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  • Jamaican property sales near $100 billion in 2025, says RAJ

    Jamaican property sales near $100 billion in 2025, says RAJ

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Fresh data compiled by the Realtors Association of Jamaica (RAJ) through its industry-leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has painted a surprisingly resilient picture of the country’s real estate sector, showing the market generated a staggering J$99.3 billion in total property sales across 2025. This robust performance comes even after the widespread economic disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa, defying broader expectations of a slowdown across the sector.

    Analysis of the aggregated MLS data shows that three parishes — St Andrew, St Ann and St Catherine — accounted for the overwhelming majority of total 2025 sales activity, with growth driven by two complementary forces: strong urban residential demand and sustained tourism-linked investment. The results cement real estate’s long-standing role as a core pillar of Jamaica’s national economic growth.

    Roger Allen, RAJ Second Vice-President and chair of the MLS Committee, outlined the dual-market dynamic shaping current industry trends. “On one hand, we have high-volume urban markets serving local homebuyers and commercial users, and on the other, high-value, tourism-focused parishes that deliver strong returns even with far fewer total transactions,” Allen explained.

    Breaking down 2025 parish-by-parish performance, St Andrew claimed the top spot nationally, pulling in J$41.17 billion across 1,727 recorded transactions — leading the country in both total revenue and transaction volume. St Ann followed closely behind with J$27.36 billion in sales, with growth propelled entirely by surging tourism-related investment in vacation properties and resort-adjacent developments. St Catherine generated J$11.71 billion across 700 transactions, a figure that reflects the parish’s ongoing large-scale residential expansion to meet growing demand from urban commuters.

    Westmoreland posted J$6.86 billion in total sales from just 52 high-value transactions, signaling that most activity in the parish centers on large luxury resort and vacation home developments. St Mary recorded J$3.40 billion in sales, reflecting growing investor confidence in the area’s long-term tourism potential, while Manchester hit J$2.36 billion supported by steady, consistent residential activity. St Thomas was the weakest-performing parish in 2025, recording just J$96.2 million in MLS-tracked sales.

    A key trend highlighted by the data is that while most parishes recorded fewer total transactions in 2025 compared to 2024, multiple parishes delivered higher total annual revenues — a clear indicator that property values are rising rapidly across Jamaica’s key high-demand markets. Among the parishes that saw higher revenues in 2025 despite lower transaction volumes were St Catherine, Westmoreland, St Ann and St Mary. Even St Andrew, which retained its national lead, recorded a small year-over-year decline in both transaction volume and total revenue compared to 2024 figures.

    “St Andrew’s dominance in the market is not surprising, but the scale of its lead over other parishes remains significant,” Allen noted. “The Corporate Area continues to act as the undisputed engine of Jamaican real estate activity. The bigger question moving forward is how we can unlock sustained, inclusive growth across other parishes that have not seen the same level of activity.”

    The 2025 MLS data also reinforces a long-observed connection between public infrastructure investment and property value appreciation across the island. “Highway expansion and targeted urban development projects consistently lift surrounding land values and accelerate both residential and commercial growth,” Allen explained. Areas that have recently benefited from upgraded road networks, expanded public utilities, new schools and hospitals, and increased commercial development — including Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, St James and sections of Clarendon — continue to draw strong buyer interest and steady investment inflows.

    Beyond property sales, the Jamaican rental market also posted solid gains in 2025, generating J$772 million in tracked rental revenue between January and December. St Andrew, St Catherine and St Ann led all parishes in total annual rental revenue, while Westmoreland recorded the fastest growth rate in the rental segment. This trend underscores rising demand for short-term vacation rentals and long-term second home rentals in popular resort regions across the island.

    It is important to note that the MLS figures are compiled from voluntary transaction reports submitted by roughly 2,000 registered realtors operating across Jamaica. The current dataset does not include direct sales from property developers or private transactions that are not processed through the MLS system.

