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  • Humble Lion, Tru-Juice set to clash in Jamaica Football Championships final

    Humble Lion, Tru-Juice set to clash in Jamaica Football Championships final

    Two underdog stories will collide this Sunday at Ferdie Neita Park, when Humble Lion Football Club and Tru-Juice Football Club step onto the pitch to compete for the Jamaica Football Championship title, kicking off at 3:30 pm local time.

    Both squads have already locked in promotion to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), turning Sunday’s showdown into a battle for the championship crown and regional bragging rights. Neither side secured their spot in the final through regulation play: both had to outlast their opponents in tense penalty shootouts after two weeks of tight, even semi-final legs.

    For Humble Lion, the road to the final cements a quick return to top-flight Jamaican football. Relegated from the JPL at the end of the 2024-25 season, the club has bounced back in spectacular fashion. In their second-leg semi-final at Drax Hall, Humble Lion played to a 1-1 draw with Sakka Club Browns Town after the first leg ended goalless, before clinching a 5-3 penalty win to advance.

    Tru-Juice’s journey to the final marks a historic first for the club. The Linstead-based side had qualified for semi-finals in four of the past five seasons but had never broken through to the title decider – until this year. Facing off against Reno FC on a waterlogged pitch at Llandilo, the match remained deadlocked after both legs ended 0-0, and Tru-Juice held their nerve to secure a 4-3 penalty win, booking their first-ever spot in the JPL in the process.

    The newly promoted sides will take the place of Harbour View FC and Spanish Town Police FC, the two teams relegated from the Premier League at the end of the current top-flight season.

    The race to the semi-finals was one of the tightest in recent memory, with the top three clubs in both regional zones finishing within just three points of each other on the league table. Tru-Juice claimed the top spot in Zone A with 35 points, edging out Sakka Club Browns Town by a single point, while Jamaica Defence Force came third with 32 points. In Zone B, Humble Lion finished atop the group with 34 points, one point ahead of second-place Reno FC, with Roaring River close behind in third at 31 points.

    In the immediate aftermath of his side’s semi-final victory, Tru-Juice head coach Craig Richards expressed confidence that his squad had earned every bit of their success, calling the 2025 campaign a productive season for the club. “The statistics proved our dominance,” Richards said. “We scored the most goals in the league. We have the number one striker in the league.” The team will now look to cap their historic breakthrough with a championship win.

    For Humble Lion, reaching the final means they have already checked off their primary goal for the season: an immediate return to the Jamaica Premier League just one year after relegation. Now, the club will be chasing extra silverware to cap off their remarkable comeback season.

  • Stable Central Bank maintains interest rate at 5.25% per year

    Stable Central Bank maintains interest rate at 5.25% per year

    At its May 2026 monetary policy gathering, the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) has opted to maintain its benchmark reference interest rate at an annual 5.25%, leaving two other key monetary rates unchanged as well: the 1-day Repos permanent liquidity expansion facility stays at 5.75%, and the Overnight remunerated deposit rate remains fixed at 4.50%.

    This policy decision comes on the heels of a careful assessment of both domestic economic trends and shifting global monetary conditions. BCRD policymakers anchored their call on two key observations: the Dominican Republic’s economy is continuing a gradual, steady rebound, and the latest uptick in inflation can be traced directly to a supply-side shock driven by spiking global crude oil prices. Crucially, the central bank emphasized that medium-term inflation expectations remain firmly anchored around its official target of 4.0%, with a tolerance band of plus or minus 1.0%.

    To contextualize the decision, BCRD outlined the current mixed global economic landscape. The United States logged a solid 2.6% year-over-year expansion in the first quarter of 2026, with unemployment holding near full employment levels. But rising energy costs pushed U.S. inflation up to 3.8% in April, erasing recent progress on price cooling. Across the Atlantic, the Eurozone is seeing a marked slowdown in economic activity, with inflation resting at 3.0% as of the latest readings. For Latin America as a whole, regional average growth holds steady at 2.0%, and a majority of regional central banks have joined the Dominican Republic in keeping interest rates unchanged in recent meetings.

