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  • Iran ceasefire deal confirms military might doesn’t work

    Iran ceasefire deal confirms military might doesn’t work

    Four months after former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a full-scale military campaign against Iran with sweeping maximalist goals, a 14-point preliminary memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed June 17 has formally ended the devastating conflict, leaving the core ambitions of the US-Israeli coalition in tatters and marking a defining turning point in Persian Gulf geopolitics.

    At the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, the two leaders laid out unambiguous, far-reaching war aims: the total elimination of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the forced end of Tehran’s support for regional allied groups including Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas, and a complete regime change in Iran. Today, the text of the ceasefire agreement stands in stark contradiction to the bombastic, overconfident rhetoric that launched the war.

    Few international analysts predicted the outcome now unfolding, notes Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, professor of global thought and comparative philosophies and co-director of the Centre for AI Futures at SOAS University of London, who authored this analysis. Adib-Moghaddam counts himself among the small group that foresaw this result: as early as 2012, he publicly warned that no military campaign could succeed in curbing Iran’s nuclear program, adding that US officials already knew this fact and had explicitly warned Israel of the same outcome.

    In the opening weeks of the conflict, after waves of intense airstrikes targeted more than 900 locations across Iran, both Trump and Netanyahu repeatedly claimed the Islamic Republic’s military infrastructure had been irreparably broken. Trump repeatedly insisted victory was imminent, falsely asserting that Iran had “nothing left in a military sense.” He promised that US forces would “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground” completely, and called on the Iranian public to rise up against their government, framing the conflict as a path to guaranteed regime change. Netanyahu echoed these claims, positioning the war as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to forcibly redraw the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape to suit Israeli and Western interests.

    But on-the-ground developments and declassified intelligence quickly exposed these claims as baseless hubris. While Iran sustained heavy structural damage to infrastructure, the country retained its full strategic depth, adapted quickly by dispersing critical military equipment, and launched sustained retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the region against coalition assets. Far from collapsing the Iranian government, the external attack unified the population and strengthened the country’s state institutions, hardening public and elite resistance to foreign coercion.

    The terms of the signed MoU make clear that Washington ultimately entered negotiations with Tehran as an equal sovereign power, not a victor dictating surrender terms to a defeated enemy. On three core pillars, the agreement directly reverses the original war aims of the US-Israeli coalition.

    First, the framework legally binds the United States to respect Iran’s full territorial integrity and to abstain from any interference in Iran’s internal affairs. For an administration that spent months demanding regime change, this clause serves as a formal legal recognition of the Islamic Republic’s legitimacy and permanence, echoing the 1981 Algiers Accords, in which the US committed to non-intervention and the unfreezing of Iranian assets in exchange for the release of American hostages held after the 1979 revolution. Facing the reality of an intact, fully functional Iranian government, Trump dramatically reversed his rhetoric at the recent G7 summit, claiming “I never cared about regime change” and describing Iran’s negotiation team as “rational, strong, and smart.”

    Second, the MoU requires the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran, the implementation of emergency US Treasury waivers to allow the full resumption of Iranian crude oil exports, the unfreezing of up to $100 billion in Iranian assets that had been restricted under US sanctions, and the creation of a $300 billion international reconstruction fund to support Iran’s post-war economic recovery. This outcome confirms what long-term analysis of Iranian resilience has repeatedly shown: economic blockades and pressure campaigns ultimately fail when paired with Iran’s asymmetrical regional deterrence capabilities. As Adib-Moghaddam argued as early as 2011 on Al Jazeera, sanctions, coercive diplomacy and even full-scale war cannot break Iran: Iranian society is deeply connected globally, and its state and economy are far more agile than Western policymakers have consistently assumed. Tehran’s long-stated threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, also proved a far more potent deterrent than US and Israeli leaders were willing to acknowledge.

    Most notably, the MoU is striking for what it omits entirely. There is no requirement for Iran to dismantle its ballistic missile program, and no clause mandating that Iran sever its ties to regional allied groups. The ceasefire also explicitly applies to “all fronts,” requiring an end to hostilities in Lebanon – a major concession that puts Netanyahu in a difficult position, as he has previously vowed to maintain an Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon.

    For the global order, this agreement marks a profound structural shift in Middle Eastern politics. By launching a high-intensity military campaign and failing to achieve even one of their core stated goals – neither destroying Iran’s core military capabilities nor toppling its government – the US and Israel have inadvertently demonstrated the clear limits of Western military power in the region. No amount of propaganda from pro-war lobbying groups or opposition factions can alter this on-the-ground reality.

