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Gager hails Trelawny students for excelling in sports and academics

TRELAWNY, Jamaica — During the regular monthly sitting of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC) held Thursday, Falmouth Mayor and Councillor C Junior Gager delivered glowing praise to local secondary school students from the parish who have turned in extraordinary performances across academic competition and elite regional athletic competition in recent weeks.

Gager first turned his attention to the all-girls quiz team from Westwood High School, which made historic progress in one of Jamaica’s most prestigious annual academic competitions: Television Jamaica’s Schools’ Challenge Quiz. Team members including captain Tanay Johnson, Sheanelle Brown, Kadecia Fearon and Alison Francis fought their way through multiple rounds to reach the competition’s Grand Final, where they faced off against Jamaica College in a tight, high-stakes match. Ultimately, the Westwood squad fell just two points short of the top spot, finishing with a final score of 28 to Jamaica College’s 30.

“This is the first time Westwood High School has ever advanced to the Schools’ Challenge Quiz final, and their performance was nothing short of remarkable,” Gager shared during the meeting. “Even though they took second place, the entire Trelawny community is incredibly proud of what they have accomplished. They put our parish on the map nationally in academics, and that is a huge achievement worth celebrating.”

Shifting focus to athletic accomplishments, Gager next highlighted rising track star Shanoya Douglas, a sprinter from Holland High School who turned in a record-breaking performance at the 2024 Carifta Games hosted in St George’s, Grenada. Douglas clocked an impressive 22.11 seconds in the women’s Under-20 200m dash with a 1.9m/s tailwind, breaking the national junior record she had set previously. The win also marked her second consecutive Under-20 sprint double: she successfully defended her 100m crown to take home two gold medals from the regional competition.

“Shanoya Douglas represented Jamaica and our home parish of Trelawny excellently at this year’s Carifta Games, and she deserves every bit of recognition coming her way,” Gager said. He added that Douglas, who already received an award at the recent TMC and Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Heroes’ Day Civic and Awards Ceremony in Falmouth’s historic Water Square, will be honored again by the municipal corporation at a future date.

“We want to make sure we support her growth and celebrate her success, so she can continue to go from strength to strength in her career,” Gager explained. “Shanoya is without a doubt one of the most exciting young athletic talents to emerge from Trelawny in recent years, and we are rooting for her every step of the way.”

Gager closed his round of commendations by recognizing Sanjay Seymour, a sprinter from William Knibb Memorial High School who claimed the gold medal in the Boys Under-20 200m final at the Carifta Games, alongside other Trelawny-based athletes who competed at the event. “We are so proud of Sanjay and all the other athletes from William Knibb who represented us so well at the games,” he said. “We wish them all continued success in all their future athletic and academic endeavors.”

8 4 月, 2026
St Thomas Eastern MP calls for NWA to address ‘ongoing flooding’ in Port Morant

In the coastal parish of St Thomas, Jamaica, a sharp public dispute has erupted over the persistent, destructive flooding plaguing the Port Morant community, with a sitting parliamentarian leveling heavy criticism at a senior official from the country’s National Works Agency (NWA).

Rosemarie Shaw, the Member of Parliament representing St Thomas Eastern, issued a formal statement Thursday calling out NWA Communications Manager Stephen Shaw for downplaying the ongoing crisis by framing it as an unavoidable outcome of natural rainfall. The MP pushed back hard against this framing, emphasizing that recurring flooding in Port Morant is not an unforeseen new problem—it is a long-documented, cyclical issue that successive administrations have failed to resolve.

“Flooding here is not a surprise. We have known about this problem for decades, and for years local residents have watched their homes, livelihoods and transport links get ruined over and over again,” Rosemarie Shaw said in her statement. “Blaming rain does not fix broken infrastructure. It just exposes that the system is stuck reacting to emergencies instead of proactively solving the root cause. Mr. Shaw’s job is to communicate with the public, but empty explanations can never take the place of taking real responsibility for fixing this crisis.”

