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  • Health officials to brief media on BA flight at LPIA

    Health officials to brief media on BA flight at LPIA

    A developing public health incident is unfolding at Lynden Pindling International Airport in The Bahamas, where an inbound British Airways commercial flight has been detained over potential Ebola exposure risks. Health authorities are preparing to hold a formal press briefing on site Wednesday evening to share updated details on the situation, after reports emerged that two passengers on the flight had recently visited regions currently grappling with Ebola transmission.

    Journalists have already assembled at the airport, waiting for official confirmation and further guidance from the Bahamian Ministry of Health and Wellness and other interagency response teams. As the investigation continues, the government of the neighboring Cayman Islands has released an official public statement addressing the incident, confirming they are aware of the widespread reports that the London-origin flight was being held in Bahamian territory over what has been described as a serious public health threat.

    According to the Cayman Islands government statement, all passengers and crew aboard the detained aircraft are currently undergoing comprehensive health screening by Bahamian public health officials. Critically, the statement confirmed that multiple Cayman Islands residents are among the passengers, including Rolston Anglin—who holds two senior cabinet positions as Minister for Finance and Economic Development and Minister for Education and Training.

    Cayman public health officials have moved quickly to reassure the local population, emphasizing that there is no immediate public health risk to the Cayman Islands at this stage of the response. They have urged residents to avoid unsubstantiated rumor and unnecessary speculation, noting that cross-border authorities are actively monitoring the situation minute-by-minute as screening and testing procedures are completed.

  • Kintyre posts $531m profit on paper gains as cash from operations falls short

    Kintyre posts $531m profit on paper gains as cash from operations falls short

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Jamaican conglomerate has posted one of the sharpest quarterly profit spikes in recent regional corporate history, but the spectacular result masks underlying cash flow challenges that are already drawing scrutiny from market observers. Kintyre Holdings has announced that its net profit reached $531.3 million for the first three months of the year, ending March 31, a staggering jump from just $8.4 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025. Total top-line income also surged from $34.1 million a year earlier to $565.7 million in the latest reporting period.

    Virtually all of this extraordinary growth traces back to a single accounting adjustment: a $510 million upward revaluation of investment properties controlled by the firm’s real estate subsidiary, Parallel Real Estate Ventures. This non-cash gain alone accounted for approximately 90% of the group’s total reported income for the quarter.

    Under established International Financial Reporting Standards, property-holding firms are mandated to conduct regular open-market reassessments of their investment real estate portfolios. When valuations rise, the full amount of the increase must be recorded as income on financial statements, even though no property has been sold and no actual cash has changed hands. By the end of March, Kintyre’s total investment property valuation hit $767 million, up from $234 million just three months prior — a $533 million gain that exists almost entirely on paper.

    This technical accounting distinction carries critical weight for investors, because reported profit and operational cash flow are far from interchangeable metrics. A company can post headline-grabbing profits driven by asset appreciation while still struggling to generate the liquid capital required to cover supplier payments, debt obligations and daily operating expenses. This exact dynamic played out in Kintyre’s latest quarterly results.

    When the non-cash property revaluation is excluded from calculations, the firm recorded a $1.4 million net cash outflow from core operating activities during the quarter. That marks a major reversal from the same period last year, when Kintyre generated a positive $25.3 million in operating cash flow. Company leadership attributes this weakening to the rollout of multiple new business divisions, most of which are still in early developmental stages and not yet generating revenue.

    At the end of the quarter, Kintyre held just $2.2 million in cash reserves against a $3.4 million bank overdraft, leaving the firm with a negative net cash position of $1.2 million. While this represents an improvement from the negative $3.6 million net cash position recorded in the first quarter of 2025, the company still remains in a cash deficit.

    For most market analysts and investors, consistent positive operating cash flow is viewed as a far more dependable indicator of long-term corporate financial health than paper gains from asset revaluations. Even so, the upward property adjustment has dramatically strengthened Kintyre’s reported balance sheet. Total company assets climbed from $1.12 billion at the end of December 2025 to $1.68 billion by the end of March, while shareholders’ equity jumped 76% to $1.23 billion.

