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  • Audrey Marks reacquires Digicel’s 80 per cent stake in Paymaster parent

    Audrey Marks reacquires Digicel’s 80 per cent stake in Paymaster parent

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark deal reshaping Jamaica’s fintech landscape, Audrey Marks, founder of leading Jamaican payment services provider Paymaster, has bought back Digicel’s 80 percent controlling stake in APM Holdings Limited, the parent company of Paymaster. The transaction hands full ownership control back to the firm’s original founder nearly three decades after Marks first launched the business.

    Specific financial details of the acquisition have not been made public per the terms of the deal.

    Company representatives confirmed the transaction concludes negotiations that first kicked off in 2024, preceding Marks’ appointment to her current dual roles as Jamaica’s Minister of Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, and Member of Parliament for Manchester North Eastern.

    Marks first founded Paymaster back in 1997, building the business from its early days to become a cornerstone of Jamaica’s transaction services ecosystem. Today, the company delivers a wide range of services including bill payment processing and general transaction solutions for individual consumers, private businesses and government agencies across the island, operating via a sprawling network of physical locations spanning every major region of Jamaica.

    In an official statement following the deal’s closure, Marks noted that the acquisition puts the company in a position to leverage its decades-long market presence as it pursues new expansion opportunities in the fast-evolving, technology-first global payments industry. “This transaction allows the company to build on its strong foundation while positioning for future growth opportunities in an increasingly technology-driven environment,” Marks said.

    To accommodate Marks’ ongoing public sector responsibilities, Paymaster announced it will onboard dedicated strategic management support to oversee company operations. This new governance framework is designed to deliver robust operational oversight, strengthen corporate governance standards, and guide the company’s upcoming modernization initiative.

    The firm has moved to reassure stakeholders that day-to-day business operations will continue without any disruption throughout the ownership transition. Customers, billing partners, agent networks and other third-party partners can expect no changes to existing service offerings in the coming months.

    Paymaster also issued a public note of gratitude to Digicel for its years of collaboration and partnership during its time as majority shareholder. As of the latest announcement, the company has not released further details regarding planned capital investments, updated long-term management structure, or a concrete timeline for the proposed modernization process.

  • WATCH: Bike crash ends in flames on North South Highway

    WATCH: Bike crash ends in flames on North South Highway

    A dramatic early incident unfolded on Jamaica’s North South Highway Sunday, when a collision left one motorcyclist hospitalized and his vehicle engulfed in flames. The crash occurred just steps from the Moneague toll exit, in the vicinity of St Catherine, as the victim rode alongside a larger group of fellow motorcyclists.

    According to initial on-scene reports, the motorcyclist lost control of his vehicle and collided forcefully with a roadside traffic sign, knocking the structure completely off its foundation. Moments after the impact, the motorcycle caught fire, sending flames billowing across the shoulder of the highway.

    Local law enforcement officers who were present or arrived quickly at the scene stepped in to aid the injured rider, transporting him directly to nearby Linstead Hospital for urgent medical care. As of the first public updates following the incident, medical authorities have not released any detailed information about the motorcyclist’s current condition or the extent of his injuries. Raw footage captured at the crash site shortly after the collision has been made available for public viewing.

  • Ripton opens US$15.5 million Rogers Commercial Centre on Lady Musgrave Road

    Ripton opens US$15.5 million Rogers Commercial Centre on Lady Musgrave Road

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A landmark new mixed-use business hub has officially launched in the heart of Jamaica’s capital, representing one of the largest injections of private capital into Kingston’s commercial landscape in recent memory. Ripton International Capital Holdings Limited has opened the doors to the Rogers Commercial Centre, a $15.5 million development located at 56–58 Lady Musgrave Road, drawing a high-profile gathering of top government officials, business leaders, and civic stakeholders to mark the occasion.