The MP outlined the severe daily impacts the unaddressed flooding has inflicted on Port Morant: residential properties are inundated again and again, local businesses are forced to lose critical income amid repeated disruptions, and key road networks have become unsafe, often completely impassable during and after rain events. Most notably, she raised urgent alarm that recent infrastructure upgrades carried out in the parish have not alleviated flooding—they have actually made the problem worse, and this troubling claim requires immediate, independent review.

To move toward a resolution, Rosemarie Shaw has laid out three clear demands for the NWA. The agency must first publish a detailed, time-bound action plan to address the flooding. Second, it must open a transparent, public review of both existing drainage infrastructure and all recently completed works to identify what went wrong. Finally, the agency must deliver a permanent, long-lasting drainage solution that protects Port Morant and its surrounding neighboring communities.

For the MP, this fight is not just about fixing drainage—it is a matter of fundamental government accountability to voters. “The people of Port Morant do not just want regular updates on the problem. They want to know why, after decades of waiting, this issue still has not been fixed,” she added. “Until that question gets an answer in the form of concrete action, the status quo remains completely unacceptable.”

8 4 月, 2026
NHF commissions solar project at main warehouse with US $1.3m support from Direct Relief

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark step toward boosting sustainability and operational resilience in Jamaica’s public health system, the National Health Fund (NHF) has formally launched a new grid-tied solar energy project at its central pharmaceutical warehouse located on Marcus Garvey Drive in downtown Kingston. Completed in February 2026, the project marked its official rollout at an inauguration ceremony held at the facility on Wednesday, April 8, drawing senior government officials, NHF leadership, and representatives from funding partner Direct Relief.

The 535-kilowatt photovoltaic system is built to cut the warehouse’s dependence on Jamaica’s national electricity grid and drive down long-term operational expenses for the public health agency. It incorporates 950 high-efficiency solar panels, paired with on-site battery storage and advanced power inverters to deliver consistent, stable energy output.

This initiative forms a core component of the NHF’s organization-wide energy conservation strategy, and directly aligns with the Jamaican government’s national targets to scale up renewable energy adoption across all public sector infrastructure. The approximately $1.3 million USD investment was made possible through a collaborative funding partnership with Direct Relief, a global international humanitarian donor organization focused on expanding access to critical health resources worldwide.

During the site tour following the inauguration ceremony, Richard Allen, NHF’s Director of Institutional Benefits, Projects and Maintenance, walked attendees through the system’s battery and inverter technology. In attendance at the event were Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, NHF Board Chairman Shane Dalling, NHF Chief Executive Officer Everton Anderson, NHF Board Member Dr. Kamal Mars, Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness, and Direct Relief Vice President of Program Operations Genevieve Bitter.

Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, Minister Tufton framed the solar installation as a blueprint for the future of Jamaica’s health infrastructure. “It is almost expected that the NHF should now embrace the supporting infrastructure through technology, in this case the solarisation of this facility and others, as part of its growth and relevance,” he stated, noting that the smart, sustainable facility will set a new standard for public health sites across the country.

Speaker Holness, who shared reflections on her long-standing collaboration with Direct Relief, expressed gratitude for the organization’s consistent support of Jamaica’s health sector. “Thank you for all the support in the form of medication, training and inventory management and now this solar system,” she said. “It is just a wide variety and range of medical support that you have given over the years.”

Direct Relief’s Bitter emphasized that reliable energy access is not a discretionary benefit for pharmaceutical storage, but a non-negotiable requirement to protect public health. “This facility plays a central role in safeguarding essential medicines, vaccines and health commodities,” Bitter explained. “Reliable energy is not a luxury in pharmaceutical storage – it is a necessity.”

For NHF CEO Anderson, the project delivers far more than just cost savings—it builds critical climate resilience for Jamaica’s health supply chain, which faces growing risks from extreme weather events. “For 80 per cent of the year, we are likely to be off the grid,” Anderson noted. “With the frequency of hurricanes we’re having and other disasters, this is more than savings only. This is about resilience.”