    Allen emphasized that the granular MLS data serves a much broader purpose than just tracking industry performance, providing critical insights for national economic planning. “Our MLS platform delivers real-time visibility into pricing trends, shifting buyer demand, persistent inventory shortages and changing transaction patterns across the country,” he said. “This information is critical for identifying underserved housing markets, persistent affordability gaps, and the infrastructure investments that will deliver the greatest long-term economic return.”

    According to Allen, these insights can be leveraged to shape more effective national housing strategies and unlock targeted growth in parishes that have historically been underrepresented in national real estate activity.

  • South Korea defeat Czechs to make strong World Cup start

    South Korea defeat Czechs to make strong World Cup start

    GUADALAJARA, Mexico – In an opening Group A clash full of missed opportunities and late drama, South Korea kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey with a tense 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday, as second-half substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu netted the decisive winner deep in the second half.

    Tipped by many as a contender to progress from the group stage, Son Heung-min’s side controlled the tempo and carved out scoring chance after scoring chance in the opening 45 minutes, but failed to turn their dominant possession into a breakthrough. The Tottenham Hotspur winger was at the heart of most of South Korea’s attacking threat: he sent one powerful effort soaring over the crossbar early on, then produced a blistering solo run that saw him cut inside to the left, evade two tight Czech marking challenges, and drag his final attempt just wide of the post.

    A far-from-sold-out stadium crowd watched as the tightly contested match turned on its head just after halftime. Against the run of play, the Czechs broke the deadlock through Ladislav Krejci, who rose unmarked at the near post to plant a powerful header beyond Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, giving his side an unexpected lead against the run of play.

    South Korea’s persistent pressure finally paid off in the 67th minute, when Hwang In-beom drew level with a cleverly crafted equalizer. The midfielder faked a shot to throw off his marker and the Czech goalkeeper, before gently lifting the ball over Matej Kovar into the back of the net to level the score.

    The Czech thought they had re-taken the lead shortly after, only for their effort to be ruled offside by match officials, in a call that turned the tide of the game permanently. Hwang, who had already found the back of the net, turned provider for the winner just 13 minutes before full time, delivering a pinpoint cross from the right flank that Oh slotted home cleanly to put South Korea ahead.

    As the final whistle blew on a frantic final 10 minutes of play, a relieved Son Heung-min dropped to the turf in celebration, his side having secured all three points despite an hour of wasted chances. Up next for South Korea is a high-stakes clash against co-hosts Mexico on June 18, who kicked off their own campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over South Africa earlier the same day. The Czech Republic will face South Africa in Atlanta on the same matchday, looking to bounce back from their opening defeat to get their tournament back on track.

  • Reggae Boyz Captain Andre Blake named face of the Pepsi ‘Football Nation’

    Reggae Boyz Captain Andre Blake named face of the Pepsi ‘Football Nation’

    As one of the world’s most anticipated football tournament cycles kicks off, Pepsi-Cola Jamaica has officially introduced its highly anticipated Football Nation campaign to local fans, a global initiative that centers grassroots supporter culture at its core. Named as the Jamaican face of the platform, Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake joins a star-studded global lineup that includes football superstars Vinícius Júnior, Florian Wirtz, and English icon Sir David Beckham to lead a nationwide celebration of the sport across the island.

    Unlike generic brand campaigns tied to major tournaments, this initiative prioritizes Jamaican football fans, placing their unique traditions and beloved match-day rituals at the heart of every activation. Against the backdrop of the world’s biggest football competitions taking the global spotlight, Pepsi aims to ensure local supporters do not feel like peripheral observers — instead, they are the main attraction, connected both to their shared local culture and the global football community.

    Central to the campaign’s identity is its fan-first rule set, drafted with Jamaican football culture in mind. The very first rule, “It’s called Football, Not Soccer,” nods to a longstanding point of pride for fans across the Caribbean and much of the globe, leaning into authentic local terminology and identity rather than global mainstream conventions.