    The world is rapidly shifting toward a more distributed non-polar order, one that has moved beyond the post-Cold War Western-dominated system. The US-Iran MoU will stand as a historic marker: a moment when the rhetoric of unchallenged superpower power gave way to the practical necessity of diplomatic negotiation and accommodation with a sovereign, resilient state. Adib-Moghaddam notes that this long-predicted shift is now a concrete reality, and hopes regional and global policymakers will finally learn the lessons of this ill-fated war.

  • ‘Absolutely insane’

    ‘Absolutely insane’

    Thirty-three years ago, a young Jamaican girl growing up between extended family in St James’ rural communities could scarcely have imagined that one day her work would grace the pages of *Vogue* and *The New York Times*, and that she would bring elite global brands’ boldest creative visions to life. Today, that girl — Traci Rhynie, a New York-based executive producer — has built a career shaping events and immersive experiences for household names spanning Netflix, Nike, Spotify, Estée Lauder, Tom Ford, and Victoria Beckham. But even as she climbs the ranks of the global creative industry, she has never strayed from the core values instilled in her during her island childhood.

    Rhynie’s childhood unfolded against the quiet rhythm of rural Jamaica, while her parents worked overseas. Raised by a sprawling network of aunts, cousins, and extended family, she built deep, lasting bonds that anchored her early years. Looking back, she laughs that as a child, she bristled at the simple, farm-centered lifestyle that felt alien to what she had known. But as she grew, she came to recognize those years as the foundation of the resilience and gratitude that would carry her through every challenge ahead.

    When Rhynie finally joined her parents in the United States, she stepped into a bittersweet new chapter. Like countless first-generation immigrant youth, she navigated the delicate balancing act of adapting to a new culture while holding fast to her Jamaican identity. That awkward, often challenging transition would ultimately forge the quiet confidence and unshakable determination that later propelled her career forward.

    Ironically, event production — the field that would earn Rhynie international acclaim — was never part of her original plan. Enrolled at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology to study fashion merchandising, she stumbled unexpectedly on a deep passion for event production and experiential marketing. What began as a passing interest in fashion bloomed into a career centered on turning abstract creative concepts into unforgettable, immersive experiences for audiences around the world.

    Over the last decade, Rhynie has led high-stakes projects for leading brands across fashion, beauty, and entertainment, with her work featured in top-tier publications from *Harper’s Bazaar* and *Essence* to *People Magazine* and *The New York Times*. Even now, she admits that her success feels surreal. “For a girl coming from Jamaica, this is absolutely insane,” she says.

    Just as her career began to gain momentum, Rhynie faced the hardest fight of her life. At 25, a lump on her neck led to months of testing and biopsies, and ultimately a diagnosis of stage 2B Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “I remember when they told me I was like, ‘No way God is going to put me through this thing,’” she recalled, the memory still sharp.

    What followed was a grueling gauntlet of surgery, chemotherapy, and endless uncertainty that forced the 25-year-old to confront questions no young person expects to face. But even in her darkest moments, her faith became an unbreakable anchor. “God had me, man. That’s all faith,” she said of the harrowing experience.

    That battle rewrote Rhynie’s perspective on life and purpose. During treatment, she watched other patients — including young children — fight their own brutal battles with cancer, and realized her struggle was not hers alone. Instead of letting her diagnosis define her, she chose to find purpose in her pain, shifting her mindset from asking “why me” to wondering how her journey could lift up others facing similar hardship.

    Years later, Rhynie is cancer-free, a victory she counts as one of the greatest blessings of her life. That blessing was soon followed by one of the proudest professional milestones of her career: not long after her recovery, she was tapped to executive produce Rodarte’s iconic New York Fashion Week show, an ambitious production that staged a runway presentation in a cemetery with backstage operations hosted at a historic church across the street.

    The unconventional concept demanded months of meticulous coordination and problem-solving, and Rhynie embraced every challenge. On the day of the show, light rain began to fall mid-presentation. What could have derailed the entire production instead amplified its haunting, dramatic tone, creating an unforgettable moment of unexpected beauty that still resonates with attendees and the creative team today.

    For Rhynie, the successful show was far more than a professional win — it was a deeply personal triumph. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to even come out of cancer, but to be able to do that after cancer…that meant the most to me,” she explained. The experience cemented a lesson she still carries with her: every obstacle can become a stepping stone to greater purpose.

    Today, as an accomplished executive producer, director, and business development leader, Rhynie continues to craft immersive experiences for global audiences while advocating for better representation and more opportunities for immigrants and people of color in industries where they have long faced systemic barriers. Through every project and every achievement, she remains rooted in the lessons she learned growing up in Jamaica: treat everyone with respect, and cherish every opportunity that comes your way.