    One balance sheet detail that is expected to attract investor attention is the large volume of transactions between Kintyre and its related parties. As of March 31, related entities and individuals connected to Kintyre through shared ownership or management owed the group $197.3 million — a sum that makes up more than half of Kintyre’s total current assets. On the liability side, Kintyre itself owed $130.4 million to these same related parties. While such interconnected transactions are common for small, expanding conglomerates in early growth phases, they do mean a large share of the firm’s liquid assets and outstanding obligations exist outside of fully independent, arm’s-length commercial agreements.

    Administrative and acquisition costs rose 137.7% year-over-year to $22.2 million this quarter, a jump driven by startup expenses connected to the launch of the company’s new Spirits Division and the deployment of water bottling production infrastructure.

    Kintyre’s aggressive expansion across multiple sectors continued moving forward during the quarter. In January, the firm finalized its acquisition of Kulcha Rum, marking its official entry into the spirits market, and has already begun a full rebranding process for the acquired product line. Its water bottling subsidiary BOLD has invested $525,000 in automated production technology and has started fulfilling commercial customer orders through distribution partner Miracle Corporation. The new bottling plant boasts a monthly production capacity equivalent to $75 million in finished bottled water products.

    On the real estate front, the Chalet at Bengal Beach, a 26-unit beachfront residential development planned for Discovery Bay, St Ann, secured all required regulatory and environmental approvals during the quarter, clearing the way for construction to begin. Company management is currently evaluating two options: moving forward with development in-house, or selling the fully approved site to an outside developer. Work is also progressing on subdividing the company’s large Stony Hill land holding into individual residential lots.

    Beyond these core projects, Kintyre is advancing planning work on a 170-acre quarry development in Clarendon, and continues to move forward with its proposed acquisition of outdoor advertising firm OOH Media Services. If completed, the purchase would expand the group’s media portfolio beyond its existing Visual Vibe operations.

    Today, Kintyre is building a diversified operating portfolio spanning real estate, spirits production, bottled water, media and industrial quarrying. For investors, the central question going into future quarters will be whether this fast-expanding portfolio can ultimately generate enough consistent cash earnings to match the surge in the company’s asset base.

  • Heavy rainfall causing havoc in sections of western Jamaica

    Heavy rainfall causing havoc in sections of western Jamaica

    Five consecutive days of intense downpours across large swathes of western Jamaica have left critical infrastructure damaged and communities grappling with widespread flooding, with a key inter-parish road now split completely in half by severe erosion. The collapsed stretch connects the Hanover communities of Kendall and Glasgow, prompting the National Works Agency (NWA) to launch an urgent damage assessment to determine the scope of repairs needed to restore the vital thoroughfare.

    Footage capturing the fractured roadway in Kendall, as well as submerged streets and properties across flood-hit Westmoreland, has spread rapidly across social media platforms, bringing the scale of the weather disruption into public view. While the road damage is extensive, NWA Western Region Community Relations Officer Janel Ricketts confirmed to local outlet Observer Online that the collapse does not present an immediate hazard to people traveling the area on foot.

    “Pedestrians are not in any danger here right now,” Ricketts explained. “But motorists who attempt to drive through the damaged stretch face a high risk of severe damage to their vehicles.” For drivers needing to travel between the two communities, officials have mapped a formal alternate route that runs through Caudwell, connecting Kingsvale to Prospect.

    The current wave of extreme rainfall is the second major disruption to hit western Jamaica’s transport network in less than a week. On Tuesday, overflow from the Riley River—also referred to as the Lucea West River— inundated the center of Lucea, leaving motorists traveling between the popular tourist hubs of Negril and Montego Bay stuck for hours before waters receded. By Wednesday and Thursday, flood warnings were issued across multiple communities in Westmoreland, including the parish capital Savanna-la-Mar.