    Blake, who has embodied Jamaican football passion for more than a decade as national team captain, was tapped to lead the local campaign for his deep connection to the island’s football culture. From raucous community watch parties to heated, good-natured match-day debates at local bars, the campaign celebrates every layer of the football experience that unites Jamaicans.

    Speaking on his new role as the face of Pepsi Football Nation Jamaica, Blake expressed excitement about the opportunity to connect with local supporters. “I’m honoured to join Pepsi Football Nation and become part of a global football family that includes some of the biggest names in the game,” he said. “Football has given me so much throughout my life and career, and I’m excited to connect with fans across Jamaica through this campaign while celebrating the sport that unites us all.”

    Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished elite athletes to emerge from the Caribbean, Blake has led Jamaica’s senior men’s national team with distinction for more than 10 years. Renowned globally for his elite shot-stopping ability, steady on-pitch leadership, and consistent professionalism, he was the natural choice to bridge top-tier global football excellence with the passionate, homegrown fandom that defines Jamaican football culture.

    To bring the campaign to life for on-the-ground fans, Pepsi-Cola Jamaica has built exclusive, fan-focused initiatives into its rollout. Aligning with the campaign’s playful Rule #84 — “You Must Wear Your Winning Jersey to Work” — the brand has launched a limited giveaway for 30 custom Pepsi Football Nation jerseys personally signed by Blake. The giveaway gives Jamaican supporters a tangible, keepsake piece of the global campaign to wear proudly throughout the tournament season.

    Ashli-Raye Reccas, Pepsi Brand Coordinator for Jamaica, emphasized that the entire initiative is built as a tribute to the fans who make football a core part of Jamaican life. “Pepsi Football Nation is a tribute to the fans who live and breathe the sport,” Reccas explained. “Having a leader of Andre’s caliber in this initiative allows us to celebrate the authentic rituals of Jamaican supporters. This football season, we are focusing on bringing that grand, international tournament atmosphere directly to local communities, bars, and viewing spaces across the nation.”

    As Jamaicans across the island gather in homes, community spaces and local bars to watch the world’s biggest football matches, the campaign solidifies Pepsi’s position as the go-to match-day companion for fans celebrating, debating, and cheering on their favorite teams through every moment of the global tournament.

  • Cash flow forecasting in minutes, not days — with Claude, even when the JMD/USD rate won’t sit still

    Cash flow forecasting in minutes, not days — with Claude, even when the JMD/USD rate won’t sit still

