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  • CIBC Caribbean launches Google Pay in Jamaica

    CIBC Caribbean launches Google Pay in Jamaica

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — As big tech giant Google accelerates its expansion of contactless digital payment infrastructure across the Caribbean region, CIBC Caribbean has become the latest financial institution to roll out Google Pay integration, with a phased rollout that introduces differing access rules across its regional footprint. The launch marks another key milestone in the Caribbean’s gradual shift toward modern cashless payment systems, even as local market challenges remain to full adoption.

    Google Pay, the contactless payment tool hosted within Google’s Wallet mobile application, allows users to link their existing debit or credit cards directly to their Android devices. The platform’s core value proposition lies in its security model: through a tokenisation process, actual bank card details are never shared with merchants during transactions, cutting down the risk of card data theft and fraud. Users can complete both online checkout and in-person contactless payments with just a tap of their smartphone.

    Per CIBC Caribbean’s official announcement, Jennifer Fuller, the bank’s director of enterprise payments, cards and merchant services, framed the launch as a key step in the bank’s ongoing digital transformation strategy. “Introducing Google Wallet support for clients reflects CIBC Caribbean’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative client-centred digital banking solutions and is another important step in enhancing the digital banking experience for our clients,” Fuller stated in the press release.

    For Jamaican CIBC Caribbean customers, the launch brings immediate access to Google Pay for all Visa and Mastercard credit cards, which can be added to the Google Wallet app on any Android device for instant use. However, the country faces a unique limitation not seen in other CIBC Caribbean markets: Jamaican users will not be able to link their debit cards to the service for the foreseeable future. To date, Jamaica is the only market in the bank’s footprint where this restriction is in place.

    By contrast, CIBC Caribbean customers in four other regional markets — Barbados, The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and Trinidad & Tobago — enjoy full access, with the ability to add both debit and credit cards to their Google Wallet accounts. The bank confirmed that it plans to gradually roll out the service to its five remaining Caribbean operating territories in the coming months, following a controlled, phased rollout schedule.

    “Adding Google Pay supports our focus on convenience, security and innovation, while allowing us to roll out this service in a phased and controlled manner across our markets. Our clients expect modern payment options that fit their lifestyles, and Google Pay delivers exactly that,” Fuller added, explaining the bank’s incremental approach to the regional launch.

    CIBC Caribbean’s entry into Google Pay comes as part of a broader regional push by Google to expand its digital payment services across Caribbean nations. Other major local banks have already beat CIBC Caribbean to the launch in multiple markets: Commonwealth Bank Limited rolled out the service to its Bahamian customers in November 2025, and Trinidad-based First Citizens Bank Limited launched its own Google Pay support just one month later, in December 2025.

    Prior to CIBC Caribbean’s rollout, the Cayman Islands already had four local banks offering Google Pay to their customers. Across the Dominican Republic, 12 different banks now support the service, with Scotiabank customers in both the Cayman Islands and Dominican Republic already able to link their cards to the platform.

    Digital wallet expansion in Jamaica is not limited to Google Pay, either. Rival digital payment service Apple Pay has also been in the works for the Jamaican market. The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited first announced plans to launch Apple Pay in late 2024, and during the Scotia Group Jamaica Limited annual general meeting held on March 4 this year, President and CEO Audrey Tugwell Henry confirmed to shareholders that the launch is still on track for late 2026. Sagicor Bank Jamaica Limited CEO Chorvelle Johnson Cunningham also told investors during a May 20 briefing that supporting Apple Pay, tokenisation and other modern digital payment tools is a core short-to-medium term priority for the institution.

    Despite the growing momentum from banks to roll out these modern payment options, full adoption across the region still faces a notable barrier: pushback from local merchants. A July 2024 survey by the Jamaica Observer found that while the three major Jamaican banks confirmed their digital wallet systems are secure and had not received high volumes of customer fraud disputes, many local merchants have publicly posted signs refusing to accept digital wallet payments at their businesses, slowing the uptake of the new payment method among consumers.