    One Harmony Town, Savanna-la-Mar resident documented her flooded home in a viral social media video, blaming two days of repeated inundation by muddy floodwater on clogged, unmaintained local drains that could not channel excess rainwater away from residential areas. Ricketts noted that standing water remains on many secondary roads across western Jamaica as scattered rainfall continues, but added that no other major infrastructure failures have been reported as of Friday morning’s update. “At this time, there are no other major issues to report,” she assured the public.

  • US Green Card seekers must now apply from home countries

    US Green Card seekers must now apply from home countries

    In a sweeping policy shift unveiled Friday in Washington D.C., the Trump administration has enacted a landmark change to U.S. permanent residency rules that will require the vast majority of foreign nationals seeking green cards to submit their applications from their country of origin.

    Zach Kahler, a spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), outlined the new regulation in an official statement, noting that only applicants facing extraordinary, exceptional circumstances will be exempt from the new requirement. Under the updated framework, any foreign national currently residing in the U.S. on a temporary status will be required to return to their home nation to move forward with their permanent residency application.

    Kahler emphasized that the U.S. immigration system is structured around a core principle: nonimmigrant visa holders — including international students, temporary skilled workers, and tourists — enter the country for limited, time-bound stays tied to a specific purpose. “Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over,” Kahler said, adding that temporary entry should never serve as a backdoor to starting the green card application process.

    Data from The Washington Post shows that the U.S. issues more than 1 million green cards annually, and prior to this policy change, more than half of all successful applicants were already residing in the United States on temporary visas when they submitted their applications. Moving forward, all green card applications from foreign nationals abroad will be processed by the State Department through U.S. consular offices located across the globe.

    Administration officials argue the new rule will strengthen border integrity and immigration enforcement. Kahler explained that requiring in-country applications will reduce the need for U.S. authorities to locate and deport individuals who remain in the country illegally after their green card application is rejected. Instead of overstaying their temporary visas after a denial, applicants will remain in their home countries while their cases are processed.

    This latest regulatory change aligns with a core campaign promise Trump made during his 2016 bid for the White House: cracking down on unauthorized immigration by expelling millions of undocumented migrants already residing in the U.S. Since taking office, his administration has steadily closed off multiple legal pathways to permanent U.S. residency as part of its broader restrictive immigration agenda.