    For Jamaican importers and business owners, sleepless nights are rarely caused by slow sales. Instead, the biggest headache stems from the foreign exchange gap that eats into potential profits: paying overseas suppliers in US dollars upfront, while waiting 60 days or more for local customers to settle invoices in Jamaican dollars. When the JMD-USD exchange rate shifts unfavorably during that waiting period, a deal that looked profitable on paper quickly turns into a loss. This is a pervasive challenge for small, open economies where costs are often tied to a global reserve currency, while revenue is generated in local tender. Exchange rate volatility does not wait for business owners to adjust, and static cash flow forecasts built on last month’s rates become obsolete almost as soon as they are saved. While no technology can fix volatile exchange rates, artificial intelligence is transforming how small finance teams assess risk and prepare for multiple future outcomes before they unfold. This week’s edition of the weekly *AI in Finance & Business* column explores Claude, Anthropic’s AI assistant that now integrates directly into Microsoft Excel, a tool that remains the backbone of financial work for most Jamaican businesses. Unlike the previous column’s deep dive into ChatGPT for Google Sheets, Claude is built for heavy-duty financial modeling and risk analysis, making it a particularly strong fit for managing currency exposure. Claude is far more than a simple chatbot tacked onto the side of your spreadsheet. It can parse an entire workbook, map the connections between different tabs, audit existing formulas for errors, and run multiple sensitivity analyses simultaneously – the exact function that matters most for businesses navigating currency risk. Users input requests in plain English, and Claude handles the entire spreadsheet workflow automatically. Before getting started, there is one key practical detail: the Claude Excel add-in is only available to users with a paid Anthropic subscription, with no free tier offered. Installation is straightforward: users can find it in the official Excel add-ins store, add it to their desktop app with one click, and sign in to their existing paid account to activate it. The traditional approach to cash flow forecasting for currency risk forces teams to build one static model with a single exchange rate assumption, then cross their fingers that the prediction holds. Adjusting for a new rate requires hours of manual formula edits, so most small teams only ever model one expected future, leaving them blind to downside risks. Claude collapses that entire process from an afternoon of work into just a few minutes. A user can open their existing workbook and prompt Claude to “build a 13-week cash flow forecast with columns for USD payables and JMD receivables, and set the exchange rate in a single editable cell.” From there, they can ask for a full sensitivity analysis: “show me the lowest weekly cash balance if the exchange rate moves between 2% stronger to 5% weaker against the JMD.” In seconds, rather than days, business owners get a full range of potential outcomes instead of one unreliable static forecast. Purpose-built forecasting tools can complement Claude’s capabilities to create a more robust system. Platforms like Float integrate directly with popular accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero, pulling in live transaction data automatically to generate rolling forecasts that update as invoices get paid. In this setup, Claude handles the complex “what if” modeling, while Float keeps the core underlying financial data current. For businesses with steady transaction volume, forecasts are never more than 24 hours out of date. To put this workflow in context, consider a mid-sized Jamaican manufacturer with a large USD payment due in three weeks. Under the old system, answering the question “will we have enough cash to cover this payment?” would take two full days of number crunching. Today, the treasury officer can open their existing Excel model, ask Claude “what is our lowest cash balance over the next 21 days if the JMD weakens by 3% against the USD,” and get a complete answer before their coffee gets cold. If the result shows a potential cash shortfall, the business has three full weeks to act: they can draw on a credit facility, speed up outstanding customer collections, or delay non-essential discretionary payments. The biggest shift here is not the elimination of currency risk – that remains unavoidable for Jamaican importers. Instead, it gives business owners time to respond to risk, and allows a single team member to complete work that once required an entire small finance department. Before uploading sensitive financial data to any AI tool, security is the top priority, and Claude’s data policies have clear distinctions depending on the subscription plan a user chooses. For Anthropic’s business tier plans – Claude for Work, Team, and Enterprise – user data is never used to train Anthropic’s AI models. This protection is written into commercial terms, no confusing settings need to be adjusted, and all data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. The policy is different for personal paid plans (Pro and Max): as of late 2025, conversations from personal plans may be used for model training unless users actively opt out of data usage in their account privacy settings. For finance teams working with sensitive company data, the best practice is simple: use a Team or Enterprise plan, where data privacy is enabled by default. If you are using a personal plan, turn off model training in your privacy settings before uploading any sensitive content. Always mask personal identifiable data such as client names, employee salaries, and full bank details before uploading, just as you would avoid sharing that information with a new colleague you have not yet vetted. It is also critical to understand what Claude cannot do for your business. Claude cannot predict where the JMD-USD exchange rate will go, and any tool or person that claims to predict exchange rates with certainty is almost certainly selling a product you do not need. What Claude does excel at is fast arithmetic and scenario modeling: it takes the assumptions you provide and maps out their potential consequences. The assumptions and final business decisions still rest with the user, so always cross-check model logic, compare totals against actual bank balances, and never act on an AI-generated forecast you have not reviewed personally. For businesses interested in testing this workflow, the column outlines four simple steps to try this week: First, open Excel and ask Claude to build a 13-week cash flow forecast with a single editable exchange rate cell that updates the entire model when changed. Second, prompt Claude to run a sensitivity analysis across three core scenarios: base rate, stronger USD, and weaker USD, then compare the lowest weekly cash balance for each outcome. Third, ask Claude to automatically flag any week where your closing cash balance falls below a pre-set threshold. Fourth, if you already use QuickBooks or Xero, test an auto-sync forecasting tool like Float to pull live transaction data, then feed that updated data into your Claude model for analysis. Always remember to review all assumptions and final totals before acting on any forecast. Next week’s column will continue the series, exploring how Jamaican businesses can build an interactive financial dashboard from a single plain English prompt, turning static spreadsheets into explorable tools for managers. This article was written by Peta-Gaye Hardy, founder of PGH Consulting, LLC, a firm that helps finance and operations teams adopt AI in practical, low-risk ways. Hardy is based between Jamaica and the United States, and more information about her work can be found at www.pghconsultinggroup.com, or on Instagram @pghconsultinggroup. Disclosures: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, accounting, or foreign exchange advice. Exchange rate movements are inherently uncertain and cannot be reliably predicted. The Claude Excel add-in requires a paid Claude subscription. The author holds no commercial relationship with Anthropic, Microsoft, Float, or any other product mentioned in this column, and received no compensation for this feature. Readers should always consult a qualified financial professional before making any business decisions.