    For Rhynie, success has never been just about climbing the career ladder. It is about lifting as you climb, opening doors for others who come after you, and staying true to the roots that made her. To young Jamaicans with big dreams of their own, her message is uncomplicated: “Go for your dreams, no matter what age you are. Don’t let anyone stop you from accomplishing those dreams.”

    From a small girl with big dreams in rural Jamaica to a leader shaping global creative experiences, Rhynie’s story is a powerful testament to what talent, resilience, faith, and determination can make possible. When asked how she hopes to be remembered, her answer has nothing to do with awards or career milestones. “As someone that is very kind, very strong, and thankful, by the grace of God,” she says. It is a legacy she builds one day, one project, one act of faith at a time.

  • PAY PRESSURE

    PAY PRESSURE

    Jamaica’s independent fiscal oversight body has reignited urgent warnings about the unsustainable trajectory of the government’s public sector wage bill, revealing that compensation now accounts for more than half of all total tax revenue collected by the state.

    New data from the Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC) shows the share of tax revenue eaten up by public sector wages and salaries jumped sharply to 54.4% in the 2025-2026 financial year, up from 47.9% recorded in the previous 12-month period. This latest figure also came in $14.9 billion above the original budget projections for the fiscal year, according to the IFC’s latest fiscal performance report, which was recently tabled before Jamaica’s national parliament.

    The watchdog’s renewed warning is not a new concern: earlier this year, in an assessment of the government’s 2025/26-2028/29 Fiscal Policy Paper reported by the Jamaica Observer in January, the IFC first flagged that growing compensation costs were putting unsustainable strain on the country’s fiscal framework, and called for the introduction of a targeted wage fiscal rule to contain long-term risks. Six months on, the commission confirms those risks have only intensified, with no corrective action taken to reverse the trend.

    The timing of this warning is particularly critical for Jamaica’s public finances. The island nation is still grappling with the massive economic and fiscal fallout from Hurricane Melissa, which left an estimated $1.95 trillion in total damage and losses in its wake, and forced authorities to temporarily suspend the country’s existing fiscal rules. Compounding this pressure, the government is facing mounting public demands for large-scale reconstruction spending, critical infrastructure upgrades, and expanded investment in public services across the country.

    Against this fragile economic backdrop, the IFC warns that if the current trajectory of public wage growth remains unaddressed, it will create crippling additional fiscal pressures that could derail post-hurricane recovery efforts. To resolve the growing imbalance, the commission has reiterated its earlier policy recommendation: the government should implement a formal fiscal rule that caps public wage growth in line with gross domestic product (GDP) expansion, and restructure national wage negotiation processes to align directly with the annual national budget cycle, in order to better pre-empt and manage fiscal risks.

    The IFC’s position is rooted in the principle that public sector compensation growth should be tied directly to the country’s actual economic performance, rather than set primarily through ad-hoc collective bargaining processes that outpace the government’s revenue capacity.

    In recent years, the Jamaican government has rolled out sweeping public sector compensation reforms, designed to correct long-standing pay disparities across the public service and help the state attract and retain skilled workers. These reforms delivered substantial across-the-board salary increases for nearly all categories of public employees, and the changes were broadly welcomed by public sector unions and workers across the country.

    But the IFC’s latest analysis makes clear that the cumulative fiscal impact of these pay adjustments has grown far beyond initial projections, creating a significant drag on public finances. Beyond exceeding budget targets, the rising share of revenue dedicated to compensation is crowd out fiscal space that would otherwise be available for other pressing national priorities, from hurricane reconstruction to healthcare and education investment.

  • Getting better value from road patching

    Getting better value from road patching

    Jamaica’s expansive road network relies on regular patching work to keep connections open and travelers safe, but many motorists rarely stop to question why some repairs last for years while others fail within months. In a submitted commentary, infrastructure expert Denton Moore, author of *Risk Management in Secondary Road Construction and Maintenance in Jamaica*, breaks down the multilayered set of factors that determine the longevity and performance of road patching projects across the island.

    Road patching is the most routine yet critical form of road maintenance in Jamaica, addressing everything from deep potholes formed by heavy traffic to pavement damage worsened by intense seasonal rainfall. When done correctly, these repairs preserve access for all road users and cut the risk of traffic accidents caused by uneven pavement. Despite its seemingly simple appearance, Moore explains, the lifespan of a patch depends on a range of interconnected variables: the quality of raw materials, ambient weather during construction, site drainage, the skill of the construction crew, daily traffic volumes, and the structural condition of the underlying road base.

    Of all these variables, material and construction quality stands as the most impactful. National and international established standards outline clear protocols for material selection, on-site testing, and construction techniques that directly boost repair durability. When contractors source high-grade materials and adhere to these verified procedures, Moore notes, patches deliver consistent performance and far longer service life, reducing the need for frequent repeat repairs.

