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  • 97.5% customers restored, fewer than 17,000 still without power, says JPS boss

    97.5% customers restored, fewer than 17,000 still without power, says JPS boss

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s national power provider has entered the conclusive phase of its extensive recovery operation following October’s devastating Hurricane Melissa. Jamaica Public Service (JPS) CEO Hugh Grant confirmed that 97.5% of the utility’s customer base—representing over 673,000 households—has been successfully reconnected to the electrical grid. The announcement came during a national press briefing on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s rebuilding efforts.

    Grant detailed the coordinated multinational response that enabled this rapid restoration, highlighting collaborations between local crews, international emergency teams, government agencies, and community leadership. The CEO emphasized that this achievement resulted from strategic infrastructure investments, technological enhancements, and meticulous disaster preparedness protocols rather than accidental success.

    Current data indicates fewer than 17,000 customers remain without electricity, primarily concentrated in the hardest-hit parishes of Westmoreland (9,341 customers) and St. Elizabeth (6,370 customers) where hurricane damage inflicted severe infrastructure destruction.

    The power company has established an ambitious timeline to reconnect approximately 7,000 additional customers by February’s conclusion, which would reduce the total without power below 10,000. Grant simultaneously acknowledged technical challenges, noting many properties require structural repairs before safe electrical reconnection can occur.

    Addressing affected residents directly, the CEO stated: “We see you, we hear you, we care about you. Work will not cease until every household is restored.” JPS has projected final reconnections will occur between March and April 2026, contingent upon individual property readiness assessments.

    Grant concluded with a firm commitment: “Success for us is every household once again being able to live, work and care for family with the dignity, comfort and opportunity that reliable electricity provides.”

  • Difficult choices in the upcoming budget

    Difficult choices in the upcoming budget

    Jamaica’s Finance Minister Fayval Williams has articulated a bold vision for economic management, advocating for increased private sector control over national assets where efficiency gains can benefit citizens. Speaking at the 2026 Jamaica Stock Exchange 21st Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference, Minister Williams faced internal resistance to her position that government should relinquish control of assets when private enterprise can manage them more effectively.

    The minister pointed to successful privatization initiatives including TransJamaica Highway Limited and Wigton Windfarm Limited through initial public offerings, along with revenue securitization from Kingston and Montego Bay airports. These examples build upon Jamaica’s historical precedent of hotel privatizations in the 1980s that ultimately catalyzed the country’s tourism boom.

    Williams identified significant untapped potential within Jamaica’s capital markets, noting that approximately $60 billion could be mobilized from the existing $1.2 trillion in pension and life insurance assets through a modest 5 percent reallocation. This private equity could powerfully complement the $2.4 billion international financial institution support package designated for private sector investments.

    The finance minister outlined plans for developing public-private partnership pipelines potentially encompassing hospitals and schools, while emphasizing the importance of operationalizing a micro stock market initiative by the second quarter of 2026 to complement the existing Junior Market.

    These developments occur against the challenging backdrop of Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath, which has prompted the government to suspend its Fiscal Responsibility Framework for two years. The original debt target of 60 percent debt-to-GDP ratio by FY 2027/28 has been postponed to FY 2029/30, with current projections showing debt rising to 68.2 percent in FY 2025/26 before declining slightly to 67 percent by FY 2028/29.

    A critical challenge emerges in wage expenditure management, with salaries and wages now projected to consume 56 percent of tax revenues in FY 2025/26—a dramatic increase from 36.1 percent in 2021/2022. The Independent Fiscal Commission warns this trend risks crowding out other essential spending and complicates budget planning through protracted wage negotiations.

    Despite these challenges, Jamaica’s credit ratings have improved following the hurricane, reflecting international confidence in the country’s commitment to fiscal discipline. However, maintaining this discipline requires containing a wage bill that has more than doubled over four years while addressing potential revenue shortfalls. The National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority assumes critical importance given the high probability of further economic shocks in the coming years.