  • Xenophobic violence in South Africa fuels World Cup backlash across Africa

    Xenophobic violence in South Africa fuels World Cup backlash across Africa

    Long-simmering tensions over xenophobic violence against African migrants in South Africa boiled over into the global football spotlight this week, as fans from across the continent turned a World Cup group stage match into a platform to protest deadly attacks on foreign nationals. For months, South Africa has been roiled by violent anti-immigrant demonstrations targeting migrant workers from other African nations, with locals accusing foreign residents of displacing native workers in the country’s tight labor market. The unrest has already claimed two confirmed lives—both Mozambican citizens, aged 27 and 43—forced hundreds of vulnerable migrants to abandon their homes and flee for safety, and unleashed a wave of hateful xenophobic rhetoric across South African social media platforms.

    The flashpoint for continental pushback came on Thursday, when South Africa kicked off its 1970 World Cup campaign against co-host Mexico at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. Far from seeing the match as an opportunity for African football solidarity, fans from across the continent gathered in the stands and online to openly back Mexico, turning their frustration with South Africa’s anti-migrant violence into visible, public protest.

    One viral post from Gambian football outlet Gamfoot Transfers shared footage of a group of fans who identified themselves as Nigerians outside the stadium, all decked out in Mexico’s iconic national team kit, nicknamed El Tri. “We are Mexicans today!” one supporter declared to the camera. The post’s caption made clear the political motivation behind the unexpected show of support: “Today many Africans are supporting Mexico, not necessarily because they have a special connection with Mexico, but because of the frustration and anger over how some African brothers and sisters have been treated in South Africa.”

    Inside the stadium, additional footage captured Congolese fans chanting pro-Mexico slogans in Spanish, declaring “Congo hermano, ya eres mexicano” — “Congo brother, you are already Mexican” — and “Viva Mexico!” while waving Mexican flags alongside their Congolese banners. Other social media content shared in the wake of the match included lighthearted but pointed trolling of South Africa, including jokes blending African and Hispanic names to mark the cross-continental alliance against xenophobia.

    The current wave of violence accelerated after a citizen-led anti-immigration group focused on undocumented migration issued an ultimatum earlier this month, ordering all foreign nationals without formal residency status to leave South Africa by the June 30 deadline. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pushed back against the unauthorized campaign, stating publicly that only official government agents have the authority to enforce immigration law. At the same time, Ramaphosa has acknowledged that the economic grievances driving anti-immigrant sentiment among South Africans “deserve to be heard, and they deserve to be addressed,” a stance that has drawn criticism from migrant advocates and other African nations.

    To date, many African governments have moved quickly to evacuate their citizens from the violence rather than engage in high-level diplomatic pressure to resolve the crisis. Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi and Nigeria have already organized repatriation flights for hundreds of their nationals who fled the unrest, leaving empty homes and abandoned communities in affected South African areas.

