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  • 10 tax terms every woman-led business owner should know

    10 tax terms every woman-led business owner should know

    Jamaica’s entrepreneurial landscape is powerfully shaped by women, who operate over 165,000 businesses across the nation. Yet for these multi-tasking leaders—managing operations, staff, and family—tax season often presents a formidable challenge. Sasha Lee Miller, Senior Manager at First Global Bank, emphasizes that knowledge transforms this annual burden into an opportunity for confidence and compliance.

    Understanding key tax terminology is critical for business owners. The Tax Registration Number (TRN) serves as a foundational identifier, essential for filings and transactions. The tax year—or year of assessment—dictates reporting deadlines, which vary by business structure. Miller advises meticulous bookkeeping aligned with this period.

    Two core concepts define tax filings: the final return, documenting annual earnings and expenses, and the estimated return, projecting future liabilities. For micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), transitioning to quarterly installments requires disciplined financial planning. Self-assessment places responsibility on the taxpayer to calculate and pay accurately, underscoring the necessity of organized records.

    Allowable expenses—such as rent, utilities, and marketing—reduce taxable profit when properly documented. Capital allowances further enable businesses to depreciate major assets over time. Withholding tax obligations arise when engaging contractors, necessitating early consultation with accountants.

    General Consumption Tax (GCT) requires registered businesses to collect and remit government taxes, distinguishing between output and input taxes. For employers, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) encompasses employee income deductions, alongside National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and National Housing Trust (NHT) contributions. Cash flow constraints often make payroll compliance particularly challenging.

    The Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) emerges as a vital credential, affirming good standing and unlocking opportunities for loans, government contracts, and corporate partnerships. Ultimately, tax literacy empowers female entrepreneurs to transition from informal operations to structured growth, avoiding penalties while securing financial advantages.

  • Nesbeth takes on ‘Back Stabbers’ on new single

    Nesbeth takes on ‘Back Stabbers’ on new single

    Five decades after The O’Jays’ classic “Back Stabbers” topped charts with its warnings about romantic betrayal, Jamaican reggae artist Nesbeth has resurrected the theme with profound personal resonance in his newly released single “Back Stabber.

    The emerging artist, born years after the 1972 R&B hit, transforms the concept of betrayal into a contemporary musical commentary on false friendships and personal evolution. In an exclusive interview with Observer Online, Nesbeth revealed the track’s organic origins: “This composition didn’t emerge from a singular incident but from accumulated lived experiences. Recognizing this as a universal human experience, I channeled these emotions into artistic expression.”

    Produced through his independent label Treble Fitz Productions, the recording embodies raw emotional authenticity. Nesbeth describes the creative process as therapeutic release rather than mere performance: “I wasn’t simply recording vocals—I was exorcizing demons. That visceral energy cannot be manufactured.”

    The track represents a developmental milestone in the artist’s career, demonstrating heightened artistic consciousness and deliberate approach to both musical craftsmanship and interpersonal dynamics. While drawing from personal encounters with treachery, Nesbeth maintains diplomatic ambiguity regarding specific subjects: “No identities revealed—if the description applies, individuals will self-identify. This narrative transcends specific individuals toward universal truth.”

    The artist, previously celebrated for hits including “Drive By,” “My Dream,” and “Success Story,” emphasizes forward-moving resolution: “I extend forgiveness but navigate relationships with renewed discernment. While peace remains paramount, understanding who merits access to your energy proves equally crucial.”

  • BPO guru touts intelligence-based outsourcing

    BPO guru touts intelligence-based outsourcing

    MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is strategically positioning itself at the intersection of human expertise and artificial intelligence to drive future growth and global competitiveness. According to Gloria Henry, Vice-President for BPO and Logistics at the Port Authority of Jamaica, the industry is transitioning toward “intelligence-based outsourcing” that synergizes technological capabilities with human talent.

    Speaking at the Montego Bay Free Zone Employment Creation Awards ceremony, Henry emphasized that AI should be viewed as an enhancer rather than a replacement for human workers. “AI by itself cannot deliver the results. Humans provide the direction, support, and data guidance necessary to achieve desired outcomes,” she stated, addressing concerns about automation displacing jobs.

    The integration of AI, Henry explained, enables workers to significantly boost productivity and efficiency. “They can work faster and produce more with the kind of support that AI can offer,” she noted, highlighting the transformative potential of human-machine collaboration in contact centers and BPO operations.