  • Spurs sack Frank after miserable eight-month reign

    Spurs sack Frank after miserable eight-month reign

    LONDON, United Kingdom — Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have terminated the contract of head coach Thomas Frank following a prolonged period of poor results, culminating in a critical 2–1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday. The loss leaves Spurs hovering just five points above the relegation zone, intensifying pressure on the club’s leadership.

    The decision, confirmed by the club on Wednesday, marks the end of Frank’s tumultuous eight-month tenure. Under his management, Tottenham recorded only two victories in their last 17 league matches, amassing a meager 12 points during that span. The team currently sits 16th in the league table and is enduring an eight-match winless streak—their worst run of form since October 2008.

    In an official statement, the club acknowledged Frank’s appointment in June 2025 as a long-term project but conceded that recent outcomes necessitated an immediate change. “We have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together,” the statement read. “However, results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”

    Frank, previously praised as “one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches” upon his arrival, did achieve success in the UEFA Champions League, guiding Spurs to automatic qualification for the last 16. Yet this accomplishment was overshadowed by a dismal domestic campaign featuring seven wins, eight draws, and 11 defeats in the league, along with early exits from both domestic cup competitions.

    The Danish manager’s defensive tactical approach drew criticism from supporters who had grown accustomed to the more attacking style of his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou. Despite injuries to key creative players such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, fan patience wore thin—a sentiment loudly expressed during the Newcastle match with chants of “sacked in the morning.”

    Frank is the seventh Premier League manager to be dismissed this season, underscoring the volatile nature of top-flight football management. Assistant coaches Ryan Mason and Matt Wells will assume temporary leadership ahead of Tottenham’s next match—a high-stakes North London derby against league leaders Arsenal on February 22.

  • Gov’t steps up monitoring as Cuban outages disrupt Jamaican students

    Gov’t steps up monitoring as Cuban outages disrupt Jamaican students

    The Jamaican government has escalated its daily monitoring of the deteriorating situation in Cuba, where widespread blackouts are severely disrupting essential services and education. Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith revealed during a post-Cabinet briefing that concerns are mounting for over 300 Jamaican students facing suspended classes, unreliable online learning, and dwindling access to basic necessities due to Cuba’s severe fuel shortages.

    Minister Johnson Smith detailed that ‘frequent, lengthy and unpredictable electricity interruptions’ are crippling daily life, impacting not only education but also the availability of food, medical supplies, and transportation. The crisis has forced some educational institutions to close for extended periods, while others struggle with virtual instruction hampered by chronic internet failures.

    Of the Jamaican student population in Cuba, 44 are government scholarship recipients while 256 are privately funded. At least 13 private students have already returned home. To enhance coordination, the Foreign Ministry established a dedicated WhatsApp group connecting approximately 320 students with officials in Kingston and the Jamaican Embassy in Havana. This initiative has successfully registered previously undocumented private students, creating comprehensive awareness of all Jamaican students in Cuba.

    The embassy has formally contacted Cuban authorities through diplomatic channels seeking guidance on student facilitation measures, including the critical question of academic transcript availability should students need to transfer institutions. While an official response remains pending, informal advice suggests students must negotiate directly with their individual universities.

    Compounding the crisis, international travel to Cuba faces potential suspension as airlines receive notifications about jet fuel shortages. Air Canada has already announced flight suspensions, prompting Jamaican authorities to advise students to consult with families and prepare for emergency departure if necessary.

    The Jamaican Cabinet is evaluating support mechanisms for scholarship students facing prolonged disruption, while exploring whether local tertiary institutions could accommodate privately funded students seeking transfers. The government maintains continuous communication with students while monitoring the evolving situation closely.

  • Address gambling problems before casinos open, Crawford urges

    Address gambling problems before casinos open, Crawford urges

    Jamaica’s parliamentary opposition has launched a vigorous critique of the nation’s proposed casino regulatory framework, expressing profound concerns about inadequate protective measures for citizens as the country moves closer to authorizing casino gaming operations.