    Mexico went on to defeat South Africa 2-0 in the Thursday match, a result that was celebrated far beyond North American borders by fans across the African continent, turned political by months of unresolved anti-migrant violence that has split what is often framed as pan-African solidarity.

  • Sangster International Airport achieves Level 3 ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation

    Sangster International Airport achieves Level 3 ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation

    Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport (SIA) has achieved a landmark milestone in sustainable aviation, securing official upgrade to Level 3 status under Airports Council International’s (ACI) globally respected Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program, the leading international benchmark for airport carbon management. The certification was formally confirmed by MBJ Airports Limited, the operator that manages the Montego Bay-based airport.

    Unlike lower accreditation levels that focus on individual operator action, Level 3 accreditation requires airports to build coordinated cross-stakeholder carbon reduction frameworks, uniting airlines, ground handling firms, on-site tenants and other operational partners around a shared, measurable commitment to cutting emissions. This shift moves environmental responsibility from a single-entity initiative to a collective effort that spans the entire airport community.

    The announcement comes just days after the United Nations’ World Environment Day on June 5, the global campaign designed to drive awareness and coordinated action for environmental protection. For MBJ Airports, the new accreditation marks both a celebration of progress already delivered and a public renewal of the organization’s long-term sustainability commitments that will shape the airport’s strategic direction for years to come.

    Shane Munroe, Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports Limited, emphasized that this collaborative, holistic approach places SIA among a small, elite group of airports worldwide that are delivering tangible, ecosystem-wide climate action. “This accreditation validates the tireless work of our team to build a culture of environmental responsibility that touches every part of our operations,” Munroe explained. “Sustainability is not an afterthought for us—it is a core value embedded into every stage of planning, every daily operation, and every partnership we build at Sangster International Airport. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far, and we are even more energized to continue raising the bar for environmental management across the Caribbean and the broader region.”

    The achievement earned formal recognition from the accrediting body, with ACI-Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) offering official congratulations to the MBJ team. Francisco M Medela Alonso, Industry Affairs Director for ACI-LAC, noted in his statement that reaching Level 3 is a substantial accomplishment that clearly demonstrates the airport’s dedication to engaging all stakeholders in the collective fight against carbon emissions.

    Administered locally by Environmental Minds, the new Level 3 certification adds further prestige to SIA’s already robust portfolio of environmental management credentials. The airport already holds ISO 14001 certification, the globally recognized standard for Environmental Management Systems. According to MBJ, this existing certification highlights the airport’s consistent, standards-aligned strategy for minimizing its environmental footprint across every dimension of its operations.

    MBJ confirmed that together, these dual certifications solidify SIA’s standing as a regional leader and a replicable model for sustainable airport management across the Caribbean and beyond.

  • Vaz highlights JUTC revenue surge, fleet upgrades as ridership climbs

    Vaz highlights JUTC revenue surge, fleet upgrades as ridership climbs

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s state-run public transit provider, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC), has delivered standout progress across key performance metrics, including revenue growth, rising passenger volumes, fleet modernization, and streamlined operations, according to Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Daryl Vaz. Vaz shared these positive updates during a formal ministerial briefing hosted by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Thursday, where he zeroed in on the exceptional performance gains posted by the JUTC’s Portmore depot as a clear example of the broader turnaround.

  • Fire destroys businessplace, house in Westmoreland

    Fire destroys businessplace, house in Westmoreland

    On a Thursday morning just before 10 a.m., an out-of-control fire swept through a commercial building and connected private residence in the Big Bridge community of Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica, leaving a local small business owner with nothing after years of hard work and a recent rebuilding effort. The origin of the blaze remains undetermined as investigators from the Jamaica Fire Brigade continue to comb through the charred remains of the property.

