Carib Scope

标签： Jamaica

牙买加

  • Jamaica Tourist Board named agents’ favourite national tourist board at Travel Gossip Awards 2026

    Jamaica Tourist Board named agents’ favourite national tourist board at Travel Gossip Awards 2026

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has secured one of the travel industry’s most meaningful honors, taking home the title of Agents’ Favourite National Tourist Board at the 2026 Travel Gossip Awards. Unlike industry awards judged by panels, this distinction is granted directly by the travel agents who promote and sell Jamaican getaways to travelers every single day, making it a true reflection of on-the-ground industry sentiment.

    This recognition is no random win: it directly mirrors the JTB’s long-term, consistent investment in the United Kingdom’s travel trade sector, and its unwavering dedication to arming frontline agents with the resources, professional training, and ongoing support they need to confidently market Jamaica as a top travel destination.

    Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett emphasized the central role that partner agents play in Jamaica’s tourism success, noting that these industry professionals act as the destination’s most reliable ambassadors. Even through periods of global uncertainty and local disruption, Bartlett shared, agents have continued to showcase Jamaica in a positive light to their clients. “We are therefore grateful that they have recognized the JTB as their tourism board of choice. This speaks to our continued partnership and mutual confidence,” Bartlett said.

    The award was formally announced during the 2026 Travel Celebration ceremony, and it comes on the heels of a remarkable show of industry support for Jamaica after the island was hit by Hurricane Melissa in late 2025. In the wake of the storm, the UK travel trade rallied behind the destination, driving a surge of agent enthusiasm that has now translated to this top honor.

    Donovan White, JTB’s Director of Tourism, stressed that the award is not just a win for the board, but for every UK agent that has stood by Jamaica through both prosperous periods and unexpected challenges. “The love and confidence agents have shown for Jamaica, particularly in recent months, has been inspirational,” White shared.

    Over the 12 months leading up to the award, the JTB’s dedicated UK team has prioritized deep, consistent engagement with travel agent partners. Key initiatives included the 2025 Jamaica Travel Market, a one-of-a-kind destination showcase that brought agents and tour operators together for an immersive, firsthand experience of Jamaican culture and hospitality. Beyond the flagship event, the team has rolled out ongoing professional training, hosted familiarization trip programmes for agents, and launched collaborative co-operative marketing campaigns designed to drive more bookings.

    This latest Travel Gossip Award adds to a breakthrough season of industry honors for the JTB. Earlier in 2026, the organization claimed the title of Best Tourist Board at the Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards, one of the UK travel industry’s most prestigious annual events, where winners are selected by thousands of agent readers across the country.

    Elizabeth Fox, Regional Director for the UK and Northern Europe at JTB, noted that the organization has made targeted investments in its agent partnership work over the past year, expanding its regional team to add more on-the-ground support and personalized engagement for trade partners. “We have committed ourselves to our travel agent partners in the last 12 months, dedicated staff, expanded the team, more faces, more smiles. And the trade has responded in kind. Seeing agents actively selling Jamaica through every challenge is the greatest recognition of all,” Fox said.

    Back-to-back top honors from the UK travel trade have cemented Jamaica’s position as the most popular Caribbean destination for British travelers, while reinforcing the JTB’s reputation as the most supportive, responsive tourist board partner in the industry. Eight weeks after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, Jamaica had already restored 80% of pre-hurricane visitor arrival capacity, and roughly 80% of the island’s hotel accommodation is now fully operational. Today, the destination is open, flourishing, and ready to welcome visitors from across the globe.

    Looking ahead, the JTB confirmed it will continue expanding its agent support infrastructure, rolling out new professional development training opportunities, and deepening the collaborative partnerships that have earned the organization consecutive honors from the UK travel trade.

  • Marcue reintroduces collabs with Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Kent Jones

    Marcue reintroduces collabs with Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Kent Jones

    Jamaican emerging recording artist Marcue, who hails from the iconic Duhaney Park community in St Andrew, has carved an early reputation for assembling once-in-a-generation collaborations with some of the biggest names in global music, spanning both local and international industries. Early in his career, the up-and-coming talent earned the opportunity to work alongside legendary reggae pioneer Buju Banton, commercially dominant dancehall figure Vybz Kartel, and Florida-based American rapper Kent Jones, a credential few rising artists can claim.

