标签： Jamaica

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Digicel marks 25 years with star-studded bash

On a vibrant Saturday in downtown Kingston, Digicel’s corporate headquarters was transformed into a sea of deep crimson, as hundreds of attendees gathered to mark the telecommunications giant’s 25 years of operations in Jamaica. Loyal customers, senior company leadership, government representatives, and some of Jamaica’s biggest music stars all dressed in the brand’s signature red to join the anniversary celebrations, turning the company’s parking lot into one of the year’s most energetic public gatherings.

From the first hours of the event, electric anticipation filled the air, with popular hosts Talia Soares-Brown and Christopher “Johnny” Daley keeping the growing crowd engaged and entertained. Early arrivals were rewarded with exclusive giveaways, where quick reflexes and a bit of luck let dozens of happy customers walk away with hundreds of dollars in free mobile credit.

The centerpiece of the day was a star-studded musical showcase that highlighted the full breadth of Jamaica’s iconic musical talent. Opening the performances was instrumentalist Verlando Small, whose smooth, soulful set featuring reimagined versions of *Loving You*, *I Wanna Know*, *Can We Talk*, and *Best Part* resonated deeply with the audience, drawing particularly warm applause from female attendees. Next up was beloved gospel artist Jermaine Edwards, who shifted the energy with uplifting, soul-stirring performances of *God Is With Me* and *It’s a Beautiful Day*, adding a heartfelt spiritual layer to the celebratory occasion.

Fresh off his 2024 Digicel Rising Stars win, Akeen Fennell took the stage next with a nostalgic set paying tribute to Jamaican reggae legends. He worked through classic tracks including Sanchez’s remake of *Missing You Now* and Wayne Wade’s *I Love You Too Much*, before transitioning into fan favorites *Oh Me Oh My* and *Stuck on You*. He ramped up the energy with a rousing rendition of Buju Banton’s *Love Me Browning*, closing his set with his own original hit *It’s Over*.

Powerhouse vocalist Tessanne Chin kept the momentum building, drawing from her decades-long catalog of hits to deliver crowd-pleasing performances of *Messenger*, *Underneath It All*, and *Hideaway*. Following Chin was iconic reggae artist Bugle, one of the event’s special invited guests, who turned the venue into a lively Rasta party with his electrifying set. His performances of *What I’m Gonna Do*, *Don’t Blame Life*, *Pearly Gate*, and *Nuh Compatible* served as an unexpected bonus for the already hyped gathering, leaving fans cheering for more.

Dancehall breakout star Valiant took command of the stage next, delivering a short but high-octane set packed with his viral fan favorites, including *100 Milli*, *Passenger Princess*, *West Indies*, *Narcissistic*, and *Baddiedeh*, leaving the crowd buzzing with raw energy.

The night came to a close with a headline set from Chris Martin, one of Digicel Rising Stars’ most successful alumni, who took the stage after a dazzling cake-cutting ceremony and fireworks display that drew gasps from the crowd. Martin took attendees on a nostalgic journey through his 21-year career, opening with *A Change Is Gonna Come*, the track that first launched him to fame on the Digicel singing competition. He followed with a string of his biggest hits, including *Big Deal*, *Cheaters Prayer*, *Giving It*, *Chill Spot*, *Paper Loving*, and *Wife and Sweetheart*. The night’s biggest highlight came when Martin brought out fellow Digicel Rising Stars winner Romain Virgo for a surprise joint performance. The two artists wowed the crowd with their natural chemistry on *Leave People Business*, before Virgo transitioned into *Fade Away*, his popular collaboration with Agent Sasco. Martin stepped seamlessly into Sasco’s verse, showcasing the close camaraderie and shared musical roots between the two Jamaican stars.

