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  • Williams assures digital tax won’t affect online shopping

    Williams assures digital tax won’t affect online shopping

    Jamaican Finance Minister Fayval Williams has issued a comprehensive clarification regarding the government’s proposed digital services tax, explicitly exempting online purchases of physical goods from the new revenue measures. The announcement came during the closing of the 2026/27 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, addressing mounting concerns about the policy’s potential impact on consumers and businesses.

    Williams presented a detailed taxonomy of digital trade, categorizing it into three distinct segments: digitally ordered and digitally delivered services, digitally ordered but physically delivered goods, and physically ordered but digitally delivered services. The minister emphasized that only the first category—services both supplied and consumed digitally across borders—would be subject to the proposed taxation framework.

    “Goods entering Jamaica through our ports remain subject to existing taxes and duties,” Williams stated unequivocally. “Digitally ordered and physically delivered trade was not included in our revenue measures.”

    The clarification comes amid sustained criticism from Opposition finance spokesman Julian Robinson, who argued the digital tax appeared contradictory to previous government efforts to reduce online shopping costs through increased de minimis thresholds.

    Williams acknowledged significant policy gaps in the current system, revealing how consumers and importers have exploited the increased de minimis threshold—raised from US$50 to US$100—by systematically splitting orders to avoid taxation. This practice, she noted, has resulted in substantial revenue leakage and created an uneven competitive landscape for domestic retailers who face fully taxed inventory.

    The minister positioned the digital services tax as part of a broader modernization effort for Jamaica’s tax framework, designed to address the rapid growth of digital economic activity that has outpaced existing tax regulations. Williams emphasized that the measure aims not to restrict digital access but to ensure equitable treatment between physical and digital economic activities as consumption patterns evolve.

    With services constituting a substantial portion of Jamaica’s GDP and digital channels increasingly dominating economic activity, the government is simultaneously strengthening its capacity to measure and interpret digital economic developments to ensure future policies remain “fair, balanced, and grounded in accurate information.”

  • #Champs2026: Last year’s Class 2 400m champ Fletcher on course for Class 1 honours

    #Champs2026: Last year’s Class 2 400m champ Fletcher on course for Class 1 honours

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships witnessed standout performances on its second day at the National Stadium, with Hydel High’s Nastassia Fletcher positioning herself as the athlete to beat in the girls’ Class 1 400m. Fletcher, who claimed last year’s Class 2 title, dominated the qualifying round by clocking an impressive 52.92 seconds, establishing a strong foundation for her gold medal pursuit.

    Despite formidable competition from last year’s medalists—Edwin Allen’s Kellyann Carr (53.67 seconds) and Holmwood Technical’s Abrina Wright (53.08 seconds)—Fletcher’s commanding performance has solidified her status as the clear favorite for the championship title.

    In Class 2 qualifying, Foga Road High’s Shameika McLean surged ahead with a time of 52.52 seconds, outperforming last year’s silver medalist Sashana Johnson of Hydel High, who finished with 54.12 seconds. The qualifiers also included Holmwood Technical’s Annastacia Hall (53.29 seconds), William Knibb Memorial’s Daniellia Dixon (53.49 seconds), Immaculate Conception’s Kimberly Wright (54.29 seconds), and Maddison Campbell of Holmwood Technical.

    Notably, Edwin Allen faced disappointment as neither of their two athletes advanced to the Class 3 final. William Knibb Memorial’s Khortnie Eccleston led the Class 3 qualifiers with 55.41 seconds, followed closely by Hydel High’s Tyecia McDonald (55.41 seconds) and Holmwood Technical’s Malya McLennon (55.64 seconds).

  • #Champs2026: Stage set for epic Boys Class 1, 100m final

    #Champs2026: Stage set for epic Boys Class 1, 100m final

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s future track stars delivered electrifying performances in Wednesday’s semi-finals at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, setting the stage for what promises to be a historic series of 100-meter finals at the national stadium.

    The Boys’ Class 1 event emerged as the headline attraction, with qualifying times reaching unprecedented competitive levels. Riquelme Reid of Excelsior High established himself as the athlete to beat, posting the fastest qualifying time of 10.19 seconds despite facing a modest headwind of 1.1 meters per second. He narrowly edged out St. George’s College’s Tyreece Foreman, who clocked an impressive 10.21 seconds.

    Holland High’s Johan-Ramaldo Smythe, who finished sixth in last year’s championship, demonstrated remarkable improvement by winning his heat in 10.29 seconds. The competition intensified as Edwin Allen’s Kenrick Austin (10.27 seconds) barely outperformed William Knibb’s Sanjay Seymore (10.28 seconds) in one of the day’s most thrilling photo finishes.

