标签： Jamaica

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Johnson Smith to welcome India’s foreign minister to Kingston

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A landmark chapter in Jamaica-India diplomatic relations is set to open this weekend, as Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, prepares to welcome India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, for the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to the Caribbean nation.

Dr. Jaishankar is slated to touch down at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport this Saturday, kicking off a three-day itinerary focused on deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple priority sectors. Ahead of the visit, Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade released an official statement noting that the high-level trip will give both top diplomats a chance to review the current state of bilateral ties and move forward with talks to activate existing Memoranda of Understanding covering three key areas: public health, energy solarisation, and public broadcasting.

Beyond operationalizing these existing agreements, the two sides are also set to explore new and expanded collaboration in high-impact areas including agriculture, digital technology and innovation, tourism, and align on regional and multilateral issues that are of shared interest to both nations.

“This visit builds on the strong foundation between Jamaica and the Republic of India, rooted in history, shared values and a common vision for inclusive and sustainable development. I look forward to welcoming Minister Jaishankar to Kingston as we continue to strengthen the longstanding ties between our countries,” Johnson Smith said in a statement. “It presents an excellent opportunity to translate the strong political will demonstrated by our leaders into tangible outcomes that benefit our peoples.”

Johnson Smith also highlighted that the visit will serve as a key moment for Jamaica’s government and people to formally renew their sincere gratitude to India for the generous relief supplies New Delhi donated in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, and to reaffirm both countries’ shared commitment to advancing long-term economic resilience across the Global South.

Official bilateral talks between Dr. Jaishankar, Johnson Smith, and a select group of Jamaican cabinet ministers are scheduled for Monday, May 4. Following the plenary discussions, the Indian External Affairs Minister will pay a courtesy call on Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness at Jamaica House, and hold engagements with private sector leaders and other senior Jamaican government officials.

The bilateral relationship between Jamaica and India stretches back more than six decades: the two countries formally established diplomatic relations on August 12, 1962, just months after Jamaica gained its independence. The partnership has gained significant momentum in recent years, starting with Jamaica’s launch of its first resident diplomatic mission in India in September 2020. Earlier this year, the Jamaican High Commission in New Delhi was formally opened during Prime Minister Holness’ official trip to India, which marked the first official visit by a sitting Jamaican head of government to the South Asian nation.

1 5 月, 2026
World Relays: Jamaica advance to mixed 4x400m final

On Saturday at the Debswana World Athletics Relays hosted in Gaborone, Botswana, Jamaica’s mixed 4x400m relay team delivered a standout performance to punch their ticket to the event’s final, crossing the finish line first in their semi-final heat with a time of 3 minutes 11.68 seconds.

The quartet made up of sprinter Deandre Watkin, sprinter-hurdler Shana Kaye Anderson, rising sprint star Antonio Watson and 400m hurdler Rushell Clayton outpaced competing squads to claim the top spot in the second semi-final heat. Poland followed behind in second place with a time of 3:13.00, while Nigeria rounded out the top three with a 3:13.12 clocking.

Beyond securing a place in the upcoming World Athletics Relays final, the result also guarantees Jamaica’s spot in two upcoming elite global track and field competitions: the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary this coming September, and the 2027 World Athletics Championships set to be hosted in Beijing, China.

Jamaica’s semi-final run posted the ninth-fastest time across all three qualifying heats. However, under the event’s qualification rules, the first two finishing teams from each of the three heats earn an automatic spot in the final. With their first-place finish in the heat, Jamaica advanced to the next round without facing any elimination uncertainty.

1 5 月, 2026
Poet Marcia Jackson thrilled to be hosting IRAWMA

When the curtains rise on the 43rd International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA) at Florida’s Lauderhill Performing Arts Center on May 17, Jamaican-born poet Marcia Jackson will step into two high-profile roles at once: competing for an unprecedented third consecutive victory and leading the star-studded annual ceremony as host.

Jackson, who now makes her home in Florida, will face off against four other contenders — Amaziyah The Great, Majorie Walters (known professionally as Maj Da Poet), Richie Innocent, and Wise Wurdz — for the prestigious Mutabaruka Award for Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer. While landing a third straight win would be a career-defining milestone, Jackson says the opportunity to helm the entire event has left her equally overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement.