In a reflective speech marking the 25-year milestone, Digicel Jamaica CEO Stephen Murad shared his pride in the company’s transformative journey across Jamaica. “Who would have thought 25 years ago Digicel would come along and change the face of the telecommunications industry in Jamaica? We now have thousands of employees here in Jamaica and over 2 million mobile customers that we serve every year. Tonight we’re here in the car park of our headquarters, and just seeing everyone in the crowd listening in on this amazing concert I’m so proud and I want to say thank you to all of our customers,” Murad said.

Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, also praised Digicel’s far-reaching impact on the country beyond its telecommunications services. “This is a very huge achievement. Digicel came in as the new kid on the block 25 years ago and they have established themselves as a corporate entity with a lot of social benefits to Jamaica through their foundation which has proven to be one of their most successful foundations in terms of upliftment across Jamaica, and so I wish them well,” Vaz said.

Fresh off his closing performance, Martin shared his gratitude for the opportunity to help mark the milestone that launched his own career. “I’m feeling great. It’s the 25th anniversary, my career started with this and now to close out this special occasion, it’s big vibes. They said 30 minutes so we tried to cram as much songs as we possibly could. The energy was awesome and the vibes from the people was infectious, so we give thanks. At the end of the day we can do music and it fall on deaf ears. So to be doing this for 21 years and people still love me and we stay relevant and we still in the people’s hearts, it’s a blessing.”

20 4 月, 2026
TRAILBLAZERS AWARDED

On a celebratory Saturday held at the Jamaica College Auditorium in the parish of St Andrew, 50 remarkable Jamaican women stepped into the spotlight to receive recognition for their extraordinary career achievements and selfless contributions to the nation’s growth. The occasion was the Trailblazer Awards, a landmark initiative created to mark the 100th anniversary of St Andrew High School for Girls, one of Jamaica’s most prominent educational institutions for young women.

As the flagship centerpiece of the school’s centenary homecoming festivities, the award ceremony was crafted to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the institution’s former students, who have gone on to carve out exceptional legacies across key areas of Jamaican national development. Organizers divided the honorees into five distinct sectors that underpin the country’s progress, reflecting the breadth of impact the school’s graduates have made across Jamaican society. These sectors include education and human resource development, where awardees have shaped generations of learners and built capacity across the national workforce; arts, culture and sports, where they have elevated Jamaican creativity and athletic excellence on local and global stages; health, medical and social care services, where they have worked to improve public well-being and support vulnerable communities; governance, law and finance, where they have helped steer national policy, uphold justice, and strengthen the country’s economic foundation; and entrepreneurship, tourism and environment, where they have driven economic growth and championed sustainable stewardship of Jamaica’s natural resources.

19 4 月, 2026
Apple’s Tim Cook to step down as CEO in September

SAN FRANCISCO – In a historic leadership shift marking a new era for one of the world’s most valuable technology companies, Apple announced Monday that longtime chief executive Tim Cook will transition out of the top role this September, passing the torch to respected company veteran John Ternus. Cook, 65, will shift into the position of executive chairman of the board after handing off CEO responsibilities, resolving years of public speculation about who would eventually take over the leadership of the Silicon Valley giant.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook shared in an official statement announcing the transition.

Cook first joined Apple back in 1998, quickly climbing the corporate ranks through a track record of steady, results-driven leadership. As chief operating officer, he played a foundational role in streamlining and scaling the iPhone maker’s notoriously complex global supply chain, laying the groundwork for the company’s massive growth in the decades that followed. He stepped into the CEO role in 2011, just after Apple’s legendary co-founder Steve Jobs stepped down amid failing health, a moment that left many industry analysts questioning whether the company could retain its innovative momentum without Jobs at the helm.

Over Cook’s 14-year tenure as CEO, he delivered far beyond those early doubts, guiding the company through an unprecedented expansion. He broadened Apple’s product portfolio to include new categories like the Apple Watch and AirPods, while growing the company’s market capitalization to a staggering $4 trillion, cementing Apple’s position as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

Arthur Levinson, who currently serves as Apple’s non-executive board chairman, praised Cook’s transformative leadership in the announcement. “Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company,” Levinson said. “His integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does.” Following the transition, Levinson will move into the role of lead independent director of the board, clearing the way for Cook to take the executive chairman post.