He further clarified that the integrated battery storage system will ensure uninterrupted power for the warehouse’s temperature-controlled cold rooms, which store life-saving refrigerated medications that are vulnerable to power outages. The entire pharmaceutical division, which relies on the Marcus Garvey Drive facility for national inventory storage, will benefit from this enhanced reliability.

NHF Board Chairman Dalling framed the project as a strategic investment that aligns with both fiscal and national sustainability priorities. “This initiative future-proofs our operations in a world where energy costs are rising,” Dalling said. “By embracing renewable energy, we are contributing to a national effort to build a more sustainable and energy-aware society, while ensuring more of our resources can be directed towards supporting the health and well-being of the Jamaican people.”

This installation marks the second comprehensive solar energy system deployed by the NHF, following an earlier $6 million USD project at the agency’s Greater Portmore Pharmacy location. Jamaican renewable energy firm Sun Terra Energy Solutions carried out the installation work on the new warehouse system, which is projected to generate significant annual operational cost cuts while lowering the facility’s overall carbon footprint.

8 4 月, 2026
Temple Hall main road in St Andrew reduced to single lane traffic

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A sudden landslide has forced partial closure of a key arterial route in the parish of St Andrew, leaving local law enforcement to redirect traffic through alternate paths this week. The slide occurred along the Temple Hall main road near the Clarks Hill neighborhood, where loose earth and debris now block one of the road’s two travel lanes, according to an official advisory released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

With only one lane remaining passable for two-way traffic, the incident is expected to cause significant travel delays and congestion during peak commuting hours. To minimize disruption for drivers, police have issued a clear recommendation that motorists plan ahead and use alternative designated routes whenever their travel schedules allow.

Authorities note that they are working alongside relevant transportation and disaster management agencies to clear the debris and restore full access to the corridor as quickly as possible. Further updates on the progress of clearing works and any changes to traffic arrangements will be issued to the public as new information becomes available.

8 4 月, 2026
Aston Villa on verge of Europa League semis after beating Bologna

In a tense Europa League quarter-final first leg held in Bologna, Italy on Thursday, England striker Ollie Watkins delivered a clinical two-goal performance that put Aston Villa firmly on course for a spot in the competition’s semi-finals, following a hard-earned 3-1 away win over their Italian hosts.

The result leaves Unai Emery’s side with a comfortable two-goal cushion heading into the second leg next week at Villa Park in Birmingham, and keeps alive their hopes of lifting a first major domestic or European trophy in nearly three decades — their last silverware came back in 1995, when they claimed the English League Cup. If Villa advance, they will face the winner of the remaining quarter-final tie between Porto and Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the last four.

Bologna, who came into the match on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions in away fixtures, put in a spirited performance that could have completely shifted the outcome of the night. The Italian side hit the woodwork twice in the first half, and thought they had taken an early lead when a potential Ezra Konsa own goal was ruled out by the offside flag, with Santiago Castro judged to have strayed just offside when he got a touch on the ball before it deflected off Konsa. The moment cut short wild celebrations from the packed home crowd, and only minutes later, Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson saw a clear chance poke off the underside of the crossbar and bounce away from the goal line.

It was Konsa, however, who would break the deadlock right on the stroke of half-time, delivering a sucker punch to the hosts. The England defender held off Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumi after goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia failed to properly clear Youri Tielemans’ corner, nodding the ball into an empty net to open the scoring. The goal marked Konsa’s first for the club since last May, while the assist from Tielemans was a welcome boost for Emery: it came in the Belgian midfielder’s first start since January, as Emery juggles his side’s Europa League push with a fight to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League.

Five minutes into the second half, Watkins doubled Villa’s lead, capitalizing on a careless giveaway from Bologna right-back Torbjorn Heggem inside his own penalty area. The striker, who is currently pushing for a spot in England’s upcoming international squad, calmly slotted the ball between Ravaglia’s legs to put Villa in a commanding position.