    A second often overlooked critical factor is site drainage. Moore emphasizes that water is the single leading cause of premature road and repair deterioration across Jamaica’s tropical climate. Even if a patch uses the highest quality materials, blocked drainage ditches or standing water trapped on or under the road surface will seep into the pavement, weaken the bond between the patch and existing road, and lead to rapid cracking and crumbling. Without addressing underlying drainage issues before patching, any repair effort is likely to be short-lived.

    Beyond engineering and construction considerations, successful road maintenance also depends on rigorous pre-project planning, budgeting, and financial stewardship — an area where quantity surveyors play an indispensable, underrecognized role. These finance and infrastructure specialists produce detailed, accurate estimates for all project costs, including materials, labor, heavy equipment, and ancillary project needs. Reliable cost data allows road agencies to build effective budgets and make strategic decisions about how to allocate limited public maintenance funds to deliver the greatest benefit across the network.

    By collaborating closely with civil engineers, project managers, field technicians, and private contractors, quantity surveyors ensure that every repair project is mapped out thoroughly and resources are distributed to avoid waste. For Jamaican road agencies, which are tasked with maintaining thousands of kilometers of road while balancing competing infrastructure priorities and tight budgets, delivering maximum value for every public dollar spent is a core objective. This means not just patching damaged pavement, but designing and executing repairs that maximize long-term performance and useful lifespan.

    As Jamaica ramps up investments in preserving and upgrading its national road network, Moore argues that sustained focus on four core pillars will drive better outcomes: strict adherence to quality standards, proactive drainage improvements, accurate cost estimation by trained professionals, and consistent implementation of sound construction practices. When combined, these elements deliver multiple interconnected benefits: improved overall road performance, reduced need for costly repeated repairs, and more efficient use of limited public funds.

    Moore concludes that every long-lasting road repair is the product of coordinated contributions from a diverse team of skilled professionals. While road users only ever see the finished patch, a wide range of experts work behind the scenes to plan, cost, design, supervise, and execute each repair. Recognizing the critical role each of these roles plays, he says, will build greater public understanding of the work required to maintain and expand Jamaica’s critical road network for future growth.

  • From courtrooms to communities

    From courtrooms to communities

    Last Friday, Jamaica’s Court of Appeal convened a rare full-bench special sitting to celebrate the life and legacy of Ian Forte, the court’s late former president, who passed away on June 5 at the age of 89. Across Jamaica’s legal community and the wider Caribbean, tributes poured in highlighting the profound respect Forte earned over a trailblazing 50-plus year career in law and judiciary.

    Forte’s journey through Jamaica’s legal system saw him rise through nearly every key rank, starting as a practicing counsel, before serving as resident magistrate, director of public prosecutions, and ultimately earning elevation to the Court of Appeal as a judge in 1988. He stepped into the role of Court of Appeal President in 1999, holding the position until his retirement in 2005. Beyond Jamaica’s borders, his reputation for intellectual rigor and integrity earned him cross-regional appointments, including serving on the Courts of Appeal for both the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

    Presiding over the special sitting, current Court of Appeal President Marva McDonald-Bishop opened the tributes by emphasizing that Forte’s contributions extended far beyond his formal judicial work. “In every office he held within the legal and judicial system, whether at home or abroad, he exemplified the fundamental qualities that sustain confidence in the administration of justice,” she said. McDonald-Bishop noted that through his sharp scholarship and balanced judgment, Forte left an indelible mark on Jamaican and Caribbean jurisprudence. What truly defines his legacy, she added, is his selfless service outside the courtroom: through his local church, the Norman Manley Law School, his alma mater St George’s College, and the Kiwanis Club, he touched countless lives through mentorship, teaching, and quiet generosity. His lifelong commitment to public service, she said, earned him formal national and professional honors that rightly reflect the widespread respect he inspired across the legal community and the nation.

    Jamaica’s Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, head of the national judiciary, shared a pre-recorded message noting that Forte’s decades of dedication helped shape the development of Jamaican jurisprudence and strengthen the judiciary, a core institution of the country’s constitutional democracy. Sykes pointed out that as Court of Appeal President, Forte occupied one of the nation’s highest judicial offices, and he carried the unique responsibility of appellate adjudication with extraordinary seriousness and principle. “Those who appeared before him quickly came to appreciate that he was always thoroughly prepared. He understood that judicial preparation is, itself, a form of respect — respect for the litigants, respect for counsel, respect for colleagues, and respect for the judicial process,” Sykes said.

    Sykes also highlighted Forte’s rare judicial temperament: at a time when modern public discourse often prioritizes loud certainty over thoughtful reflection, Forte remained a model of calm deliberation. Soft-spoken, courteous, and respectful to everyone who entered his courtroom, Forte’s gentle demeanor never masked his formidable intellect and deep mastery of the law, Sykes added.