  • Hadeed family gains stake in GENAC

    Hadeed family gains stake in GENAC

    KINGSTON, JAMAICA – A major shift in ownership structure has reshaped Jamaica’s leading general insurance provider, General Accident Insurance Company Jamaica Limited (GENAC), after the Hadeed family-controlled CGH Limited secured a substantial stake in the company as part of the sale of Trinidad-based Beacon Insurance Company Limited. The transaction, which was formally disclosed in a regulatory filing released on May 28, has positioned the Hadeed family as the second-largest shareholder in the Jamaican insurer, marking one of the most significant regional insurance industry moves in recent months.

    Per the terms of the deal, CGH received a total allocation of 150,021,478 new ordinary shares and 9,700 new redeemable preference shares in GENAC. This share issuance serves as full consideration for the acquisition of Beacon by Musson (Jamaica) Limited, which closed the purchase of the general insurer on October 31 of last year. Following the transaction, CGH now holds a 12.70% stake in GENAC’s total issued ordinary shares, while majority owner Musson has seen its ownership stake drop from 80% to 69.84% of the company’s ordinary shares. Corporate records confirm that CGH is majority-owned by Gerald Hadeed, who holds 66.6% of the holding company, with the remaining 33.4% controlled by Christian Hadeed. In addition to the new stake, both Christian Hadeed and Beacon’s current Chief Executive Officer Christopher Woodhams were appointed to GENAC’s board of directors on May 19, giving the Hadeed group direct representation in the company’s governance.

    Industry observers note that the transaction structure is layered for long-term strategic purposes: while Musson currently holds full ownership of Beacon following its original purchase, GENAC has planned a subsequent acquisition of the Trinidadian insurer from its parent company at a future date. Once this final acquisition step is completed, GENAC will hold a 70% controlling stake in Beacon, with Musson retaining a 30% minority stake in the regional carrier.

    In its official disclosure to regulators, GENAC confirmed that key components of the final acquisition are still pending, noting that the transaction remains subject to final regulatory approval from the governing bodies overseeing Beacon’s operations in Trinidad. Until that approval is secured, the final transfer of Beacon’s ownership cannot move forward.

    Valuation data from Jamaica’s Companies Office puts the ascribed value of the newly issued shares at J$6.32 per ordinary share and US$1,000 per redeemable preference share. That valuation means the newly issued ordinary shares allocated to CGH carry a total worth of J$948.14 million, while the preference shares are valued at US$9.7 million, equal to roughly J$1.51 billion at current exchange rates.

    The news of the ownership restructuring has already had a visible impact on GENAC’s performance on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE). The company’s share price jumped 14% in trading on Tuesday, closing at J$9.15 per share. That gain pushes the insurer’s year-to-date increase in share value to 48% so far in 2026, giving GENAC a total market capitalization of J$9.44 billion as of the close of trading Tuesday.

    Notably, the change in GENAC’s total issued share count has not yet been updated on JSE trading records. Once the newly issued shares are formally converted to standard stock units, the company’s total issued ordinary share count will rise to 1,181,271,478 outstanding ordinary shares. The update is expected to be reflected in exchange records as soon as all post-transaction administrative steps are completed.

  • Jimmy Llibre set to represent Dominican Republic in GT4 America Championship

    Jimmy Llibre set to represent Dominican Republic in GT4 America Championship

    One of the Dominican Republic’s most promising motorsports talents is gearing up for a highly anticipated return to elite international competition, as Jimmy Llibre prepares to take on the iconic Road Atlanta circuit for the upcoming rounds of the GT4 America Championship on June 12 and 13.

    Widely regarded as one of North America’s most cutthroat and high-profile sports car racing series, the GT4 America Championship draws some of the sharpest driving talent from across the globe every season. This year, Llibre will line up on the starting grid in the championship’s competitive PRO classification, piloting a powerful Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport for the Texas-based ACI Motorsports squad. A standout fact of his entry is that he remains the only Latin American driver competing in the PRO division this season, carrying the flag for his home country on one of motorsport’s most visible regional stages.