Bologna kept pressing forward throughout the second half, with winger Federico Bernardeschi hitting the outside of the post with one effort. In the 90th minute, Jonathan Rowe finally got the home side on the scoresheet with a brilliant late finish, giving Bologna hope heading into the return leg. But just moments later, deep into stoppage time, an unmarked Watkins pounced on another Villa corner to prod home his second of the night, extending the visitors’ lead before the teams travel to Birmingham.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, Watkins emphasized his side’s momentum and his own sharpness as the end of the season approaches. “Just before half time is a great time to score. We got the second after half time and then we felt we always were going to score more,” he said. “Back end of the season I’m raring to go. I could play another 90 minutes. I’m excited for the next few games. I’m hungry.”

Emery, a four-time winner of the Europa League who knows what it takes to go all the way in the competition, is now heavily favored to guide his side through to the semi-finals. For Bologna, all three of Villa’s goals came from unforced errors, a point Bernardeschi acknowledged after the match. Speaking to Sky Sport Italy, the Italian winger said, “If we want to take that step up then we can’t make these kinds of mistakes… Anything can happen (in the second leg), but tonight should teach us a lesson.”

Villa have now beaten Bologna three times across the last two seasons, including two wins in this year’s Europa League campaign, but the Italian side remains alive in the tie, with 90 minutes in Birmingham still to come to turn the result around.

8 4 月, 2026
Marcue reintroduces collabs with Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Kent Jones

Jamaican emerging recording artist Marcue, who hails from the iconic Duhaney Park community in St Andrew, has carved an early reputation for assembling once-in-a-generation collaborations with some of the biggest names in global music, spanning both local and international industries. Early in his career, the up-and-coming talent earned the opportunity to work alongside legendary reggae pioneer Buju Banton, commercially dominant dancehall figure Vybz Kartel, and Florida-based American rapper Kent Jones, a credential few rising artists can claim.

The artist’s standout cut *My Favorite Song* first launched with a feature from Buju Banton back in 2015, produced by longtime Jamaican beatmaker Mark “Stone Cold” Hudson. Seven years later, the track got a high-profile refresh, with new verses added from both Vybz Kartel and Kent Jones to the official remix, also helmed by Hudson. However, the full potential of the high-profile project was never realized, after unforeseen personal and professional events pulled Marcue away from the music industry abruptly, forcing a years-long pause on his career and pushing the collab into obscurity.

Now, after stepping away from the spotlight to navigate unforeseen challenges, Marcue is making his official return to the Jamaican music scene, led by renewed fan demand for the star-studded project he was never able to fully promote. In a recent interview reflecting on his comeback, the artist framed the collaboration as a career-defining milestone that was too special to remain locked away.

“It was an absolute honour to share a recording with some of the most legendary artists Jamaica has ever given the world,” Marcue explained. “Kent Jones is also such a massive talent – he signed to DJ Khaled’s label and notched a massive breakout hit early in his career, so getting to work with him was a dream come true.”

While the re-release of *My Favorite Song* and its star-studded remix is Marcue’s current focus for fans, the artist noted that his brand new solo single *Just Can’t Let Go* remains his primary creative priority moving forward. Even so, he argued that revisiting the older collab project feels like the right step as he rebuilds his presence in the industry.

Reflecting on the multi-year delay that kept the track from reaching its full audience, Marcue emphasized that quality music never loses its resonance. “Good music is timeless, and you don’t get the chance to collaborate with an icon like Buju Banton every single day,” he said. “Bringing this track back to share with the world again is something really special for me, and I hope fans feel the same way.”

8 4 月, 2026
Jamaica’s NDTC conquers Duke and Cayman Islands

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s iconic National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) has capped off a landmark international tour across the United States and the Cayman Islands, earning rave reviews and standing ovations that reaffirm the global power and artistry of Jamaican cultural expression. What has long made NDTC a beloved cultural institution at home has once again captured international audiences, proving that the rhythmic soul of Jamaica translates into a universal, unforgettable performance art.