    Winston Anderson, president of the Caribbean Court of Justice, echoed these remarks, noting that Forte’s 50-year career reflected extraordinary dedication and a deep, abiding passion for the law. “It speaks to a life devoted to the thoughtful interpretation and persistent advancement of the law, whether in chambers preparing and strategising, at the Bar table arguing a case, or behind the bench crafting decisions whose influence resonated far beyond the courtroom,” Anderson said. Forte’s life’s work, he added, ultimately shaped how Caribbean people interact with public institutions, how those institutions function, and how individual rights are protected and advanced across the region.

    Patrick Brooks, retired former president of the Court of Appeal, recalled his early experiences working with Forte when Forte served as director of public prosecutions, saying he was always in awe of Forte’s leadership. Even when parties disagreed with his rulings, Brooks noted, Forte’s judgments were always fair and rigorously reasoned. “I stood on his shoulders in my time as president, and the court is much better for his administration of it,” Brooks said.

    Responding to the outpouring of tributes, Forte’s widow, Marlene Malahoo Forte — a third-term Jamaican parliamentarian and former minister of legal and constitutional affairs — confirmed that the public portrayals of her late husband matched the man she knew in private. Citing a popular Jamaican proverb that notes knowing someone publicly is very different from living with them privately, she said: “for Ian, seeing him and living with him were the same. Everything I have heard said about him publicly I’ve lived it privately with him.”

    Opening up about their life together, Malahoo Forte described Forte as a man easy to love, who commanded deep respect for his commitment to Jamaica and the justice system. She said she counted it a privilege to care for him through all stages of his life, from his career prime to his final vulnerable years, and that he remained lucid and kept his characteristic sense of humor until the end of his life. When she made the decision to leave the judicial branch to enter electoral politics, she said, Forte was initially disappointed but never stood in her way, instead offering unwavering support and drawing on his decades of experience to provide constant wisdom and guidance.

    The special sitting was also attended by dozens of Forte’s family members, and additional tributes were delivered by senior legal figures including former Appeal Court President Seymour Panton, Attorney General Dr Derrick McKoy KC, multiple former and current directors of public prosecutions, Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson KC, and representatives from both the public and private bar.

  • From western Jamaica to the world stage

    From western Jamaica to the world stage

    At just 19 years old, Rayon-Jai Pusey, a third-year student at Jamaica’s HEART College of Innovation and Technology (HCIT), is gearing up for the most high-stakes challenge of his burgeoning tech career: competing on the global stage at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China this September. Pusey is one of only five Jamaican athletes selected to represent the island nation at the prestigious international skills event, where he will team up with fellow competitor Antonio Rolong in the Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) category, a cutting-edge discipline that merges mechanical engineering, software development, and critical problem-solving to engineer robots that can complete tasks independently without human intervention.

    Pusey’s lifelong fascination with technology traces back to his childhood in the small rural town of Green Island in Hanover, a less prominent region on Jamaica’s western coast. Growing up surrounded by computers thanks to his mother, an information technology teacher at Green Island High School, he developed an early curiosity for how tech works that evolved from tinkering with dated floppy disks as a child to experimenting with Arduino microcontrollers from age 12. That early hands-on experience turned technology into a constant, foundational passion that shaped his academic and career path.

    His unexpected journey to the WorldSkills international stage began when his HCIT instructor tapped him to join the 2023 Jamaican National Skills Competition, while he was working toward completion of his 24-month AMR specialization. Already familiar with the competition robotics kits and well-versed in hands-on experimentation after months of practice, Pusey stepped into the national competition with quiet confidence. His strong performance at the national event earned him a spot on the WorldSkills Jamaica roster, opening the door to the international opportunity he holds today.

    To demystify his field for the public, Pusey explained that autonomous mobile robotics centers on building robots that navigate and operate without any direct human input. Competitors in the AMR category must master a range of interconnected skills: computer vision for environmental detection, navigation and localization mapping, custom mechanical fabrication of robot components, rigorous testing to ensure functional reliability, and end-to-end software coding to power the robot’s autonomous systems.

    In the weeks leading up to the Shanghai competition, Pusey and Rolong have undertaken an intense preparation schedule at a pre-competition invitational training camp hosted by WorldSkills Jamaica and Studica Robotics at Runaway Bay’s Cardiff Hotel & Spa, held June 8 to 12, followed by daily training at HCIT’s Derrick Rochester Campus in St Elizabeth. Their routine starts as early as 5:00 a.m. with morning exercise to build stamina for long training days, followed by hours of hands-on work that often stretches until 2:00 a.m. the next morning. The pair has divided roles to maximize efficiency: Rolong leads primary software development, while Pusey focuses on mechanical assembly and debugging, with both contributing across disciplines to refine their robot. Pusey notes that despite the grueling schedule, the preparation process has been filled with camaraderie and steady, measurable progress.