    On the domestic front, year-over-year inflation in the Dominican Republic hit 5.11% in April, a rise that can be almost entirely attributed to recent fuel price adjustments. Encouragingly, core inflation— which strips out volatile food and energy prices—remained within the central bank’s target range at 4.87%. To buffer households and businesses from the impact of rising energy costs, the national government has rolled out targeted measures, including partial fuel subsidies and expanded social assistance programs.

    Looking ahead, BCRD’s proprietary forecasting models project that inflation will fall back within the official target range by the fourth quarter of 2026, once the temporary effects of the global oil price shock fade. In positive news for broader economic performance, the country’s monthly economic activity indicator (IMAE) grew 4.0% year-over-year across the first four months of 2026, with strong gains led by the construction sector, manufacturing for free trade zones, and the key tourism industry.

    Financial metrics also paint a picture of resilience: as of the end of May 2026, the Dominican peso has appreciated by 8.0% against major currencies, while the country’s international reserves have climbed to US$15.9 billion. This reserve level is equivalent to six months of national imports, exceeding the adequacy metrics recommended by the International Monetary Fund.

    In closing, the central bank reaffirmed that the Dominican economy boasts solid underlying fundamentals and a stable, well-regulated financial system. Against a turbulent international backdrop marked by ongoing geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, BCRD reiterated its commitment to take prompt, targeted action whenever necessary to keep inflation on track toward target and preserve long-term macroeconomic stability for the nation.

  • Kelly Ann Beckford smashes 800m personal best in Florida

    Kelly Ann Beckford smashes 800m personal best in Florida

    The 2024 Under Armour Track and Field Nationals, hosted at Florida’s IMG Academy in Bradenton, delivered a historic breakout performance on its second competition day Saturday, as Jamaican middle-distance runner Kelly Ann Beckford delivered a massive personal best to claim gold in the women’s professional 800m. Beckford crossed the finish line in 1 minute 58.66 seconds, slashing more than 1.5 seconds off her previous top mark of 2:00.17. That prior personal best came just last August, when she claimed a bronze medal at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships held in The Bahamas.

    Already a qualified competitor for the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Beckford’s new time marks a major milestone for Jamaican women’s middle-distance running: she is only the fourth female Jamaican 800m runner ever to break the elusive two-minute barrier in the event. The result also jumps her from 10th all-time among Jamaican women in the discipline into that exclusive historic top four, and her 2024 season time now ranks among the top 10 fastest 800m performances globally this year.

    In the corresponding men’s professional 800m race, it was a training partner showdown at the front of the pack. Wes Ferguson, who trains alongside Navasky Anderson at Under Armour Baltimore, edged out Anderson to take the top spot on the podium with a winning time of 1:44.41. Anderson, Jamaica’s own national record holder and a 2023 World Athletics Championships finalist, finished just 0.15 seconds behind Ferguson to claim second place in 1:44.56. Rounding out the top three was Handal Roban of St Vincent and the Grenadines, who posted a time of 1:45.08 to secure the bronze medal.

  • Belize tightens border surveillance in light of Ebola virus

    Belize tightens border surveillance in light of Ebola virus

    BELMOPAN, Belize — Caribbean media reports confirm that Belize’s national government has issued a formal appeal to travelers arriving from Ebola-impacted zones across East and Central Africa, calling for full transparency when disclosing recent travel history to border and entry officials.

    As of the latest update, no confirmed cases of the lethal viral pathogen have been detected within Belize’s borders, but the country’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has already enacted elevated public health monitoring protocols to pre-empt a potential outbreak. Officials have reminded all incoming travelers, regardless of entry point—whether by air, land, or sea—to maintain personal vigilance for any developing symptoms linked to the disease.

    Health authorities have outlined clear guidance for anyone who has visited an affected region and begins to show hallmark Ebola symptoms: contact local public health teams immediately to access testing and care. In a public statement, the ministry expanded on these protocols, noting, “Travelers are encouraged to provide accurate information regarding recent travel to border officials. Travelers who are able to self-isolate are encouraged to do so. Persons with symptoms must avoid close contact with others while seeking medical attention.”