    Among the attendees in attendance for the opening ceremony were Aubyn Hill, Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce; Delano Seivright, State Minister in the same ministry; Andrew Swaby, Mayor of Kingston; Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake; and prominent local businessman Norman Horne, Founder and Executive Chairman of ARC Manufacturing Limited. Popular media figure Khadine “Miss Kitty” Wilkinson led the event as master of ceremonies.

    The finished project is the brainchild and property of Jamaican entrepreneur Fritzwarien “Ripton” Rogers, who developed the centre over approximately two years. Local financial institution JMMB provided the project financing, while ARC Manufacturing Limited supplied all core building materials for the construction phase.

    Speaking on behalf of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, Mayor Andrew Swaby opened his remarks by extending congratulations to the entire project team, framing the new development as clear proof that Kingston continues to draw strong interest from domestic and international investors. “Today marks more than the unveiling of a new building,” Swaby told the gathered crowd. “It represents vision, determination, confidence and a firm belief in the future of our city.”

    The Mayor highlighted the project’s far-reaching economic benefits beyond its physical footprint: during the two-year construction period, the development created work for more than 600 local workers, and it will sustain ongoing new employment through its diverse roster of tenants, which span retail, food and beverage, healthcare, wellness, automotive services, and professional consulting. Swaby added that the modern development is a standout addition to the bustling Lady Musgrave Road commercial corridor, and emphasized that “Kingston is open for business.”

    Minister Hill also praised the project, positioning it as a powerful example of what Jamaican entrepreneurs can deliver when given access to the right support. He used the platform to issue a call to other local contractors, urging them to scale up their operations to be able to compete for larger national infrastructure and development projects. Hill noted that billions in new financing is currently flowing into Jamaica from multilateral development partners including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and a significant portion of these funds must be allocated to private sector organizations. For smaller contractors that lack the capacity to take on large projects on their own, Hill encouraged collaborative partnerships to help them meet qualification requirements. “Ripton, you can be in the game, and other contractors like Ripton can be in the game,” he emphasized.

    Norman Horne, whose ARC Manufacturing supplied building materials for the project and who has counted Rogers as a close personal friend for decades, told the audience that the centre’s significance reaches far beyond its 300,000 total square feet of space. “Rogers Commercial Centre is a statement,” Horne said. “A statement that Jamaican business can create world-class development. A statement of confidence in Jamaica.”

    Like both Rogers and Hill, Horne hails from Jamaica’s parish of St Elizabeth, and he noted that the successful partnership behind the project was built on decades of mutual trust, respect, and integrity. “Jamaica needs more people like Ripton who are willing to dream big, invest big and build big,” Horne added.

    For developer Ripton Rogers, the official opening marked the fulfillment of a personal and professional dream that he first conceived two and a half years ago. Born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, Rogers explained that he chose to return to his home country to invest and contribute to local economic growth. “I wanted to show the little boy from St Elizabeth that you could come this far and achieve anything,” he shared. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from, it doesn’t matter what your background is. If you put your mind to it and work hard, you can achieve anything.”

    Rogers explained that naming the development after his family was a deliberate choice, intended to honor the long commercial history of the Lady Musgrave Road corridor, a connection that both he and Minister Hill highlighted during the ceremony. He extended heartfelt gratitude to all of his partners, financial advisors, financers, and family members who supported the project through its entire development cycle, saving special recognition for his father for his ongoing encouragement.

    Spread across 56 individual commercial units, the Rogers Commercial Centre offers 100,000 square feet of leasable space and a total of 300,000 square feet including basement parking and supporting infrastructure. Remarkably, the development hit 99% occupancy even before its official opening, and once all tenants are fully operational, it is projected to support approximately 400 permanent full-time jobs. Rogers shared his vision for the hub to grow into one of Kingston’s top destinations for entertainment, wellness, and modern lifestyle offerings, saying “I want it to be the hip strip for Kingston.”

    Looking ahead, Rogers has an aggressive pipeline of new development projects planned across Jamaica: he is set to expand into the hospitality sector with new projects in the popular resort town of Ocho Rios, and roughly half a dozen additional new developments are on track to be completed over the next two years.