    For Pusey, representing Jamaica at WorldSkills is more than just a competition—it is a life-changing opportunity that comes from humble beginnings. “Growing up on the more not-so-known side of the country, in the west — Hanover, a little town called Green Island — to being placed on the world stage and given the opportunity to prove my skills, it’s a great privilege,” he shared. As he prepares to compete, he is also advocating for greater investment in technical and vocational education across Jamaica, arguing that growing investment in emerging tech skills like robotics and coding is critical to keep pace with the rapidly evolving global economy. He emphasizes the importance of nurturing young people’s interest in tech from an early age, pointing to his own start at 12 with a simple Arduino kit and a big dream as proof of what early encouragement can build.

    Looking beyond the Shanghai competition, Pusey has clear long-term goals rooted in lifting up Jamaica’s tech ecosystem. He plans to complete a degree in mechanical engineering and eventually return to the HEART College of Innovation and Technology to help improve the institution’s technical training programs, so that more young Jamaicans from rural and underserved communities can get the opportunities he has been given.

  • Brace for AI-related cyber attacks, expert warns

    Brace for AI-related cyber attacks, expert warns

    MONTEGO BAY, St James — Even as Jamaica celebrates landmark progress in cutting both violent traditional crime and digital incidents, the top cybersecurity official at the island nation’s Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) is sounding a clear alarm: an unavoidable wave of AI-fueled cyber attacks is on the horizon. Dr. Patrick Linton, MOCA’s chief cybersecurity expert, shared this warning during a plenary session focused on security and public safety at the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, hosted last Tuesday at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

    Linton explained that the rapid evolution of digital technology and expanding internet access across Jamaica have created ideal conditions for cyber threats to grow more complex and widespread. “As crime has dropped in the physical world, as the commissioner’s representative and the national security minister noted, it has simultaneously grown on digital platforms,” Linton told attendees. “We have already tracked a steady rise in cybercrimes and related incidents across the country.”

    What makes the coming wave particularly concerning, Linton emphasized, is the integration of artificial intelligence into criminal strategies. AI-powered cyber attacks will dramatically boost both the scale and sophistication of threats targeting Jamaica and nations across the globe, he said. “We are going to see a surge in cyber attacks enabled by artificial intelligence, so it is critical that the public understands the shifting risk landscape we face,” he warned.

    In response to this emerging threat, MOCA is moving aggressively to strengthen public resilience through expanded education and outreach. The agency is embedding cyber safety training into schools, universities, churches and a wide range of community social facilities, while ramping up public awareness campaigns to help Jamaicans recognize and avoid common cyber threats. “We are expanding our awareness sessions, and institutionalizing cybercrime education across primary and secondary schools, as well as higher education institutions. Our teams have already delivered training to churches and dozens of community groups across the country,” Linton added.

    Looking back at his decades-long career in cybersecurity, Linton recalled a formative trip to South Korea 20 years ago, where local authorities were already fending off roughly 16,000 cyber attacks every single day. At the time, most Jamaicans dismissed that level of cyber activity as something that could never happen on the island, he noted. “Now, with far wider internet penetration and greater volumes of personal and institutional data online, we are absolutely going to see a rise in cybercrimes, ranging from phishing scams to business email compromise and other sophisticated attacks,” Linton said.

    Linton also confirmed that over the past five years, multiple Jamaican government systems have already faced cyber attacks, with MOCA leading the response to contain and remediate those breaches. While threats remain active, he credited targeted public education and cross-sector partnerships for the notable drop in successful cyber incidents Jamaica has seen in recent years. Early gaps in public awareness, the absence of formalized cyber incident response frameworks and limited institutional focus on cybersecurity left the country far more vulnerable in years past, Linton explained. Those weaknesses pushed MOCA to deepen collaboration with system administrators, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), educational institutions and community groups — efforts that have delivered clear results. “We have seen a sharp reduction, a significant slash in successful cyber attacks against public and private targets across Jamaica,” he said.

    Beyond financial and state-targeted cybercrime, Linton also highlighted the growing crisis of cyberbullying, a issue that keeps MOCA’s response teams busy around the clock. The agency receives constant reports of online harassment, he said, underscoring the organization’s expanding mandate to protect vulnerable populations in digital spaces. “Our core mission at MOCA is to work hand-in-hand with communities to reduce the prevalence of cyber attacks, and to prosecute offenders under existing national laws when cybercrimes are committed,” Linton noted.

