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  • IShowSpeed kicks off Caribbean tour in Trinidad

    IShowSpeed kicks off Caribbean tour in Trinidad

    One of America’s biggest breakout online content creators, IShowSpeed, has launched his highly anticipated Caribbean tour, launching the global excursion with a high-octane opening stop in Trinidad and Tobago. On Saturday, the viral streamer brought his trademark unfiltered, high-energy live performance directly out of the studio and onto local streets, giving fans an up-close, in-person experience of the content that has made him a global household name.

    This Caribbean leg of his worldwide touring schedule marks the latest in a string of successful international outings for the creator, who has already drawn massive crowds and millions of concurrent online viewers from treks across Africa, Europe, and Latin America in previous years. Unlike traditional studio-based streams, this tour is built around on-location, real-time content creation that centers direct engagement with local fan bases across the region’s island nations.

    Over the course of the tour, IShowSpeed will make stops at 15 separate Caribbean countries and territories. Beyond the opening destination of Trinidad and Tobago, the confirmed upcoming stops include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each stop is expected to feature unique live content tailored to the local area, building on the creator’s reputation for spontaneous, unscripted entertainment that resonates with millions of young viewers across the globe.

  • Carlene Davis toasts IRAWMA nomination

    Carlene Davis toasts IRAWMA nomination

    Veteran Jamaican gospel reggae performer Carlene Davis has expressed profound humility and gratitude after securing a nomination in the Best Gospel Entertainer category for the 2026 International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA), one of the most prestigious global honors for reggae and world music creators. The 2026 IRAWMA ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 17 at the Lauderdale Performing Arts Center in South Florida, drawing hundreds of industry professionals, fans, and artists from across the globe.

    In an exclusive reflection on her nomination, Davis shared that recognition from the IRAWMA holds special meaning, not just for her career but for the broader gospel music community. “Nominations are a part of life, something that happens based on how people see things and not necessarily what you expect,” she explained. “I do appreciate the nomination, especially from where the message of the gospel is recognised and is so necessary in our society. So much so that the organisers of IRAWMA would give the gospel of Jesus Christ a category.” Davis joins seven other talented nominees in the category, including DJ Nicholas, Kevin Downswell, Papa San, Judith Gayle, Prince Saj, and Jason Mighty.

    For the veteran performer, this latest nomination carries far more symbolic weight than just a shot at another trophy. Davis framed the recognition as a quiet, powerful reminder of hope amid uncertain times. “It means, ‘As long as there is life there is hope,’ according to how the Holy Spirit guides us through all truth…” she said.

    Davis’ history with the IRAWMA stretches back decades, long before the awards adopted their current name. Her first nominations and wins date back to the 1980s, when the ceremony was known as Martin’s International Reggae Music Awards. Over the years, she has taken home honors in categories ranging from Best Female Vocalist and Best Music Video to Best Gospel Oriented Entertainer, and claimed the 1992 award for Best Gospel Album. Most recently, she earned the IRAWMA Best Gospel Album award in 2015 for her critically acclaimed project *Dripping Blood*.

    Despite her long track record of industry recognition, Davis says she enters this nomination cycle with a grounded perspective: she already considers herself a winner. A self-described non-competitive artist by nature, Davis pointed to her faith as the source of her contentment. “By being nominated in this international event that gives recognition to persons in the music industry on a global level, I am already a winner, being a part of the Kingdom of God,” she said. “And if Carlene Davis wins, it is a victory for the kingdom; and for that I say to God be the glory.”

    The coming year has already been a busy one for Davis, who has been actively ministering across the globe in recent months. Her tour schedule has taken her across the Caribbean, with stops in Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, and Guyana, as well as multiple performances across the United States and her home country of Jamaica. This year also saw her minister to audiences on the Love & Harmony Cruise on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.

    Davis has continued to release new work in recent years, most recently co-producing and releasing the full project *Songs of Zion* and the single *Holy Forever* under the Glory Music label, distributed through VPal Music. One of her recent singles, *No Regrets*, earned the honor of Outstanding Reggae Recording of 2025 at The Marlin’s Awards held in the Bahamas. In addition to her IRAWMA nomination, Davis added another major career honor in early 2026, when she received the Marcus Garvey Iconic Award from the Commission of the City of Miramar, Florida, back in February.