    The artist’s standout cut *My Favorite Song* first launched with a feature from Buju Banton back in 2015, produced by longtime Jamaican beatmaker Mark “Stone Cold” Hudson. Seven years later, the track got a high-profile refresh, with new verses added from both Vybz Kartel and Kent Jones to the official remix, also helmed by Hudson. However, the full potential of the high-profile project was never realized, after unforeseen personal and professional events pulled Marcue away from the music industry abruptly, forcing a years-long pause on his career and pushing the collab into obscurity.

    Now, after stepping away from the spotlight to navigate unforeseen challenges, Marcue is making his official return to the Jamaican music scene, led by renewed fan demand for the star-studded project he was never able to fully promote. In a recent interview reflecting on his comeback, the artist framed the collaboration as a career-defining milestone that was too special to remain locked away.

    “It was an absolute honour to share a recording with some of the most legendary artists Jamaica has ever given the world,” Marcue explained. “Kent Jones is also such a massive talent – he signed to DJ Khaled’s label and notched a massive breakout hit early in his career, so getting to work with him was a dream come true.”

    While the re-release of *My Favorite Song* and its star-studded remix is Marcue’s current focus for fans, the artist noted that his brand new solo single *Just Can’t Let Go* remains his primary creative priority moving forward. Even so, he argued that revisiting the older collab project feels like the right step as he rebuilds his presence in the industry.

    Reflecting on the multi-year delay that kept the track from reaching its full audience, Marcue emphasized that quality music never loses its resonance. “Good music is timeless, and you don’t get the chance to collaborate with an icon like Buju Banton every single day,” he said. “Bringing this track back to share with the world again is something really special for me, and I hope fans feel the same way.”

  • Manhunt!

    Manhunt!

    A manhunt for the armed men filmed in a viral social media clip opening fire in Jamaica’s Corporate Area community of Jarrett Lane dramatically ramped up this Wednesday, with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) confirming 12 people have been taken into custody and multiple pieces of illegal contraband seized during targeted residential searches. The aggressive law enforcement operation was triggered after a 45-second video circulating online since Tuesday captured the group discharging multiple rounds into the air above a gathered crowd, prompting senior police officials to order an immediate, coordinated response.

    Leading the operation, Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps outlined that the sweep kicked off at approximately 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, bringing together more than 100 trained law enforcement officers from three specialized units: the Kingston Eastern Division, Area 4 Fugitive Apprehension Team, and the Specialised Operations Division. Over the course of the day, teams carried out synchronized search warrants across 12 separate properties spanning 42 individual homes throughout the Jarrett Lane neighborhood.

    During the searches, officers uncovered a haul of incriminating evidence alongside controlled substances. “We recovered a quantity of ganja, five 5.6-millimeter cartridges designed for high-powered rifles including the M16, multiple spent bullet casings, an empty high-capacity rifle magazine, and what are known as lead sheets, which are tied to offences under the Law Reform Act,” Phipps explained in an exclusive interview with Jamaica Observer. “Based on the evidence found, we have arrested 12 people on suspicion of criminal involvement,” he added.

    The materials recovered tie into the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act, widely referred to locally as the Lottery Scam Act, legislation crafted specifically to target large-scale fraud schemes and identity theft operations. Key crimes covered under the act include theft and trafficking of personal access information, obtaining funds through false pretenses, intimidation of scam victims, and operating residential properties to facilitate fraudulent activity.

    Lead sheets, a core piece of evidence for these cases, are detailed documents that compile full personal information of potential scam targets: including full names, residential addresses, phone numbers, United States Social Security numbers, private banking details, and other sensitive data that scammers use to manipulate vulnerable people into sending money under false pretenses.

    Phipps made clear that the JCF will not end its efforts until the armed men seen in the viral video are taken into custody, alongside rooting out all other criminal networks operating within the Jarrett Lane community. “This operation is a critical win because the seizure of ammunition and these fraudulent materials will significantly disrupt the criminal operations based out of 72 Mountain View Avenue, the hub of activity in the Jarrett Lane area,” Phipps noted.

    The senior police official also issued a stark nationwide warning to any other individuals engaged in or considering joining criminal activity across Jamaica, emphasizing that the JCF will move quickly to apprehend anyone breaking the law. “We are telling any person thinking of following this path not to get involved. The men seen firing these weapons will be hunted relentlessly, and we will take every necessary action to send a clear message: this kind of reckless, dangerous behavior will not be tolerated in this country,” Phipps said.