    The 2024 PRO category features a stacked field of 35 elite racers hailing from North America, Europe and multiple other racing hubs around the world. The series commands widespread international media coverage, giving Llibre a unique platform to put Dominican motorsports talent on the global map. For the driver, the opportunity comes with equal parts pride and purpose.

    “Representing the Dominican Republic at this level of competition is both the greatest honor of my career and a huge responsibility,” Llibre shared in the lead-up to the Road Atlanta rounds. “My goal is simple: to prove that athletes from the Dominican Republic can not only compete with the best in international motorsport, but contend for wins against the top names in the field.”

    Llibre also made a point to recognize the critical backing he has received from his network of sponsors and official partners. Without their consistent financial and strategic support, he noted, competing in one of North America’s most prestigious open-road racing championships would not be possible for the young Dominican racer. As teams complete final preparations for the weekend’s on-track action, all eyes in the Dominican motorsports community will be fixed on Road Atlanta to see how Llibre fares against his world-class competition.

  • Future squatters to be barred from any settlement involving Crown lands, warns Montague

    Future squatters to be barred from any settlement involving Crown lands, warns Montague

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a stern policy announcement delivered to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Minister of Land Titling and Settlements Robert Montague enacted a hardline new rule: any Jamaican who occupies unoccupied Crown land starting June 9 with the intent to squat will be permanently barred from eligibility for all government-managed land settlement programmes.

    Montague, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for St Mary Western, clarified that the policy only applies to new encroachment, noting that existing squatters will retain their current standing under government programs. “If you’re there already yuh there already, but we not dealing with the new people,” he stated during his contribution to the annual Sectoral Debate.

    Beyond tightening rules around new squatting, the minister also announced a sweeping crackdown on illegal land scamming, a persistent issue involving the fraudulent sale of publicly-owned Crown lands to unsuspecting buyers. Montague confirmed that ongoing investigations have resulted in a clear roadmap for enforcement: individuals caught illegally selling Crown land will face full criminal prosecution, while buyers who participate in these fraudulent transactions will forfeit any money they have invested.

    To help Jamaicans avoid falling victim to these scams, Montague issued an urgent public advisory, urging all prospective land purchasers to verify ownership and legal status directly with the National Land Agency before completing any transaction. “Buying land is not like buying rice and flour, there’s a legal process but always remember, if it sounds too good to be true then it is not true. Save your money,” he added.

    The minister also revealed that the Jamaican government has already completed comprehensive mapping of all occupied Crown lands, using advanced drone and spatial survey technology to create an accurate record of current occupants. This means authorities can clearly identify new encroachment occurring after the June 9 cutoff, he confirmed, adding that any new occupation will result in clear legal consequences.

    In a nod to long-term solutions for the country’s longstanding squatting crisis, Montague announced that the government will soon unveil a major, comprehensive programme to address existing squatting in a systematic, orderly, and legally compliant manner. The new framework is designed to regularize legitimate land holdings while eliminating opportunities for fraud.

    As part of the crackdown on scamming incentives, Montague emphasized that no public official has the authority to sell government-owned land, regardless of their position. “No member of parliament, nor councillor, nor JP, nor big man, nor area leader can sell government land,” he said. He also issued a direct warning to scammers who falsely claim to be acting on behalf of elected representatives: “To those persons scamming people and say is the MP send them, stop it because the MP never send yuh go do nutten like dat.”

  • Downtown business manager pleads for help over human waste

    Downtown business manager pleads for help over human waste

    For nearly 12 months, a downtown Nassau retail business has grappled with a revolting, recurring problem: repeated discoveries of suspected human waste dumped on its property, pushing staff to clean up the hazardous mess again and again. The operation’s leader is now speaking out, demanding a stronger law enforcement presence in an overlooked section of the city’s central district.

    Michelle Palamino, general manager of local sporting goods outlet Hoffer Sport, told reporters the unsanitary issue has persisted through months of her team’s attempts to block trespassers from accessing vulnerable parts of the property. Both Palamino and police investigators suspect a homeless individual is responsible for the ongoing incidents, though no person has been identified or caught in the act to date.

