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标签： Jamaica

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  • Dancehall Glam takes over Mouttet Mile race day

    Dancehall Glam takes over Mouttet Mile race day

    Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has announced a significant expansion of its flagship event, the Mouttet Mile, transforming it into a two-day racing spectacle for 2026. Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe revealed the enhanced format during a press conference at Caymanas Park on March 21, emphasizing the organization’s comprehensive commitment to horse racing development.

    The racing extravaganza will commence on Friday, December 4 with the revival of the She’s A Maneater Sprint, an exclusive competition for Jamaican-bred thoroughbreds honoring the legendary filly whose remarkable career captivated racing enthusiasts. This special tribute race returns after being temporarily displaced by calendar restructuring and the reintroduction of the Diamond Mile.

    Saturday, December 5 will feature the main Mouttet Mile event, which has consistently demonstrated exceptional popularity and attendance according to SVREL’s assessment. The expansion to two days represents a strategic response to the event’s growing prestige within the racing community.

    In a significant move toward inclusivity, SVREL will enhance opportunities for smaller stables through revamped claiming races. The Friday card will feature three specially designed claiming events: a $1.5-million race with an increased purse from last year’s $1.25 million, alongside $350,000 and $700,000 claiming races both carrying substantial $1.5-million purses. This initiative specifically addresses previous limitations that excluded smaller participants from Mouttet Mile day activities.

    The 2026 edition will embrace Jamaica’s vibrant cultural heritage through its ‘Dancehall Glam’ theme, reflecting both local traditions and the sport’s international reach. Sharpe emphasized that this thematic approach celebrates horse racing as an integral component of Jamaican culture alongside its sporting significance.

    The event restructuring demonstrates SVREL’s holistic approach to racing development, balancing competitive excellence with broader participant inclusion while integrating cultural elements that resonate with both local and international audiences.

  • #Champs2026: JC’s Edwards leads Class 1 long jump qualifying

    #Champs2026: JC’s Edwards leads Class 1 long jump qualifying

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening day of the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships witnessed a spectacular display of athletic prowess as defending champion Michael Andre Edwards of Jamaica College delivered a commanding performance in the Class 1 boys long jump preliminaries. The National Stadium erupted as Edwards secured his place in the finals with a single, monumental leap of 7.53 meters, significantly surpassing the automatic qualifying standard of 7.05 meters despite a substantial headwind of 1.9 meters per second.

    Edwards, who achieved the remarkable long jump and triple jump double victory in last year’s championships, demonstrated why he remains the athlete to beat in this discipline. His first-attempt qualification not only conserved energy for the upcoming finals but also sent a powerful message to his competitors.

    The competition for remaining final spots intensified among other top Jamaican high school athletes. Kingston College’s Amani Phillips, last year’s Class 2 medalist, positioned himself as a strong contender with a jump of 7.04 meters, falling just one centimeter short of the automatic mark. Jamaica College’s Jaivar Cato followed closely with a respectable 6.94-meter effort in calm wind conditions.

    In a notable comeback performance, Kemar James of St Jago High overcame initial difficulties to qualify with a wind-assisted 6.91 meters (2.3m/s). The finals will also feature Calabar High’s Shevaughn Pryce alongside St Elizabeth Technical’s duo Santino Distin and Rodeeki Walters, setting the stage for an intensely competitive championship showdown.

  • New Mexico jury finds Meta liable for endangering children

    New Mexico jury finds Meta liable for endangering children

    In a groundbreaking legal decision with far-reaching implications for the tech industry, a New Mexico jury has determined that Meta Platforms Inc. bears significant responsibility for endangering children through its social media platforms. The verdict, reached after intensive six-week proceedings, represents one of the first jury decisions addressing social media companies’ accountability for minor protection.

    The Santa Fe courtroom witnessed a comprehensive presentation of evidence, including testimony from approximately 40 witnesses—among them former Meta employees turned whistleblowers—and examination of hundreds of internal documents, reports, and corporate communications. The state’s legal team successfully demonstrated that Meta’s platforms made children vulnerable to sexual predators, online solicitation, and human trafficking risks.

    New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who initiated the litigation in 2023, characterized the outcome as “a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety.” The prosecution presented compelling evidence suggesting company executives were aware of platform dangers yet disregarded internal warnings and publicly misrepresented their knowledge.