    Ebola, a rare but frequently fatal viral illness, spreads primarily through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person, whether that individual is symptomatic or deceased. The disease’s incubation period can span from two days to three weeks after exposure, with initial symptoms typically including sudden fever, extreme fatigue, muscle soreness, head pain, and sore throat. As the illness progresses, these early signs are often followed by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, unexplained hemorrhaging, and skin rashes.

    While public health officials have stressed that the current risk of an Ebola outbreak in Belize remains low for the general population, the ministry has launched a coordinated cross-agency effort to strengthen entry screening and emergency response across all points of entry into the country. Partner agencies include the Belize Airport Authority, national border management services, immigration and customs departments, civil aviation regulators, cruise line operators, and commercial airline partners. This collaborative effort is focused on standardizing robust screening procedures at international airports, land border crossings, and commercial seaports to quickly identify and isolate any potential cases.

    The ministry added that it will continue tracking the evolving global Ebola situation with close attention, and will issue timely public updates to the Belizean population as new developments emerge.

  • National Freedom Day: Luis Abinader: Trujillo’s dictatorship was “the ultimate expression of state terrorism…”

    National Freedom Day: Luis Abinader: Trujillo’s dictatorship was “the ultimate expression of state terrorism…”

    On May 30, 2026, the Dominican Republic paused to commemorate a pivotal turning point in its modern history: 65 years since the assassination of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, the authoritarian strongman who held the nation in an iron grip for 30 years, crushing dissent and consolidating absolute control over every state institution and segment of the population. The date is officially observed as National Freedom Day, a moment set aside to reflect on decades of repression and honor the movement that ended one of the darkest chapters in the country’s political story.

    In a solemn and impassioned address released this past Friday, President Luis Abinader paid tribute to the generations of Dominican men and women who risked everything to challenge Trujillo’s brutal dictatorship and pave the way for the restoration of democratic governance.

    Abinader opened his remarks with a stark assessment of Trujillo’s rule, labeling it “the ultimate expression of state terrorism perpetrated ruthlessly against his own country.” For more than three decades, the regime enforced its control through widespread violence, political persecution, and systemic suppression of basic civil liberties, leaving countless families devastated by disappearances, property seizures, and disenfranchisement.

    The president reminded audiences of the fateful night that changed the nation’s trajectory: May 30, 1961, when a small band of Dominican patriots ended the 31-year reign of terror. “On that night, after more than 30 years of resistance against the excesses of the most bloodthirsty political regime we have ever known in our history, a group of patriots took up the weapons of justice and fired on the embodiment of terror and tyranny that had subjected an entire people to the heavy yoke of dictatorship,” Abinader said in his speech.

    Beyond honoring the group that carried out the assassination, Abinader extended his tribute to all those who joined the resistance movement across its decades-long fight. This included ordinary people targeted for their dissent: those who were imprisoned, stripped of their assets, stripped of their citizenship, or killed for opposing the regime. Many of these resisters remain uncelebrated outside local communities, and the president emphasized their critical role in laying the groundwork for democracy.

    “That is why I want to remember and pay tribute to all the men and women of the national resistance, anonymous heroes and heroines, whose individual rights were curtailed and whose property was seized,” he stated.

    Closing the address, the president centered his message on the enduring value of preserving collective historical memory. He argued that a clear, honest understanding of the nation’s authoritarian past is the only foundation for building a more just, inclusive future. “Only a people who know where they come from and where they are going can walk safely towards peace, equality, solidarity, social justice and respect for citizens’ rights,” he concluded.

  • The millions of dollars the country has spent to “improve” traffic

    The millions of dollars the country has spent to “improve” traffic

    Over the past seven years, the Dominican Republic has secured more than $2 billion in international loans to fund traffic and mobility improvements across its major urban centers, according to an in-depth review of five nationally approved financing agreements. Each deal, vetted by the Dominican National Congress, signed off by the Ministry of Finance and authorized by the sitting president, is tied to targeted road infrastructure and public transport transformation projects, with varying requirements for policy reform tied to fund disbursement.