The tour’s first major stop took place on February 21, 2026, at Duke University’s Reynolds Industries Theater in Durham, North Carolina, where the company performed to a completely sold-out house. NDTC accepted a special invitation from Duke Arts to join the program of the 7th Bi-Annual Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) Conference, a leading biennial gathering that brings together dance scholars, practicing artists, and movement professionals from across the United States and the global African diaspora. The conference’s core mission centers on elevating African diaspora dance as both a vital academic resource and a distinct methodological approach to cultural studies, making NDTC’s appearance a highlight of the event.

Witnesses and official statements from the company describe a transformative performance that transcended a typical stage appearance. In an official media release following the show, NDTC shared: “The company did not merely perform. They claimed the stage. When the curtain fell, the audience rose. The standing ovation was not perfunctory — it was sustained, the kind that signals a room collectively unwilling to let an experience end.” The evening’s performance closed with one of the company’s most enduring works: Rex Nettleford’s legendary *Kumina*, a piece first choreographed in 1971 that remains a cornerstone of NDTC’s repertoire. For minutes after the final curtain dropped, the sold-out crowd remained on their feet, unwilling to end the moving cultural experience.

Following their triumphant stop at Duke University, the company traveled south and east to the Cayman Islands, where they took the stage at the Harquail Theatre under the patronage of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF). The Cayman engagement was designed as a multi-faceted outreach and performance event, starting with an educational matinee show for local children in the morning, followed by two full gala performances in the evenings — and every segment of the visit exceeded expectations. For dozens of young Caymanian students, the morning children’s workshop marked their first ever introduction to NDTC’s distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary Jamaican dance.

CNCF’s education officer called the youth outreach program both deeply meaningful and exceptionally engaging for young attendees, noting that many participants left with a new appreciation for Caribbean dance traditions. The Cayman visit also marked a memorable career milestone for emerging artist Amaya Gomes, who made her NDTC debut in the company’s *Tribute to Cliff* alongside veteran performer Shavaughn Byndloss. The pair drew widespread praise for their electric on-stage chemistry, with observers highlighting the promising future the performance signals for both young and emerging talent within the company.

The evening gala performances drew a high-profile audience that included Jane Owens, Governor of the Cayman Islands, who made a point to visit the company backstage following the first gala to offer her personal congratulations. Also in attendance was Isaac Rankine, Jamaica’s Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage, who has a personal connection to the Harquail Theatre having previously worked there as a lighting director earlier in his career.

In the wake of the company’s departure, the Cayman National Cultural Foundation has already made clear its strong desire to host NDTC for a return engagement in the future. That early request for a follow-up tour stop stands as a powerful testament to the lasting, positive impression the Jamaican dance company left on Caymanian audiences and cultural institutions alike. For NDTC, this successful international run adds another chapter to the company’s decades-long history of sharing Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage with audiences across the globe.

8 4 月, 2026
US Embassy warns that omitting social media information can lead to visa denial

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a timely public advisory issued this week, the United States Embassy in Jamaica has put visa applicants on high alert over a critical requirement that many may overlook: providing complete social media history as part of their application process. The diplomatic mission warned Wednesday that failing to disclose all required social media account information can result in immediate visa denial, and may even leave applicants permanently barred from securing US travel or immigration visas in the future.

Under the current application rules, all people seeking a US visa must fill out the standard DS-160 form, which mandates the disclosure of every social media username or handle the applicant has used across any online platform over the previous five years. This requirement covers all major social networks, messaging platforms, and content-sharing services, regardless of whether an applicant considers an account active or relevant to their travel plans.

In an official post shared across the embassy’s own social media channels, the diplomatic team emphasized that applicants bear full responsibility for the accuracy of the information they submit. Before signing and sending off their DS-160 forms, applicants are required to formally certify that every detail, including their social media disclosures, is complete and truthful. The reminder comes as US consular officials continue to enforce updated vetting protocols for visa applicants around the globe, designed to strengthen security screenings for all people seeking entry to the United States.

8 4 月, 2026
US plans to automatically register men for military draft eligibility

A transformative administrative proposal from the U.S. Selective Service System (SSS) is paving the way for mandatory automatic military draft registration of all American men aged 18 to 25, with full implementation potentially completed as early as December 2026.