    Two fire response units from the nearby Savanna-la-Mar Fire Station were dispatched to the scene after emergency calls came in, confirmed O’Neill Kerr, District Officer for Investigation with the Jamaica Fire Brigade. No lives were lost in the incident, though a small number of people sustained minor injuries while attempting to extinguish the fire before first responders arrived.

    The business lost in the fire is a neighborhood variety store operated by a local woman who identified herself only as Sharon. The shop stocked a wide range of daily essentials for community members, from plumbing hardware and personal hair care products to household detergent, groceries and beverages. Sharon recalled the moments she discovered the fire, explaining that she first spotted flames spreading through the middle section of the building, wedged between a residential stove and a refrigerator. She had just been retrieving bottled products from the back storeroom when she noticed the smoke and fire, she said. Immediately after making the discovery, she alerted her husband, who was speaking with a friend at the front of the store. By the time he reached the fire’s starting point, the entire space between the two appliances was already fully engulfed in flames.

    Sharon and her husband, assisted by a neighboring resident who joined the fight from the back of the property, attempted to put out the blaze themselves before firefighters could arrive. The group disconnected a water pipe from a large on-site water tank to access water, passing buckets of water to Sharon’s husband, who was inside the building battling the spread. However, the fire grew too quickly for their efforts to make a meaningful difference.

    For Sharon, the destruction comes as an especially devastating blow, following recent hardship that she had only just started to recover from. After a recent hurricane passed through the region, her shop was burglarized, with thieves taking nearly all of her inventory and assets. She had spent time and resources rebuilding the business, restocking the store just one day before the fire, on Wednesday, because she prioritizes keeping goods available for her regular customers. Even worse, she had purchased a brand new point-of-sale software system less than a week before the fire, and that new equipment was also destroyed in the blaze. All of her personal belongings, including her mobile phone, purse, and important identity documents such as her driver’s license and passport, were inside the connected dwelling when the fire hit, meaning she now faces the lengthy process of replacing every critical document. With four children between the ages of 8 and 17 to support, Sharon says the total loss represents a crippling setback that has left her struggling to process her emotions.

    Kerr told reporters that in the immediate aftermath of the fire, investigators are still in the early stages of their work, and it is too soon to confirm the exact cause of the blaze. Fire investigation teams have already been deployed to the site to collect evidence and assess the scene, he said, and work is ongoing to pinpoint what sparked the fire. Kerr added that officials have also not yet been able to calculate the total monetary value of the losses from the blaze, as the assessment process is still in its early phases.

    This report was contributed by Anthony Lewis.

  • Cuba opens more sectors to private business amid US pressure

    Cuba opens more sectors to private business amid US pressure

    HAVANA, Cuba – In a bold move to counter the devastating economic impact of the long-running United States blockade, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced Friday a sweeping package of reforms designed to expand freedoms for small private enterprises across the island nation.

    Delivering a nationally televised address to the Cuban people, Diaz-Canel outlined a series of policy shifts that will open more economic sectors to private participation, cut red tape for new business approvals, and level the playing field for domestic private entrepreneurs. “For non-state management models, the roster of off-limits activities will be narrowed to expand operational scope as widely as possible,” Diaz-Canel stated. “We have launched an urgent process to clear all pending business applications in the shortest timeline achievable.”

    The reforms represent the latest in a series of liberalization measures rolled out by the Cuban communist government, which has faced mounting pressure after Washington tightened its oil blockade against the island in January. Private enterprise, which was first authorized with a 100-employee cap in 2021, has already emerged as a vital pillar of Cuba’s struggling economy. Earlier this year, private firms gained the right to import fuel – a sector that had remained under exclusive state control for decades.

    Under the new policy framework, domestic private businesses will now be granted the same investment rights as foreign investors, a change crafted to shore up economic activity after multiple foreign firms exited the country over fears of U.S. secondary sanctions. Diaz-Canel also revealed that policymakers are evaluating the elimination of mandatory state intermediaries for private import and export operations, a change that would drastically reduce business costs and streamline cross-border trade for non-state actors.