    The security plenary session, moderated by Senior Superintendent Dennis Brooks, also included remarks from several top Jamaican security officials: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Commissioner of Police Richard Stewart, and Chief Technical Director for Crime Prevention Shauna Trowers.

    Dr. Chang used the platform to share promising news about broader crime reduction efforts across Jamaica, announcing that the island recorded 674 murders in 2025 — marking the first time in more than 30 years that the annual homicide total has dropped below 700, a milestone he described as historic. The 2025 homicide rate landed at 24 per 100,000 people, a dramatic decline from the 62 per 100,000 recorded in 2005. What is more, homicides in the first quarter of 2026 have already fallen 29 percent compared to the same period in 2025, Chang added.

    The national security minister also noted that law enforcement clearance rates have improved dramatically over the past 13 years. In 2012, police made 44 arrests for every 100 murders committed; by 2025, that number climbed to 99 arrests per 100 murders. This improvement has strengthened deterrence and boosted public confidence in Jamaica’s law enforcement institutions, Chang said.

  • Lookalike dances into new spaces

    Lookalike dances into new spaces

    From the gritty inner-city streets of Waterhouse, Jamaica, a rising dancehall talent is poised to share Jamaica’s iconic cultural movement with the world. Known professionally by his stage name Lookalike, the artist born Dexroy Sheldon Myrie has built a formidable reputation on local stages over the past decade, and is now stepping onto the international circuit with clear goals and a contagious passion for his craft.

    Lookalike’s journey to dance stardom was not a linear one. In his youth, he was a dedicated football player who went by the nickname “Skillachi”, never imagining that movement and rhythm would become his life’s work. It was only after a chance introduction to the Jamaican dance scene that he fell head over heels for dancehall, abandoning the football pitch to pursue his newfound calling. His talent was spotted early by popular local dancer Colo Colo, who took Lookalike under his wing. The pair spent countless afternoons at Half-Way-Tree Skateland before Lookalike began performing at weekly showcases for local patrons, honing his signature style one set at a time.

    Over the years, Lookalike has worked his way up to the biggest stages in Jamaican entertainment, turning in electrifying performances at iconic events including Montego Bay’s Reggae Sumfest and Negril’s Dream Weekend. He has also entertained audiences at school fetes, private parties and local competitions, where his slick, dynamic moves helped him claim victory in most of the contests he entered—solidifying his decision to turn dancing into a full-time career.

    Like generations of Jamaican dancehall innovators before him, Lookalike cites the late legendary dancer Bogle (also known as Mr Wacky) as his core influence, inspired by Bogle’s one-of-a-kind, boundary-pushing approach to movement. Today, he holds a spot as a member of the renowned local collective GetThereSquad, and has already collaborated with a who’s who of the dancehall industry: from stars Beenie Man, Popcaan, Elephant Man and Sean Paul hopeful Skeng, to established artist-dancers Chi Ching Ching and Harry Toddler. Beyond performing the work of other choreographers, he has also created his own original dance move, dubbed “Look Out”, which is growing in popularity among local dance fans.

    Now, Lookalike is setting his sights far beyond Jamaica’s borders. His first ever international performance is already locked in: he will take the stage at Starlife Evening Brunch in Canada on July 5, 2026, kicking off what he hopes will be a years-long global tour. His core mission extends far beyond performing: he aims to travel the world teaching dancehall culture and its signature moves to new audiences, spreading the positive energy that defines the art form to communities across the globe.

    For the rising star, dancing is also a platform to mentor the next generation of creative talent. He encourages young people to pour their full effort into the passions they hold dear, to trust in both their own abilities and their faith, and to never let outside obstacles or criticism derail their pursuit of their dreams.

  • Vibes Matrixxx tries his hand at Cash Pot

    Vibes Matrixxx tries his hand at Cash Pot

    For decades, games of chance have woven themselves into the cultural fabric of Jamaican daily life, and few have captured the public imagination quite like Cash Pot. Loved by working-class communities across the island, the wildly popular lottery now serves as the creative centerpiece for a new single from veteran Portmore-based dancehall artist Vibes Matrixxx.

    Released in March 2024 under the production of Jamaica’s Signature Records, the track leans into the deep cultural role Cash Pot plays in grassroots Jamaican society, honoring the game’s enduring popularity among everyday people. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Vibes Matrixxx opened up about what inspired the project, explaining that the song grew from his observations of street communities that rely on regular Cash Pot purchases as a core part of their daily hustling.

    “I did the song about Cash Pot because I was inspired by the people in the streets that buy it for a living. For most of them, it’s a hustle that they live off, so I thought of a song because of them,” the artist explained. Though not a consistent player himself, Vibes Matrixxx acknowledged he still takes an occasional punt on the game, sticking to the popular player mantra: “When you buy big, you win big.”