  • NHT hurricane relief moratorium ends on April 30

    NHT hurricane relief moratorium ends on April 30

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s destructive path across Jamaica last year, the National Housing Trust (NHT) rolled out a six-month emergency mortgage relief program to give storm-battered homeowners breathing room to rebuild. That temporary initiative is now scheduled to wrap up formally on April 30, with regular monthly payments set to resume starting May 1, the state housing agency has announced. But officials have stressed that support will remain accessible for borrowers whose properties are still grappling with major storm damage.\n\nSpeaking on behalf of the NHT, Dr. Suzanne Wynter, the organization’s General Manager for Loan Management, outlined that the relief program will not close the door on support for those still in crisis. Homeowners whose properties remain uninhabitable or have sustained catastrophic damage that has not yet been repaired may qualify for an extra three-month freeze on their required mortgage payments. For borrowers in the worst-hit planned communities — including Brompton in the parish of St. Elizabeth and Union Acres in St. James — the three-month extension will be added to customer accounts automatically, with no additional action required from eligible mortgagors.\n\nFor homeowners outside these designated hard-hit areas who believe they meet the eligibility criteria for an extended moratorium, the NHT requires a short application submitted through the agency’s official public website. Dr. Wynter emphasized that applicants should submit their requests as early as possible, ideally before the original moratorium expires on May 1, to avoid the risk of their accounts being marked as overdue after the deadline passes. The NHT has set a final application cutoff date of June 30, 2026, giving eligible borrowers ample time to complete and submit their materials.\n\nDr. Wynter also clarified key financial details of the relief program that borrowers should prepare for ahead of the May 1 resumption of payments. While all interest charges were fully waived during the original six-month moratorium period, principal balances and required insurance premiums continued to accumulate over the freeze period. These accrued unpaid amounts will be added to borrowers’ total outstanding loan balances, which will then be recalculated across the remaining term of the mortgage. As a result, many homeowners can expect to see a modest increase in their monthly payment amounts once the new repayment schedule takes effect.\n\nThe NHT will mail formal notifications to all mortgagors in May that outline the revised payment terms and updated monthly amounts, Wynter confirmed. Until those official notices are delivered and new figures are finalized, the agency encourages borrowers to continue making payments equal to their pre-moratorium monthly amount to avoid falling behind unexpectedly.\n\nFor borrowers who continue to face financial hardship following the storm but do not meet the eligibility requirements for the extended hurricane-specific moratorium, the NHT has urged them to explore support through the agency’s existing Special Assistance Programme. This long-standing initiative offers a flexible menu of relief options tailored to individual circumstances, including temporary payment freezes, reduced mortgage interest rates, extended overall loan terms to lower monthly costs, and structured partial payment plans. Dr. Wynter urged any homeowner who anticipates struggling to resume their regular mortgage payments to reach out to the NHT proactively at the earliest opportunity.\n\n“It is important that customers assess their ability to resume payments and, where necessary, engage the NHT as soon as possible so that we can provide the appropriate support,” she said.\n\nLaunched immediately in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the original six-month relief moratorium provided payment relief to more than 30,000 NHT mortgagors across the island. The program was designed to let displaced and damaged homeowners focus their limited financial resources on urgent home repairs and recovery efforts, rather than prioritizing immediate mortgage obligations during a period of crisis.

  • PAINT IT BLUEJC, Hydel, Edwin Allen start hot at Penn Relays

    PAINT IT BLUEJC, Hydel, Edwin Allen start hot at Penn Relays

    PHILADELPHIA – As the 130th running of the historic Penn Relays reaches its climax on Saturday at Franklin Field, Jamaica’s elite high school track and field programs have already turned in a series of standout performances, headlined by an unprecedented run from Jamaica College (JC).

    The Kingston-based institution, nicknamed the Dark Blues, has already made meet history as the only Jamaican high school to secure spots in both the prestigious boys’ 4x100m and 4x800m Championship of America finals, with a chance to add a third final berth in the 4x400m relay on Saturday itself. The 4x400m preliminary rounds are scheduled for Saturday morning, with the final to follow later that day.

    Long before the relay finals get underway, JC’s athletes already began bringing home titles and breaking records on the opening day of competition. On Friday, Michael-Andre Edwards delivered a historic performance in the boys’ triple jump, shattering a 10-year-old meet record to successfully defend his 2024 title. Edwards’ best jump of 16.29 meters with a 0.8m/s wind broke the previous mark of 16.01m set by O’Brien Wasom in 2016. He first notched a 16.26m jump in the third round, before improving his own new record on his next attempt. Edwards, who entered the competition targeting the record, recorded multiple jumps over 16.12m across the event, and extended Jamaica’s consecutive winning streak in the event to five years. Even runner-up Myles Nesmeth, the American indoor record holder from Memphis Central High in Tennessee, surpassed the old record with a jump of 16.18m, but fell short of Edwards’ historic mark. Multiple other Jamaican athletes placed in the event, with KC’s Rekelme Hunter taking third in 15.41m.