Speaking to Observer Online, Jackson described the dual honor as “surreal and humbling.” “As a poet, my core mission has always been to hold a mirror up to our shared culture and history,” she explained. “Hosting this year’s IRAWMA feels like a long-awaited coming together: poetry and reggae music, sharing the same stage and speaking the same cultural language. Winning this award twice already has proven that our spoken word art form earns the respect it deserves here. Now, as host, I get to shine a spotlight on every genre that carries our stories — from raw dub poetry to upbeat dancehall.”

Jackson’s path to the IRAWMA stage has been shaped by a multifaceted career rooted in Caribbean creative tradition. Born and raised in Portland, Jamaica, she got her start in the entertainment industry as a dancehall deejay performing under the stage name Copper Girl. Inspired by iconic Caribbean literary and cultural figures including poet Claude McKay and folklorist Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett Coverley, she began penning her own poetry as a teenager. Beyond her work as a performance artist, Jackson maintains a diverse professional profile: she is a registered nurse, a stage actress with credits including the production *The Real Wife*, and the organizer of the popular annual Easter Comedy Show in Jupiter, Florida.

That varied background, Jackson says, has given her a unique set of skills perfectly tailored to hosting the major awards event. “Dub poetry taught me timing, breath control, and how to command an entire room with nothing but words,” she noted. “My work in drama gave me stage presence and taught me how to hold an audience’s attention from start to finish. And organizing community events like the Unity Dance for Florida Nursing Month taught me behind-the-scenes logistics, how to manage a running order, and how to keep energy high for hours on end. All of those experiences come together when you step out to host an event this big.”

Founded by Ephraim Martin, a former photojournalist with Jamaican newspaper *The Gleaner*, the IRAWMA has a 41-year history of celebrating Caribbean and global roots music. First launched as the International Reggae Music Awards in 1982 in Chicago, the awards have honored hundreds of artists, musicians, producers, and industry leaders, with a core focus on Jamaican creative talent. This year’s ceremony features 40 competitive categories decided by public voting, plus five additional Special Honours recognitions for outstanding contributions to the genre.

1 5 月, 2026
World Relays: Strong Jamaican team lead qualifiers for women’s 4x100m

The 2024 Debswana World Athletics Relays, hosted in Gaborone, Botswana, delivered a standout opening performance from Jamaica’s powerhouse women’s 4x100m relay squad on the event’s first qualifying day. The quartet, made up of global sprint star Shericka Jackson, Jodean Williams, Lavanya Williams and Jonielle Smith, blazed through the track to clock an impressive 41.96 seconds, finishing first in their qualifying heat and securing the top overall seed for Sunday’s highly anticipated final.

Finishing behind the dominant Jamaican team, Germany claimed second place in the heat with a solid time of 42.44 seconds, while Portugal rounded out the top three with a historic run. The Portuguese squad set a new national record of 43.11 seconds, marking a career milestone for the team and a standout moment in the qualifying round.

Beyond securing their spot in the weekend’s final, the leading performance from Jamaica punched the country’s ticket to two major upcoming global athletics competitions: the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary this coming September, and the 2025 World Athletics Championships set to be hosted in Beijing. This early qualification solidifies Jamaica’s status as one of the top contenders for gold in both events later this year and next.

Three other participating teams — Belgium, France, and Nigeria — faced disqualification during Saturday’s opening qualifying heats. However, the teams have been granted a second opportunity to qualify, and will compete in an additional qualifying round held Sunday ahead of the main final to earn their place in the championship round.

1 5 月, 2026
World Relays: Jamaica fourth in men’s 4x100m heat, will have to wait to qualify for World Champs

On the opening day of the 2024 World Athletics Relays held in Gaborone, Botswana, Jamaica’s powerhouse men’s 4x100m relay squad suffered an unexpected setback that sent them into a last-chance qualifier for a spot at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. The quartet of Rohan Watson, Odaine McPherson, Adrian Kerr, and Rasheed Foster clocked a 38.08-second finish to land in fourth place in their semi-final heat, missing out on the top-two automatic qualifying slots that secure an early advancement.