  • Six killed as helicopters collide in Rio de Janeiro

    Six killed as helicopters collide in Rio de Janeiro

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A devastating mid-air collision between two helicopters left at least six people dead Sunday in Rio de Janeiro’s western suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, local fire department officials confirmed. Both aircraft plummeted into the open-air parking lot of a local electric vehicle dealership after the crash, triggering an intense blaze that consumed at least 20 parked cars.

    Early official statements from Rio’s fire department confirm all six fatalities were crew members on board the two collided helicopters. Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere also confirmed that one of the aircraft carried foreign nationals, though he declined to release additional details including nationalities or identities of those on board as of Sunday afternoon.

    Speaking to reporters on the scene, fire service spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Contreiras noted that investigators still lack a clear timeline of how the accident unfolded. “Aircraft debris is scattered across hundreds of meters of the surrounding area, so all details we have at this moment remain preliminary,” Contreiras explained. “To piece together an accurate account of what led to the collision, we need to recover on-board flight recordings and review witness footage captured at the scene.”

    Search and recovery teams documented one helicopter, carrying five crew members, that came to rest among the dealership’s electric vehicles and was immediately engulfed in flames; all five people on board were pronounced dead at the scene. The second helicopter, which crashed roughly 100 meters from the dealership lot, carried only a pilot, who also did not survive the impact.

    Local media published images from the crash site within hours, showing a thick column of black smoke billowing hundreds of meters above the dealership, as multiple vehicles burned continuously through the initial response effort.

    In a surprising silver lining, Contreiras emphasized that the crash location, an open parking lot away from crowded residential areas, prevented a far deadlier outcome. “Given the density of surrounding homes in this part of the suburb, the accident could have resulted in far greater loss of life on the ground,” he said.

    First responders faced unique challenges tackling the blaze, Contreiras added, due to the large number of electric vehicles that caught fire. Lithium-ion batteries that power most electric vehicles create unusual hazards for fire crews: when ignited, they release toxic fumes, drive up blaze temperatures far faster than traditional fuel fires, and require vastly more water to fully extinguish. “Putting out a single electric vehicle battery fire requires three to four times the water needed for a conventional gasoline car fire,” Contreiras noted.

    This collision marks the latest in a string of aviation accidents in Brazil, a continental-sized nation that ranks as the world’s fifth largest by geographic area, where small aircraft are a common mode of transit across vast distances. Just one month prior, a small fixed-wing plane crashed into a residential building in the southeastern Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, killing both the pilot and co-pilot on board.

    Preliminary data from Brazil’s Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) shows that 84 aviation accidents have been recorded across the country in 2026 prior to Sunday’s collision, with 25 total fatalities recorded in those incidents.

  • Blue Vinyl snatches Liu Chie Poo Trophy on the line from Supremasi

    Blue Vinyl snatches Liu Chie Poo Trophy on the line from Supremasi

    On a thrilling Saturday of thoroughbred racing at Caymanas Park, jockey Raddesh Roman delivered one of the weekend’s most memorable displays of tactical racing, steering Blue Vinyl to a dramatic last-gasp win in the $1.25-million Liu Chie Poo Trophy that denied a late charge from runner-up Supremasi.

    Trained by veteran horseman Gary Subratie, Blue Vinyl adopted a patient, come-from-behind strategy from the opening bell. While Evertte Clunis’ mount Sheer Delight set a steady early pace up front, with Supremasi — ridden by Tajay Suckoo — hot on the leader’s heels, Blue Vinyl sat comfortably off the pace down the backstretch, conserving energy for the final stretch push. Roman expertly navigated the half-mile turn, hugging the inner rail to save valuable ground before threading Blue Vinyl through a narrow gap along the fence deep in the final stretch.