    The qualification standard reached new heights with Malike Nugent of Excelsior High securing the final spot with 10.33 seconds – a time that would have earned him bronze medal honors in last year’s competition.

    In Class 2 action, Jamaica College’s Kai Kelly delivered a wind-assisted performance of 10.29 seconds (3.1m/s) to claim his semi-final, while Marquies Page of St. Jago triumphed in his heat with 10.55 seconds against more favorable conditions.

    The Class 3 category witnessed Wolmer’s Boys’ School establishing themselves as strong contenders for a potential gold-silver finish. Ajani Lumley (10.85 seconds) and Joshua McWilliams (11.00 seconds) both won their respective semi-finals in commanding fashion against negative wind conditions, suggesting they could dominate Thursday’s final proceedings.

    The championship continues to serve as Jamaica’s premier platform for emerging athletic talent, with these semi-final performances indicating that multiple records could fall during Thursday’s highly anticipated finals.

  • OFF AND RUNNING!

    OFF AND RUNNING!

    The National Stadium echoed with the thunder of sprinting prodigies during the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships qualifying rounds, setting the stage for an electrifying semi-final showdown. Holland High’s Shanoya Douglas, the current world U20 leader with a sensational 11.06-second personal best from the Carifta Trials, demonstrated tactical mastery by effortlessly winning her first-round heat in 11.85 seconds, deliberately decelerating before the finish line.

    Hydel High’s Shemonique Hazle emerged as the fastest qualifier with a wind-assisted 11.44-second sprint, narrowly outperforming Wolmer’s Girls’ Tiana Marshall (11.66). The competition revealed extraordinary depth across classifications, with Penwood High’s Shakeya Reid (11.67) and Edwin Allen’s Renecia Edwards (11.79) advancing convincingly.

    In Class 2 qualifying, Western Championships double champion Giana Murray of Mount Alvernia High clocked 11.69 seconds to lead the field, while Azaria Harris of Convent of Mercy Academy dominated Class 4 preliminaries with 11.67 seconds.

    The middle-distance events witnessed Holmwood Technical’s overwhelming dominance in 400m preliminaries. Annastacia Hall (54.56) and Malya McLennon (56.02) spearheaded their respective classifications, with Hall’s teammate Maddison Campbell (54.88) and Foga Road High’s Shameika McLean (54.78) also progressing.

    Defending 1500m champion Kevongaye Fowler of Edwin Allen High cruised through qualification in 5:07.92, positioning herself for title retention. However, teammates suffered a stunning setback when defending Class 3 champion Aneka Lowe failed to advance despite a 5:12.11 effort, finishing outside qualification spots. Alpha’s Danoya Scott topped these qualifiers with a blistering 4:55.55 heat victory, signaling intense competition for the upcoming finals.

  • US jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial

    US jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial

    In a groundbreaking legal decision with far-reaching implications for the technology sector, a California jury has delivered a decisive verdict against Meta and YouTube, holding both platforms accountable for their role in harming a young woman through addictive design features. The ruling, issued Wednesday in Los Angeles, orders the tech giants to pay $3 million in compensatory damages while opening the door to potentially massive punitive awards in the future.

    The jury unanimously found both companies negligent in their platform design and operation, determining that their business practices substantially contributed to the plaintiff’s psychological harm. Crucially, jurors concluded that Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) and YouTube knew or should have known their services posed significant dangers to minors, yet failed to provide adequate warnings about these risks.

    Legal experts immediately recognized the verdict’s significance for the more than one thousand similar cases pending against social media companies. The decision establishes critical precedent demonstrating that juries are prepared to hold technology firms responsible for the mental health consequences of their design choices.

    Meta received 70% responsibility ($2.1 million) while YouTube was assigned 30% ($900,000) of the compensatory award. Perhaps more significantly, jurors found both companies acted with ‘malice, oppression or fraud’ – a determination that paves the way for separate punitive damage proceedings that could substantially increase financial penalties.

    The case centered on plaintiff Kaley (identified in court documents as K.G.M.), who began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, circumventing parental controls her mother had implemented. She testified that near-constant social media usage destroyed her self-worth, causing her to abandon hobbies, struggle with friendships, and constantly compare herself to others.

    Plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier successfully argued that features including infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, notifications, and like counters were deliberately engineered to foster compulsive usage among young users. The defense arguments – that Kaley’s mental health struggles stemmed from family dynamics rather than platform design – were unanimously rejected by jurors across all seven questions on the verdict forms.