1 5 月, 2026
Man dies after being struck by car in Mandeville

MANDEVILLE, JAMAICA – A 55-year-old local man has died after being hit by a passing car on a busy Manchester parish road, in what local law enforcement is calling the latest in a disturbing string of pedestrian fatalities recorded since the start of the year.

The victim has been formally identified as Valentine Gentles, a 55-year-old resident of the area. According to official reports from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the tragic incident unfolded shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday evening, as Gentles was traversing Grove Road in central Mandeville. For reasons still under preliminary review, the pedestrian stepped directly into the travel path of an oncoming Toyota Premio sedan.

The collision left Gentles with critical, life-threatening trauma. Emergency responders rushed the injured man to a nearby local hospital for urgent care, but medical professionals were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

In the wake of this latest death, the Manchester Parish Police branch has issued an urgent public appeal for road safety, highlighting an alarming upward trend in fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians that has held the parish since February. With multiple lives already lost in similar incidents this year, authorities are stressing that both people traveling on foot and motor vehicle operators bear responsibility for reducing preventable deaths on the parish’s roads. Police are urging all road users to remain extra vigilant, obey traffic safety rules, and avoid distracted behavior that can lead to catastrophic collisions.

1 5 月, 2026
Couple killed in south Manchester home invasion

MANCHESTER, JAMAICA – A quiet, early Saturday morning in the rural Farm district of south Manchester was shattered by violence, when four masked, heavily armed gunmen forced their way into a local home and killed a married couple who operated a nearby bar. The victims have been publicly identified by family members as 42-year-old Kaydene Isaacs and 47-year-old Rohan Bernard, who was widely known to locals by his nickname “Rocky”.

According to initial findings from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the incident unfolded shortly after 2:00 a.m. The assailants, armed with one rifle and multiple semi-automatic handguns, first cut through and breached an external security grille to gain entry to the residential property. Upon entering, they immediately confronted a woman who was in another section of the home with her two young children, demanding that she hand over all cash and high-value valuables she had in the house.

After robbing the woman, the gunmen moved toward the back bedroom of the property, where Isaacs and Bernard had been sleeping. Trapped and with no route to escape, the couple quickly barricaded the bedroom door to block the attackers from entering. The gunmen then ordered the confronted woman and her two children to leave the property immediately before turning their full attention to the barricaded bedroom.

Minutes later, neighbors who had woken to the commotion reported hearing multiple loud gunshots ring out from inside the home. When police arrived at the scene minutes after receiving emergency calls, they forced entry into the bedroom and found Isaacs and Bernard with multiple critical gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, with no chance for emergency medical intervention.

For several hours following the shooting, local detectives and crime scene investigators worked to collect ballistic evidence and document the attack, as dozens of shocked onlookers – including heartbroken relatives and friends of the couple – gathered outside the property’s perimeter. Once the forensic processing was complete, the victims’ bodies were transported to the nearby parish morgue for official autopsy examinations to determine exact cause of death.

Kady-Ann Smith, cousin of Kaydene Isaacs, spoke to reporters outside the crime scene, remembering the pair as quiet, hardworking community members who kept to themselves and focused on running their small bar business. “She [Isaacs] was a calm person… She was always working. Bernard would just go to the bar and come straight home after. These were people who just worked hard and lived their lives, they never bothered anyone,” Smith said. As of press time, Jamaica Constabulary Force detectives have not announced any arrests in connection with the double homicide, and are appealing to anyone with information about the attack or the identities of the gunmen to contact local police anonymously.

1 5 月, 2026
World Relays: Jamaica’s 4x400m teams fall short in first qualifying round

The Debswana World Athletics Relays kicked off its opening rounds of 4x400m competition in Gaborone, Botswana on Saturday, and Jamaica’s top men’s and women’s relay units both left themselves with work to do heading into Sunday’s decisive final day of action. Both squads finished fifth in their respective opening heats, missing out on the automatic qualification spots that went to the top two teams in each opening round group.