    During a heated House of Representatives debate on Tuesday regarding the Casino Gaming General Regulations 2025, St Catherine North Western MP Damion Crawford emerged as the most vocal critic. The regulations, which implement the longstanding Casino Gaming Act of 2010, received approval following opening remarks from Finance Minister Fayval Williams despite opposition objections.

    Crawford identified multiple critical deficiencies in the proposed safeguards, emphasizing the absence of a national self-exclusion registry that would allow problem gamblers to ban themselves across all gaming establishments. ‘The current system only permits self-reporting to individual casinos without any centralized tracking mechanism,’ Crawford noted. ‘This means an individual could simply move to another gambling venue like Caymanas Park without restriction.’

    The opposition parliamentarian advocated for comprehensive protective measures including third-party reporting channels that would enable family members, employers, and community organizations to intervene when individuals demonstrate gambling addiction behaviors. He further recommended mandatory staff training to identify problem gambling, established intervention protocols, and documented behavior triggers.

    Crawford raised particular alarm about ‘debt gambling’ practices, describing casino credit facilities as potentially devastating for vulnerable populations. ‘Debt gambling represents the most significant harm, especially for low-income earners who may approach casinos with financial desperation rather than entertainment purposes,’ he cautioned. This dynamic could trigger household collapse, multiple loan cycles, workplace misconduct, and even suicide risks.

    The MP proposed prohibiting casino credit and credit card gambling transactions for Jamaican residents while allowing tourists greater flexibility. He additionally called for implementing daily, weekly, and monthly gambling limits aligned with practices in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

    Beyond consumer protection issues, Crawford highlighted workforce development concerns, noting the regulations lack provisions for knowledge transfer and skills development that would prevent casinos from depending exclusively on imported labor. He recommended establishing casino-specific training academies through existing institutions like HEART/NSTA Trust and implementing employment quotas for Jamaican workers.

    Another significant economic concern involved the potential for integrated resorts to become self-contained spending enclaves that might undermine broader tourism businesses. Crawford warned that comprehensive resort amenities could discourage visitors from exploring external establishments, potentially creating competitive rather than complementary relationships with existing tour operators and hospitality services.

    In response, government officials indicated that many raised concerns were already addressed in the principal legislation or would be managed through licensing agreements governing casino operations.

  • Powerful cyclone kills 20 in Madagascar

    Powerful cyclone kills 20 in Madagascar

    ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar—The Indian Ocean island nation of Madagascar is reeling from catastrophic damage after Cyclone Gezani made landfall with devastating force, claiming at least 20 lives and causing widespread destruction. The powerful storm struck the eastern port city of Toamasina on Tuesday with wind velocities reaching 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph), according to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNRGC).

    Official reports confirm numerous fatalities resulted from structural collapses as the cyclone’s violent winds tore through residential areas. The disaster authority has revised initial figures to indicate 15 individuals remain missing while at least 33 have sustained injuries, with search and rescue operations actively underway.

    Drone surveillance footage released by BNRGC reveals extensive flooding throughout Toamasina, a urban center of approximately 400,000 residents located 220 kilometers northeast of the capital. The aerial imagery depicts severely battered infrastructure, with countless buildings stripped of their roofs and streets obstructed by uprooted trees and debris.

    Rija Randrianarisoa, disaster management coordinator for Action Against Hunger, described scenes of total chaos, noting that approximately 90 percent of structures suffered significant roof damage. Road networks have become completely impassable due to fallen trees and scattered sheet metal, severely hampering emergency response efforts.

    The CMRS cyclone monitoring center based on Réunion Island confirmed Toamasina experienced a direct impact from the storm’s most intense quadrant. Meteorological analysts compared Gezani’s landfall intensity to Cyclone Geralda of February 1994, which resulted in approximately 200 fatalities and affected half a million people.

    Madagascar’s current leadership under Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who assumed power in October, has deployed military resources to the disaster zone. The colonel personally toured affected neighborhoods amidst floodwaters and debris, while airport authorities restricted commercial flights to prioritize humanitarian and military operations.