    The problem first emerged in a secluded side corner of the business’ lot. Palamino explained that the spot became a gathering point after an adjacent property installed fencing to push vagrants off its own land. To resolve the issue, Hoffer Sport’s owner paid to erect a new barrier blocking off the corner — but the trespassing and waste dumping simply shifted to the store’s front entrance, leaving the business no better off.

    So far, the impact on customers has been minimal: employees arrive early each day to clean the site before the store opens to the public. But that routine has taken a significant toll on staff morale, with workers growing increasingly fed up after months of cleaning up offensive, unsanitary messes that never stop coming.

    This is not the first trouble the business has faced with trespassing and vandalism connected to vagrancy in the area. Palamino recalled past incidents including a shattered store window, and an altercation where a person threw drinks at the shop’s glass facade after being told they could not sort through the business’ trash bins. That individual was later arrested on separate charges, and Palamino emphasized she does not believe he is linked to the current waste dumping problem.

    When Palamino brought the issue to police, officers told her the department is already stretched thin addressing widespread vagrancy-related concerns across downtown Nassau. The general manager stressed she is not anti-homeless, noting that unhoused people have frequented Bay Street for decades, and most who enter her store are completely non-disruptive. Most homeless visitors interact politely with staff and leave without incident, she said, and she does not take issue with their presence as long as they do not damage or soil her business’ property.

    Palamino acknowledged that city officials have carried out notable beautification projects in downtown Nassau in recent months, including adding public murals and renovating derelict, fire-damaged buildings. But she questioned whether local leaders have properly assessed sanitation and public order issues outside of the busy main tourism corridors that draw most visitor attention. For her, the clear solution is more regular police patrols in her corner of the city center — an area she says has been seemingly forgotten by local authorities.

  • Jamaicans among 17 naturalised citizens set to be stripped of US citizenship

    Jamaicans among 17 naturalised citizens set to be stripped of US citizenship

    WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of Justice has launched denaturalization proceedings against 17 recently naturalized American citizens, a group that includes two Jamaican nationals, alongside individuals from Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. All of the people targeted are accused of serious criminal offenses committed during the statutory period when they were required to prove good moral character to qualify for citizenship, as well as fraudulently concealing their illegal activity during naturalization processing.

  • Central America on alert as Tropical Storm Cristina approaches

    Central America on alert as Tropical Storm Cristina approaches

    As Tropical Storm Cristina churns toward the Central American coastline, four countries in the region have activated emergency protocols and halted daily activities Tuesday, bracing for the storm’s forecast heavy downpours, flash flooding and life-threatening mudslides.

    El Salvador, one of the first nations in the storm’s projected path, has rolled out widespread precautionary measures. The country’s Ministry of Education has shuttered all primary, secondary schools and higher education institutions for both Tuesday and Wednesday, citing elevated risks of landslides, widespread flooding and other storm-related hazards that could endanger students and staff. Thirty-five kilometers south of the capital San Salvador, in the coastal department of La Libertad, all fishing vessels have been ordered to stay anchored in port, where rough, powerful waves already began lashing shorelines ahead of the storm’s full arrival. Dozens of seafront retail businesses and the local seafood market have also locked their doors early, as owners and workers evacuated to safer inland areas.

    Luis Alonso Amaya, director of El Salvador’s civil protection agency, confirmed that authorities have prepped 180 emergency shelters across the country, ready to accommodate residents forced to leave low-lying or high-risk areas ahead of three consecutive days of projected heavy precipitation.

    Neighboring countries have also followed suit with their own emergency preparations. In Guatemala, national officials reported that the most intense rainfall is expected to hit the country’s Pacific coastline, the central Altiplano highlands and river valleys in eastern regions of the country. In Nicaragua, co-president Rosario Murillo has publicly urged all residents to avoid coastal areas entirely, noting that heavy rain has been steadily intensifying across the country since Sunday, raising baseline flood risks even before Cristina’s arrival. In Honduras, the country’s emergency management agency has issued formal storm alerts for nine at-risk regions, urging locals to make final preparations before conditions deteriorate.