  • Tufton pushes ahead with recruitment agenda

    Tufton pushes ahead with recruitment agenda

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – As global health leaders gathered in Geneva for the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton leveraged the high-profile global forum to advance a pressing domestic priority: addressing crippling shortages of specialist nursing staff across the island’s public health system. On the sidelines of the assembly, Tufton held targeted bilateral negotiations and signed landmark memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with health ministers from Ghana, India, and the Philippines, laying out a multi-pronged framework to fill critical gaps and upskill local nursing workforces. Under the terms of these new agreements, imported specialist nurses will be recruited to fill urgent vacant posts across Jamaica, while Jamaican nursing professionals will also gain expanded access to remote specialized training from partner institutions. Outlining one key infrastructure investment tied to the deal, Tufton announced plans to launch a dedicated nursing simulation center in Jamaica, where local clinicians will complete hands-on training modules delivered remotely by international partners. This builds on ongoing diplomatic engagement: Tufton completed an official working visit to the Philippines last year to lay groundwork for the partnership, and a technical delegation from Manila is scheduled to travel to Jamaica in the coming month to finalize implementation details. Talks are also progressing with Apollo Hospitals, India’s largest private multi-specialty healthcare network, to facilitate recruitment of additional specialist clinical staff. A senior Apollo management team met with Jamaica’s health ministry earlier this month to advance negotiations, building on a 2002 joint communiqué between the two parties that has now moved to the active implementation stage for both nurse recruitment and local workforce training. In a May 12 sectoral budget address to Jamaica’s House of Representatives, Tufton detailed the severity of the country’s specialist nursing shortage, listing 12 high-need areas that require immediate staffing: critical and intensive care, oncology, paediatrics, accident and emergency, nephrology and renal dialysis, ophthalmology, neonatology, midwifery, psychiatry, burn care, and cardiothoracic care. The government is pursuing multiple parallel pathways to close the gap, beyond the new bilateral agreements with Ghana, India, and the Philippines. This year alone, 100 local Jamaican specialist nurses are on track to complete their required training and enter the workforce. More than 70 nurses have already completed interviews through a targeted diaspora recruitment drive, with successful candidates expected to begin assignments at public health facilities across the island over the coming quarter. Additionally, 48 nurses and doctors who received Barry Wint Memorial Scholarships will be deployed to understaffed public facilities once they complete their academic programs. To streamline all these international recruitment and training initiatives, Jamaica’s health ministry has launched a new dedicated International Recruitment Unit, which will act as the central coordinating body for all bilateral recruitment partnerships and diaspora hiring efforts. “This unit will focus on mitigating critical workforce shortages, particularly in specialised fields,” Tufton explained. “The unit will also assist in coordinating partnerships for training that involves cross border agreements.” Alongside workforce expansion, the ministry is also investing in local training infrastructure, upgrading in-house training facilities in partnership with the Kingston School of Nursing to expand both in-person and remote course offerings. Expanded hospital facilities across the island will also create additional clinical rotation spaces to support the training of new nursing staff. Parallel to Jamaica’s domestic workforce initiatives, WHA delegates took a major global public health action on Thursday, approving a landmark resolution formally recognizing steatotic liver disease (SLD) – a chronic condition previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – as a fast-growing contributor to the global noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden. The resolution notes that an estimated 1.7 billion people worldwide live with SLD, making it one of the fastest-increasing causes of chronic liver disease globally. SLD is closely linked to common metabolic conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, while alcohol-related liver damage remains a major secondary contributor to the overall global SLD burden. Without timely prevention and clinical intervention, SLD can progress to irreversible liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, placing growing strain on health systems in both low- and high-income countries. The WHA resolution calls on all WHO member states to integrate SLD screening and management into national NCD control strategies, strengthen primary health care capacity to address the condition, improve population-level disease surveillance, and raise public awareness of SLD risk factors. It also urges governments to pursue cross-ministerial, multisectoral action to address shared NCD risk factors that drive SLD growth, including unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and harmful alcohol use. Finally, the resolution calls for expanded access to prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, with targeted outreach to high-risk populations including children and adolescents.

  • Ground broken for $140m Stepney Rainwater Catchment Tank

    Ground broken for $140m Stepney Rainwater Catchment Tank

    ST ANN, Jamaica – After years of widespread water access challenges for households across Stepney and neighboring communities in St Ann parish, a transformative new rainwater catchment and treatment infrastructure project has officially moved forward, following a groundbreaking ceremony hosted Thursday by Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change.

    Funded at a total cost of $140 million and scheduled to kick off construction on June 1, the initiative will be executed by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), with the explicit goal of delivering consistent, regulated potable water supplies to more than 1,100 local residents who have long lived with debilitating water scarcity.

    At the ceremony, Samuda framed the public investment as far more than a standard infrastructure upgrade, positioning it as a targeted anti-poverty intervention that addresses hidden financial burdens carried by working-class households. “Every dollar residents pay for trucked water is money pulled away from investing in their children’s education, or diverted from other critical household needs that keep communities afloat,” he explained. “Every investment like this one in Stepney is an investment in cutting poverty and empowering local communities. We are making this investment to lift the heavy weight that local people have carried for far too long.”

    The 28-week construction timeline will deliver a fully integrated, modern water harvesting and purification system tailored to the region’s climate conditions. Core project elements include an 180,000-gallon reinforced concrete catchment tank, paired with a purpose-built surface collection area designed to capture large volumes of rain runoff. The development also adds a state-of-the-art chlorination treatment system, a purpose-built water management facility, and new localized distribution stands to formalize and regularize water access across all participating communities.

    Zavia Mayne, Member of Parliament for St Ann South Western and State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, welcomed the long-awaited investment, noting it represents the end of a years-long advocacy and planning process to ease the daily struggles of his constituents. “If you talk to any resident here, they will tell you straight that the water crisis is one of the worst problems they face. Access to clean water has been their top priority for years, and today we can tell them we are nearly across the finish line,” Mayne said. “We have secured the full funding, selected a qualified contractor, and we are ready to get to work to make daily life easier for every person in this community.”

