordon urged the candidates to approach this key academic milestone with calm confidence and steady determination, reminding them of their hard work in the lead-up to the test. Jawan Jackson, Chairman of the Youth Empowerment Committee, also offered encouragement to the student body, stressing that accessible educational resources, consistent personal perseverance, and active community support are all foundational to helping young people reach their full potential. After receiving the donation, the Principal of Bendals Primary School extended deep gratitude to JCI Antigua for the contribution, noting that the new water tanks will fill a long-unmet practical need at the school and serve as a valuable long-term resource for the entire school community. The Principal also highlighted the organization’s consistent commitment to investing in the overall well-being and academic development of Antiguan students, and welcomed the ongoing partnership. This water tank donation aligns with JCI Antigua’s core organizational mission, which centers on driving measurable positive change across the country through sustainable, community-led initiatives. Through the Adopt-A-School Programme, JCI Antigua has built ongoing partnerships with educational institutions across Antigua and Barbuda, prioritizing solutions to locally identified infrastructure and resource gaps while creating opportunities for young community leaders to build deeper connections with the neighborhoods they serve. As one more completed project in JCI Antigua’s years-long push to support local education, the donation marks another meaningful contribution to national development, carried out through intentional service and civic participation.

  • Police commissioner receives honorary doctorate

    Police commissioner receives honorary doctorate

    In a historic first for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), top law enforcement leader Clifton Hicken has been awarded an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) in Human Rights and Social Justice from International American University (IAU), marking a groundbreaking milestone for the institution’s leadership ranks. The official announcement was made by GPF on Saturday, confirming that Hicken is the first serving police commissioner in the entire history of the force to earn doctorate-level academic distinction.

    Fact-checking of the GPF’s official announcement confirms the honor was presented during the 2026 Iconic Felicitation of Exemplary Achievements (IFEA) Awards, an event organized by AIMLAY, an India-headquartered global recognition body that facilitates nominations of high-achieving professionals across dozens of industry sectors for outstanding contributions to their fields. Public records from IAU list AIMLAY as one of 38 official authorized recruitment and nomination partners for the institution’s honorary degree programs.

    The formal convocation ceremony was hosted at IHG’s Crowne Plaza San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, California, with the degree conferred by IAU’s Los Angeles-based School of Business. Hicken also received additional recognition for his career-long contributions at the parallel 2026 Global Excellence Summit held alongside the convocation.

    In its official statement, GPF emphasized that the field of human rights and social justice holds particular relevance for 21st-century policing. The agency noted that modern law enforcement carries core responsibilities centered on protecting marginalized and vulnerable populations, building stronger bridges between police and communities, advancing fair and equal treatment under the law, supporting youth development programs, addressing the pervasive crisis of domestic violence, and rebuilding public trust in law enforcement institutions.

    The GPF added that Hicken’s achievement underscores the force’s longstanding institutional commitment to prioritizing education, professional excellence, leadership development, and a culture of continuous lifelong learning among all serving personnel.

    Per GPF’s announcement, the latest honor is far more than a personal accolade: it stands as a key milestone in Hicken’s decades-long academic and professional journey, reflecting his unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, public service, advancing human rights, championing social justice, expanding community development, and strengthening institutional capacity within the Guyana Police Force.

    Hicken brings a robust academic foundation to his role as police commissioner, holding two professional diplomas in public management and related disciplines from the University of Guyana, as well as a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management from the UK’s University of Bedfordshire. Throughout his decades-long career, he has also completed dozens of specialized professional training programs covering core law enforcement competencies, from leadership and organizational management to human rights practice, domestic violence intervention, public order management, emergency response, search and rescue operations, tactical deployment, and organizational development. His training experience includes programs hosted by leading regional and international institutions, including the University of Guyana, the University of the West Indies Cave Hill School of Business, the San Salvador Law Enforcement Academy, and multiple global law enforcement and security training initiatives.

    The GPF closed its announcement by extending formal congratulations to Hicken on the unprecedented achievement, framing the honor as a point of collective pride for the entire force.