    While the state sought maximum damages of $2.2 billion, the jury awarded $375 million after finding Meta violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act through misleading representations about product safety for young users. During closing arguments, prosecutors demonstrated how Meta’s algorithmic systems allegedly directed adult users toward content created by teenage users while concealing internal risk assessments.

    The company has announced its intention to appeal the verdict, with a spokesperson stating: “We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content.”

    This case initiates a broader legal confrontation, with a second phase scheduled for May 4th where a judge will consider additional penalties and potential operational mandates for Meta. Simultaneously, a California jury is evaluating similar allegations regarding platform-related harms to children, including addiction concerns, in what legal experts consider a bellwether case for thousands of pending lawsuits against social media corporations nationwide.

  • Jongwe Hillel’s sole flag-bearer at Champs

    Jongwe Hillel’s sole flag-bearer at Champs

    In an unprecedented development for Jamaican scholastic sports, Hillel Academy has shattered its athletic tradition by qualifying its first competitor for the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. The institution, historically celebrated for academic distinction, now enters the competitive arena through 13-year-old sprint sensation Damian Jongwe.

    Jongwe embodies global citizenship—born in France, recently relocated from Bangkok, Thailand, with prior residency in Kenya and Zimbabwean heritage through his father. His arrival in Jamaica just last August marked the beginning of this remarkable athletic journey. Despite minimal prior knowledge of Jamaica’s premier track event, Jongwe recognized the nation’s formidable reputation in track and field culture, which influenced his family’s decision to settle there.

    Coach Devon Grant, who concurrently heads Papine High’s track program and previously guided Mavis Bank High, has achieved what he describes as a breakthrough after unsuccessful attempts with other athletes in prior seasons. “This represents a wonderful opportunity to establish Hillel’s presence at Champs,” Grant stated, emphasizing the significance of Jongwe’s qualification for the 2026 championships.

    The young athlete will contest the Class 3 Boys’ sprint double, competing in both the 100m and 200m events. While Grant maintains realistic expectations for Jongwe’s inaugural championship appearance, he projects potential advancement to the 200m finals, acknowledging the 100m presents greater challenges. More importantly, Grant identifies this milestone as catalyzing broader athletic development at Hillel, noting two additional students have already joined training sessions.

    Jongwe approaches his historic participation with emotional complexity—describing himself as simultaneously nervous, excited, and prepared. “This experience pushes me to achieve my best,” he reflected. “I believe I belong alongside these competitors and anticipate this will be a foundational experience for future success.” His championship campaign commences Tuesday afternoon with the 100m heats, followed by Thursday morning’s 200m competition.

  • Salah to leave Liverpool at the end of the season

    Salah to leave Liverpool at the end of the season

    LIVERPOOL, England – Liverpool Football Club has officially confirmed that iconic forward Mohamed Salah will depart the club upon the conclusion of the 2025-26 Premier League season, marking the end of an extraordinary nine-year era at Anfield. The announcement, made through the club’s official channels on Tuesday, signals the departure of one of the most prolific scorers in the club’s storied history.

    The Egyptian international, who joined the Reds from AS Roma in 2017 for what was then a club-record transfer fee, has established himself as a modern Liverpool legend. During his tenure, the 33-year-old has made 435 appearances across all competitions while netting an astonishing 255 goals – a tally that places him among the club’s all-time greats.

    Club management emphasized that the decision was reached through mutual agreement between Salah and the organization. In an unusual display of transparency toward the fanbase, Salah specifically requested early disclosure of his departure plans out of profound respect for the supporters who have championed his career on Merseyside.

    Salah’s legacy includes helping secure Liverpool’s first Premier League title in 30 years during the 2019-20 campaign, along with Champions League glory in 2019. His individual accolades include multiple Golden Boot awards and PFA Player of the Year honors, cementing his status as one of the Premier League’s most dominant attacking forces of the modern era.

    The coming months will represent a final chapter for the Egyptian king at Anfield, with supporters anticipated to give him a fitting farewell following his immense contributions to the club’s recent renaissance.

  • Air traffic slow in February

    Air traffic slow in February

    Jamaica’s aviation sector continues to navigate post-hurricane challenges as both Sangster International Airport (SIA) and Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) reported significant passenger traffic declines in February. According to recent operational data released by concession operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), the combined airports processed approximately 274,500 passengers during the period, representing a substantial 31.4% decrease compared to the 400,100 passengers recorded in February 2025.