    Critical to this evolution is a national commitment to upskilling and training initiatives. Henry pointed to collaborative efforts with educational institutions like HEART/NSTA Trust through the Ministry of Education and Youth, though she acknowledged that deeper investment in training programs is still needed. Recent budgetary allocations signal governmental support for the sector’s continued expansion.

    Henry urged stakeholders to adopt a forward-looking perspective: “We shouldn’t be daunted by the integration of AI. We should embrace it to make our industry more productive, resilient, and globally competitive.”

    The awards ceremony celebrated companies driving employment growth within the free zone, with Unique Vacations receiving top honors for its exceptional performance during challenging periods. Company representative Leezo Wallace highlighted their achievement of maintaining the sector’s lowest retention rate (under 3%) while continuing hiring even during hurricane disruptions.

    The event also recognized the growing influence of women in BPO leadership, with Henry paying tribute to veteran leader Valarie Ives’ 41 years of service while noting the significant increase in female leadership since the 1990s.

  • Marriott girls celebrate with dad at bill payment, courier service launch in West Kingston

    Marriott girls celebrate with dad at bill payment, courier service launch in West Kingston

    In a heartwarming downtown Kingston ceremony, entrepreneur Ackeem Marriott officially inaugurated Marriott Couriers, his new venture into courier and financial services. The Saturday launch was attended by his two young daughters, Ayzia-Alaia (10) and Amira-Ali (6), who proudly wore branded t-shirts and shared celebratory embraces with their father.

    Marriott’s strategic decision to establish his business at 45 Spanish Town Road in West Kingston—near areas like Denham Town and Tivoli Gardens—defies conventional business wisdom. When questioned about his location choice, Marriott responds with a compelling counter-question: “Why not here?” He emphasizes that these essential services are critically underserved in the community despite daily demand. “When we introduced this concept, the community demonstrated 100 percent support. This addresses a long-standing need,” Marriott explained to Observer Online.

    The entrepreneur highlighted how his service eliminates the necessity for residents to travel to downtown Kingston, Cross Roads, or Three Miles for courier and bill payment services. “Now these conveniences are immediately accessible. The perception of violence has historically diverted business development from this area, but genuine opportunity exists here,” he asserted.

    Marriott’s entrepreneurial journey began during his high school years where he engaged in various small-scale commercial activities. “Entrepreneurship runs deeply in my family, both formally and informally. Growing up in that environment embedded business acumen within me—I marketed products at school and continually explored new ventures,” he recounted.

    Marriott Couriers offers comprehensive services including MoneyGram transfers, diverse financial solutions, and bill payment facilities. The company also enables online ordering with direct shipping to Jamaican addresses. “We aim to provide West Kingston with an extensive service portfolio and continue expanding our offerings,” Marriott stated.

    Reflecting on personal motivations, Marriott identified his daughters as his primary inspiration. “This achievement represents another realized dream. I aspire to demonstrate work ethics, perseverance, and the dedication required to attain success. If you nurture dreams from youth, you can actualize them through determination and hard work. This venture constitutes a significant milestone,” he concluded.

  • ‘Don’t know how I am going to stretch that’

    ‘Don’t know how I am going to stretch that’

    GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — Member of Parliament for Hanover Western, Heatha Miller-Bennett, has publicly addressed the significant challenges of managing competing community needs within her constituency’s limited financial framework. With a fixed annual allocation of $20 million from Jamaica’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the first-term MP explicitly acknowledged the impossibility of simultaneously addressing all local demands during a recent consultation meeting at Green Island High School.

    Miller-Bennett candidly described her role as an ‘uphill task,’ directly engaging with residents who highlighted critical issues including deteriorating road conditions, inconsistent water supply, inadequate street lighting, and inefficient garbage collection services. While assuring constituents that their concerns had been formally documented, she emphasized the necessity of strategic prioritization and sought public understanding regarding the phased implementation of projects.

    The parliamentary representative revealed plans to pursue collaborative partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to maximize the fund’s impact. ‘I will seek partnership to make it stretch in areas where we can,’ Miller-Bennett stated, indicating a proactive approach to resource optimization beyond the CDF’s baseline allocation.

    Orlando Grant, Project Officer for the CDF, provided technical insights into the fund’s operational mechanisms during the same meeting. He clarified that while financial caps exist, the fund regularly coordinates with ‘contributing arms’ like the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) to enhance project funding efficiency. Grant additionally disclosed that central government periodically supplements constituencies through special grants to address budgetary shortfalls, though this practice remains largely unpublicized.