    Samuda also placed the Stepney project within the context of Jamaica’s broader national climate resilience and recovery agenda, which gained new structure following the recent passage of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Act. He noted that Jamaica faces a range of climate-driven hazards, with forecasters predicting an extended period of extreme heat and dry conditions across the country over the coming three months. Building national resilience against unpredictable, intensifying climate volatility, he emphasized, requires investments across multiple sectors that address community needs at the local level.

    For Stepney and the wider parish of St Ann, the start of construction on the new water system marks the beginning of a new era, one that promises structural water security, new local employment opportunities during construction, and stronger climate resilience for generations to come.

  • ‘It Takes Two’ rapper Rob Base dies at 59

    ‘It Takes Two’ rapper Rob Base dies at 59

    The hip-hop community is mourning the loss of one of its most influential crossover pioneers Friday, with news that legendary American rapper Rob Base—born Robert Ginyard—has passed away at 59 following a public battle with cancer. The confirmation of his death came via an official statement shared to Base’s own social media pages, where fans and peers alike have since flooded the comments with tributes to his decades-long career.

    Base rose to global fame alongside his creative partner DJ EZ Rock, with the pair forming a trailblazing Harlem-based rap duo in the 1980s that helped bring hip-hop from underground block parties to mainstream commercial success. It was their 1988 collaborative hit *It Takes Two* that cemented their place in music history: the chart-topping track peaked at the No. 3 position on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Club Songs chart, earned a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and quickly became a cultural touchstone.

    In the decades following its debut, *It Takes Two* has remained a staple at celebrations, dance nights, and public events around the world, proving its enduring cross-generational appeal. In 2000s ranking, VH1 placed the iconic track at No. 37 on its list of the 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of all time, a testament to its lasting impact on the genre.

    The official statement honoring Base celebrated both his professional legacy and personal character, writing, “Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world.” It went on to highlight his life off the stage, adding, “Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten. Thank you for the music, the memories, and the moments that became the soundtrack to our lives.”

    Base is not the first member of the iconic duo to pass: DJ EZ Rock, whose legal name was Rodney Bryce, died in 2014 from complications related to diabetes.

  • Jamaican-American actor lands lead role in The Fighting Quaker

    Jamaican-American actor lands lead role in The Fighting Quaker

    LOS ANGELES — Acclaimed Jamaican-born actor Marcos James, who built global recognition for his standout guest role as White Rat in the hit HBO fantasy series *Game of Thrones* and his long-running turn as William French on Lifetime’s *Keeping up with the Joneses*, is set to make a much-anticipated return to his theatrical roots this summer. On June 4, James will step into the lead role of Minister Richard Allen in the new historical play *The Fighting Quaker*, making its world premiere at Los Angeles’ iconic El Portal Theatre as part of nationwide celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding.

    *The Fighting Quaker* centers on the little-known story of Timothy Matlack, a Founding Father whose critical contributions to American independence have long been overlooked by mainstream history. The drama follows Matlack, portrayed by veteran actor Christopher Hoffmann, as he takes on the high-stakes task of hand-inscribing the final official version of the Declaration of Independence, all while grappling with how this work aligns with his core Quaker faith. In the narrative, Matlack crosses paths with Minister Richard Allen, a gifted orator who becomes an unexpected mentor and catalyst for change. The pair bonds over the Declaration’s most transformative principle — that “All men are created equal” — and Allen’s perspective pushes Matlack to challenge long-held traditional norms within Quaker communities, deepening his commitment to the revolutionary cause.

    For James, the role of Minister Allen marks more than just a new acting credit: it is a full-circle return to the craft that launched his career. “In so many ways, taking this lead role is a trip back to where I first started in the arts,” James shared in an interview. “Even though most of my recent work has been in film and television, I cut my teeth in theater. The weeks of rehearsal have let me dig into every small layer of Minister Allen, so I’m not just playing him — I’m becoming him. Being back on stage reminds me that the best acting happens when the performance fades away, and you truly become the character you’re meant to portray.”