    JC also picked up a second individual title on Friday, thanks to a personal best performance from discus thrower Joseph Salmon. After taking second place at the 2024 Penn Relays, Salmon climbed to the top of the podium this year with a throw of 63.55m – the ninth-best mark in the 130-year history of the high school boys’ discus competition at the meet. The win adds to Salmon’s already impressive 2025 campaign, which includes titles at both the ISSA Boys’ Championships and the Carifta Games Under-20 division. Calabar’s Kamari Kennedy took second place with 61.19m, while Munro College’s Rajeem Streete rounded out the top three with 60.25m.

    Jamaican success extended beyond JC on Friday, too. Edwin Allen High’s Addison James delivered a massive personal best to retain his boys’ javelin title, throwing 72.44m – the third-longest mark in meet history – to beat his own 2024 winning mark of 65.98m. The Dominican Under-20 national record holder outperformed every other competitor by a wide margin to take the win.

    In relay qualifying, JC’s 4x100m quartet of Malique Dennis, Nathaniel Martin, Elijah Smeikle and Kai Kelly turned in the fastest qualifying time of 40.11 seconds to lead all competitors into the Championship of America final. Virginia’s St James Academy clocked the second-fastest time of 40.24 seconds. Seven other Jamaican boys’ teams joined JC in qualifying for the Championship of America final: Kingston College (KC) with 40.26 seconds, Edwin Allen at 40.37, Excelsior High at 40.54, St Jago High at 40.73, Petersfield High at 41.19, St Mary High at 41.21, and Wolmer’s Boys’ at 41.24. Wolmer’s edged out William Knibb Memorial, who also clocked 41.24 seconds, leaving the latter to compete in the International final, which will feature six Jamaican squads overall.

    In the boys’ 4x800m Championship of America qualifying, three-time winners JC once again led the field, clocking 7:43.56 to take the top qualifying spot as the only Jamaican school to advance to the final. The squad of Rasheed Pryce, Carlos Brison Caines, Sekani Brown and Shemar Green won their qualifying heat, and will enter Saturday’s final targeting their second title in three years, having taken top honors at the 2024 Penn Relays. A number of other Jamaican programs competed in qualifying but fell short of advancing to the Championship of America final, including KC, who finished 14th overall with a time of 7:51.88, Alphansus Davis High in 22nd at 7:55.07, and St Elizabeth Technical High in 24th at 7:55.43.

    In other individual events on Friday, several Jamaican athletes earned top-three finishes. KC’s Nkosana Johnson took third place in the boys’ shot put with a throw of 19.15m, while St Elizabeth Technical’s Santino Distin cleared a season-best 2.06m to take third in the high jump. JC’s Jaivar Cato placed fourth in the long jump with a 7.11m leap.

  • Jamaica College win Penn Relays 4x100m title

    Jamaica College win Penn Relays 4x100m title

    PHILADELPHIA — The 130th iteration of the iconic Penn Relays Carnival wrapped up its final day of competition Saturday at Franklin Field, where Jamaica College delivered a masterclass in sprint relay teamwork to secure their third High School Boys 4x100m Championships of the Americas crown, clocking an impressive 40.03 seconds against unseasonably cold on-track conditions.

    A last-minute lineup adjustment highlighted Jamaica College’s road to victory: sprinter Makaeean Woods stepped into the quartet to replace Malique Dennis, who had anchored the team through Friday’s preliminary heats. Woods joined returning core members Nathaniel Martin, Elijah Smeikle and Kai Kelly to cross the finish line ahead of a stacked field, and in doing so, stretched Jamaica’s unrivaled dominance in this elite event to an unprecedented 20 consecutive victories, a winning streak that stretches all the way back to the 2005 running of the Penn Relays.

    In a tight race that saw top competitors finish within fractions of a second of one another, Kingston College claimed the second position with a final time of 40.26 seconds. St James Academy, the only United States-based squad to qualify for the event’s final round, rounded out the top three with a time of 40.38 seconds.

    The rest of the final standings saw four more Jamaican high school squads take the next four spots: St Jago High finished fourth in 40.43 seconds, followed by Edwin Allen High at 40.51 seconds, Excelsior High at 40.60 seconds. Wolmers Boys, Petersfield High and St Mary High closed out the final field in seventh, eighth and ninth place with times of 41.68 seconds, 41.77 seconds and 42.37 seconds respectively.