The incoming CEO, Ternus, is a 23-year Apple veteran who got his start on the company’s product design team back in 2001. Over the following two decades, he worked his way up to senior vice president of hardware engineering, leading development of many of Apple’s most iconic modern products. Apple credits Ternus with key contributions to every major product line, from the latest generations of iPhones and iPads to the Apple Watch and the redesigned line of Mac computers.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor.”

The leadership transition comes as Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, at a moment when the global AI boom is forcing the company to prove it can deliver another generation of culture-shifting innovation, a bar it has met repeatedly over its half-century history.

Apple’s journey began in earnest in 1976, when two college dropouts — marketing visionary Steve Jobs and engineering pioneer Steve Wozniak — launched the company out of Jobs’s family garage in Cupertino, California. The pair revolutionized personal computing and digital technology, upending how people work, consume music, and connect with one another. Their work laid the foundation for the modern smartphone era, creating a global lifestyle centered on mobile apps and connected devices that endures today. Decades later, Apple’s flagship products still maintain a fiercely loyal global customer base, spanning generations of technology users.

19 4 月, 2026
The Beatles’ ska-inspired Ob La Di Ob La Da certified silver in the UK

More than half a century after it first appeared on one of the Beatles’ most iconic albums, the Beatles’ upbeat ska-influenced track *Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da* has earned a long-overdue official certification in the United Kingdom. Last Friday, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded the song a silver certification, marking a cumulative 200,000 units in combined sales and streaming equivalents across the UK – a milestone that arrives 13 years after the track was first issued as a standalone digital single in 2010.

Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon for the Beatles’ legendary 1968 self-titled double album, widely known as *The White Album*, the track carries a hidden musical and lyrical tie to Jamaican music that many casual listeners may not know. Its origin traces directly to the growing popularity of Caribbean ska and reggae in 1960s Britain, and specifically to one pioneering Jamaican artist: Desmond Dekker.

McCartney crafted the track as a playful homage to the emerging Jamaican ska sound that was gaining traction across UK clubs and airwaves at the time, according to music historian and Beatles scholar Ian MacDonald. Even the main character named Desmond in the track’s opening line, “Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace,” is a deliberate nod to Dekker, who had just embarked on a breakout UK tour just months before the song was written. Dekker’s name is repeated seven times throughout the track’s lyrics, cementing the tribute. The singer had already earned major UK chart success ahead of the tour, scoring a top 10 hit with *007 (Shanty Town)* and claiming the number one spot in 1968 with his iconic track *Israelites* alongside his backing band the Aces.

What makes the new UK silver certification a striking milestone is the track’s unusual release history. Though *Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da* quickly became a number one hit across half a dozen countries in 1968 – topping charts in Austria, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, West Germany and Switzerland – it was never officially released as a single in the UK or the US that year. It would take eight years for the track to get its first US commercial release, which arrived in 1976 and saw the song peak at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Before the 2010 digital reissue, the song had already earned a gold certification in New Zealand for strong regional sales. *Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da* also saw early success via a 1968 cover version from Scottish pop group Marmalade, which claimed the top spot in Austria, New Zealand and Norway, and climbed to number two in Switzerland.

19 4 月, 2026
Genesis joy

A years-long vision to upgrade a worn accessible playing field for physically disabled students at one of Jamaica’s leading special education facilities is moving toward fruition, after a major funding commitment from the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ).