    The statistical trend reveals a consistent pattern of reduced travel activity, with January 2026 recording 284,200 passengers and December 2025 seeing 262,600 passengers processed through these facilities. While SIA bore the brunt of the decline, NMIA experienced a more moderate 2.1% reduction, handling 119,400 passengers compared to 121,900 during the same period last year.

    The operational challenges extended beyond Jamaican borders, with GAP reporting reduced air traffic at 12 of its 14 managed airports across Mexico and Jamaica. Particularly affected were Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta International Airports, which faced substantial flight cancellations due to security concerns in Mexico’s Jalisco state. This regional disruption compounded the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Melissa, creating a complex operational environment for aviation authorities and travelers alike.

  • Price eager to get started at George’s

    Price eager to get started at George’s

    In a significant homecoming appointment, Andrew Price has been named Technical Director of St George’s College, tasked with revitalizing the school’s football program. The former defensive stalwart, who anchored the team that secured the prestigious triple crown (Manning Cup, Walker Cup, and Olivier Shield) in 1983, expressed profound honor at returning to his alma mater after 42 years.

    Price’s appointment follows the December 2025 resignation of long-time coach Neville Bell and comes amid a prolonged trophy drought for the ‘Knights,’ who haven’t claimed the Manning Cup since 2012. The newly appointed director brings extensive coaching credentials from Boys’ Town, Humble Lion, Calabar High, UWI Women, Mico University College, and served as assistant coach for the Reggae Girlz during their historic 2019 World Cup qualification.

    In his first statements, Price emphasized creating a cultural transformation focused on developing student-athletes holistically. ‘I want to create a culture and paradigm shift where student athletes participate with pride,’ Price told journalists. ‘The main emphasis is on the students—they must work both on and off the field. I measure success through holistic player development.’

    His technical mandate includes overseeing all academy teams (U-14, U-16, and U-19) while implementing a unified football philosophy centered on attacking possession play with disciplined defense. Price stressed the importance of establishing consistent playing styles across all teams and maintaining academic priorities, noting that athletes are ‘students first.’

    Regarding staffing, Price expressed openness to collaborating with long-time assistant coach Marcel Gayle, who was previously considered a potential successor to Bell. ‘I am open, but it depends on if he wants to continue,’ Price stated.

    The appointment signals a strategic move by St George’s College to leverage Price’s deep institutional knowledge and professional experience to restore its football legacy while developing well-rounded citizens, with professional opportunities available for the most talented graduates.

  • Aid flotilla arrives in Cuba as US oil blockade bites

    Aid flotilla arrives in Cuba as US oil blockade bites

    HAVANA, Cuba — In a direct challenge to U.S. sanctions, the inaugural vessel of an international humanitarian flotilla successfully docked in Havana on Tuesday, delivering essential medical supplies, food provisions, and solar power equipment to an island nation grappling with a severe energy crisis. The ‘Maguro’ shrimp boat, symbolically rebranded ‘Granma 2.0’ in homage to the yacht used by Fidel Castro’s revolutionaries in 1956, completed its voyage from Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula after navigating formidable maritime conditions and technical difficulties, arriving three days behind schedule.

    The docking ceremony witnessed emotional scenes as activists assembled on the cabin roof holding a ‘Let Cuba Live’ banner, while supportive crowds on the pier echoed with chants of ‘Cuba yes! Blockade no!’ This maritime mission, dubbed the ‘Our America Convoy,’ represents one segment of a broader multinational relief effort that initially dispatched approximately 50 tonnes of humanitarian cargo via air transport from Europe, Latin America, and the United States last week.

    Organized under the banner of the Progressive International, a global left-wing coalition, the initiative has garnered official endorsement from the Cuban government. David Adler, the convoy’s coordinator and a U.S. citizen, articulated to AFP that the mission simultaneously addresses urgent humanitarian needs while highlighting what he characterized as ‘the human costs of Trump’s siege on Cuba.’ Adler further emphasized that the effort ‘demonstrated that international solidarity can triumph over forced isolation.’