    The first of these agreements dates back to December 2019, during the presidential administration of Danilo Medina. The government signed a $250 million financing deal with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), but the loan came with non-negotiable preconditions tied to the country’s 2017 Mobility, Land Transport, Transit, and Road Safety Law (Law 63-17). Before accessing any funds, the Dominican state was required to implement a series of substantial structural reforms rather than superficial changes. These requirements included launching a fully functional national Road Safety Observatory, establishing at least five active traffic accident investigation units within the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (Digesett), adding new operational departments to the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT), and rolling out a plan to formalize informal taxi operators into registered commercial businesses.

    Per the contract terms, the funding was earmarked explicitly to support the rollout of Law 63-17, aligning with the pre-disbursement reform goals. Repayment of the IDB loan is structured in semi-annual installments that will continue through 2039.

    A decade later, in October 2020, just ten months after the first loan was signed, the new administration of President Luis Abinader secured a second $250 million loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) to co-finance the same broader national transport reform program backed by the IDB. Negotiators secured a fixed annual interest rate of 2.80% for this agreement — a notably favorable term, as global interest rates surged sharply in subsequent years amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other global economic shocks. Repayment for the AFD loan is scheduled to begin in March 2025 and conclude in September 2039. A unique stipulation of the agreement notes that it falls under French legal jurisdiction, with any disputes required to be resolved via arbitration in Paris, conducted in the French language.

    In October 2022, the Dominican government secured a third loan, an additional $200 million tranche from the IDB to expand the original transport reform program. This new tranche came with more ambitious pre-disbursement requirements: the government was required to show proof of at least ten fully implemented actions from the National Strategic Road Safety Plan, enact a school transportation regulation that integrates gender equity considerations and universal accessibility standards, and demonstrate concrete progress toward expanding electromobility across the country’s transport fleet.

    It is important to note that both IDB and AFD loans are not generic lines of credit. Each agreement includes binding clauses that require the Dominican government to implement sweeping public policy changes in exchange for access to funding. The contracts explicitly allow lenders to suspend future disbursements or demand full early repayment if the government fails to meet its reform commitments.

    The fourth loan analyzed diverges from the policy-focused reform financing, instead targeting a specific large-scale infrastructure construction project. The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) provided $250 million to fund construction of Line 2C of the Santo Domingo Metro, a new section that will connect the western outskirts of the capital to the city’s existing metro network. This loan carries a 20-year repayment term from the first disbursement, with a five-year initial grace period. Unlike the fixed-rate AFD loan, this agreement uses a variable interest rate tied to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 268 basis points, meaning Dominican public debt repayments will rise automatically if global interest rates increase.

    The most recent and largest of the five agreements was signed in July 2024 by the Ministry of Finance, to fund the new Santiago de los Caballeros Monorail. BNP Paribas and Citibank, backed by the French government via its export credit agency Bpifrance, provided 464.9 million euros (equivalent to roughly $510 million) for the project. The monorail will span 13 kilometers of track, include 14 stations, and have capacity to carry 20,000 passengers per hour during peak travel times. French transportation firm Alstom Transport leads the construction consortium, holding a 73% stake in the project. This loan carries a fixed annual interest rate of 3.78%, with a full guarantee from the French government.

  • Urgent! Are you A+ or O+? They are requesting help with a blood donation.

    Urgent! Are you A+ or O+? They are requesting help with a blood donation.

    A local medical appeal has been issued calling for eligible members of the public to step forward and donate A positive or O positive blood for a patient requiring an urgent transfusion. To ensure the safety of both donors and the receiving patient, all potential donors must meet a clear set of basic eligibility requirements set out by the organizing team.

    First, donors must abstain from consuming any alcohol for a full 48 hours before scheduled donation. Next, candidates must not have undergone any tattoo procedures, invasive surgeries, or body piercings within the past 12 months, as these procedures carry temporary risks of infection that could compromise blood safety. Donors must also be free of influenza and other acute contagious illnesses at the time of the planned donation.

