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  • Road patching begins in Kingston under GO programme

    Road patching begins in Kingston under GO programme

    The Jamaican Ministry of Works has officially initiated its comprehensive GO Road Rehabilitation Programme, commencing critical road patching operations across key Kingston corridors. This targeted intervention aims to address immediate infrastructure deterioration and improve overall road safety conditions for motorists.

    Initial construction activities are currently focused on high-priority thoroughfares including Waterloo Road, East Kings House Road, and Mandela Highway, with additional roads in Kingston and St. Andrew receiving urgent attention. The ministry’s technical teams are specifically addressing severe road surface failures, including dangerous potholes, scouring damage, and general pavement degradation that has compromised driving conditions.

    Robert Nesta Morgan, Minister with Responsibility for Works, confirmed the programme will adopt a phased geographical approach. “The GO Programme will expand beyond Kingston and move into other parishes in the coming days,” Morgan stated, emphasizing the government’s structured rollout strategy designed to restore vital transportation routes nationwide. The initiative directly supports Jamaica’s economic activity by facilitating safer daily commuting, commercial transportation, and public transit operations.

    The ministry has issued advisories urging motorists to exercise heightened caution when approaching active work zones, obey all posted traffic instructions, and anticipate intermittent delays during construction hours. Regular updates regarding the programme’s expansion schedule and subsequent target areas will be communicated to the public as rehabilitation work progresses across the island.

  • Cornwall College, Clarendon College set up Ben Francis Cup final clash

    Cornwall College, Clarendon College set up Ben Francis Cup final clash

    Two Jamaican scholastic football powerhouses, Cornwall College and Clarendon College, have successfully navigated their semi-final matches to secure a highly anticipated championship clash in the ISSA Ben Francis Cup competition. The decisive matches unfolded on Thursday, setting the stage for a final confrontation scheduled for Saturday at the National Stadium.

    At Drax Hall, Cornwall College delivered a commanding performance against McGrath High, securing a 2-0 victory. This triumph marked their second win over the St Catherine-based school within a fortnight, following a previous victory in the daCosta Cup quarter-finals in Montego Bay. The match was decisively shaped by Shakeen Gibson’s exceptional performance, with the player netting both goals. Gibson broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a powerful strike from inside the 18-yard box. He later sealed the victory in the 81st minute, expertly finishing a setup from teammate Kavontae Gooden by slotting the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Griffiths.

    Simultaneously, a dramatic semi-final unfolded at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz. Clarendon College and Mannings’ School were locked in a 1-1 stalemate after regulation time, necessitating a penalty shootout. Clarendon College ultimately emerged victorious with a 4-1 win on penalties. Anthony Reid had initially put Clarendon in the lead with a goal in the 12th minute. However, Mannings’ School fought back, with Jordan Turner equalizing in the 53rd minute, ultimately forcing the nail-biting shootout. This hard-fought victory earns Clarendon College a consecutive appearance in the Ben Francis Cup final.

  • Boost for bars

    Boost for bars

    In a landmark private sector collaboration, Jamaica’s premier beverage manufacturers Red Stripe and J Wray & Nephew Limited have formed a strategic alliance to accelerate recovery of community bars devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The joint initiative, formally launched in St Elizabeth this Wednesday, specifically targets bar proprietors in the most severely impacted parishes whose operations were crippled by the Category 5 storm.

    The comprehensive support program provides eligible establishments with specially curated ‘restart packs’ containing both alcoholic and non-alcoholic products from the companies’ portfolios. These emergency supply packages enable bar owners to rapidly restock inventory and participate in the crucial Christmas trading season, offering vital relief to those who suffered substantial product losses during the hurricane.

    Daniel Caron, Managing Director for Jamaica and the Caribbean at J Wray & Nephew Limited, articulated the broader vision behind the partnership: ‘Hurricane Melissa’s destruction transcends corporate interests—it has devastated families, livelihoods, and communities throughout Jamaica. This collaboration embodies renewed community spirit and constitutes an integral component of our national recovery commitment. By facilitating the reopening of community bars, we’re empowering small entrepreneurs during this critical juncture.’

    Caron revealed this initiative represents merely the initial phase of a long-term commitment: ‘Through our Community Bar Network, we will continue exploring additional support mechanisms for bar operators. In early 2026, we plan to collaborate with stakeholders to reconstruct iconic community bars and deliver further assistance to an industry that forms an essential part of Jamaica’s informal entertainment and economic ecosystem.’

    Red Stripe’s Managing Director Daaf van Tilburg emphasized the multifaceted significance of community bars across the island: ‘These establishments represent Jamaica’s most extensive network of small businesses—they’re social hubs where communities connect, celebrate milestones, and provide mutual support during challenging times. They also serve as economic anchors, sustaining employment for bar staff, suppliers, farmers, vendors, and numerous other micro-enterprises.’