    He reaffirmed the JCF’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding Jamaican communities and clearing illegal firearms and ammunition from the nation’s streets. “As I have always said, and I want to make this crystal clear: the reckless display of gunfire that these men showed in that video is something the Jamaica Constabulary Force will not accept in any way, shape, or form,” Phipps stressed. As of Wednesday evening, investigations remain active and ongoing, with detectives continuing to collect evidence and track down all persons connected to the public weapons discharge incident.

  • Food For The Poor secures release of 67-y-o St Catherine inmate

    Food For The Poor secures release of 67-y-o St Catherine inmate

    In St Catherine, Jamaica, a 67-year-old farmer has walked free after 10 months of detainment at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, brought about by the targeted intervention of international charity Food For The Poor (FFP) through the organization’s specialized prison outreach program.

    The elderly man’s entanglement with the justice system began in early 2025, when a long-simmering family disagreement over inherited land devolved into a contempt of court charge. The conflict stemmed from his claim to a rightful portion of the property left by his deceased father, despite the late parent’s legally binding will that bequeathed the entire parcel to his brother. When the man refused to vacate the land in compliance with a formal court order, the judiciary issued a $114,000 fine. With no financial means to cover the penalty, he was taken into custody and remained behind bars for 10 months.

    After learning of the man’s case through local community outreach networks, Food For The Poor moved quickly to coordinate relief. The organization drew on pooled contributions from its donors to settle the full outstanding fine, a move that triggered the man’s immediate release and resulted in all related contempt charges being formally cleared from his record.

    Looking beyond securing his release, FFP has enrolled the recently freed man in its flagship Fresh Start Programme, an initiative under the charity’s prison ministry that was created specifically to support former inmates as they work to rebuild their lives after incarceration. As a lifelong farmer by trade, the man will first complete a personalized needs assessment interview to identify the specific barriers he faces in reintegrating into community life and restarting his livelihood. Following the assessment, he will receive targeted practical support tailored to his agricultural work, which may include starter kits of seeds, fertilizer, hand tools, or other essential farming supplies.

    Former inmates across Jamaica and the Caribbean frequently face systemic barriers to securing stable employment and housing after release, a reality that often increases rates of recidivism and leaves people transitioning out of prison trapped in cycles of poverty and justice involvement. The Fresh Start Programme was designed to directly address this gap, offering individualized support rather than one-size-fits-all assistance to empower released people to rebuild independence. By providing concrete resources and wraparound support, FFP aims to ensure that people like the 67-year-old farmer get a meaningful second chance to regain personal stability, financial independence, and social dignity after incarceration.

  • Aston Villa on verge of Europa League semis after beating Bologna

    Aston Villa on verge of Europa League semis after beating Bologna

    In a tense Europa League quarter-final first leg held in Bologna, Italy on Thursday, England striker Ollie Watkins delivered a clinical two-goal performance that put Aston Villa firmly on course for a spot in the competition’s semi-finals, following a hard-earned 3-1 away win over their Italian hosts.

    The result leaves Unai Emery’s side with a comfortable two-goal cushion heading into the second leg next week at Villa Park in Birmingham, and keeps alive their hopes of lifting a first major domestic or European trophy in nearly three decades — their last silverware came back in 1995, when they claimed the English League Cup. If Villa advance, they will face the winner of the remaining quarter-final tie between Porto and Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the last four.

    Bologna, who came into the match on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions in away fixtures, put in a spirited performance that could have completely shifted the outcome of the night. The Italian side hit the woodwork twice in the first half, and thought they had taken an early lead when a potential Ezra Konsa own goal was ruled out by the offside flag, with Santiago Castro judged to have strayed just offside when he got a touch on the ball before it deflected off Konsa. The moment cut short wild celebrations from the packed home crowd, and only minutes later, Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson saw a clear chance poke off the underside of the crossbar and bounce away from the goal line.

    It was Konsa, however, who would break the deadlock right on the stroke of half-time, delivering a sucker punch to the hosts. The England defender held off Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumi after goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia failed to properly clear Youri Tielemans’ corner, nodding the ball into an empty net to open the scoring. The goal marked Konsa’s first for the club since last May, while the assist from Tielemans was a welcome boost for Emery: it came in the Belgian midfielder’s first start since January, as Emery juggles his side’s Europa League push with a fight to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League.

    Five minutes into the second half, Watkins doubled Villa’s lead, capitalizing on a careless giveaway from Bologna right-back Torbjorn Heggem inside his own penalty area. The striker, who is currently pushing for a spot in England’s upcoming international squad, calmly slotted the ball between Ravaglia’s legs to put Villa in a commanding position.