    With just 50 meters left in the 1-mile (1,600-meter) Overnight Allowance contest, Supremasi looked poised to cross the finish line first. But Blue Vinyl’s late burst, paired with Roman’s perfectly timed ride, changed the outcome in the final strides. The five-year-old runner pulled ahead by a head at the line, stopping the clock at a final time of 1:37.3, with split times of 23.4 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.1 for the half, 1:11.2 for six furlongs, and 1:24.2 for seven furlongs. Intrestntimesahead rounded out the top three finishers.

    The Liu Chie Poo Trophy win marked Roman’s second victory of the race day. Earlier in the card, he secured the $820,000 Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup, a 9-furlong (1,800-meter) contest, aboard Diesel Train, a trainee of conditioner Peter-John Parsard.

    The standout performance of the day, however, belonged to four-time defending champion trainer Jason DaCosta, who once again proved his dominance on the Jamaican racing circuit by notching four wins across the 10-race program. DaCosta’s winning streak on the day began with Novio, ridden by Tevin Foster, in the second contest. He followed that up with back-to-back wins: Formalist, with Robert Halledeen in the irons, took the sixth race, and Chocomo — also ridden by Halledeen — crossed first in the seventh. DaCosta closed out the day with a win in the 10th and final race, with Maverick and jockey Aaron Chatrie securing the victory.

    Live thoroughbred racing will return to Caymanas Park next Saturday for another card of competitive racing.

  • Real Madrid to sign Chelsea’s Cucurella—reports

    Real Madrid to sign Chelsea’s Cucurella—reports

    MADRID, Spain – Leading European football club Real Madrid has reached a transfer agreement with England’s Chelsea to acquire Spanish full-back Marc Cucurella in a deal valued at €55 million (equivalent to roughly $63 million), multiple football industry sources confirm. The transfer is slated to be finalized following the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup.

  • Windies Women start T20 World Cup with win over Kiwis

    Windies Women start T20 World Cup with win over Kiwis

    At the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hosted at Southampton’s Rose Bowl, a stunning upset unfolded on Saturday, as 33-year-old Shemaine Campbelle delivered a career-defining knock to lift the West Indies Women to a dramatic seven-wicket victory over defending world champions New Zealand. What makes this result all the more remarkable for the Caribbean side is that they pulled off the win without two of their star players: all-rounder Stafanie Taylor and the injured Chinelle Henry.

    After winning the pre-match coin toss, the West Indies opted to take the field first, and they delivered a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the Kiwis to a 6-wicket total of 162. The New Zealand openers got off to a flying start, putting 49 runs on the board inside the first six overs to put the Caribbean side under immediate pressure, but medium pacer Aaliyah Alleyne turned the tide with a devastating spell of bowling. She broke the opening stand to claim her first wicket, then snared two more in the eighth over, leaving New Zealand reeling at 56 for three.

    A steady 45-run stand between Sophie Devine and Brook Halliday stabilized the Kiwi innings, before West Indies captain Hayley Matthews removed Devine for 22. It was late contributions from Halliday, who top-scored with 40 runs off 32 deliveries, and an unbeaten 35 off 22 balls from Maddy Green that pushed New Zealand to their final competitive total. Alleyne finished the New Zealand innings with an impressive career haul of four wickets for just 27 runs, which was ultimately overshadowed by Campbelle’s iconic batting performance.

    Chasing 163 runs for victory, the West Indies got off to a shaky start. A mid-wicket mix-up between Qiana Joseph and captain Matthews led to a run out in the second over, with the West Indies already at 12 runs. In the very next over, Matthews should have been dismissed for just nine runs, but Izzy Sharp put down a straightforward catch at deep backward square. That drop would prove costly for New Zealand, who had a day to forget in the field: the side dropped at least six catching chances, while wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze missed two stumping opportunities, including one that reprieved Campbelle when she had scored just 18.