    Tilburg stressed the human-centric approach to recovery: ‘This partnership’s significance lies in restoring not merely commercial inventory but the socioeconomic heartbeat of affected parishes. Reopening these spaces means revitalizing employment, cultural institutions, and normalcy for thousands of Jamaicans. This unified effort demonstrates our proud commitment to national recovery.’

    With approximately 10,000 community bars nationwide—each directly employing three to five individuals while indirectly supporting extensive micro-enterprise networks—their recovery constitutes a crucial component in restoring economic activity and social cohesion in Melissa-affected regions. This pioneering collaboration establishes a powerful precedent for private sector involvement in national disaster recovery efforts, focusing on the grassroots establishments that form the fabric of Jamaican social and economic life.

  • BVI public servants to receive outstanding increments for Christmas

    BVI public servants to receive outstanding increments for Christmas

    TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – In a significant development for public sector employees, British Virgin Islands Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that a substantial portion of long-delayed increment payments will be disbursed to government workers in time for the Christmas season. The remaining balances are scheduled for settlement by early 2026.

    The Premier made this announcement during a recent press conference, characterizing the move as a relief measure for public servants who have endured years of financial uncertainty regarding their owed increments. “I am pleased to declare that a majority of our dedicated public servants will receive the bulk of their outstanding increment payments this Christmas, with the residual amounts finalized in the early part of 2026,” Wheatley stated.

    This decision culminates years of persistent appeals from public officers and commentators demanding the resolution of unpaid increments, some of which have been pending across multiple performance review cycles. Historical partial disbursements failed to fully address the issue, with employees repeatedly highlighting how the protracted delays inflicted financial strain and diminished morale within the vital public service sector.

    The accumulation of increment arrears has emerged as a perennial national concern, frequently surfacing in legislative budget debates, union negotiations, and public discourse forums. Previous administrations have acknowledged the existing backlog, attributing the delays to a combination of fiscal constraints and administrative complexities.

    Premier Wheatley framed the initiative as reflecting the benevolent spirit of the holiday season. He further indicated that the Minister of Communications and Works is poised to unveil an additional government-led community initiative for the wider Virgin Islands populace in the near future.

  • CHRISTMAS @ One Park

    CHRISTMAS @ One Park

    This holiday season, One Park Restaurant and Lounge invites patrons to indulge in an exquisite culinary celebration with the launch of its specially curated Christmas menu. Under the creative direction of Head Chef Judah Ellis, the establishment presents three distinct gourmet offerings designed to deliver both festive joy and robust flavors for discerning meat enthusiasts.

    The gastronomic experience commences with the King’s Christmas Roast, a majestic dish centered around premium Wagyu striploin. This centerpiece is accompanied by an innovative truffle brioche pudding and elevated with a distinctive guava red wine jus, served alongside tender broccolini.

    Following this royal offering is the Jerk Duck A L’Orange Royal, which reimagines a classic dish through a Caribbean lens. The crispy jerk duck receives a sophisticated tamarind orange glaze enhancement, complemented by sweet potato fondant and finished with artisanal cacao nibs for textural contrast.

    Completing the triumvirate of holiday specialties is the Crown Jewel Lamb Rack. This creation features herb-crusted lamb elevated by a sorrel mint demi-glaze, accompanied by breadfruit gratin and aromatic rosemary accents.

    Beyond the culinary offerings, the beverage program presents two signature cocktails crafted for the season. The Hibiscus Spritz offers floral notes while the Very Merry Fizz provides effervescent celebration in a glass. These carefully conceived libations provide perfect complements to Chef Ellis’s holiday creations, ensuring a comprehensive festive dining experience at One Park Restaurant and Lounge.

  • Employers split on Christmas ‘bonus’ to staff after Melissa

    Employers split on Christmas ‘bonus’ to staff after Melissa

    A stark divergence has emerged within Jamaica’s business community regarding the traditional Christmas bonus payments to employees, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. While major corporations maintain their bonus programs, numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are withholding these year-end payments due to severe financial strain caused by the Category 5 storm.

    Garnett Reid, President of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), revealed that many member companies, including those in Kingston far from the storm’s direct path, have suffered sales declines of 20-30%. This economic pressure has forced them to cancel both cash bonuses and holiday festivities. Reid, who also owns Rent-A-Car Caribbean & Tours Limited, stated his own company would not issue bonuses after experiencing a 30% sales drop and numerous service cancellations as customers prioritize rebuilding efforts.

    The challenges for SMEs are further compounded by an impending 7% electricity rate hike from Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). This increase, resulting from Hurricane Melissa’s disruption to natural gas supplies and a 30% reduction in electricity sales, will significantly impact operational costs for businesses dependent on power for machinery, refrigeration, and computing.