  • Nieuw SVJ-bestuur kiest Nita Ramcharan als voorzitter

    Nieuw SVJ-bestuur kiest Nita Ramcharan als voorzitter

    In a landmark electoral meeting held Saturday evening, the Suriname Association of Journalists (SVJ) has installed a new governing board, co-founder Nita Ramcharan taking the helm as the organization’s new president. The full seven-member leadership slate also includes Ivan Cairo as vice president, Wilfred Leeuwin as general secretary, Vishmohanie Thomas as treasurer, Amanda Palis as second secretary, Raeyen La Rose as second treasurer, and Harvey Panka as commissioner.

    Following the formal ceremonial handover of the gavel from outgoing president Naomi Hoever, the new board publicly outlined its ambitious strategic roadmap to transition SVJ from a traditional professional interest group into a respected, authoritative national industry institute. The leadership has identified three core priority areas: advancing the professionalization of Suriname’s journalism sector, strengthening the association’s standing in national public life, and driving improvements in reporting quality, professional ethics, and press freedom across the country.

    Over the coming months, the board will first launch a comprehensive review of SVJ’s founding statutes and internal operational bylaws, to align the organization’s governance framework with its new strategic goals. It will also establish a network of issue-specific working committees, designed to expand grassroots member participation in shaping organizational policy and planning public activities.

    Skills training and professional development will be a top budget and policy priority for the new term. The association plans to roll out targeted training initiatives covering high-demand areas including investigative and electoral journalism, media law, professional ethical practice, digital safety for reporters, artificial intelligence applications for news work, fact-checking, and press freedom advocacy.

    In a statement following the election, the new board emphasized that independent, professional journalism is more critical than ever in an era defined by the rise of social media, widespread disinformation, and rapid technological change. To address these new challenges, SVJ will also push for strengthened industry self-regulation, formal professional accreditation for journalists, and updated national professional standards for the field.

    Beyond internal organizational reform, the new leadership has committed to opening structured dialogue with Suriname’s government branches, public institutions, and civil society organizations. The goal of these engagements is to strengthen the legal and social standing of journalists and defend press freedom across the nation.

    The board’s full policy direction is formalized in its recently published election manifesto, and all initiatives will be further refined through ongoing consultation with SVJ’s membership base. Observers frame this leadership transition and new strategic agenda as a pivotal step for Suriname’s journalism sector, aimed at unifying the professional community, raising reporting standards, and rebuilding public trust in independent media.

  • Man dies in three-vehicle St Elizabeth crash

    Man dies in three-vehicle St Elizabeth crash

    ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – A 59-year-old man has died from catastrophic injuries sustained in a multi-vehicle crash that unfolded along Jamaica’s Content Main Road Saturday night, marking the second deadly traffic incident to hit the parish in less than a single day, local law enforcement confirmed.

    The victim has been formally identified as Llewlyn Johnson, a resident of Prospect district in New Baalbec, Manchester Parish, according to official police statements.

    The collision involved three vehicles: a privately owned Toyota Corolla sedan, a large King Long passenger coach bus, and a Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Investigative accounts from the Jamaica Constabulary Force outline that the crash occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m., when two of the vehicles—the King Long bus and Toyota Tundra—were moving westbound along the thoroughfare. Johnson, operating the Toyota Corolla, was traveling east in the opposing lane of traffic when the incident was triggered.

    Police reports confirm that the driver of the Toyota Tundra attempted to overtake the slower-moving King Long bus by veering onto the opposing side of the road. The maneuver placed the pickup truck directly in the path of Johnson’s oncoming Corolla, resulting in an initial head-on impact between the two vehicles.

    Following the first collision, Johnson lost full control of his sedan, which swerved sharply to its right and crashed into the front-right portion of the westbound King Long bus. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene found Johnson had been ejected from his vehicle during the sequence of impacts. He was rushed to a local hospital for urgent medical intervention, where he was later pronounced dead by attending medical staff.

    Tragically, this fatal crash comes less than 24 hours after another deadly traffic incident claimed the life of a toddler along a nearby stretch of roadway in the same parish. Local authorities have not released additional information about the condition of any other passengers or drivers involved in Saturday night’s collision as of press time, and an official investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

  • Experts warn of a lack of awareness about lightning safety

    Experts warn of a lack of awareness about lightning safety

    Each year across the globe, thunderstorms claim human lives, destroy residential properties, disrupt critical public services and trigger billions in cumulative economic losses. Yet according to regional lightning protection specialists, the vast majority of these tragedies and damages are entirely preventable – if communities prioritize public education, enforce internationally recognized safety standards and close gaps in systemic preparedness. At a recent international seminar focused on lightning protection best practices, three electrical engineers affiliated with the US-based Latin American Association for Lightning Protection Education sounded the alarm on systemic underpreparation, particularly in the Dominican Republic, where the threat of lightning remains widely underestimated by the public and regulatory bodies alike.