In the men’s competition, the Jamaican foursome made up of Assinie Wilson, Jevaughn Powell, Jeremy Bembridge and Reheem Hayles struggled to match the pace of leading competitors, crossing the finish line with a time of 3:00.48. The heat was dominated by Australia, who claimed the top automatic spot with a blistering new national record time of 2:57.30. Host nation Botswana secured the second automatic qualification spot with a solid time of 2:57.52, leaving Jamaica well adrift of the qualifying positions.

Before the men’s heat got underway, Jamaica’s women’s team featuring Andrenette Knight, Leah Anderson, Janielle Josephs and Shiann Salmon was also unable to mount a serious challenge for a top-two finish. The squad faded in the later stages of the race to end up in fifth place, posting a final time of 3:27.19. Spain claimed first place in the heat with a winning time of 3:24.44, while Czechia took the second automatic qualifying spot with a time of 3:25.42.

Despite their underwhelming opening round performances, both Jamaican relay squads will get a second chance on Sunday to punch their tickets to two upcoming major global championships. The top finishers at the World Athletics Relays will earn qualification to both the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary this coming September, and the 2027 World Athletics Championships set to be hosted in Beijing.

1 5 月, 2026
YEA calls for expansion in technical assistance to strengthen MSME recovery and economic resilience

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Jamaica continue to grapple with overlapping economic and climate shocks, the head of the country’s Young Entrepreneurs Association (YEA) is pushing for targeted, accelerated expansion of technical support for these businesses, framing the move as the missing critical piece of the government’s broader national economic recovery and expansion agenda.

Cordell Williams, president of the YEA, laid out the organization’s position in a recent public statement, noting that while Jamaica has already established a solid foundational framework to support business recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, the nation must go further to close readiness gaps that leave many MSMEs locked out of existing opportunities.

Right now, businesses across the island are still picking up operations after Hurricane Melissa, all while absorbing spiking operational costs tied to the ongoing global oil crisis and facing growing frequency of climate-related disruptions that threaten stability. Williams explained that the Jamaican government has already done critical work to lay the groundwork for MSME growth, rolling out financing options, post-disaster recovery grants, and targeted opportunity creation programs for small businesses. But technical assistance, she argues, is the necessary layer that turns these foundational investments into tangible, widespread gains.

The YEA publicly recognized the government’s ongoing commitment to MSME recovery and expansion. Current initiatives include post-disaster recovery financing and direct grant support, as well as expanded access to low-interest capital through state-backed institutions like the Development Bank of Jamaica and the EXIM Bank of Jamaica. Williams described these existing programs as both impactful and essential, saying they clearly demonstrate the government’s dedication to helping MSMEs move from recovery to long-term growth.

Even with these achievements, however, Williams highlighted a persistent gap: while access to opportunities such as financing, public procurement contracts, and international export markets is expanding, a large share of MSMEs still lack the capacity to fully participate in these spaces.

“Too often, we set a table of opportunity for small businesses, but too many are unable to take a seat and benefit,” Williams explained. “This is not a failure of willingness from business owners—it is a failure of readiness, rooted in unaddressed gaps in capacity and support.”

Common barriers that MSMEs face, she noted, include the prohibitive cost of developing formal business plans, compiling required financial documentation, and preparing audited financial statements—all requirements to access existing government support and financing options. Many small business operators simply do not have the upfront capital to cover these costs, leaving them locked out even when support is officially available.

Williams stressed that technical assistance should not be viewed as an optional add-on to government policy. Instead, it should be framed as a core strategic enabler, as well as a critical tool for both risk management and change management in today’s unstable economic and climate environment.

“Technical assistance is far more than a peripheral support mechanism—it is the backbone that makes all other MSME policies work,” she said.

Looking back at past outcomes, Williams noted that targeted technical assistance has repeatedly delivered measurable results: it has boosted MSME readiness to access loans and financing, encouraged small business formalization by helping owners complete registration requirements to participate in public programs, and even supported the growth of Jamaica’s local business services sector.

Against the backdrop of repeated global economic shocks and growing climate disruptions, Williams argued that the role of technical assistance is even more critical today than in years past.