    Contrasting this outlook, several larger enterprises confirmed their commitment to maintaining performance-based bonus schemes. Red Stripe’s Head of Human Resource Management, Judon Bowen, emphasized their reward framework remains operational, with bonuses tied to individual and company performance targets. The brewery has additionally provided hurricane relief support to affected employees.

    Similar commitments came from Fontana Pharmacy (contingent on final sales figures), Auto Channel Limited, and CSL Auto Sales Limited, whose directors noted their staff would receive bonuses alongside special hurricane relief efforts. Moon Palace Jamaica also confirmed bonus payments and traditional Christmas packages for employees.

    This division highlights the uneven economic recovery across business sectors following natural disasters, with larger corporations demonstrating greater resilience while smaller businesses face existential challenges that force difficult decisions regarding employee compensation.

  • UNDERDOGS NO MORE

    UNDERDOGS NO MORE

    In a stunning display of athletic prowess and strategic execution, Jamaica’s national basketball team has emerged as an unexpected powerhouse in the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifiers. Under the leadership of American coach Rick Turner, a former NBA executive appointed in December 2019, the Jamaican squad has transformed from international underdogs to legitimate contenders on the global basketball stage.

    The breakthrough moment arrived during their opening group games against Puerto Rico, where the ‘Jamrockers’ secured consecutive victories despite being the lowest-ranked team in their group and missing Miami Heat star Norman Powell. These remarkable wins in San Juan propelled Jamaica to four points, tying them with basketball powerhouse Canada at the top of their qualifying group standings. The top three teams from each group will advance to the final qualification round.

    Turner revealed to the Jamaica Observer that these victories represent more than just statistical achievements: “These two games showed us that we belong and that the things we’ve been doing weren’t just pie-in-the-sky wishes but were things that as a staff and organization we believed in.” The coach emphasized that while Jamaican athletes naturally possess confidence, these wins provided crucial validation of their competitive capabilities at the international level.

    The team’s journey has been anything but straightforward. Turner’s initial years were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, creating what he described as a “purgatory” situation where Jamaica couldn’t improve its ranking without playing games, but couldn’t qualify for games without a better ranking. Their current qualification opportunity emerged through what Turner characterizes as “sort of lucky” circumstances, when FIBA unexpectedly notified the Jamaica Basketball Association of their eligibility for pre-qualifiers just hours after Turner and association president Paulton Gordon had discussed their frustrating predicament.

    Despite their current success, Turner maintains a pragmatic perspective: “We did win two games in Puerto Rico that we probably weren’t the favorites for, but the road now just seems even more difficult.” The coach highlighted challenging upcoming fixtures against The Bahamas (February 26) and Canada (March 1), noting that their opponents will be fighting with increased desperation as qualification hopes hang in the balance.

    Turner credits the team’s rapid development to the extraordinary commitment of players who have compressed years of development into intensive training camps. “Our players were focused from the time they landed in San Juan, knowing what the job was and knowing the importance of putting their best foot forward against a team that was really, really good,” he noted, praising their ability to absorb complex strategies within limited preparation time.

    The Jamaican basketball program’s dramatic evolution under Turner’s leadership represents one of international sports’ most compelling turnaround stories, demonstrating how strategic vision, player dedication, and fortunate timing can converge to create athletic excellence against all odds.

  • ‘It’s a scam’: Charles Jr warns of fraudulent social media accounts using his image

    ‘It’s a scam’: Charles Jr warns of fraudulent social media accounts using his image

    Jamaica’s Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr has issued an urgent public alert regarding sophisticated fraudulent schemes exploiting his identity and official ministry branding to deceive citizens. The minister revealed that scammers are utilizing fabricated social media content featuring his likeness, voice, and official logos to solicit payments under false pretenses of securing placements in overseas employment programs.

    During a press engagement at the Jamaica Observer’s headquarters, Minister Charles Jr explicitly stated that criminal actors are operating multiple fraudulent pages across TikTok and Instagram platforms. These pages feature manipulated video content and counterfeit ministry communications to create the illusion of legitimacy, ultimately convincing victims to transfer funds for non-existent opportunities in agricultural work programs abroad.

    This warning follows earlier alerts issued by the Ministry regarding unauthorized use of the minister’s image, particularly highlighting the TikTok account @ramondlewis0. However, the minister confirmed that new fraudulent pages continue to emerge weekly, indicating an escalating pattern of digital impersonation crimes.

    The minister emphasized that legitimate government programs never require upfront payments for participation consideration. The only authorized fees are visa-related costs, and these are exclusively processed after applicants have successfully completed interviews and received formal acceptance. Minister Charles Jr disclosed that he has personally encountered victims of these scams, including one individual who reported losing $40,000 to the fraudulent scheme.