    Batting at number three, Campbelle also survived an early leg before wicket appeal via a successful review, and was dropped again when she reached 26. Instead of crumbling under pressure, the experienced campaigner made the defending champions pay for every missed chance. Through the powerplay, Campbelle and Matthews carried the score to 35 for one, well below the required run rate of 8.15 runs per over at the start of the chase. Matthews continued to ride her luck, surviving another dropped catch on 21 and again on 42, before she finally departed for a well-compiled 48 off 37 balls, caught at long on off Jess Kerr’s bowling. By that point, the pair had put on a vital 74-run second wicket partnership that kept the West Indies in the hunt.

    Campbelle kept pressing forward, bringing up her maiden T20I half-century in her 155th T20I appearance in the 14th over, after hitting Amelia Kerr for two consecutive sixes. She then dominated a 40-run stand with Deandra Dottin, who contributed six runs before Jess Kerr took a sensational catch to dismiss Dottin, leaving the West Indies 126 for three after 16 overs. With 37 runs still required from 24 deliveries and World Cup debutant Jahzara Claxton at the crease alongside her, Campbelle accelerated sharply, smashing a four off Devine and a powerful six off Amelia Kerr, while carefully picking up critical singles and doubles to keep the score ticking.

    With 14 runs needed from the final 12 balls, Campbelle and Claxton picked up 10 runs from the penultimate bowled by pace bowler Rosemary Mair, setting up a tense final over. Off the first delivery of the last over, Campbelle sliced a shot to backward point for two runs, added a single from the next, then scrambled home via a leg bye off the fifth ball of the over, securing victory with one full delivery remaining. This victory marks the second-highest successful run chase in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, cementing Campbelle’s knock as one of the most iconic performances in the tournament’s history.

  • ‘WATCH: You’re delusional’, Jess tells Chuck over no human rights abuse claim

    ‘WATCH: You’re delusional’, Jess tells Chuck over no human rights abuse claim

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A sharp political clash has erupted over the state of human rights in Jamaica, after Justice Minister Delroy Chuck’s controversial denial of a national human rights issue prompted scathing criticism from opposition justice spokesperson Zuleika Jess, who labeled the minister’s remarks “delusional” in light of a recent spate of deadly police violence.

    Chuck first made the striking declaration during his scheduled address to the Sectoral Debate in Jamaica’s House of Representatives last Wednesday. In his comments, the minister asserted that Jamaica “does not, and I hope will never have, a human rights problem.” He defended his position by noting the existence of the Office of the Public Defender, a body empowered to investigate and prosecute violations of human rights, arguing that any aggrieved citizen could seek redress through the institution.

    The opposition pushed back just one day later, when Jess spoke at a groundbreaking event for a major water infrastructure project in St Elizabeth. The $148 million Santa Cruz By-pass Mains Replacement initiative marks the latest phase of the larger Santa Cruz Water Supply Improvement Programme, a public works effort aimed at upgrading access to reliable water for local communities. It was at this public gathering that Jess delivered her forceful response to Chuck’s remarks.

    Jess, who also serves as Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth North Eastern, argued that Chuck’s claim was indefensible in the wake of a devastating recent incident: 11 fatal police shootings carried out across the country in a single 24-hour period. “For a country that is experiencing 11 brutal police fatalities in 24 hours and to have a Minister of Justice state that there is no human rights issue, we find that to be almost delusional on the part of the Minister of Justice,” Jess stated.

    She expanded on her criticism, framing Chuck’s comments as more than just a misstatement. Jess argued that the declaration amounts to an alarming disconnect from on-the-ground realities, and an insult to thousands of Jamaican families who have demanded justice for loved ones killed under suspicious circumstances. “It is a dismissal of the lived realities that so many people here in Jamaica continue to face,” she added.

    The opposition spokesperson closed by calling on Chuck to reverse his position: she urged the minister to reconsider his remarks, retract the controversial statement, and realign his public views with the actual conditions facing Jamaican citizens. “The reality is that the people of Jamaica need justice and we need a government that doesn’t turn a blind eye to the realities on the ground,” Jess emphasized.