    Early Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) based in Miami released its latest update on the storm, reporting that Cristina was moving northward at 6 kilometers per hour, with sustained maximum winds of 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour as it closed in on the Central American coast. Through Thursday morning, the NHC projects the storm will drop 4 to 8 inches of rain across much of the region, with isolated coastal areas of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala seeing accumulations as high as 12 inches.

    “This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,” the NHC emphasized in its official bulletin. The agency also warned that coastal flooding driven by storm surge remains a possible threat in zones hit by onshore winds from the cyclone.

    Central America has long been ranked as one of the most hurricane- and tropical storm-prone regions on Earth, due to its geographic position along the eastern Pacific and Atlantic hurricane basins, leaving it regularly exposed to seasonal storm activity that often causes widespread damage and loss of life.

  • White House World Cup chief defends visa ban for Somali referee, Iranians

    White House World Cup chief defends visa ban for Somali referee, Iranians

    As the United States prepares to host the men’s World Cup, a senior White House official has publicly defended controversial visa rejections that have sidelined a top African referee and barred multiple Iranian team support staff from entering the country, framing the moves as necessary security safeguards ahead of the global tournament.

    Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup Task Force and son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, laid out the administration’s position during a policy event hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. To date, he confirmed, all participating players and head coaches from the 35 participating nations that have already entered the U.S. have received entry approval. Only a small number of non-playing event and team officials have been turned away, he emphasized, and each rejection was justified.

    The Trump administration’s long-standing travel restrictions have been the backdrop for these decisions, which have drawn increasing attention in the lead-up to the tournament. Somalia, where top referee Omar Artan hails from, is one of the Muslim-majority nations included in the travel ban first implemented by the Trump administration as part of a broader national immigration crackdown. Artan, who was named 2025 Men’s Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football, was set to make history as the first Somali referee ever selected to officiate at a World Cup. He was ultimately turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport.

    When pressed for details on Artan’s case, Giuliani declined to share specific information but reiterated that the rejection stemmed from solid security justifications. “While I can’t go into the details, what I can tell you, high level, is it was for a very good reason,” he said.

    The visa restrictions also extend to members of Iran’s national team delegation, which will play all three of its group stage matches on U.S. soil amid long-standing diplomatic and military tensions between Washington and Tehran. Already, the Iranian squad was forced to relocate its pre-tournament training base to Mexico as a result of the ongoing standoff. On Tuesday, the Iranian Football Federation confirmed that the team’s allocated fan ticket allotment had been canceled, and multiple support staff members had been denied entry visas.

    Giuliani clarified that all of Iran’s official coaching staff will be allowed to enter for the tournament, but a small number of other Iranian delegation officials have been blocked, again for what he called credible security reasons. He hinted that some individuals claiming official team positions may have misled authorities about their roles, noting “there are some people that claim that they are coaches that may not be coaches.”

    More broadly, Giuliani confirmed that the administration’s core policy is to bar any individuals with direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of Iran’s military that the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization, from entering the country during the World Cup. The goal, he explained, is to strike a careful balance: welcoming all legitimate participants to the global event while preventing any individuals the U.S. deems dangerous or inappropriate from gaining entry under the cover of the tournament.

    “we’re striking that balance between making sure that any bad actors that…try to come into the country under the guise of the World Cup will not get access to the United States,” he said, adding that President Trump wants to guarantee a “level playing field” for all teams competing in the tournament.

    On the topic of overall event safety, Giuliani offered reassuring updates. He confirmed that as of Tuesday, U.S. intelligence agencies have not identified any credible threats targeting the tournament. Despite that, he said, the intelligence community has ramped up monitoring efforts, which will remain in place around the clock from now through the final match of the tournament scheduled for July 19.

  • Grants Pen family fun day promotes peace, unity and healthy living

    Grants Pen family fun day promotes peace, unity and healthy living

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – On a recent bright day at Kingston’s Grants Pen Peace Park, hundreds of children, caregivers, educators, community leaders and local residents came together for a one-of-a-kind community gathering. This was no ordinary picnic: the family fun day was deliberately designed to embed a culture of peace, encourage active healthy lifestyles, and deepen connections across all segments of the long-troubled Grants Pen neighborhood.