    Official participation in overseas employment programs occurs exclusively through formal Government of Jamaica channels. Citizens are advised to verify all program information through official ministry communications and report suspicious social media accounts to authorities immediately.

  • Cold shoulder

    Cold shoulder

    A groundbreaking initiative in Jamaica designed to rehabilitate young offenders is encountering substantial obstacles, with pervasive social stigma and administrative failures creating significant barriers to successful reintegration. The Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) rights advocacy group, in its recent report ‘A Civil Society Review of the Diversion and Alternative Measures for Children in Conflict with the Law in Jamaica,’ reveals that children completing the Ministry of Justice’s Child Diversion Programme face severe stigmatization when attempting to return to their educational institutions.

    The program, operational since January 2020 under the progressive Child Diversion Act of 2018, aims to divert juveniles from traditional criminal justice pathways through alternative interventions. However, the very institutions meant to support these youth are frequently contributing to their marginalization. Schools and peers routinely label participants as ‘delinquents,’ particularly those whose original offenses involved sexual activity under age 16 or assault, resulting in profound social exclusion that undermines the program’s rehabilitative objectives.

    Beyond social stigma, the JFJ identifies critical systemic failures impairing the program’s effectiveness. Parental disengagement and bureaucratic delays in issuing completion certificates create additional hurdles for school re-enrollment. The absence of comprehensive reoffending data further complicates assessment of long-term outcomes, while a concerning 13% of participants either fail to complete or are returned to referral sites.

    Statistics reveal sobering completion rates: of 1,517 referrals between 2020 and January 2024, only 690 children (45%) successfully finished the program. Non-compliance reasons range from inability to locate children and court withdrawals to parental non-support and conflicting school commitments.

    The JFJ emphasizes that even frontline personnel demonstrate inadequate awareness of the program’s provisions, with only 48% of police and school resource officers familiar with the Child Diversion Act. Many continue relying on informal cautioning rather than formal diversion referrals, despite the program’s demonstrated rehabilitative benefits.

    While acknowledging the program’s significant potential for addressing juvenile delinquency and reducing recidivism, the JFJ calls for urgent interventions: enhanced inter-ministerial coordination between Justice and Education ministries, comprehensive training for school administrators, partnership with NGOs for community-based mentorship, and resolution of critical shortages in mental health professionals and social workers.

    Contextualizing the urgency, Jamaica Constabulary Force data shows children aged 12-17 were implicated in 875 major crimes from 2018-2021, with 710 arrested for serious offenses including murder, shooting incidents, and sexual assaults in the 2022-2024 period. Sexual offenses alone accounted for over half of the 730 felonies committed by juveniles during this timeframe.

  • Trump health chief seeks to bar trans youth from gender-affirming care

    Trump health chief seeks to bar trans youth from gender-affirming care

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled a comprehensive proposal that would severely restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth nationwide. Announced on Thursday by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the measures would withdraw critical federal funding from healthcare facilities providing transition-related services to minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgical interventions.

    The proposed regulations, which must undergo formal review and public commentary before implementation, would prohibit Medicaid reimbursements for gender-affirming care provided to minors. More significantly, the policy would revoke all Medicare and Medicaid funding from any hospital offering such services—a move that would create substantial financial pressure on medical institutions to cease providing these treatments.

    Secretary Kennedy characterized gender-affirming care as ‘malpractice’ grounded in ‘junk science driven by ideological pursuits,’ echoing the conclusions of a departmental report compiled earlier this year by critics of gender transition therapies. The report emphasized potential risks associated with these treatments and recommended psychological counseling prior to medical interventions.

    Medical and legal experts have raised alarms about the implications of these proposals. Michael Ulrich, Professor of Public Health and Law at Boston University, warned that the measures place healthcare providers in an ‘extremely precarious position,’ noting that virtually no medical institution could operate without substantial federal funding.

    The announcement has triggered strong opposition from medical associations and civil rights organizations. The American Academy of Pediatrics condemned the proposals as ‘harmful,’ stating they ‘help no one, do nothing to address healthcare costs, and unfairly stigmatize a vulnerable population.’ The American Civil Liberties Union pledged legal challenges, calling the measures ‘cruel’ and ‘unconstitutional.’

    Medical professionals who provide gender-affirming care emphasized its critical importance. Dr. Zoe Taylor, a family physician in Washington state, described these treatments as ‘life-saving,’ noting that in her practice she has witnessed ‘youth thrive once their gender dysphoria is treated.’

    The proposal represents a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict transgender rights and marks a potentially precedent-setting expansion of federal authority over medical decision-making. Legal experts warn that such intervention could establish dangerous precedents for government control over healthcare practices beyond transgender medicine.