Most MSMEs operate with very limited internal capacity and stretched teams, she explained. Owners do not have the spare time or in-house expertise to tackle the work of upgrading operations, meeting compliance requirements, or restructuring for resilience on their own. Technical assistance fills this gap by giving small businesses access to external specialized expertise, allowing them to outsource critical functions, meet program requirements, and keep moving forward with growth.

Building on hard lessons learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams emphasized that intentional investment in MSME resilience is now a national priority. As part of broader national goals for economic resilience and long-term sustainability, MSMEs need support to crisis-proof their operations. This includes help to re-evaluate outdated business models, diversify revenue streams and target new markets, adopt digital tools to streamline processes, and strengthen overall financial management practices—all changes that technical assistance can help facilitate.

1 5 月, 2026
PATIENCE IS THE WORD

For three-time-time Olympic sprint legend Elaine Thompson-Herah, the wait to represent her country is finally over. The 33-year-old Jamaican, who holds the title of the fastest woman alive with a 10.54-second 100m personal best, is gearing up to make her long-awaited return to international competition for Jamaica at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, marking her first national team appearance since the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

After a devastating Achilles injury that sidelined her from all competition in 2023 and limited her to just two races early in 2024, Thompson-Herah has quietly put together a solid opening to her comeback season. Last month at Kingston’s Velocity Fest held at the National Stadium, she clocked 10.92 seconds in the 100m, a time that slots her in as the third-fastest woman in the world over the distance this year. That result has given the five-time Olympic gold medalist the confidence to step back onto the global relay stage, where she will compete in the women’s 4x100m as part of Jamaica’s third heat, alongside top squads from France, Germany, and Nigeria.

In an interview ahead of the competition, the two-time Olympic 100m and 200m champion (2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo) opened up about the grueling physical and mental struggles she navigated during her time away from the track. Following her historic 10.54-second run, pushing to match that world-class pace took a significant toll on her body, leaving her Achilles severely compromised. The full year off from competition, she says, was exactly what she needed to reset both physically and mentally.

“I’ve always called myself a tough cookie,” Thompson-Herah said. “I leaned on my faith, my support team, and my own inner strength to get through this. This season isn’t about rushing to get back to peak form—it’s a rebuilding process. I’m not putting unnecessary pressure on myself; I’m just taking it one step at a time.”

While she has not yet returned to her signature sub-10.6-second 100m and sub-21.6-second 200m form, Thompson-Herah says she is encouraged by the steady progress she has seen in training and early races. Once the lingering pain from her injury fades completely, she believes she can once again compete at the highest level. “I still have so much more left in me,” she said. “I’m unleashing the beast day by day, one step at a time. When I’m fully healthy, this season is going to be exciting.”

Beyond the World Relays, Thompson-Herah has her sights set on defending her sprint double title at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, framing this comeback season as both a recovery period and a stepping stone to future success. She is part of a star-studded Jamaican women’s 4x100m squad that also includes Olympic medalists Shericka Jackson and twin sprinters Tia and Tina Clayton, one of the most deep and talented relay pools in the competition. A top-two finish in their heat and advancement to Sunday’s final will secure Jamaica’s qualification for the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled for Beijing.

When asked about the possibility of challenging the 40.82-second women’s 4x100m world record set by the United States in 2012, Thompson-Herah played down expectations, emphasizing that the team’s primary focus is on securing qualification and competing well. “We’re not fixated on the world record right now,” she explained. “If everything lines up—good weather, clean baton exchanges—it could happen, but our main goal is to have a solid, fun competition and get the job done. This is a young team, but we have a lot of talent and great energy, and I’m confident we’ll perform.”

For the Jamaican men’s 4x100m squad, the team will be without star sprinters Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson for the competition, and they have been drawn in heat 2 alongside competitive squads from Canada and Spain. The World Athletics Relays kicked off its first day of competition with the mixed 4x100m at 7:05 am local time, followed by the mixed 4x400m at 7:30 am. The women’s 4x400m was scheduled to start at 8:55 am, with the men’s 4x400m closing out the day’s action at 9:30 am. Alongside the headline women’s 4x100m squad, Jamaica has fielded full competitive squads for all relay events, with emerging young talents and experienced veterans set to represent the country across men’s, women’s, and mixed competitions.

1 5 月, 2026