    Organized by the Jamaica-based Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) in partnership with the Grants Pen Community Policing Management Committee, the day blended recreation, education and wellness outreach tailored to the whole community. The lineup of activities kicked off with a friendly inter-school football tournament drawing five local basic schools, where young players competed with spirit and good sportsmanship. For younger participants, a dedicated arts and crafts corner offered space for creative expression, while a on-site health station provided free screenings, wellness resources and educational materials for attending families.

    In opening remarks to the assembled crowd, VPA member Busy Campbell emphasized that peace is far more than just the absence of open conflict. Calling on children to make peace a core part of their daily lives and reject the harmful negative influences that surround many young Jamaicans, he framed peace as a set of small, intentional acts: “Peace is kindness. Peace is respect. Peace is helping one another instead of hurting one another.” Campbell reminded the gathered children that every one of them carries unique talents and gifts, and that they hold the power to build a positive future for themselves, even when facing systemic or personal challenges. “When you choose peace, you become a leader. A peaceful child grows into a strong adult. A peaceful classroom builds a peaceful school,” he added.

    Local political leaders joined community organizers in praising the initiative. Delroy Chuck, Member of Parliament for the St Andrew North East constituency, commended event organizers and local stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to building a safer, more cohesive Grants Pen. He described the gathering as a powerful tangible symbol of what unified community action can achieve, thanking community leaders, local educators, church representatives, and law enforcement for turning the vision of a peace-focused community event into reality. “The police have been doing an outstanding job, and we have enjoyed a relatively peaceful period across many communities,” Chuck noted. “If Grants Pen can be peaceful, all of Jamaica can be peaceful.” He urged participating children to carry the message of peace forward, becoming peace ambassadors whose actions can inspire change across communities nationwide.

    Stacey Knight, People’s National Party caretaker for the constituency, echoed that support, saying she was heartened to see hundreds of children and teachers joining activities centered on peace and positive youth development. She highlighted that accessible community programming like this family fun day creates critical positive experiences for children, helping to build safe, supportive environments where young people can grow and thrive, even amid the economic and social challenges many face in the area.

    VPA Chair Dr. Elizabeth Ward doubled down on the long-term importance of building peace from early childhood, noting that intentional intergenerational community gathering spaces are foundational to lasting non-violence. “Peace is built through relationships, trust and a shared sense of belonging,” she explained. “When children, parents, schools and community partners come together in a positive environment, we create opportunities to strengthen social bonds, and promote respect. This reinforces the values that contribute to safer, more peaceful communities. Initiatives such as this family fun day demonstrate that violence prevention begins with investing in our children and fostering strong, supportive communities.”

    Throughout the day, engagement stayed high: children threw themselves into football matches and art projects, while parents and other residents took advantage of free health screenings including blood pressure and glucose testing, and networked with local community support organizations. Anette McNeish, principal of Little Angel’s Early Childhood Centre, one of the participating schools, called the event a transformative experience for her students. “It helped to foster community spirit because it brought everyone together in a positive and meaningful way,” she said. “Activities like these encourage greater support from residents and partners while creating excitement for the children. Learning extends beyond the classroom, and events such as this give them valuable opportunities to socialise, collaborate and build confidence.”

    The event drew cross-sector support from a range of local institutions, including Island Diaries, CARIMED, the R& D Stewart Foundation, Recycle Partners of Jamaica, the National Health Fund, the Social Development Commission and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, marking a broad collaborative effort to advance community-led peacebuilding in Kingston.

  • Protesters block road to Mexican World Cup stadium

    Protesters block road to Mexican World Cup stadium

    MEXICO CITY – Just 48 hours before the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match kicks off on its hallowed turf, Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium has become the center of a escalating public standoff, as thousands of demonstrators shut down a major arterial road leading to the venue Tuesday, according to on-the-ground reporting from Agence France-Presse.