    The production’s creative team emphasizes that the dynamic between Minister Allen and Timothy Matlack is the emotional and narrative heart of the play, with themes that remain just as relevant today as they were in 1776. “The exchanges between these two men are some of the most vital scenes in the entire production,” the team shared. “It’s not just about the profound impact Minister Allen has on Matlack’s journey. Their conversations about equality, faith, and revolution resonate across every generation, from the founding of the nation to our current cultural moment.”

    James notes that the rigorous preparation process for live theater has reshaped his approach to on-screen work, teaching him lessons that translate across every medium. “The methodology you have to build for a theater performance is invaluable when you bring it over to film and TV,” he explained. “It takes a lot of deep mental work, but it’s also about letting go, trusting your instincts, and staying open to guidance from the director and the rest of the creative team. That discipline makes every performance stronger, no matter the medium.”

    The production carries unique historical weight, produced by legendary Hollywood film producer Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis, a direct descendant of Timothy Matlack himself. DeLaurentiis boasts a decades-long career spanning iconic titles including *Rocky V* opposite Sylvester Stallone, *10th and Wolf* with James Marsden, and *Mannequin Two: On the Move* starring Kristy Swanson. *The Fighting Quaker* is helmed by prolific veteran theater director Bryan Rasmussen, who has brought dozens of historical dramas to stages across the country.

    For James, the production’s deep ties to actual American history make the opportunity even more meaningful. “It’s such an extreme honor to be part of a project with this level of historical significance,” he said. “It’s fascinating that the producer is a direct descendant of Timothy Matlack. In casual conversations throughout rehearsal, I’ve gotten to hear first-hand family stories about Matlack and his place in American history that you won’t find in any textbook.”

    This is not James’ first turn on major theater stages: his previous theatrical credits include a run in *The Lion King* on London’s West End, and he starred as the hero Arjuna in Sadler’s Wells’ celebrated production of *The Mahabharata*. Beyond his upcoming theater work, James remains a busy presence in film and television. He currently guest stars in the sixth season of the hit drama *The Family Business*, which streams on Paramount+, where he plays the ruthless villain Candy — an ambitious underground crime boss who goes head-to-head with Vegas Duncan, portrayed by action star Michael Jai White, and rising character Roman Johnson (Deyshaun Tucker). The standoff between the men serves as a defining turning point in the season, forcing Johnson to prove his loyalty and strength to the Duncan family.

    James recalled the fast-paced energy of filming the series, noting how thrilling it was to work opposite Jai White. “We moved really fast from getting the role to stepping on set, which kept everything sharp and exciting,” he said. “Watching Michael Jai White take control of the fight sequences was incredible. It was such a fun challenge to step into the role of his main antagonist. I’ve played my share of lead villains across different projects, so I was more than ready for this one.”

    Up next, James will reunite with Hybrid Productions and producer Vivica A. Fox for a featured role in the upcoming film *Wicked Wives*, currently in production working off a working title. This reunion marks another collaboration between James and the production company: he previously served as a series regular on Hybrid’s *Keeping up with the Joneses*, which airs on LMN and streams on Amazon and Apple TV, and starred as the lead villain Kody in the Amazon original film *Cabin Pressure*.

    *The Fighting Quaker* will open to audiences at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on June 4 at 6:00 p.m., kicking off a limited run of the historical drama.

  • Govt to explore concessionary toll fee for PPV operators

    Govt to explore concessionary toll fee for PPV operators

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s island-wide network of taxi and public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators are adopting a cautious, wait-and-see stance after Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz publicly committed to holding negotiations with toll road operators by June. The talks will explore the feasibility of rolling out a specialized discounted toll rate for PPV operators, who frequently traverse the island’s toll highways multiple times per day.