    Established during the 2008/2009 financial year, Jamaica’s CDF system serves as an emergency mechanism for financing small-scale community projects that frequently experience delays within broader governmental bureaucracy. All 63 parliamentary representatives receive identical $20 million annual allocations for local infrastructural and social initiatives, with an additional $2 million specifically designated for vulnerable population support. All funds are administered through official agencies rather than direct MP control.

  • God ‘does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war’, says pope

    God ‘does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war’, says pope

    VATICAN CITY — In a powerful Palm Sunday homily at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV delivered a profound theological condemnation of warfare, declaring that God “does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war.” The pontiff’s remarks came amid ongoing multi-front conflicts across the Middle East that have dominated global attention.

    The first American pope characterized the divine nature as fundamentally opposed to armed conflict, stating, “This is our God… A God who refuses war… who does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war.” His message emphasized the incompatibility between religious devotion and military aggression.

    Following the traditional Angelus prayer, Pope Leo specifically acknowledged the plight of Middle Eastern Christians, noting they “suffer the consequences of a terrible conflict and in many cases cannot fully live the rites of these holy days.” This recognition highlighted the particular challenges facing religious communities in conflict zones during Holy Week observances.

    The 70-year-old pontiff’s address built upon his earlier calls this week for an immediate ceasefire in the region, where he noted “more than a million people had been forced to flee their homes.” He has consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions, urging warring parties to engage in peaceful negotiations.

    Since the initiation of US-Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28 that escalated regional tensions, Pope Leo has maintained a carefully measured diplomatic approach. While repeatedly condemning violence broadly, he has refrained from specifically naming any particular nation or party in his appeals for peace, demonstrating the Vatican’s cautious navigation of complex international geopolitics.

  • Harbour City Mall changing real estate landscape

    Harbour City Mall changing real estate landscape

    Montego Bay’s commercial landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation, spearheaded by the innovative approaches implemented at Harbour City Mall just two years after its inauguration. This waterfront development is redefining property utilization through substantial investments in renewable energy and dual-purpose urban design.

    The mall’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through its massive solar installation, recognized as the largest at any commercial center in St. James. The system comprises 2,000 panels delivering 1.3MW hours of power, supplemented by an additional 200-panel setup. According to CEO Shifu Huang, this significant investment in renewable energy reflects the long-term strategic vision behind Harbour City’s development and operational philosophy.

    Beyond its environmental initiatives, the property showcases innovative spatial design with its one-acre plaza that serves contrasting functions throughout the day. While accommodating heavy pedestrian traffic between retail establishments during daylight hours, the space undergoes a remarkable metamorphosis into an open-air entertainment venue after sunset. From 7:00 pm to midnight, the plaza hosts ‘Sunday Souls’ events featuring rotating popular DJs delivering soul-stirring music performances.

    The transformation addresses a significant gap in Montego Bay’s entertainment ecosystem, as major nighttime events have traditionally been absent from the city’s large shopping centers. Huang emphasized that the plaza was specifically designed with this dual functionality in mind, incorporating appropriate infrastructure and permits from the initial construction phase. The venue has previously accommodated Reggae Sumfest events, demonstrating its capacity for large-scale productions while maintaining an intimate atmosphere.

    The development’s practical considerations include nearly 400 parking spaces—220 on a two-story rooftop facility and an additional 150 adjacent spaces—addressing one of the most frequent complaints about nightlife accessibility in Montego Bay.

    This innovative approach to commercial space utilization aligns with broader governmental initiatives. Culture Minister Olivia Grange recently indicated plans to designate specific entertainment zones across Jamaica, emphasizing the government’s intention to leverage existing infrastructure to enhance the profitability of the entertainment industry.

    Harbour City’s location within Montego Bay’s waterfront transformation corridor—stretching from Freeport to the Hip Strip—positions it as a key contributor to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s vision of creating a ‘seamless, world-class leisure, entertainment, and shopping corridor’ along this breathtaking Caribbean coastline.

    As Huang concluded, ‘Harbour City is a commercial property, but the ambition behind it goes further than that. Commerce, culture, and community all have a place here,’ signaling a holistic approach to urban development that merges economic, environmental, and social considerations.

  • Elderly woman found wandering in Yallahs, St Thomas

    Elderly woman found wandering in Yallahs, St Thomas

    Jamaican law enforcement officials have launched a public appeal to identify an elderly woman discovered disoriented in the Albion area of Yallahs, St. Thomas, this past Sunday. According to the Yallahs Police Station, the woman appears to be suffering from memory loss or cognitive impairment, rendering her unable to provide any identifiable information about herself or potential family members.

    The incident has raised concerns about vulnerable elderly populations and community support systems. Police describe the woman as having no personal documents or distinguishing items that might facilitate identification. Local authorities have implemented standard protective procedures, ensuring her immediate safety while investigations continue.

