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  • Richie Malvo carries family legacy with new single ‘Remember Mama’

    Richie Malvo carries family legacy with new single ‘Remember Mama’

    For offspring of industry veterans, stepping into the family trade can feel like an inevitable path — and for emerging reggae artist Richie Malvo, that narrative holds true, though the journey to embracing his musical legacy was gradual. After years of weighing the decision, the second-generation performer finally made the leap into professional recording, and he is now building momentum with his second official single, timed to honor one of life’s most foundational relationships.

    The son of acclaimed Jamaican singer Anthony Malvo, Richie made his formal entrance onto the music scene last year with his debut track *Yes I Love You*. This May, he followed that debut with *Remember Mama*, a heartfelt release crafted to coincide with Mother’s Day celebrations around the globe. In an interview with Jamaica Observer Online, the rising star opened up about his experience in the industry so far, expressing genuine excitement about his early progress.

    “It’s my second song and it feels great. It feels like I’ve accomplished something great… it was like nothing recording in the studio. I think that’s the easiest part for me,” Richie shared of the recording process.

    The new track is backed by an experienced, award-winning creative force: it is produced by Exco Levi, a Toronto-based Jamaican artist who has claimed multiple JUNO Awards, Canada’s highest honor for musical achievement, over his career.

    Rooted in the tight-knit Kintyre district of St. Andrew, Jamaica, the Malvo family has been a staple of the island’s music scene for decades. Anthony Malvo launched his own career in the 1980s, cutting his teeth performing on local sound systems before breaking through to mainstream success in 1988 with *Come Back to Me*, his hit collaboration with fellow dancehall artist Tiger. Richie’s sister, Tiffanie Malvo, has also carved out a space for herself in the industry, with a growing catalog of released tracks to her name. With both his father and sister already established as working performers, a career in music felt like a natural calling for the young artist.

    Richie points to his father as his biggest musical and personal influence, noting that the elder Malvo was the first singer he ever knew. “My dad is a great influence in my life and my sound, he’s the first singer I’ve known. People have said I sound a bit like him, so there you go,” he said.

  • Zimi joins historic dancehall moment with official Sumfest after-party

    Zimi joins historic dancehall moment with official Sumfest after-party

    Jamaican entertainment is gearing up for one of the most highly anticipated cultural moments in modern dancehall history, and local entertainment brand Zimi Entertainment has locked in a central role in shaping the landmark occasion.

    Zimi has entered an official partnership with Reggae Sumfest to produce the exclusive after-party for A Taste of Sumfest, the opening showcase headlined by two of dancehall’s most iconic and influential artists, Vybz Kartel and Mavado. Dubbed the Zimi Seh Brunch, this premium experiential event is scheduled to run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, in St Ann, serving as the grand closing celebration for a weekend that fans across the globe have already crowned as a historic moment for Jamaican music.

    Frenzy around this year’s Reggae Sumfest has reached a fever pitch almost entirely because of the unprecedented joint appearance from Kartel and Mavado. The two genre-defining stars have not shared a stage together for more than 15 years, marking their upcoming performance as a long-awaited reunion that has sparked mass excitement among domestic fans and the far-flung Caribbean diaspora alike.

    Reggae Sumfest leadership says the collaboration with Zimi Entertainment is an intuitive, natural alignment for the festival. “Zimi throws first-class events and consistently draws a young, energetic crowd. It’s critical to lift up creators who are moving Jamaican entertainment forward,” explained Joe Bogdanovich, CEO of DownSound Records Ltd. and a Reggae Sumfest director.

    Since its launch, Zimi Seh Brunch has cemented itself as a staple on Jamaica’s annual entertainment roster, building a strong reputation for blending live music, authentic local cuisine, cutting-edge fashion, and core Caribbean culture into one elevated, premium lifestyle experience. The recurring event consistently draws a high-profile crowd, including social media influencers, local creatives, entertainment industry personalities, business executives, and international tourists visiting the island.

    For Nicholas “Zimi Nick” Mahfood, founder and CEO of Zimi Entertainment, this partnership with Reggae Sumfest represents another major career milestone for his growing brand. “For years, we’ve intentionally built Zimi Entertainment to be a platform that encapsulates the raw energy of our culture, our music, our people, and one-of-a-kind experiences that stick with guests forever,” Mahfood shared. “To be tapped by Reggae Sumfest to curate the official after-party for this once-in-a-generation moment in dancehall is an enormous honor. Kartel and Mavado sharing a stage again isn’t just a music moment—it’s a cultural milestone for our entire community. We’re incredibly proud that Zimi Seh Brunch gets to be part of this story.”