    Speaking to attendees at the “Theoretical and practical foundations of lightning protection” event, José González, Lizardo López and Jorge Noé outlined the key gaps that put Dominican residents at unnecessary risk. First, they noted, a large share of public and private buildings across the country lack properly engineered lightning protection systems that meet global safety benchmarks. Even when protection systems are installed, many fail to meet standards because they are designed and fitted by workers without sufficient technical training, who often use unregulated commercial devices with no proven effectiveness. The experts explicitly debunked widespread marketing claims for products advertised as being able to “dissipate” or “cancel” lightning strikes, emphasizing no existing technology can eliminate the natural risk, only mitigate its impact.

    International standards such as the U.S. NFPA 780, IEC 62305, and LPI 175 already outline clear, tested criteria for the design, placement and specifications of effective protection systems, the specialists noted, but these rules are rarely enforced consistently across the Dominican Republic. López, one of the association’s members, explained that being outdoors during an active thunderstorm is the deadliest behavior, as risk does not only come from a direct strike. The phenomenon of step voltage, he noted, can create lethal high voltage waves in the ground even from a lightning strike that lands a full kilometer away. Contrary to another common misconception, Jorge Noé added, damage and risk extend far beyond the direct point of impact, with dangerous surges capable of affecting any location within a five-kilometer radius of a strike – a fact that most of the public and many regional authorities do not understand.

    When thunderstorms do form, the core protective action is simple: seek shelter in a solid enclosed building immediately, and avoid the dangerous habit of lingering outdoors to watch or photograph lightning storms. Even a building without a dedicated protection system dramatically reduces risk of lethal injury, the experts confirmed – while infrastructure may suffer damage, people inside are far more likely to survive without severe harm. For those trapped outdoors with no access to a safe building, specialists advise closing legs tightly together, minimizing contact with the ground, and avoiding elevated open areas to reduce the risk of fatal voltage differences.

    Beyond public behavior gaps, the Dominican Republic also lacks a nationally implemented early warning system for thunderstorms, a tool that González calls essential to reducing population risk. While large-scale mining operations in the country currently use either satellite or local detection systems, and existing regional infrastructure can monitor atmospheric electrical activity, no widespread public alert framework is in place. Early warning systems, already successfully deployed in Colombia and Germany, give communities critical time to activate safety protocols and move to shelter before a storm hits. Past fatalities recorded at tourist beaches and outdoor recreation areas in Brazil and Peru could have been avoided, Noé noted, if adequate warnings had been issued and heeded.

    The rapid growth of solar energy installations across Latin America has also created new, underaddressed risks, the specialists warned. Solar panels, mounted as elevated metal structures on rooftops, act as natural lightning rods, and unprotected installations face a far higher risk of strikes. In addition to damaging the panels themselves, lightning strikes generate destructive power surges that can destroy expensive inverters and other electronic components tied to photovoltaic systems. All new and existing solar installations, the experts recommend, should be assessed by qualified specialists and fitted with code-compliant surge protection devices.

    Moving forward, the group called on Dominican authorities to prioritize lightning protection for high-occupancy sensitive infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and churches, particularly in regions with frequent thunderstorm activity. Any protection project should begin with a evidence-based scientific risk assessment aligned with international standards, they emphasized, rather than installing one-size-fits-all systems without prior analysis. Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the specialists called for expanded technical training for professionals working on protection systems, and widespread public education campaigns to correct common misconceptions and teach life-saving safety protocols.

    Contrary to popular belief, the experts emphasized, the leading cause of lightning-related deaths and accidents is not a lack of available technology, but unnecessary human exposure during storms. “Everyone is responsible for their own safety,” Noé reminded, stressing that the ultimate goal of all prevention infrastructure and policy is to protect the most valuable asset: human life.

  • Blackout shame!

    Blackout shame!