    Although the system has weakened to tropical storm status as it traverses the island, significant flood risks persist. Forecast models indicate the storm may regenerate cyclone strength over the Mozambique Channel, potentially threatening southern Mozambique by Friday evening—a region already grappling with severe flooding throughout this year.

    The southwestern Indian Ocean cyclone season typically extends from November through April, generating approximately twelve annual storms that frequently impact Madagascar and neighboring coastal nations.

  • Jamaica to produce avocados year-round with new grafting process

    Jamaica to produce avocados year-round with new grafting process

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica stands on the precipice of an agricultural revolution as advanced tree grafting techniques promise to transform the nation’s avocado industry. Through a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and the Trees that Feed Foundation, researchers have successfully introduced three innovative avocado cultivars specifically engineered to eliminate seasonal production gaps.

    The groundbreaking horticultural work, currently underway at the Bodles Research Station, represents the culmination of extensive international scientific cooperation. Over more than twelve months, researchers navigated complex quarantine protocols and coordinated with agricultural experts from the Dominican Republic to secure these specialized varieties.

    This scientific breakthrough carries significant implications beyond mere seasonal availability. The initiative fundamentally strengthens Jamaica’s food security infrastructure while providing substantial economic opportunities for local farming communities. By developing agricultural resilience through these improved cultivars, Jamaica positions itself for enhanced export capabilities in international markets.

    The research foundation emphasized that following successful completion of the current experimental phase, these innovative avocado varieties will be distributed to agricultural producers across the island. This dissemination strategy ensures that both small-scale farmers and larger agricultural enterprises can benefit from these scientific advancements, potentially transforming Jamaica’s agricultural landscape and economic prospects.

  • Defendant accuses C-TOC cops of humiliating, threatening him

    Defendant accuses C-TOC cops of humiliating, threatening him

    A high-profile Jamaican gang trial took a dramatic turn this week as a defendant accused of being a driver for the Tesha Miller faction of the Klansman Gang made explosive allegations against police officers. BJourn Thomas testified before the Home Circuit Division of the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston that members of the now-disbanded Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) subjected him to brutal treatment during his arrest in March 2023.

    Thomas claimed that officers forced him to kneel beside the body of his fatally shot friend while issuing death threats and homophobic slurs. According to his statement, read into court record by an investigator from the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), the incident occurred during a police operation in North Avenue, Spanish Town, on March 5, 2023.

    The defendant described being physically assaulted at the scene, sustaining a head injury from being struck with a water bottle and his foot being hit with a firearm. In a particularly unusual detail, Thomas alleged that the entire police team temporarily abandoned the scene to purchase ice cream from a passing truck before transporting him to custody.

    These allegations directly contradict earlier testimony from a detective corporal who stated he shot Thomas’s acquaintance during a confrontation after the man raised a firearm. The defense team has aggressively challenged this narrative, accusing the detective—a skilled marksman with over 10 fatal shootings to his record—of executing the man in cold blood and then using intimidation tactics to coerce a star witness into fabricating evidence.

    The Indecom investigator’s testimony inadvertently undermined Thomas’s account regarding surveillance cameras preventing his execution, as she confirmed no cameras were present on the premises and no video evidence was reviewed. However, she did corroborate that the prosecution’s star witness appeared “very distraught” and fearful during interviews, though she provided no specific details due to prosecution objections.

    The trial, involving 25 alleged gang members facing 16 offenses allegedly committed between 2017 and 2022, continues before Supreme Court Justice Dale Palmer. This case represents the second faction of the Klansman Gang to be prosecuted through Jamaica’s judicial system.

  • Mentally challenged woman pleads to go home after stabbing mother

    Mentally challenged woman pleads to go home after stabbing mother

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A profoundly emotional courtroom scene unfolded Tuesday as a 24-year-old woman with longstanding mental health challenges was remanded for psychiatric assessment after pleading to unlawfully wounding her own mother.