    Bologna kept pressing forward throughout the second half, with winger Federico Bernardeschi hitting the outside of the post with one effort. In the 90th minute, Jonathan Rowe finally got the home side on the scoresheet with a brilliant late finish, giving Bologna hope heading into the return leg. But just moments later, deep into stoppage time, an unmarked Watkins pounced on another Villa corner to prod home his second of the night, extending the visitors’ lead before the teams travel to Birmingham.

    Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, Watkins emphasized his side’s momentum and his own sharpness as the end of the season approaches. “Just before half time is a great time to score. We got the second after half time and then we felt we always were going to score more,” he said. “Back end of the season I’m raring to go. I could play another 90 minutes. I’m excited for the next few games. I’m hungry.”

    Emery, a four-time winner of the Europa League who knows what it takes to go all the way in the competition, is now heavily favored to guide his side through to the semi-finals. For Bologna, all three of Villa’s goals came from unforced errors, a point Bernardeschi acknowledged after the match. Speaking to Sky Sport Italy, the Italian winger said, “If we want to take that step up then we can’t make these kinds of mistakes… Anything can happen (in the second leg), but tonight should teach us a lesson.”

    Villa have now beaten Bologna three times across the last two seasons, including two wins in this year’s Europa League campaign, but the Italian side remains alive in the tie, with 90 minutes in Birmingham still to come to turn the result around.

  • Pick up the pace!

    Pick up the pace!

    ### Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project Delayed to 2027, Sparking Outcry From Local Business Leaders

    For a city long crippled by crippling urban traffic congestion, the Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project has stood for decades as a beacon of hope — a promised solution that would cut through gridlock and unlock new economic growth for Jamaica’s iconic western tourism and commercial hub. But that hope has once again been pushed into the future, as local business leaders are voicing deep frustration over the news that a key section of the transformative infrastructure project will not be completed until May 2027, more than a year later than the most recent public target.

    The new completion timeline for the Long Hill Bypass segment was confirmed earlier this week by the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC), the state-owned entity managing the project on behalf of the Jamaican government, in response to inquiries from the *Jamaica Observer*. When reached for comment by the outlet Wednesday, Nadine Spence, second vice president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), made clear the business community’s anxiety over the extended delay.

    “Time means money, and the longer this project drags on, the more revenue and opportunity we lose,” Spence told the *Observer*. “We are deeply concerned about this new delay — this project has been waiting for generations, and every extra month of gridlock holds our city back.”

    Robert Morgan, Jamaica’s junior minister with responsibility for public works, pinned the latest schedule shift on widespread damage inflicted by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which slammed into the island last October and devastated the Catherine Hall and West Green neighborhoods, where much of the bypass construction is concentrated. Morgan added that the project already suffered prior setbacks from Hurricane Beryl, which hit the island in 2024.

    But while Spence acknowledged that natural disasters are unavoidable, she argued that project managers have failed to prioritize urgency to get work back on track. She has also thrown her support behind a compromise proposal: open already completed segments of the bypass to the public while remaining construction wraps up, to deliver at least partial relief to frustrated motorists and businesses.

    “At one point, officials told us one leg of the route would be opened early,” Spence noted. “We are asking that this plan be revisited. Even partial access would make a huge difference for our city while we wait for the full completion, and we would welcome that right now.”

    The revised timeline sees mixed deadlines across different segments of the project: the Montego Bay Bypass and West Green Avenue sections are now targeted for September 2026, while the Barnett Street leg has been moved up to an April 2026 completion. Even with that small acceleration, the new 2027 deadline for the Long Hill Bypass has done little to calm local nerves.

    Spence specifically highlighted concerns over the upcoming Dream Wknd 2026 festival, scheduled to take place from July 30 to August 3 that year. The event is expected to draw thousands of visitors to Montego Bay, a city already struggling with daily traffic gridlock that the road project was designed to fix. With the bypass set to remain unfinished for the major tourism event, Spence warned the delay will exacerbate existing congestion issues.

    “This delay just means Montego Bay will continue to grapple with persistent traffic snarls that hurt every part of our local economy,” Spence said. “When you host a major international event like Dream Wknd that brings thousands of extra people to the city, the impact of uncompleted infrastructure is going to be felt by everyone — visitors, locals, and business owners alike. Traffic conditions are completely unpredictable: some days you can move normally, and other days the whole area is gridlocked for hours. It’s a waste of time, a waste of energy, and it makes our city far less efficient for business and daily life.”