    To understand the context for the track’s focus, it is important to look back at Cash Pot’s 23-year history in Jamaica. Launched in 2001 by gaming operator Supreme Ventures Limited, the lottery quickly grew to become one of the company’s most profitable core ventures, alongside the iconic Caymanas Park horse racing operation. The game’s accessible structure has been key to its mass appeal: players pick one number from a pool of 36, with a minimum entry wager of just 10 Jamaican dollars, and six draws held every single day to keep players engaged.

    Vibes Matrixxx is no newcomer to Jamaica’s dancehall scene, bringing more than 15 years of performance and recording experience to his latest project. The artist built his local following over the years with earlier well-released tracks including *Rude Bwoy Keith* and *Hype Phone*, and his new single marks another entry in his discography centered on the lived experiences of Jamaican working-class communities.

  • HISTORY BECKONS!

    HISTORY BECKONS!

    DALLAS, U.S. (AFP) — World football’s biggest living icon Lionel Messi is set to bring his once-in-a-generation career to the AT&T Stadium in Dallas this Monday, as defending World Cup champions Argentina prepare to lock horns with Austria in their second Group L fixture — and with the 38-year-old just one strike away from rewriting the sport’s global record books.

    Just three days ahead of his 39th birthday, Messi delivered a masterclass to Argentina’s opening group game against Algeria, bagging a clinical hat-trick in a commanding 3-0 win that dragged him level with Miroslav Klose’s long-standing all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals. The moment carried extra emotional weight: Messi broke down in tears immediately after netting his first goal of the match, and it was later revealed that his father is currently recovering from an undisclosed health issue that has been weighing on the superstar’s mind.

    The Inter Miami forward had left lingering questions over his participation in the North America-hosted tournament right up until the final weeks before kickoff, but few fans or pundits ever truly believed he would miss the chance to lead Argentina in a bid to make history of another kind: becoming the first national side to defend the World Cup trophy since Brazil’s legendary 1962 squad. After dragging his country to long-awaited World Cup glory in Qatar four years ago, the allure of stepping onto the biggest stage in football one more time to represent his nation proved impossible for Messi to walk away from.

    Monday’s clash will be held at AT&T Stadium, the shimmering, air-conditioned home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, a venue widely viewed as the ideal stage for Messi to surpass Klose’s 16-goal benchmark. Ever modest about his historic achievements, Messi downplayed the significance of the record ahead of the game, telling reporters: “In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more.”

    A win against Austria would put Lionel Scaloni’s side on the brink of qualifying for the round of 16 as Group L winners with one final group fixture still to play, a result that would give Messi valuable extra time to rest and recuperate ahead of the knockout stage. But Austria, led by highly respected manager Ralf Rangnick, will not be rolling out the red carpet for Messi’s record moment: they are also closing in on knockout stage qualification after picking up a solid 3-1 win over tournament debutants Jordan in their opening game.

    For long-time observers of Messi’s Argentina career, his current standing as the undisputed heart of the national side marks a stark shift from decades past. For years after his international debut, some Argentine fans questioned whether he brought the same match-winning brilliance to the national side that he displayed across 15 glittering seasons at Barcelona. Today, even as he approaches 39, Messi’s mere presence lifts his teammates both on and off the pitch, and the entire squad has built their system around the living legend.

    Following the win over Algeria, Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister made clear the captain’s irreplaceable role in the squad: “If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all.” While Messi no longer possesses the blistering pace that defined his peak playing days, and now rotates his minutes to conserve energy for key moments, his teammates have fully embraced taking on the gritty defensive and running work to free Messi up to produce his magic when it matters most.

    Scaloni, who was Messi’s teammate at the 2006 World Cup — the superstar’s first major international tournament — has deliberately constructed a team environment that lets Messi thrive. “He’s playing with a group of friends, with people that are going to play with their heart for him,” the Argentina manager said. “Whenever they need to have a conversation with him they can just approach him, and it’s really hard to explain whatever he conveys. I could stay here with you for over an hour trying to explain exactly what he does, but you need to be there to really understand. You need to understand the atmosphere, the ambience.”

    The cohesion between Messi and his Argentina side stands in stark contrast to the tension surrounding another aging legend at this tournament: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has become a disruptive headache for manager Roberto Martinez. By comparison, every member of Argentina’s squad has repeatedly emphasized their commitment to doing whatever it takes to let Messi tear through opposition defenses.

    Forward Julian Alvarez, who has played alongside Messi at both the international level and Manchester City, told DAZN: “He’s been my idol since I was a kid. Naturally, you want to repay that.” Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul put it even more bluntly: “He makes you want to go to war if he asks you to.”