  • WATCH: Barbados Reggae Weekend off to electrifying start

    WATCH: Barbados Reggae Weekend off to electrifying start

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The iconic Kensington Oval played host to a vibrant, cross-cultural gathering on the opening night of Barbados Reggae Weekend, drawing thousands of music enthusiasts from across the Caribbean and around the globe. All gathered to celebrate the enduring legacy of reggae music and watch performances from some of the genre’s most legendary and beloved artists.

    Kicked off with the official title “Mount Gay Legends of Reggae Show and Dance”, the first night of the event was crafted as a tribute to the pioneering trailblazers who have shaped reggae over decades. The stacked lineup featured some of the biggest names in the business, including Jamaican dancehall trailblazer Sister Nancy, beloved soul-reggae vocalist JC Lodge, iconic deejay Super Cat, roots-reggae star Barrington Levy, celebrated roots artist Norris Man and popular Caribbean performer Biggie Irie.

    Local media outlet Jamaica Observer caught up with attendees on the ground, where fans shared their excitement ahead of the performances. Some spoke specifically about the one artist they had been most eager to see take the stage, while others expressed that every performer on the lineup was a must-see, making it impossible to pick a favorite.

    When asked what draws them back to the annual Barbados Reggae Festival year after year, attendees highlighted two standout factors that keep the event a staple on their cultural calendars. Many cited the infectious, laid-back yet energetic collective vibe of the festival as their top reason for returning, while others emphasized the consistent quality of the lineup of talent that organizers bring to Bridgetown each year. On-the-ground video footage of the event was captured by journalist Dana Malcolm.

  • Chelsea offer £1m a year for Khadija Bunny Shaw — reports

    Chelsea offer £1m a year for Khadija Bunny Shaw — reports

    One of women’s football’s most in-demand attacking talents, Jamaica and Manchester City star Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, is currently evaluating her long-term career options after Chelsea Women tabled a blockbuster annual contract offer worth £1 million, multiple sources close to the situation have confirmed.

    Per reporting from British sports outlet The Athletic, the offer arrives as Shaw’s current deal with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season, with the annual salary totaling around 200 million Jamaican dollars.

    Since making the move to the Etihad Stadium in 2021, the prolific Reggae Girlz captain has rapidly cemented her status as one of the most dangerous finishers in the Women’s Super League. Across her three seasons with the club, she has consistently topped the club’s goal scoring charts and forced her way into the conversation among the top tier of forwards competing in Europe’s top women’s domestic competition.

    The 2023-24 campaign has been Shaw’s strongest to date: she currently sits among the WSL’s leading goal scorers, and has been a foundational piece of Gareth Taylor’s squad as it pushes hard for a historic league title. Her consistent elite performances have not only boosted her global profile, but also drawn interest from a host of top clubs across Europe and the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States, beyond Chelsea’s formal approach.

    Despite the generous financial package from the London-based Blues, multiple insider reports indicate Shaw is currently inclined to remain with Manchester City, the club where she has built her reputation as a global star. That said, the Manchester side has so far failed to match the £1 million annual salary terms that Chelsea has put on the table, leaving the final outcome of Shaw’s future unresolved ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

  • WATCH: No stopping Sister Nancy at Barbados Reggae Weekend

    WATCH: No stopping Sister Nancy at Barbados Reggae Weekend

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Reggae trailblazer Sister Nancy delivered a masterclass in live performance Friday, drawing a roaring response from attendees at the Barbados Reggae Weekend’s Mount Gay Legends of Reggae Show and Dance held at Kensington Oval. The iconic deejay, whose career stretches back nearly five decades, brought an unmatchable high-energy set that resonated with cross-generational fans, once again proving why she remains one of the genre’s most beloved figures.

    Fresh off an unexpected viral surge earlier this year when a heartfelt performance at her niece’s wedding spread across social media and won over a new wave of fans, Sister Nancy opened up about her decades-long career in an interview with Observer Online. She emphasized that young audiences have consistently embraced her work, even decades after she first stepped onto the music scene in 1976. Echoing the unshakeable confidence that has defined her career, she stated, “Don’t you hear me seh ain’t no stopping Nancy?”

    Best known globally for her timeless, genre-defining hit *Bam Bam*, the 64-year-old artist told reporters she never anticipated she would still be commanding stages and connecting with audiences decades into her career. For her, every performance today is a welcome blessing she does not take for granted. Footage of the electrifying set was captured by videographer Dana Malcolm.