    This case highlights the critical role of community-police collaboration in addressing social welfare challenges. Law enforcement agencies have established multiple contact channels for information sharing, emphasizing the importance of public vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable citizens. The Yallahs Police Station can be reached directly at 876-982-7366, while alternative reporting options include the national emergency number 119 or any local police precinct.

    Social services organizations have been notified to provide specialized assistance if needed. The search continues as authorities work to determine whether the woman is a local resident or potentially displaced from another parish, examining recent missing person reports across the island.

  • SPARK project ignites Greenwood residents’ fury

    SPARK project ignites Greenwood residents’ fury

    Residents of the Greenwood community, straddling the border of St James and Trelawny parishes in Jamaica, are confronting severe infrastructural and environmental challenges stemming from a protracted road rehabilitation initiative. The project, executed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) under the government’s SPARK program (Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network), has instead become a source of profound distress for the local population.

    Returning residents who invested in the area are now questioning their decisions. Denise Wray Burns lamented the state of the neighborhood, describing it as ‘a mess’ and a ‘ghetto,’ a stark contrast to the peaceful residential environment she anticipated. The core of the grievance lies with the storage of heavy machinery and construction materials directly within the residential zone, leading to constant noise, pervasive dust, and further degradation of the already poor roadways from the movement of heavy trucks.

    The ramifications extend beyond mere inconvenience. Sheldon Gayle, a local educator, reported a discernible drop in school enrolment, attributing it to parents’ refusal to navigate the hazardous road conditions. The health impact is equally alarming; villa operator Christopher Smith detailed employees requiring medical leave due to respiratory issues exacerbated by the incessant dust. His wife, Christy, highlighted the damage to Jamaica’s tourism reputation, noting that international and celebrity guests are given a negative first impression, often needing to take detours to avoid the dangerous potholes.

    While the roadwork is a recent development, residents like Donnette Hill, a 30-year community veteran, assert that underlying issues like illegal dumping are long-standing grievances that have been ignored for years. The collective frustration has been directed at local officials, including Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon and Member of Parliament Edmund Bartlett, demanding immediate intervention.

    In response, Councillor Anthony Murray for the Rose Hall Division acknowledged the legitimacy of the concerns but framed them as temporary setbacks. He attributed the significant delay primarily to Hurricane Melissa from October of the previous year, which complicated the final 15% of the project—a section below sea level requiring a meticulously designed drainage system to channel rainwater to the sea. Murray assured that the municipal corporation is investigating the complaint regarding CHEC’s equipment storage within the community.

  • ‘Project Hail Mary’ tops North America box office for second week

    ‘Project Hail Mary’ tops North America box office for second week

    LOS ANGELES — Ryan Gosling’s interstellar adventure ‘Project Hail Mary’ continues its impressive box office trajectory, securing the top position in North American theaters for the second consecutive weekend. The Amazon MGM production garnered an estimated $54.5 million in ticket sales, demonstrating strong audience retention following its successful debut.

    Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film features Gosling as a science educator unexpectedly transformed into an astronaut tasked with preventing a catastrophic solar event that threatens Earth’s survival. The project marks another successful literary adaptation for Weir, whose previous work ‘The Martian’ achieved both critical and commercial success in 2015.

    Disney-Pixar’s animated feature ‘Hoppers’ maintained its second-place position with $12.2 million in earnings. The innovative film explores themes of environmental conservation through its protagonist, a wildlife enthusiast who utilizes advanced technology to inhabit a robotic beaver form for enhanced animal communication.

    The weekend’s notable newcomer, Warner Bros.’ horror-comedy ‘They Will Kill You,’ debuted in third position with $5 million. Featuring Zazie Beetz, Tom Felton, and Patricia Arquette, the film follows a hotel employee investigating mysterious disappearances in a New York establishment. Industry analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research noted the film’s respectable performance given its moderate production budget and genre expectations.

    Completing the top five were Hindi-language thriller ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ ($4.75 million) and Universal’s romantic drama ‘Reminders of Him’ ($4.7 million). The former, which continues the story of an Indian intelligence operative infiltrating Pakistani criminal organizations, has generated international controversy resulting in its prohibition across certain territories.

    The weekend’s remaining top performers included ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ ($4M), ‘Scream 7’ ($2.6M), ‘GOAT’ ($2.2M), ‘Undertone’ ($1.65M), and ‘Forbidden Fruits’ ($1.2M), illustrating diverse audience preferences across multiple genres.