    Zimi’s leadership emphasizes that delivering high-end, thoughtful guest experiences remains at the core of the brand’s mission, especially for an event tied to such a culturally significant occasion. “Execution has always been what sets Zimi apart from other event producers. Guests don’t just show up to our events—they immerse themselves in them,” noted Pierre Beckford, Zimi’s sponsorship and execution manager. “For this Zimi Seh Brunch, we’re scaling everything up and bringing the intentional planning that a historic moment like this Sumfest reunion deserves.”

    Momentum for the 2025 festival has been building steadily across international markets as well. On May 20, Reggae Sumfest held its official global launch party at Komodo in Miami, which drew hundreds of attendees from the Caribbean diaspora, international entertainment media, social media influencers, and top industry executives. The guest list included Vybz Kartel himself, alongside producer Gary Matalon, artist Ricky Platinum, and key stakeholders from both Reggae Sumfest and Zimi Entertainment.

    Organizers confirmed that additional details about the Zimi Seh Brunch, including the exact venue location, new brand partnerships, and special planned experiences for guests, will be unveiled to the public in the coming weeks.

  • Dominican activists urge government action on femicides in Dominican Republic

    Dominican activists urge government action on femicides in Dominican Republic

    In Santo Domingo, a broad coalition of civil society groups has launched a high-profile campaign pushing Dominican Republic authorities to label the ongoing crisis of femicide and gender-based violence as a formal national emergency. Spearheaded by the Coalition for Women’s Rights and Life, the movement has already garnered signatures from more than 80 organizations, alongside leading academics, grassroots activists, and ordinary concerned citizens. The push comes in response to alarming new data showing that at least 32 women have lost their lives to gender-motivated killings in just the first five months of 2026, a trend that has sparked widespread public outcry over systemic failures to protect women across the country.

    The official open letter at the heart of the campaign, titled “Not One Less! Women’s Lives Demand State, Justice and Education for Equality,” lays out the urgent need for coordinated, cross-government action to tackle what organizers frame as a deep-rooted systemic crisis, rather than a string of isolated events. To expand public participation and amplify pressure on decision-makers, the Coalition has launched a dedicated public portal at feminicidios.do, where any Dominican citizen can add their name in support of the demands.

    The document outlines a clear, multi-pronged policy agenda that goes far beyond a simple emergency declaration. Signatories are calling for the passage of a sweeping national law dedicated to preventing and penalizing all forms of violence against women, as well as independent, third-party audits of current response systems operated by the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office. Additional demands include harsher and more consistent prosecution of perpetrators, the immediate removal of any police or military personnel facing accusations of gender-based violence, a major expansion of accessible emergency shelters and long-term support programs for survivors, and the mandatory integration of gender equality education into national school curricula.

    In a statement accompanying the letter, Coalition leaders stressed that repeated femicides across the country cannot be dismissed as random, individual acts of violence. Instead, they argue, these deaths are the direct outcome of long-standing institutional failures to proactively prevent harm and provide effective protection for at-risk women. The campaign also addresses overlooked secondary harms of the crisis, calling for targeted, comprehensive support for children left orphaned by femicide killings, as well as a substantial increase in public funding for both the Ministry of Women and community-based violence prevention initiatives operating across all regions of the country.

    Organizers are continuing to ramp up outreach to recruit additional signatories, including more national organizations, professional associations, local community leaders, and everyday citizens. They emphasize that ending violence against women cannot be achieved through piecemeal actions; it requires a unified, nationwide response and sustained, long-term public policies centered on three core pillars: prevention, accessible justice, and consistent protection for all women.

  • Ebola risk upgraded to ‘very high’ in DR Congo — WHO chief

    Ebola risk upgraded to ‘very high’ in DR Congo — WHO chief

    GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — In an updated official briefing held Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a critical escalation of its public health risk assessment for the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), raising the national-level threat from high to very high.

    Speaking to reporters at the organization’s Geneva headquarters, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus outlined the tiered risk breakdown: while the national threat now stands at very high, the risk of regional cross-border spread remains categorized as high, and the global risk level stays at low.

    As of the latest update, outbreak data reveals a stark gap between confirmed and suspected infections that points to significant underreporting. So far, 82 cases have been laboratory-confirmed, with seven recorded deaths among confirmed patients. However, Tedros emphasized that the true scale of the epidemic is far larger, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected fatalities across affected areas of the country.

    “The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly,” Tedros told the assembled press, confirming the urgent need for expanded response efforts.

    Neighboring Uganda has so far seen a contained impact, with only two confirmed cases traced back to cross-border travel from the DRC, one of which resulted in death. The situation in Uganda remains currently stable, per WHO’s assessment.