  • A cleaner Clarendon for Earth Day 2026

    A cleaner Clarendon for Earth Day 2026

    CLARENDON, Jamaica — To mark this year’s global Earth Day observance, hundreds of participants gathered in the Clarendon parish town of May Pen on Wednesday for a coordinated large-scale clean-up drive and public education campaign targeting persistent improper waste disposal practices. The multi-stakeholder effort brought together staff from Jamaica’s National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), personnel from private waste management firm SPM Waste Management Limited, local residents, secondary and primary school students, and community group leaders, all aligned behind a shared goal of fostering greater environmental accountability across the region. Organizers split participants into targeted working teams, which fanned out across high-traffic and high-waste neighbourhoods to clear accumulated debris, haul away uncollected bulky household waste that had been left along roadways and empty lots, and hold one-on-one conversations with local homeowners about the long-term benefits of maintaining clean public and private spaces.

    This Earth Day activity is embedded in a years-long, island-wide push by Jamaican environmental authorities to shift public behavior around waste management, a campaign that prioritizes communities disproportionately impacted by unregulated dumping and poor waste handling practices.

    In an official statement released by the NSWMA this past Saturday, agency Executive Director Audley Gordon stressed that systemic improvement to local environmental conditions cannot be achieved without buy-in and active participation from the communities themselves. “Real change starts when community members take ownership of their shared spaces and hold one another accountable for harmful practices,” Gordon noted. “This work is also fundamentally about protecting public health. When we discard old electronics like broken phones and laptops in open areas, toxic chemicals leach into the soil and contaminate the crops we grow and eat. Changing how we care for our planet literally saves lives.”

    Sheldon Smith, Regional Operations Manager at SPM Waste Management Limited, echoed Gordon’s remarks, framing environmental stewardship as a mutual responsibility that requires alignment between waste service providers and the communities they serve. “This is a symbiotic relationship: we do our part to collect and process waste properly, but community members must do their part too,” Smith explained. “Right now, far too many residents fail to bag or containerize their waste at the source, and leave it unorganized for collection, which slows down our crews and leaves areas vulnerable to uncollected rubbish.”

    Local elected officials also backed the initiative, including May Pen Mayor and Councillor Joel Williams, and several sitting Members of Parliament, all of whom urged residents to step up their commitment to keeping their communities clean. Delroy Williams, Member of Parliament for Central Clarendon and State Minister in Jamaica’s Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, shared clear, actionable guidance for local residents looking to adopt better waste habits. “Bag your waste, containerize it properly, use designated waste collection bags and approved storage containers, avoid illegal dumpsites at all costs, and never throw waste into drains or gullies,” Williams instructed. “If you face barriers to proper waste collection, reach out directly to the NSWMA for support.”

    For Jamaican authorities, Wednesday’s event is far more than a one-time Earth Day activity: it is a visible example of the ongoing, collaborative work needed to address the country’s long-standing waste management challenges, and a reminder that lasting environmental improvement depends on empowered, engaged local communities working alongside public and private sector partners.

  • WATCH: No stopping Sister Nancy at Barbados Reggae Weekend

    WATCH: No stopping Sister Nancy at Barbados Reggae Weekend

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — On a electric Friday night at Kensington Oval, pioneering reggae deejay Sister Nancy delivered a powerhouse performance at the Mount Gay Legends of Reggae Show and Dance, the flagship event of Barbados Reggae Weekend, that reminded thousands of attendees exactly why she has earned her status as one of reggae music’s most enduring icons.

    The 64-year-old artist, whose career stretches back nearly five decades, brought unrelenting energy to the stage, her commanding presence drawing roars of approval from a cross-generational crowd that included both lifelong fans and younger listeners who discovered her work through modern social media. By the end of her set, she had once again cemented her warm place in the hearts of reggae lovers across all age groups.

    The performance comes on the heels of an unexpected viral breakout earlier this year, when a clip of Sister Nancy delivering a heartfelt surprise performance at her niece’s wedding spread rapidly across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, introducing her iconic sound to a whole new generation of listeners. Speaking to *Observer Online* after her Barbados set, the artist brushed off any surprise at her ongoing popularity with young audiences, noting that youth have always connected with her music.

    “I’ve been here from 1976…Don’t you hear me seh ain’t no stopping Nancy? I mean that,” she told reporters, leaning into the unshakeable confidence that has defined her decades-long career.

    Best known globally for her timeless 1982 hit *Bam Bam* — one of the most sampled reggae tracks in history — Sister Nancy admitted that she never anticipated she would still be touring and performing for audiences at 64. Far from taking her ongoing success for granted, she described her continuing career as an unexpected gift that she cherishes deeply.

    Footage of the landmark performance was captured by videographer Dana Malcolm.