    Beyond private sector liberalization, the president reaffirmed the government’s commitment to decentralizing economic governance and granting expanded autonomy to state-owned enterprises, which still control approximately 80 percent of Cuba’s total economic output. He also announced a sweeping restructuring of state bureaucracy that will cut the number of national ministries and reduce the size of the public sector workforce. The restructuring plan is scheduled for parliamentary debate and approval in July, and Diaz-Canel emphasized that all new reforms would move through the approval process at an accelerated pace.

    Despite mounting economic headwinds that have deepened long-running crises in energy, food security, and public welfare, Diaz-Canel struck a defiant and confident tone, pushing back against what he called Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Cuba. “The country is not paralyzed; we are confronting this challenge with intelligence and unity,” he said.

    The U.S. trade embargo on Cuba dates back to 1962, making it one of the longest-running economic blockades in modern history. In recent years, successive U.S. administrations have expanded sanctions beyond the core embargo, including the oil restriction imposed earlier this year, which has significantly worsened the island’s chronic economic, social, and energy crises.

  • From Deed to Key’ makes successful South Florida debut

    From Deed to Key’ makes successful South Florida debut

    South Florida recently played host to the first-ever From Deed to Key Investment and Housing Conference, a gathering centered on unlocking property and wealth opportunities in Jamaica that has been declared an unqualified success by its leadership.

    Built around the rallying theme “Invest in Your Piece of Di Rock”, the one-day event pulled together a cross-section of stakeholders: seasoned industry specialists, active investors, local professionals, and a large contingent of members of the Jamaican diaspora based in the United States. Attendees packed the venue, participating actively in panel discussions and breakout sessions that covered everything from navigating land purchase processes to developing long-term wealth through Jamaican real estate.

    Event founder and lead organizer Maxine Miller shared that the level of turnout and audience engagement far outpaced the team’s pre-event projections. “We intentionally curated the right group of stakeholders in the room,” Miller explained in a post-event statement. “We brought together a delegation of accomplished entrepreneurs and industry leaders who share our core vision for this conference, each with hands-on experience in their sectors relevant to Jamaican property investment.”

    The speaker lineup featured a diverse range of subject-matter experts, including real estate attorneys, land surveyors, civil engineers, renewable energy consultants, and financing specialists, alongside key diplomatic and local government figures such as Jamaica’s Consul General Oliver Mair and Miramar Vice Mayor and Commissioner Carson Edwards. Speaking during the event, experts emphasized that post-Hurricane Melissa recovery has created a unique window for transformative investment, framing the current moment as an opportunity to reset development frameworks, rebuild resilient communities, and drive renewed investment across Jamaica’s property sector.

    From its inception, the conference set clear core goals: to deliver actionable, practical guidance for Jamaicans both on the island and in the diaspora looking to navigate the full journey from acquiring land to securing homeownership. The event addressed a long-unmet need for diaspora communities, providing a structured platform for open dialogue on the most pressing barriers they face. These included regularizing title for long-held family lands, resolving disputes over inherited property, unlocking value from underused or idle real estate assets, and demystifying the regulatory and financial processes for investing in and developing property in Jamaica.

    The overwhelming success of the South Florida debut has already generated significant momentum for future editions, with inquiries flooding in from other major diaspora hubs across the United States. Miller confirmed that Jamaican community groups in Atlanta and New York have formally requested to host upcoming iterations of the conference, signaling strong unmet demand across the diaspora.

    “The level of interest we’ve received from Atlanta and New York has been incredibly encouraging,” Miller noted. “This response confirms what our team suspected: there is a clear, widespread appetite within the global Jamaican diaspora for credible, accurate information, practical solutions to common barriers, and meaningful conversation about building generational wealth through investment in Jamaica.”

    Organizers expect to confirm the location and date for the next conference staging by mid-July, with plans to expand the event’s reach to serve more diaspora communities in the coming months.