    The California decision follows closely on another significant ruling against Meta in New Mexico, where a jury on Tuesday found the company liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators. That case resulted in a $375 million award, though Meta has announced plans to appeal both verdicts.

    Industry analysts note that while the financial penalties represent minimal impact for corporations of this scale, the potential requirement to fundamentally redesign their platforms poses an existential threat to their business models. Two additional bellwether trials are scheduled for the same Los Angeles courthouse, with outcomes likely to determine whether social media companies continue fighting litigation or pursue broader settlements involving platform redesigns.

  • UN General Assembly vote to recognise transatlantic African slave trade as ‘the gravest crime against humanity’

    UN General Assembly vote to recognise transatlantic African slave trade as ‘the gravest crime against humanity’

    In a historic move with profound implications for global justice, the United Nations General Assembly has formally designated the transatlantic African slave trade as the most severe crime against humanity in recorded history. The resolution, adopted on Wednesday at UN headquarters, received overwhelming support with 123 nations voting in favor, while only three countries—the United States, Israel, and Argentina—opposed the measure. Fifty-two member states, including Britain and several European Union nations, chose to abstain from the vote.

    The resolution represents more than symbolic recognition, explicitly calling upon nations historically involved in the slave trade to engage in comprehensive restorative justice measures. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres characterized the transatlantic slave trade as a fundamental assault on human dignity that systematically destroyed families and communities while generating a pseudoscientific racist ideology to justify its atrocities.

    The presence of Ghanaian President John Mahama, a prominent advocate for slavery reparations within the African Union, underscored the resolution’s significance. President Mahama described the adoption as both a safeguard against historical amnesia and a critical step toward healing and reparative justice for centuries of systematic oppression.

    The resolution further highlighted the enduring legacy of slavery through contemporary manifestations of racial discrimination and neo-colonial structures that continue to affect societies worldwide. This declaration establishes an important framework for future discussions regarding accountability, reconciliation, and substantive reparations for one of history’s most devastating chapters in human rights violations.

  • ALCOHOL TAX SQUEEZE

    ALCOHOL TAX SQUEEZE

    Jamaica’s beverage alcohol sector is exhibiting divergent strategies in response to impending tax increases scheduled for implementation on May 1st. The government’s decision to raise the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on alcoholic beverages represents a broader revenue-generation initiative, but industry players are adopting contrasting approaches to managing the financial impact.

    Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited (CPJ), a major distributor serving hospitality venues, has committed to limiting price increases to approximately 4% despite the tax burden. Chairman Richard Pandohie confirmed the company would absorb additional costs rather than fully passing them to business partners.

    Conversely, the Spirits Pool Association (SPA), representing major distilleries including J Wray and Nephew and National Rums of Jamaica, indicates responses will vary significantly across producers. Chairman Clement ‘Jimmy’ Lawrence noted that companies will determine pricing strategies based on individual product portfolios and competitive positioning.

    The tax increase presents complex operational challenges beyond consumer pricing. Industry leaders warn of potential reductions in facility investments, staffing adjustments, and cuts to community sponsorship programs that have long supported Jamaica’s cultural events. The entertainment sector, still recovering from pandemic-related disruptions, faces particular vulnerability as alcohol companies reconsider their sponsorship commitments.

    A significant concern emerging across the industry involves the potential growth of illicit alcohol trade. The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce estimates counterfeit spirits already cost the economy between $1-2 billion annually. Industry representatives argue that widened price gaps between regulated and untaxed products could drive more operators toward informal markets, ultimately reducing government revenue despite the tax increase.

    The tax changes may also reverberate through agricultural supply chains, particularly affecting sugarcane farmers and molasses production essential to rum manufacturing. This comes after a decade of industry expansion supported by relatively stable taxation policies that enabled facility upgrades and global market growth.

    With alcohol constituting approximately 20% of hospitality revenue and 70% of major brand sales flowing through this channel, pricing decisions carry substantial economic implications across multiple sectors of Jamaican business.

  • Bishop Emeritus of Montego Bay, Burchell McPherson, has died

    Bishop Emeritus of Montego Bay, Burchell McPherson, has died

    The Jamaican religious community is in mourning following the passing of Bishop Emeritus of Montego Bay Reverend Burchell McPherson, who died on Wednesday. The announcement was formally made by Archbishop of Kingston Kenneth Richards through an official statement.

    Archbishop Richards expressed profound gratitude for Bishop McPherson’s lifelong dedication to the Church, acknowledging his decades of faithful ministry and unwavering commitment to his spiritual calling. The Archbishop extended heartfelt condolences to the Diocese of Montego Bay, McPherson’s family members, close friends, and the broader ecclesiastical community affected by this loss.