    Cuba’s current energy predicament has reached critical proportions, with seven nationwide blackouts recorded since the beginning of 2024—two occurring within the past week. This electrical instability stems from a combination of antiquated thermoelectric infrastructure and acute petroleum shortages, exacerbated significantly by the Trump administration’s January imposition of a de facto oil blockade. The situation deteriorated further following the detention of Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro—Cuba’s principal regional ally—by U.S. forces, accompanied by threats of tariffs against nations supplying oil to the island.

    Despite the humanitarian narrative advanced by organizers, the mission has encountered substantial criticism from Cuban exile communities and political opponents. Luis Zuniga, a former political prisoner now residing in Miami, dismissed the operation as ‘nothing more than a political sideshow,’ contending that Cuba’s electricity crisis predates recent sanctions and originates from systemic governmental failures.

    The flotilla’s participants include activists from Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Italy, Mexico, and the United States, several possessing prior experience in maritime aid missions. Notably, Brazilian organizer Thiago Avila previously coordinated a similar flotilla attempt to Gaza that was intercepted by Israeli forces last year. Another Brazilian activist, Lisi Proenca, highlighted the strategic advantage of maritime transport for delivering substantial equipment like solar panels that are impractical to ship by air.

    As Cuba confronts soaring fuel prices, collapsed public transportation systems, and accumulating urban waste due to inoperative garbage trucks, the government consistently attributes these hardships to Washington’s long-standing trade embargo and recent fuel restrictions. With two additional aid vessels anticipated imminently, this humanitarian confrontation continues to unfold at the intersection of geopolitical tension and human necessity.

  • Cops probing man’s death in St Ann

    Cops probing man’s death in St Ann

    A violent altercation in the Draxhall area of St Ann turned fatal on Tuesday afternoon, prompting an active investigation by local law enforcement. The incident, which occurred in a commercial plaza vicinity shortly after 3:00 pm, originated from a physical dispute between two unidentified males.

    Preliminary reports from law enforcement sources indicate the conflict escalated when one individual allegedly struck the other in the head with a stone. The assaulted party temporarily retreated from the scene but returned armed with a machete, launching a brutal counterattack that resulted in severe chop wounds to his initial aggressor.

    Police units responding to emergency calls transported the critically injured victim to a medical facility, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. Crime scene investigators remained on location through the evening hours, meticulously documenting evidence and gathering forensic information. Authorities have not yet established the identity of the deceased individual, nor have they disclosed whether any arrests have been made in connection with the fatal incident.

    The investigation remains ongoing as police work to reconstruct the precise sequence of events and determine potential motives behind the initial altercation that culminated in lethal violence.

  • Western schools to defy odds at Champs

    Western schools to defy odds at Champs

    Against a backdrop of unprecedented natural disaster, western Jamaica’s athletic community demonstrates extraordinary resilience as the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships commence today at Kingston’s National Stadium. The five-day championship, known locally as ‘Champs,’ features numerous athletes from hurricane-ravaged regions who have overcome immense personal and infrastructural challenges to compete at Jamaica’s premier high school athletic event.

    Coaches and athletes from western Jamaica describe their participation as miraculous given that Hurricane Melissa devastated the region just five months earlier in October 2025. The catastrophic storm ripped roofs from homes, schools, and businesses, with some communities completely flattened and isolated. In the immediate aftermath, survival took absolute priority over athletic preparation.

    Despite these overwhelming obstacles, western Jamaica fields several standout contenders including Shanoya Douglas of Holland High, alongside William Knibb Memorial’s Sanjay Seymore and Jabari Matheson. Green Island High’s Head Coach and Vice-Principal Michael McIntosh characterizes the regional participation as the ultimate testament to resilience, noting that the collective effort reflects the dedication of coaches, school administrations, and students themselves.

    Coaching staff acknowledge ongoing challenges, with William Knibb’s Rodrick Myles noting persistent disparities between affected and unaffected schools. Yet athletes from severely damaged institutions like Sydney Pagon High School in St. Elizabeth—which still lacks full electrical restoration—have demonstrated remarkable perseverance. Coach Kirk Beckford highlighted emerging talents Kamoya Graham, Alexia Palmer, and Annataseca Blackwood as examples of athletes whose dedication is yielding competitive results.

    The athletic competition serves as both personal catharsis and regional inspiration, with coaches managing expectations while celebrating the mere presence of their athletes as victory enough. While top-five finishes may remain elusive, western Jamaica’s athletes are poised to deliver moments of brilliance throughout the championship, transforming personal adversity into athletic achievement.