    A sudden, total islandwide power outage that plunged Jamaica into darkness on a Friday evening has sparked official outrage, prompted regulatory demands for accountability, and left tens of thousands of residents still grappling with disrupted water service days after the initial failure. The incident, which unfolded at approximately 9:02 pm last Friday, knocked out electricity across the entire country, derailing weekend plans for households, halting business operations, cutting off water distribution systems, and interrupting public entertainment events.

    In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, Jamaica’s state power provider, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), has pointed to severe, concentrated lightning activity as the trigger that damaged critical transmission infrastructure, sparking a cascading failure that brought down the entire national grid. JPS President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant outlined the utility’s initial findings during a joint press briefing held on Saturday, noting that intense lightning strikes damaged key transmission infrastructure in Kingston’s Corporate Area.

    “What we do know is that, as a result of the significant lightning activity, we lost five of our transmission lines emanating from one of our significant substations in the Corporate Area. In parallel to that, we had a cascading effect, causing a loss of generation across the entire island. This cascading effect resulted in the shutdown of the entire grid. At that point, we were mobilised and the team responded,” Grant explained. Further inspection confirmed visible damage: a broken high-voltage conductor connecting the Hunt’s Bay and Newport stations, plus damaged equipment at the Rockfort substation, all aligned with lightning-related impacts. Grant emphasized that full technical analysis is still ongoing to map the exact sequence of events that led to total grid collapse.

    By 6:00 am Saturday, Grant said JPS crews had restored power to the entire national grid, though roughly 10,000 customers remained without power as of Saturday afternoon due to separate, localized weather-related damage in western and central parts of the country. He added that the company has now entered the investigatory phase, focused on identifying root causes, capturing actionable lessons, and implementing changes to prevent similar widespread outages in the future.

    For Jamaica’s Energy Minister Daryl Vaz, however, the total grid failure was unacceptable and a source of deep embarrassment. In comments to reporters, Vaz noted that a properly functioning power system should never experience a total national shutdown from an isolated local fault, calling the incident an unacceptable disruption for all Jamaicans.

    “This, for me as minister, is an embarrassment and one that I would not wish to experience again in my tenure in this position. I must say that when I got the call last night, I worked through the night with the JPS president straight back until 6 o’clock this [Saturday] morning, and he had his teams out there, but we lost a good night’s sleep that we should not have lost because the system should have been in a position that if there was one area that went down, it should not have caused the entire system to go down. Something went awry. There’s absolutely no two ways about that,” Vaz said.

    Vaz also highlighted a troubling history of repeated total grid failures in Jamaica dating back to 2006. Official investigations by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) have documented six major islandwide shutdowns not caused by hurricanes, with the most recent prior outage occurring in April 2016. Past investigations have repeatedly cited preventable issues: protection system failures, defective relays left unreplaced for months, unaddressed maintenance gaps, human error, and inadequate risk assessment. Multiple past outages, including the 2006 and 2012 incidents, were also triggered by lightning strikes on transmission lines.

    Regulators have already formalized demands for accountability: the OUR has given JPS 48 hours to submit a preliminary incident report, and 30 days to deliver a full, root-cause analysis with recommended corrective actions. OUR Director General Ansord Hewitt said the agency will review the final report to assess its adequacy, issue any required regulatory directives, and verify that JPS has addressed lessons learned from past outages.

    Vaz went a step further, urging a full independent investigation to get to the bottom of the 2025 incident and prevent future recurrence, noting that dramatic technological advances since the 2016 outage should have reduced the risk of total system collapse. The Jamaican government has committed to building a reliable, resilient national power system for all residents and is demanding full transparency and accountability from JPS.

    The outage also triggered a secondary crisis for water supplies, as most water distribution infrastructure relies on electric power. As of 2:00 pm Saturday, roughly 65,000 water customers remained without service. Water Minister Matthew Samuda told reporters that full water restoration is expected to take an additional 24 to 48 hours, as crews need to recharge transmission lines and refill community storage tanks. The largest single impacted area is the Minard distribution system, which serves around 30,000 residents between Brown’s Town and Runaway Bay in St. Ann, where joint JPS and National Water Commission crews are working on site to resolve issues. Samuda noted that restoration progress is ongoing and moving in a positive direction, with significant reductions in the number of affected customers expected by Saturday evening.