    Additionally, all potential donors are required to bring an official document that confirms their blood type; acceptable documents include government-issued ID cards, driver’s licenses, or official blood typing records. For female donors, an extra requirement applies: donors must have completed their most recent menstrual cycle at least 20 days prior to the planned donation date to ensure donor health and blood quality.

    Any eligible individual who is able and willing to donate blood is encouraged to contact Leidy Sahilys Terrero directly at (849) 650-0684 to get further details about the donation process, scheduling, and donation location. This urgent appeal relies on community solidarity to help the patient access the life-saving transfusion they need.

  • Oblique Seville runs 9.96 seconds in opening 100m

    Oblique Seville runs 9.96 seconds in opening 100m

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — One of the sport’s top global talents has kicked off his 2024 campaign in dominant fashion, as reigning world champion Oblique Seville clocked a polished 9.96 seconds with a legal 0.2 meters per second tailwind to claim top honors in the men’s 100-meter dash at the third JAAA/Puma Invitational meet, held Saturday at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium.

    Seville, drawn in the 21st and final heat of the day’s 100m competition, separated himself from the rest of the field in his section within the opening 30 meters, never looking threatened en route to the finish line. He crossed the line well clear of second-place finisher in his heat Sandrey Davison, who registered a time of 10.22 seconds, while Adrian Kerr rounded out the heat’s top three with a 10.28s run. Across all heats, rising star Bouwahjgie Nkrumie took second place overall, posting a new personal season’s best of 10.13 seconds in the penultimate heat despite a slowing -1.1m/s headwind.

    In the women’s 100m, Ashanti Moore emerged as the standout performer of the day, taking the victory in a solid 11.18 seconds with a 0.1m/s wind reading. She edged out World Relays gold medalist Jodean Williams, who crossed the line just four hundredths of a second behind at 11.22s, while national junior record holder Alana Reid claimed the third spot on the podium with a 11.31-second run.

    Other highlights from the one-day meet included a surprise men’s 400m victory for Tajh Marques White, who crossed the line first in 45.91 seconds. White held off a late push from Kingston College high school standout Jason Pitter, who finished second in 46.40 seconds, just one hundredth of a second ahead of third-place Reheem Hayles who clocked 46.42s.

    In the field events, Samantha Hall dominated the women’s discus throw, launching a winning mark of 60.07 meters to take the title. Lushane Wilson, a decorated World Indoor Championships medalist, claimed top spot in the men’s high jump, clearing the bar at 2.16 meters to secure the win at the national qualifying event.

  • June-November Hurricane season begins: mistakes you should avoid from now on

    June-November Hurricane season begins: mistakes you should avoid from now on

    As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, communities across the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic, are bracing for the six-month high-risk period that runs officially from June through November. While national meteorological agencies and disaster management authorities issue annual alerts and preparedness guidance to help residents weather potential storms and hurricanes, repeated dangerous missteps continue to threaten public safety across the region, putting countless families and local communities in unnecessary jeopardy.

    The most widespread critical error residents make is underestimating the severity of official government and weather service warnings. Far too many locals discount the projected path and intensity of incoming systems, choosing to delay preparations instead of acting early. This last-minute rush to get ready drastically cuts down the time available to secure property and evacuate if needed, leaving people far more vulnerable to injury, property damage, or worse when storm conditions hit.

    A second common preparation failure involves failing to conduct pre-season inspections and repairs on key parts of residential properties. Roofs, exterior windows, and residential drainage systems are the first lines of defense against heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts that come with tropical cyclones, but many homeowners skip routine checks to fix weak spots or clear blockages ahead of the season, leaving their homes open to major damage.

    Recent historic flooding in the Dominican Republic’s capital of Santo Domingo, captured in on-the-ground photography by photojournalist Elieser Tapia, serves as a stark reminder of the real-world damage inadequate preparation can cause. Beyond property checks, many households also lack a formal, practiced family emergency plan, a gap that creates dangerous chaos when storm conditions develop rapidly. Improvising decisions mid-storm puts children, elderly relatives, and people with disabilities or chronic illnesses at particular risk, as confusion can lead to delayed evacuation or missed critical needs.