    The defendant, whose identity remains protected, appeared before Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, where proceedings were repeatedly interrupted by emotional outbursts. When questioned by Judge Burrell about her presence in court, the young woman openly acknowledged, ‘Because mi stab mi mother,’ before immediately adding in a remorseful tone, ‘But mi neva stab her fi spite.’

    The complainant, who is the defendant’s mother, appealed to the court for mental health intervention rather than punishment, revealing her daughter had exhibited psychological disturbances since age 10 and discontinued formal education at 16. Though specific diagnosis details weren’t disclosed, the mother emphasized her daughter’s documented mental health condition.

    The courtroom atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the defendant tearfully begged her mother for forgiveness, crying out, ‘Mommy mi neva mean to stab you.’ The emotional exchange moved spectators and law enforcement personnel to visible distress, with many struggling to maintain composure.

    According to police testimony, the young woman has numerous prior encounters with law enforcement and demonstrates disruptive behavioral patterns. The court learned she currently divides her residence between her boyfriend’s home and her mother’s household.

    Judge Burrell, acknowledging the complexity of the case, determined that custodial remand with psychiatric evaluation represented the most appropriate interim solution. The magistrate emphasized, ‘She needs care and supervision, and that’s not going to happen here,’ while directing probation services to identify suitable mental health facilities.

    The case has been adjourned until April 21, pending completion of the ordered psychiatric assessment. This proceeding highlights ongoing challenges in Jamaica’s judicial system regarding mental health interventions and appropriate care protocols for psychologically distressed defendants.

  • ‘Don’t chicken out’

    ‘Don’t chicken out’

    Amid the global upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Nekeisha Graham made a life-altering decision to redirect her educational funds toward entrepreneurial ambitions, establishing Niki’s Yolk poultry operation. The 38-year-old Jamaican entrepreneur has navigated a complex business landscape over five years, transforming challenges into opportunities while building a thriving agricultural enterprise.

    Graham’s inspiration emerged from dual sources: a poultry-farming coworker whose daily egg deliveries captured her imagination, and her father’s agricultural background. When pandemic conditions forced educational institutions online and left her tuition unpaid, she strategically repurposed these resources to launch her business with approximately $1 million initial investment.

    The venture faced unconventional startup hurdles, with labor shortages and bird sourcing proving more problematic than capital acquisition. Graham established operations in her native St. Ann parish, relying on family support systems when commercial labor proved scarce. Her mother assumed daily management responsibilities while Graham coordinated logistics from Kingston, transporting essential supplies weekly and participating hands-on during visits.

    While the pandemic era provided relative stability, subsequent environmental challenges tested the business’s resilience. After relocating operations to Kingston in April 2024, Hurricane Beryl’s July arrival caused production disruptions through bird trauma and laying cessation. The compounding impact of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 further damaged infrastructure, particularly at the St. Ann location, while power outages crippled egg production cycles dependent on nightly electrical access.

    Global market forces introduced additional complexity, with avian flu outbreaks in the United States creating regional bird shortages that constrained restocking efforts. Despite these multidimensional challenges, Graham maintains determined recovery efforts, noting: “We have managed to slowly build back… with the little that we have we are trying to maintain them.”

    Although profitable, the business has delayed Graham’s academic ambitions. Rather than resuming graduate studies, she has reinvested earnings into additional business ventures. Holding an undergraduate degree in tourism, hospitality and entertainment management, she now contemplates legal or business administration education to enhance her entrepreneurial capabilities.

    As a female industry pioneer, Graham describes overwhelmingly positive reception, crediting social media engagement for expanding her reach to nearly 200,000 TikTok followers (@nekeishagraham/Niki’s Yolk), including substantial African audiences offering encouragement and support. Current priorities include securing land ownership through governmental channels like the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to transition from leased properties to self-owned operational bases.

    Her advice to aspiring poultry farmers emphasizes determined incremental progress: “Don’t let anything stop you. It’s a good business to go in to. Just be focused… You don’t need to start big, start small… Go for it, it will work.”