    Mark Kerr-Jarrett, a prominent Montego Bay real estate developer and long-time advocate for the bypass, echoed Spence’s concern, describing the project as “desperately needed” and “decades overdue.” Beyond hurricane-related damage, Kerr-Jarrett argued that unnecessary bureaucratic red tape around land acquisition is also holding up work on the Long Hill segment.

    “I’ve been told that the National Land Agency now requires a pre-check plan to be submitted alongside every land acquisition and sales agreement for the project,” Kerr-Jarrett explained. “This requirement is completely unnecessary, and it adds massive amounts of time to the process. Getting one pre-check plan approved can take up to nine months, which pushes every single acquisition back by a minimum of four months, and as much as nine.”

    Looking beyond the current construction delays, Kerr-Jarrett is also calling on the Jamaican government to reverse its plan to charge tolls on the completed bypass, arguing the road is core public infrastructure that should be free to use for local residents and motorists.

    “The people who need this road the most are the ones who can’t afford to pay tolls to use it,” he said. “Even though it’s called a bypass, this is core municipal infrastructure built specifically to cut congestion in the heart of Montego Bay. It should be treated as such.”

  • Probe underway into video of murder suspect arrest at Mandeville Police Station, says commander

    Probe underway into video of murder suspect arrest at Mandeville Police Station, says commander

    MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A formal investigation is underway after footage of a high-profile murder suspect’s arrest at Mandeville Police Station spread widely across social media platforms last week, according to the top local law enforcement official. Carey Duncan, Superintendent of the Manchester Police Division, confirmed the probe into the origins of the viral clip, which captures the detention of 27-year-old Damanice Tyrone Williamson, a serving member of the Jamaica Defence Force. Williamison has been formally charged with the murder of his 29-year-old girlfriend Tanzanya Dunkley, an air conditioning technician based in the parish. Law enforcement records show that the suspect confessed to fatally attacking Dunkley at her private residence in the Three Chains community of Manchester on the same day the arrest took place. Following the killing, authorities say Williamson travelled directly to the Mandeville Police Station while armed with an object identified in preliminary reports as a knife. Upon arrival, he allegedly confronted officers and demanded that they shoot and kill him on site. In a statement to media, Superintendent Duncan praised the response of on-duty officers during the encounter, noting that their professional, controlled conduct allowed them to take the armed suspect into custody without additional casualties. Even as the department commends the arresting officers, however, it is now turning its attention to the unauthorized recording of the arrest. While investigators have not yet identified the person who recorded and uploaded the video that has since gone viral across local social media, Duncan made clear that consequences will follow if the person responsible is found to be a serving member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. If a police officer is linked to leaking the footage, Duncan said, formal disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against the individual, in line with departmental policy. The case has drawn significant local public attention due to the suspect’s military background and the unusual circumstances of his arrest, with the viral video amplifying public interest in the investigation into both the murder and the unauthorized recording.

  • Temple Hall main road in St Andrew reduced to single lane traffic

    Temple Hall main road in St Andrew reduced to single lane traffic

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – A sudden landslide has forced partial closure of a key arterial route in the parish of St Andrew, leaving local law enforcement to redirect traffic through alternate paths this week. The slide occurred along the Temple Hall main road near the Clarks Hill neighborhood, where loose earth and debris now block one of the road’s two travel lanes, according to an official advisory released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

    With only one lane remaining passable for two-way traffic, the incident is expected to cause significant travel delays and congestion during peak commuting hours. To minimize disruption for drivers, police have issued a clear recommendation that motorists plan ahead and use alternative designated routes whenever their travel schedules allow.

    Authorities note that they are working alongside relevant transportation and disaster management agencies to clear the debris and restore full access to the corridor as quickly as possible. Further updates on the progress of clearing works and any changes to traffic arrangements will be issued to the public as new information becomes available.

  • Gordon summoned!

    Gordon summoned!

    A sitting Jamaican Member of Parliament is set to return for questioning before the national legislature’s Ethics Committee, after new public disclosures contradicted closed-door testimony he gave earlier this year that led to the House granting him an exemption from further scrutiny. The development, which has reopened a case many observers considered closed, was finalized during the committee’s second official meeting this session on Wednesday.

    The controversy at the heart of the recall traces back to a damning audit report from Jamaica’s auditor general, which investigated questionable procurement and import practices at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). The report found that the public teaching hospital improperly leveraged its tax-exempt legal status to clear imported goods on behalf of four private sector entities, resulting in an estimated $23.1 million in lost public revenue. One of the private companies at the center of the audit findings is JACDEN, which lists St Andrew East Central MP Dennis Gordon, a member of the opposition People’s National Party, as a principal partner.