    Compounding this gap is the frequent lack of pre-stocked emergency supply kits. Many residents fail to stock up on the essentials they would need during a multi-day power outage or evacuation order: potable drinking water, non-perishable food that does not require refrigeration, working flashlights, extra batteries, and critical prescription medications. All of these items should be gathered and stored in an easy-to-reach location long before any storm warning is issued.

    Another life-threatening mistake many households make is failing to map out pre-identified safe emergency shelters and mapped evacuation routes ahead of a storm. During active tropical weather emergencies, every minute counts when evacuation orders are issued, and knowing exactly where to go and how to get there can mean the difference between life and death. Officials also warn of another avoidable risk: relying on open-flame candles for light during widespread power outages. Candles are a major fire hazard, especially in damaged homes, and authorities advise all households to use rechargeable flashlights or battery-powered lanterns instead to eliminate this risk.

  • Oakley sets facility record to lead qualifying for NCAA National Championships

    Oakley sets facility record to lead qualifying for NCAA National Championships

    The final qualifying rounds for the NCAA National Track and Field Championships wrapped up this weekend with standout performances across two regional venues, as dozens of top collegiate athletes secured their spots in the national competition.

    At the East Regionals hosted by the University of Kentucky on Saturday, University of Georgia sprinter Dejanae Oakley delivered a historic performance to top the women’s 400-meter qualifying rankings. Oakley, who already holds the world’s fastest time in the event this year – a 48.92-second run that earned her the Southeastern Conference championship title two weeks prior – shattered the venue’s existing facility record with a 49.48-second finish. The previous record of 50.30 seconds had been set two years earlier by Aaliyah Butler, another University of Georgia sprinter, meaning the facility mark remains in Bulldog hands.

    Oakley was not the only athlete to hit a new personal best on her path to nationals. Northwestern State’s Rushana Dwyer clocked her second career best time in the women’s 400m, finishing with a 50.81-second run to advance. LSU’s Skyler Franklin also hit a new personal record, posting a 50.83-second time that makes her the current world leader in the under-20 category for the event, and earned her a spot at the national championships.

    In the women’s 100-meter, Florida State’s Shenese Walker – the current Atlantic Coast Conference double sprint champion – secured her national spot with a 10.88-second finish, aided by a 1.1m/s tailwind. She will be joined at nationals by University of Florida’s Gabrielle Matthews, who achieved a rare double qualification over the weekend. Matthews ran 11.02 seconds in the 100m with matching 1.1m/s wind conditions, and followed that up with a 22.78-second finish in the 200m (with a 0.8m/s tailwind) to book two spots in the national competition.

    Field event competitors also turned in strong qualifying performances at the East Regional. Clemson’s Shantae Foreman earned her second qualification of the weekend, sealing a spot in the national triple jump competition after notching a 13.49m jump with 0.8m/s wind. Foreman had already secured her spot in the national long jump competition on Thursday. West Virginia’s Anniska McDonald claimed fourth place in the high jump with a 1.82m clear to qualify for nationals, while Ohio State’s Janela Spencer matched her season best of 12.79 seconds to take fourth place in the 100m hurdles. Clemson’s Oneka Wilson finished fifth in the same event with a 12.88-second run, also earning a national spot.

    Over at the West Regionals hosted by the University of Arkansas, athletes continued to punch their tickets to the upcoming NCAA National Championships. Texas A&M University’s Abigail secured her spot in the women’s discus throw with a 57.98m qualifying throw. The University of Texas’s Carleta Bernard earned her first ever individual spot at the national championships, clocking a wind-aided 11.01-second finish in the 100m with a 2.5m/s tailwind. Texas Tech’s Tonie-Ann Forbes advanced in the 100m hurdles with a 12.92-second finish, while Texas A&M’s Machaeda Lander pulled off a last-chance qualification: on her final attempt in the triple jump, Linton hit a new personal best of 13.31m with a 1.0m/s tailwind to claim the last available qualifying spot for nationals.