    In his statement, Archbishop Richards specifically requested prayers for the departed bishop’s soul, his grieving loved ones, and all those mourning his passing. The Archbishop indicated that funeral arrangements would be communicated to the public at a later date, allowing the community proper time to prepare appropriate commemorations.

    The late bishop’s passing marks a significant moment for Jamaica’s religious landscape, particularly for the Montego Bay diocese where he served extensively. His death represents the loss of a prominent spiritual leader who had dedicated his life to serving the Catholic community in western Jamaica.

  • Caricom reiterates call for reparatory justice for slave trade

    Caricom reiterates call for reparatory justice for slave trade

    GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Caribbean Community’s Reparations Commission (CRC) has proclaimed a pivotal turning point in the global movement for reparatory justice. In a powerful statement marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the commission emphasized unprecedented momentum building within Global Africa coalitions and international awareness.

    The CRC welcomed the African Union’s landmark declaration of the Decade for Reparations (2026-2035) as a transformative commitment that significantly strengthens worldwide reparations efforts. The commission simultaneously renewed its urgent call for comprehensive restitution programs and compensation mechanisms aimed at repairing centuries of structural damage.

    Historical crimes against humanity—including racialized chattel enslavement, systematic trafficking of Africans, and genocide—were identified as deliberately engineered systems that fueled European economic growth while systematically underdeveloping African and Caribbean nations. The commission underscored how these deeply entrenched exploitation systems continue to shape contemporary global inequalities.

    During Wednesday’s observance, the CRC honored the memory of 15 million African men, women, and children who endured three centuries of brutal enslavement in the Americas. The tribute acknowledged both the unimaginable suffering caused by the Middle Passage and slavery’s brutality, while celebrating countless acts of courage and defiance against European domination systems.

    The commission reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparations, which outlines the region’s comprehensive vision for justice aligned with developmental priorities. This includes intensified dialogue, advocacy campaigns, and public education initiatives recognizing that reparatory justice represents both historical correction and essential humanitarian imperative.

    The CRC concluded that international communities must take decisive action to address slavery’s harmful legacies, asserting that justice for victims of African enslavement ultimately constitutes justice for all humanity.

  • Ready or not?

    Ready or not?

    A significant generational debate is currently unfolding within Jamaica’s vibrant dancehall community, sparked by controversial remarks from veteran music executive Josef Bogdanovich regarding the readiness of emerging artists to headline premier festivals like Reggae Sumfest.

    Bogdanovich, CEO of Downsound Entertainment which organizes the internationally acclaimed festival, recently addressed the evolving dynamics within dancehall music and the qualifications necessary for artists to achieve top billing at major events. While acknowledging the undeniable popularity and viral success of newcomers like Skippa, Bogdanovich emphasized that consistent professional conduct and proven longevity remain essential criteria for headlining status.

    “Artists must earn their way to the top through proper behavior, consideration for others, punctuality, and sustained excellence,” Bogdanovich stated. “The enduring careers of legends like Bounty Killer and Beenie Man demonstrate how superior artistry and environmental awareness create lasting global appeal.”

    Skippa responded directly to these comments, expressing frustration that young artists consistently face credibility challenges despite their achievements. “When we perform well, critics find ways to discredit our success,” he countered. “No artist instantly headlines major stages—it’s a gradual process. We’re working tirelessly to earn our place.”

    The debate has drawn perspectives from across the music industry. DJ Escobar, a prominent selector, acknowledged that viral popularity should factor into festival programming decisions: “Skippa’s social media dominance and overseas attention make him an asset to any show.” However, he noted Reggae Sumfest’s legendary status requires headliners with established prestige: “This monster show needs legendary acts to match its atmosphere.”

    Isaiah Laing, promoter of rival festival Sting, offered a different perspective, suggesting Skippa represents dancehall’s future stars. “He may not headline immediately but deserves placement among main acts,” Laing asserted. “Strategic marketing and platform opportunities transform talented artists into headline material. Sumfest traditionally doesn’t develop young acts—that’s Sting’s specialty where we intentionally showcase emerging talent.”

    This controversy highlights a fundamental industry crossroads: whether traditional benchmarks should continue determining Jamaica’s premier festival lineups or if digital-era metrics of popularity and engagement warrant greater consideration. As Reggae Sumfest approaches, this tension between honoring dancehall’s legacy and embracing its evolving future remains unresolved, reflecting broader questions about artistic validation in the streaming era.