  • #WrayForTheWin

    #WrayForTheWin

    As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Jamaica’s most iconic spirit brand J Wray & Nephew has unveiled a groundbreaking new cross-cultural campaign titled “Jamaica Wins The World”, created in partnership with Brooklyn-based CHÉ Creative. Centered on the far-reaching global influence of the Jamaican diaspora, the initiative highlights how the island nation’s creative energy has shaped global culture beyond its borders – including the world of football.

    From reggae rhythms that dominate global airwaves to bold aesthetic choices that redefine international fashion, the imprint of Jamaican culture travels far and wide, uniting communities and inspiring sports fans across the globe even when Jamaica’s national team is not competing on the pitch. The campaign is intentionally crafted for Jamaicans living in the diaspora and anyone connected to Jamaican culture worldwide, inviting supporters of all national teams to celebrate the island’s enduring legacy and proudly showcase their connection to Jamaica throughout the 2026 tournament.

    To mark the campaign launch, the 200-year-old Jamaican spirits brand has released an exclusive, small-batch limited-edition capsule collection that sits at the intersection of fashion, cultural identity, and national pride. Produced in a limited run of only 30 two-piece sets, the collection draws direct inspiration from Jamaica’s iconic flag, merging local artistry with high-end design to give fans a stylish way to celebrate their Jamaican roots at matches, watch parties, and public events.

    The first piece in the collection is a collaboration with Rachel Scott, founder and creative director of luxury fashion brand Diotima, 2024 CFDA Fashion Awards Vision Award recipient, and 2024 American Womenswear Designer of the Year. Crafted from 100% silk, the oversized flag can be styled as a headscarf, statement top, or bold accessory. Scott incorporated Jamaica’s signature black, gold, and green color palette alongside a double-sided silhouette of the Jamaican Poinsettia – commonly known as the “Pride of Jamaica” – to create a wearable tribute to Jamaican heritage and identity.

    For Scott, the collaboration aligns deeply with Diotima’s core brand mission of creating high-quality craft rooted in meaningful cultural context. “Applying the house’s signature broderie anglaise embroidery to something rooted in Jamaican identity felt deeply personal,” she explained. “As a Jamaican, it means something to contribute to how we show up globally – on our own terms and in our own aesthetic language. I wanted to work with a motif that nods to the vegetation of the island, it cuts away at the fabric with embroidery, and we used the colour of the [Jamaican] flags, and the colours of Wray & Nephew.”

    The second piece in the capsule is a collaboration with Jamaican painter Cleark “Nurse” James of Nurse Signs. James brought his iconic hand-painted lettering style to the design, rendering the campaign’s slogan “Jamaica Wins The World” in vibrant national colors for a bold, recognizable tribute to Jamaican creativity.

    To lead the campaign rollout, Wray & Nephew assembled a collective of prominent Jamaican artists who have successfully carried the island’s culture to global audiences. Grammy-nominated Jamaican singer-songwriter Shenseea anchors the brand’s Influencer Collective, bringing her signature edgy energy to amplify the limited-edition wearable collection and host a high-profile World Cup watch party for fans.

    Designed to be both waved as a symbol of pride and worn as a fashion statement, the two-piece capsule collection aims to resonate deeply with football fans across the globe during the 2026 tournament. Fans are encouraged to join the global conversation by sharing their content with the hashtag #jamaicawinstheworld, and follow the campaign on Instagram via @wrayandnephewus, @wrayandnephewcanada, and @wrayrum.

  • Trump insists Iran deal ‘hours’ away, despite Israeli strike on Beirut

    Trump insists Iran deal ‘hours’ away, despite Israeli strike on Beirut

    On a Sunday that marked his 80th birthday, former U.S. President Donald Trump once again asserted that a historic agreement to end the ongoing Middle East conflict was mere hours from being finalized — but he lashed out angrily at Israel, blaming an unexpected airstrike on a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut for throwing the diplomatic process off schedule. The attack has already drawn stark warnings of immediate retaliation from Iran, leaving a fragile push for peace hanging in the balance.