    Gordon first appeared before the Ethics Committee for a closed-door hearing on February 4, and the House of Representatives subsequently voted to grant him an exemption from further disciplinary or investigative action. That decision has now been thrown into question, after new information that has entered the public domain appears to contradict key details Gordon provided during his initial private testimony.

    Committee chair Marlene Malahoo Forte outlined the panel’s current position in remarks following Wednesday’s vote, emphasizing that the body is not moving immediately to reverse the House’s original exemption decision. Instead, the core question now before the committee is whether the information the original recommendation relied on was accurate, she explained.

    The push for renewed scrutiny came from St Andrew West Rural MP Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, who called for a fresh review after cross-referencing the minutes of February’s closed meeting with subsequent public disclosures. Cuthbert-Flynn’s intervention effectively reopened a case that was widely considered settled after the House approved the exemption earlier this year.

    Not all committee members supported moving forward with the recall during Wednesday’s discussion. St Elizabeth South Eastern MP Franklyn Witter raised procedural questions about whether the committee had the authority to revisit a matter that the full House had already formally acted on, casting doubt on whether revisiting the exemption after it was approved was procedurally sound.

    Malahoo Forte pushed back on the need for procedural or legal hurdles, framing the current issue as a question of fact rather than a legal dispute. She argued that if new public information directly contradicts testimony Gordon gave during his first appearance, the only appropriate step is to give the MP an opportunity to respond and clarify the inconsistencies, noting that this adheres to the core principle of natural justice.

    “You do not make any binding decision affecting any person without first giving that person the opportunity to be heard, that is a basic tenet of natural justice,” Malahoo Forte said, adding that there is no need for outside legal counsel to resolve the current standoff.

    As the parliamentary body charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct among sitting MPs, including violations of conflict of interest and disclosure rules, the Ethics Committee’s next steps will focus solely on gathering clarification before any formal decisions are made. Malahoo Forte stressed that the panel has not yet moved to reverse the House’s original exemption, and is only seeking to verify the accuracy of the original testimony in light of new developments.

    “At this stage, we are not seeking to overturn the original recommendation we sent to the House. We simply want to examine the original findings against new information that has come to light,” Malahoo Forte said. “Once we receive clarification from the member, we will draft a new report and send it back to the full House for any further action it deems appropriate.”

    Following Wednesday’s discussion, the committee voted to formally summon Gordon back to appear under the House’s standing orders, rather than extending an informal invitation. The formal process requires official notice to be delivered through the clerk of Parliament, and will follow the established timetable ahead of the committee’s next scheduled sitting.

  • Cuba accuses US of ‘extorting’ Latin America in doctors row

    Cuba accuses US of ‘extorting’ Latin America in doctors row

    HAVANA, Cuba – In a sharp rebuke of United States policy this Thursday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has levied serious accusations that Washington is coercing and extorting Latin American nations into scrapping long-standing contracts for Cuban medical professionals, a key economic lifeline for the island communist state. The verbal assault comes on the heels of a string of withdrawals from the Cuban medical program by four regional nations – Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, and Guyana – moves that Rodriguez frames as the end result of sustained US pressure on countries seeking closer alignment with the administration of former US President Donald Trump. For more than six decades, Cuba’s international medical brigade program has stood as both a point of national pride and a critical source of foreign revenue, generating billions of dollars for the Cuban economy each year. But the program has faced sustained criticism from Washington, which claims the Cuban government engages in forced labor by requiring medical workers to turn over large portions of their salaries to the state – an assertion Rodriguez calls a baseless falsehood. With Cuba already grappling with the imminent threat of total economic collapse, worsened by a decades-long US energy blockade that has gutted access to critical fuel and infrastructure, the loss of this major income stream represents a substantial new blow to the island’s fragile economic standing. “The US Government is persecuting, pressuring and extorting other governments to end the presence of Cuban Medical Brigades in various countries, under false pretenses,” Rodriguez wrote in a post on social platform X. Official Cuban data shows that as of 2025, roughly 24,000 Cuban doctors, nurses, and other trained healthcare workers were deployed to serve communities across 56 countries worldwide, a program that has long provided affordable medical access to low and middle-income nations around the globe while propping up Cuba’s struggling domestic economy. Rodriguez emphasized that the US campaign is not just a political attack on Havana, but a move that cuts off critical healthcare access to vulnerable populations across the developing world, all as part of a broader effort to fully strangle Cuba’s already reeling economy.