    A major complicating factor slowing the global public health response, Tedros noted, is persistent violence and widespread insecurity in affected regions of the DRC. Unrest has blocked aid workers from accessing hard-hit communities, delayed diagnostic testing, and hindered the implementation of life-saving containment measures that could slow the outbreak’s advance.

  • Guardiola to step down after glittering decade at Man City

    Guardiola to step down after glittering decade at Man City

    MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — After 10 years of unprecedented success that redefined the landscape of top-tier English football, Pep Guardiola has formally announced he will step down as head coach of Manchester City at the conclusion of the current season. The announcement came Friday, confirming widespread speculation that first emerged earlier this week.

  • Palmer and Foden left out of England World Cup squad

    Palmer and Foden left out of England World Cup squad

    LONDON, UK – In a series of shock selections that have sent ripples through English football, head coach Thomas Tuchel unveiled his England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada on Friday, leaving multiple high-profile stars out of his roster for the global tournament.

    Among the most eye-catching exclusions are Chelsea creative midfielder Cole Palmer and Manchester City’s Phil Foden, both of whom were pivotal to England’s deep run to the Euro 2024 final this past summer. The pair have been dropped after underwhelming club campaigns this season, a call that has already sparked fierce debate among fans and pundits alike. Also missing from the squad is Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin – who sit among the highest-scoring English players in this season’s Premier League – Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, and Crystal Palace rising star Adam Wharton. Maguire, 33, spoke out publicly after the announcement, saying he was stunned by his omission after a strong domestic season with United, adding he had been confident he would play a key role for the Three Lions at the tournament.

    The most unexpected inclusion comes in the form of Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia after moving there in 2024. Toney made a positive impression as a substitute at Euro 2024, but has featured for just two minutes of senior international football since his transfer to the Middle East. Another notable selection sees veteran midfielder and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, now of Brentford, earn his spot ahead of the young Wharton. Tuchel also took a calculated gamble on Manchester City centre-back John Stones, who has barely featured for his club this season after being sidelined by repeated injury issues.

    Tasked with ending England’s 58-year drought since their last major international trophy back in 1966, the German manager – who lifted the UEFA Champions League during his tenure at Chelsea, and has previously managed Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich – has openly embraced the high-stakes nature of his controversial selection calls. He admitted that delivering the news to cut players from the squad was an emotionally draining process.

    “It was difficult, sometimes painfully difficult. Even through the phone calls, I could feel the raw emotion,” Tuchel told reporters. “I called every player who has been part of our camp at least once. I wanted to show them the appreciation and respect they deserve for everything they’ve given to this team.”

    Tuchel explained that his selection process was built on observations from international training camps held across September, October and November, with the final squad balancing promising young talent and battle-hardened veteran experience. For the head coach, tough selection calls are not a weakness, but a necessary step to building a side capable of going all the way to the World Cup title.

    “I love the tough decisions because in the end they bring clarity, they bring a certain edge, and that’s exactly what you need to go all the way,” he said. “In the end it all comes down to this: who do we really trust? Who delivered for us? Who helped build our culture, especially from September onwards? Who set the standards, who were the drivers, who made up the leadership group? We relied heavily on that framework, because connection within the squad has to be there.”

    England captain Harry Kane, who earned his place in the squad, expressed his excitement ahead of what will be another World Cup campaign for the veteran striker. “I’m extremely proud to be going to another World Cup,” Kane wrote in a social media post. “You never take these moments for granted. This is what you dream of as a kid. Can’t wait to get out there!!”

    The Three Lions will kick off their 2026 World Cup Group stage campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, before facing Ghana on June 23 and closing out group play against Panama four days later on June 27.

  • Royal Caribbean backs new farm to boost food security

    Royal Caribbean backs new farm to boost food security

    A landmark community farming initiative, backed by major cruise line Royal Caribbean and the Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture, opened its doors to the public in Centreville on Wednesday, marking a key milestone in the country’s push to address local food insecurity and cut reliance on imported food products.

    The official launch was marked by a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, drawing a cross-section of attendees including senior government figures, local community organizers, and top executives from Royal Caribbean. The Royal Caribbean Group Foundation has anchored the project with a $75,000 total contribution, allocating $50,000 to cover initial site development and infrastructure costs, and an additional $25,000 earmarked for ongoing operational maintenance. Complementing this private sector support, Jomo Campbell, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, announced the ministry would add a $10,000 cash grant alongside $5,000 in agricultural equipment vouchers redeemable through the ministry’s fish and farm store.