First reported by the BBC, the draft rule was formally submitted to the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for interagency review on March 30, marking a major shift from the current regulatory framework. For decades, eligible young men have been legally required to manually register with the SSS within 30 days of turning 18, a process that has long suffered from low compliance and high administrative overhead. If approved, this long-standing system will be replaced by an automatic enrollment process that shifts the legal and administrative burden from individual citizens directly to the SSS.

The SSS says the primary policy motivation for the shift is to cut unnecessary government spending. Under the current manual system, the agency spends millions of dollars annually on outreach campaigns, reminder notices, and compliance enforcement to prompt eligible young men to complete their required registration. Officials project that automatic enrollment, which will pull eligibility data directly from existing federal government databases, will eliminate most of these recurring administrative costs.

As of press time, the proposed rule is still undergoing formal review, and final approval from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is required before it can be enacted. If greenlit, the rollout of the automatic registration system will be phased over several years to meet the 2026 completion target.

8 4 月, 2026
Purity margins improve as earnings rebound

KINGSTON, Jamaica — After months of sustained operational and financial strain, one of Jamaica’s most recognizable baked goods companies is staging a notable turnaround. Consolidated Bakeries Jamaica Limited, parent company of iconic local brands Purity and Miss Birdie, has logged a return to full-year profitability, driven by targeted cost cuts, operational overhauls, and strategic debt refinancing that positions the firm for long-term stability.

Unlike recovery strategies built on aggressive market expansion, Consolidated Bakeries’ comeback stems from internal adjustments to how the business operates. For the 12-month reporting period, the firm recorded only modest top-line growth, pushing total revenue just above the JMD 1.6 billion mark. The real progress, however, appears in the company’s margin metrics, where intentional cost control measures and workflow efficiency gains have lifted gross profitability considerably.

Gross margins climbed 2.5 percentage points over the prior year, rising from roughly 36.5% in 2024 to approximately 39% in the most recent reporting period. This margin expansion translated directly to improved bottom-line performance across core operations. The company posted operating profit of JMD 23.7 million, a sharp reversal from the operating loss of nearly JMD 8 million it recorded in 2024. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) also saw significant strengthening compared to the prior year.

At the net level, Consolidated Bakeries logged a net profit of JMD 6.5 million. This marks a dramatic turnaround from 2024, when the firm reported a net loss of approximately JMD 12 million, ending a prolonged stretch of financial pressure that threatened the company’s standing in Jamaica’s competitive food manufacturing sector.

In addition to profitability gains, the company has achieved meaningful stabilization in its cash flow generation. Operating cash flow turned positive during the reporting year, a marked improvement from the negative cash flow posted in the prior period. This improvement allowed Consolidated Bakeries to rebuild its cash reserves and boost operational flexibility for day-to-day business activities.

The company also took strategic steps to reduce long-term balance sheet pressure. During the year, Consolidated Bakeries accessed JMD 300 million from an existing JMD 600 million credit facility arranged with Sagicor Bank Jamaica. The funds were used to refinance older loans held with two other Jamaican financial institutions, NCB and JMMB. This refinancing extends the company’s debt repayment timeline out to 2035, creating greater cash flow headroom to fund working capital needs and ongoing operational investments. Total company borrowings remained largely unchanged through the transaction.

Parallel to financial restructuring, Consolidated Bakeries has also adjusted its product strategy to adapt to market conditions. The company has shifted greater focus toward higher-margin snack items and value-added products, while navigating persistent pricing sensitivity in its core traditional bread category. Early results from this product mix overhaul are emerging, though improvements have been gradual to date.

This report includes a correction to earlier reporting: the JMD 300 million accessed by the company is not a new credit facility, as previously stated. Consolidated Bakeries clarified that the drawdown came from an existing JMD 600 million facility finalized in September 2025, used solely to refinance existing debt and extend debt maturity dates, with no material change to total outstanding borrowings.

8 4 月, 2026