    Vaz made the announcement during a Monday press briefing held at the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre in St Andrew, an event organized to address longstanding frustration over an unfulfilled 16% fare increase that was agreed upon for public transport operators back in 2023. The minister noted that the proposal for the concessionary toll rate was first brought to his department by the Transport Authority, and he has made it a priority to advance the talks before the end of next month.

    “I want to give you a commitment that I’m going to pursue in June, a negotiation with the toll operators to see whether or not we can come up with some concessionary toll fee for the public transport operators who apply those routes on a daily basis and sometimes several times for the day,” Vaz stated. He added that toll operators already hold existing concession agreements with the Jamaican government, creating a framework for discussion on further adjustments for PPV operators.

    The minister emphasized that his department has prioritized support for the struggling public transport sector in recent months, pointing to previous policy changes that opened up under-serviced routes previously controlled by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to independent operators. He noted that, unlike private motorists and commercial businesses, public transport operators rely on toll roads far more heavily for their daily income, creating a strong case for a targeted usage-based discount.

    “I think that will go a far way in easing some of the burdens and the stresses that the public transport operators are facing… I just want to indicate that I’m very well aware of the challenges that you are facing,” Vaz said.

    Despite the minister’s public reassurances, sector leaders have pushed back on framing the toll concession as a solution to the industry’s core grievances. Charles Powell, president of the Southern Taxi Operation, argued that the transport sector has long been sidelined by government policymakers, and that current operating costs already leave most operators running at a loss rather than turning a profit.

    “The Minister of Transport, does not recognise and respect the transport sector. If they respect the transport sector, they will do something for us. This is the only sector the government doesn’t look out for. They push us away. If you check the maintenance cost of a vehicle, it is a loss, not a win win,” Powell told local outlet Observer Online.

    Powell explained that while the discounted toll rate would deliver modest benefits to the small subset of PPV operators that regularly use toll highways, it would do nothing to address the needs of the vast majority of the sector. He added that the government’s top priority should be fulfilling the 2023 written agreement to implement the 16% fare increase, rather than focusing on a policy that only benefits a small group of operators.

    “What we want is the 16 per cent increase where we have signed off on with a written agreement from 2023. Few taxi operators and bus people use the toll. So, you are not going to help the vast majority of operators, only a few. So, I am not with that….. But it is good for who is using the toll,” Powell argued.

    Other sector leaders have opted to withhold comment on the announcement, choosing instead to wait for the outcome of the Jamaican Cabinet’s scheduled decision on the issue on June 1, leaving the industry in a holding pattern as stakeholders await further action from the government.

  • RD Vial announces feasibility study for Central Cibao Expressway

    RD Vial announces feasibility study for Central Cibao Expressway

    In a major step forward for regional infrastructure development in the Dominican Republic, state highway authority RD Vial has officially greenlit a feasibility assessment for the long-proposed Central Cibao Expressway, a transformative project designed to boost connectivity across four key provinces in the country’s Cibao heartland.

    RD Vial Director Hostos Rizik outlined the project’s scope in a recent statement, confirming that the new roadway will connect the existing San Francisco de Macorís highway to the heavily traveled Duarte Highway, positioned near the main entrance of Cibao International Airport. Rizik added that a third-party consulting firm has already received formal authorization to kick off preliminary technical analyses, noting that the project is a high-priority initiative for President Luis Abinader’s administration, which has pushed aggressively to advance its development agenda.

    The announcement has drawn broad praise from business leaders and regional development advocates, who have long framed the expressway as a critical catalyst for long-term economic growth in the Cibao region. Ricardo Fondeur, a representative of the Association for the Development of Santiago (APEDI), emphasized that stakeholders are eager to see the feasibility process move forward as quickly as possible, adding that industry groups are confident the assessment will validate the project’s technical and economic viability.

    Juan María García, another prominent regional development figure, expanded on the project’s expected benefits, noting that streamlined traffic flow and cut travel times between two of the region’s largest urban centers – Santiago and San Francisco de Macorís – will unlock broader economic activity across the entire central Cibao region. This area already contributes roughly 20% of the Dominican Republic’s total gross domestic product, making infrastructure improvements here a high-stakes investment for the entire country’s economic future.