    Philip Smith, president of the Bahamas Agricultural Development Organization (ADO), explained that the Centreville site is the fifth community farm completed under a national strategic scheme that aims to roll out similar projects across all 41 of the country’s parliamentary constituencies. Under the initiative’s operational model, 70 percent of all fresh produce harvested from the farm will be distributed free of charge to low-income and food-insecure residents within the Centreville community. The remaining 30 percent will be sold to local restaurants, generating recurring revenue to cover long-term operating costs and keep the project self-sustaining.

    Smith’s vision for the project grew out of 15 years of experience leading the Bahamas Feeding Network, a regional hunger relief organization that distributes more than 5,000 prepared meals to vulnerable communities each week. Through that work, Smith has repeatedly witnessed the deep systemic gaps in local food access that leave thousands of Bahamians struggling to put nutritious food on the table. The community farm model, he says, is designed to transform the existing feeding network into a more self-sustaining system, while also shifting national consumption patterns toward locally grown agricultural products.

    Smith also highlighted Royal Caribbean’s long-standing commitment to hunger relief across the Bahamas, recalling past large-scale donations to the Bahamas Feeding Network, including a previous gift of two 40-foot shipping containers full of frozen meat that allowed the network to expand services to thousands of additional families. “It’s just been amazing,” Smith said of the company’s consistent support.

    Philip Simon, president of Royal Caribbean Bahamas, framed the farm project as a strategic investment in both community well-being and long-term national resilience. As global supply chain disruptions and climate change have pushed food security to the forefront of policy concerns for small island nations like the Bahamas, agricultural and sustainability projects have taken on new urgency, Simon explained. Beyond addressing immediate food access gaps, he noted the project also aims to reconnect young Bahamians to the country’s agricultural heritage and encourage the next generation to pursue careers in farming and community development.

    “At one point in our national story, farming and fishing were simply a way of life,” Simon said. “Families understood the value of working the land, growing food, and being able to provide not only for themselves but for others as well. So today we hope that we are planting seeds not only in the soil but in the minds of young people who may one day become farmers, entrepreneurs and leaders in our communities.”

    Minister Campbell echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the new farm represents far more than a local food project—it is a critical step forward for national self-sufficiency, agricultural education, and inclusive economic development. “We are planting hope, self-sufficiency, education and sustainability for generations to come,” Campbell said. He added that the farm will serve as a hands-on educational space for local families and young people to learn core agricultural skills, while simultaneously expanding access to affordable fresh produce for all Centreville residents.

  • Campbell waits for own survey an overfished marine species

    Campbell waits for own survey an overfished marine species

    A recent peer-reviewed scientific study has sounded the alarm over widespread overfishing of key commercial marine species across The Bahamas’ waters, but Bahamian officials say they will hold off on crafting regulatory changes until they can complete an independent domestic fisheries assessment. The study, published this week by the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), analyzed 72 years of historical catch data stretching from 1950 to 2022, and found that 11 out of the 12 commercially valuable species included in the assessment were suffering from varying degrees of overexploitation.

    Among the most at-risk populations, the study labeled Nassau grouper and yellowfin grouper as “grossly overfished”. Research data showed yellowfin grouper populations currently hold just 40 percent of the total biomass required to maintain a sustainable long-term harvest, while Nassau grouper populations sit at only 49 percent of that sustainable threshold. Other species flagged as overfished include queen conch, Caribbean spiny lobster, and black grouper, all of which the study identifies as the “backbone” of The Bahamas’ domestic seafood market. The report warns that ongoing population declines of these iconic species pose a direct threat to national food security and the stability of local seafood supply chains.

    Speaking to reporters at a community farming event this week, Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Jomo Campbell confirmed that ministry staff have reviewed the PIMS findings, but stopped short of endorsing the study’s conclusions. “That was one report,” Campbell told journalists, when asked whether there was risk that future generations of Bahamians could lose access to these culturally and economically important traditional seafood species. “What we first have to establish based on our findings is in fact whether there is overfishing and in what sectors.”

    Campbell explained that the Bahamian Department of Marine Resources, led by Acting Director Dr. Gittens, is already in the process of conducting its own independent fisheries survey. Once the domestic assessment is complete, ministry officials will compare the two datasets, gather input from stakeholders across the Bahamian fishing industry, and then develop a formal evidence-based action plan to address any identified issues. Campbell added that the government expects to release its response to the overfishing concerns “in short order” after the internal survey is finalized.

    PIMS officials noted they have prepared to share their full dataset and findings with the Department of Marine Resources and national fisheries management working groups, as the government undertakes a broader review of revisions to the country’s national fisheries regulations. In a separate update on the Golden Yolk agricultural development initiative, Campbell confirmed that a second media tour of the project is scheduled to take place within the coming weeks.

  • Pintard called out on Cartwright snub

    Pintard called out on Cartwright snub

    A bitter internal debate has erupted within the Free National Movement (FNM) of the Bahamas in the wake of the party’s crushing defeat in the May 12 general election, after a senior former party figure publicly called out opposition leader Michael Pintard for his controversial Senate selection choices.

    Former Cabinet minister Leslie Miller delivered sharp criticism of Pintard this week, labeling the FNM leader’s decision to exclude deputy party leader Shannedon Cartwright from his Senate picks as “mean-spirited” and “spiteful”. Pintard, who successfully held onto his Marco City parliamentary seat despite the party’s poor overall performance, named four people to fill the FNM’s Senate openings: former professional basketball player Rick Fox, two attorneys Elsworth Johnson and Arinthia Komolafe, and Dr Trevor Johnson. Cartwright, who lost his bid for the newly created St James constituency to Progressive Liberal Party candidate Owen Wells, was noticeably absent from the list.

    Critics across the party have argued that the snub is a deliberate move to sideline Cartwright, a sitting party deputy who represented the St Barnabas constituency from 2017 up to the 2026 general election. The FNM emerged from the national vote with just eight parliamentary seats, a result that left the party as the official opposition against the governing Progressive Liberal Party.

    Miller, who has long standing as a former FNM Cabinet member, argued that Pintard’s exclusion of Cartwright raises serious questions about both his leadership style and how he treats senior party stakeholders. “I just see the leader of opposition as a mean-spirited person on his actions as leader to FNM, has proven that over and over and over again,” Miller told local media.

    While Miller acknowledged that Cartwright never personally approached him to say he was seeking a Senate appointment, he added that he is confident the former lawmaker would have accepted the position if it had been offered. Miller also extended his criticism to Pintard’s treatment of two other former senior party figures from the Minnis administration: Desmond Bannister and Renward Wells. He alleged that Pintard has actively worked to push the two veteran politicians out of key frontline political roles, treating them unfairly in the process.

    When reporters from The Tribune reached out to Pintard to ask for an explanation for Cartwright’s exclusion from the Senate lineup, the opposition leader declined to provide any on the record comment. As of press time, Cartwright also had not responded to multiple requests for comment on the controversy.

  • Dominican employment reaches 5.2 million workers in early 2026

    Dominican employment reaches 5.2 million workers in early 2026

    Against a backdrop of widespread global economic uncertainty fueled by Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions, volatile commodity pricing, and elevated transportation costs, the Dominican Republic’s labor market has delivered a resilient performance, posting steady employment expansion through the first quarter of 2026, newly released official survey data shows.

    Findings from the country’s National Continuous Labor Force Survey (ENCFT) put total national employment at 5,236,178 workers as of the end of March. Of this total workforce, 2,403,395 positions are in the formal sector, a figure that aligns with official records maintained by the Dominican Social Security Treasury.

    When compared to the same three-month period in 2025, the Dominican economy added a net total of 118,631 new jobs, translating to a 2.3% year-on-year growth rate for overall employment. Key labor market metrics remained near their all-time highs: the national employment rate hit 63.0%, while the labor force participation rate landed at 66.3%, a performance that stands out as strong among regional economies.

    The survey’s breakdown of new job creation reveals that informal sector growth drove most of the past year’s employment gains. Of the 118,631 net new positions added, 98,127 were generated in the informal economy, accounting for 82.7% of all new job creation. Formal sector employment contributed just 20,504 additional jobs over the same period. Even with informal activity accounting for the majority of new growth, the national informality rate settled at 54.1% – still below the long-term historical average recorded since 2014.

    Women emerged as a major driving force behind the country’s labor market expansion in the first quarter. Women make up 43.9% of the Dominican Republic’s total current employed population, and over the 12-month comparison period, female employment grew by 157,078 workers, accounting for the vast majority of all new job creation across the country.

    Unemployment metrics also remained stable and favorable, the data confirms. The open unemployment rate held at 5.0% for the January-to-March period, while the broader measure of labor underutilization fell to 8.8%, down from 9.3% in the first quarter of 2025.

    The working-age population classified as inactive – meaning individuals who are not currently employed and are not actively seeking work – reached 2.8 million people, equal to 33.7% of the total working-age population. That share marks a slight decrease from the recorded inactive rate in 2025.

    Overall, the latest labor force data underscores the Dominican Republic’s economic resilience, as the market maintained low unemployment and continued expansion even amid the external headwinds shaking the global economy in 2026.