On Tuesday, at an official ceremony hosted at the United States Embassy in St Andrew, AFJ distributed a combined $1.3 million in grants to 65 community and educational organizations across Jamaica – and Genesis Academy, the island’s top-tier special education provider, counted among the recipients.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer immediately following the award presentation, Genesis Academy co-founder and director Donna Lowe explained the critical need for the project. The institution has operated at its current campus since 2009, and just three years after relocating, a separate community organization donated the custom-built accessible playground that has served the school’s physically disabled students for over a decade. For many of these young learners, the specialized equipment represented their first chance to experience inclusive play: the design accommodates wheelchairs, including modified swings that allow students with mobility impairments to join in recreational activities their able-bodied peers take for granted.

After 14 years of heavy use, however, the playground’s surface has deteriorated severely, leaving large portions of the space unsafe for use. The damaged ground has created an ongoing safety hazard, forcing staff to restrict access to the area and require constant close supervision for any activities held there, creating unnecessary strain for both students and educators.

Lowe emphasized that the AFJ grant could not have come at a more opportune time. The funding will cover the cost of resurfacing the entire playground, and the timeline aligns perfectly with Jamaica’s academic summer break. Once the required safety tiles are ordered, the full reconstruction can be completed while students are away from campus, eliminating disruptions to the school year.

While the grant covers a substantial share of the total project cost, Lowe noted that the full refurbishment remains a costly undertaking, and the academy will launch additional fundraising campaigns to secure the remaining funds, working alongside the institution’s longstanding network of generous community partners. She confirmed that ordering of materials will begin immediately, and the school is confident the project will be fully completed before students return for the new term.

Lowe added that she approached this year’s grant application with some trepidation, despite Genesis Academy having received AFJ funding for three consecutive years. In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, she assumed that disaster relief and recovery projects would take priority, leaving little funding for other initiatives. Her selection for the award, she said, came as a joyful surprise, and the school remains deeply grateful for the support.

“Play is not a trivial luxury for our students – it is a core part of their development,” Lowe explained. “It gives them a space to build social skills, connect with their peers, and express themselves freely outside the structured classroom environment. Every child deserves that opportunity, and this grant gets us that much closer to giving it back to them.”

AFJ executive director Caron Chung outlined the organization’s rigorous selection process for the annual grant cycle. Funding opportunities are publicly announced every November in Jamaica, with eligible organizations submitting applications between November and February each year. A dedicated grants committee reviews every submission to verify alignment with AFJ’s core funding priorities, before selecting final recipients from the pool of applicants. This year, the committee reviewed 88 total applications to select the 65 funded organizations.

Chung stressed that all selected grantees – including Genesis Academy – share a common mission of transforming lives and expanding opportunity for communities across Jamaica, a mandate that aligns perfectly with AFJ’s core mission.
Founded in 1982, AFJ is a U.S.-based non-profit dedicated to advancing well-being for Jamaicans. The organization advances its goals by supporting local initiatives that build economic self-sufficiency, foster healthy, connected communities, and strengthen national development across the island.

19 4 月, 2026
US Catholic schools to appeal ruling in LGBTQ discrimination case

The U.S. Supreme Court has opened a new chapter in the ongoing national debate over religious freedom versus LGBTQ non-discrimination protections, announcing Monday it will review an appeal brought by Catholic preschool providers against Colorado’s public funding eligibility requirements.

Colorado’s universal preschool initiative allocates taxpayer dollars to cover tuition at both public and private early childhood education centers, including institutions run by religious organizations. However, the state has cut off public funding to the Catholic preschool programs involved in the suit, saying their refusal to enroll children of same-sex and transgender parents violates the state’s anti-discrimination statutes.

The plaintiffs in the case — the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, two Colorado Catholic parishes, and local parents Dan and Lisa Sheley — saw their claims rejected by lower federal courts before turning to the nation’s highest bench. In a public statement following the Supreme Court’s announcement, the Sheleys emphasized they are only seeking equal access to the program the state established for all families. “All we want is the freedom to choose the best preschool for our kids without being punished for our faith,” the couple said. “Colorado promised families a universal preschool program, then cut out families like ours because we chose a Catholic education.”

Nicholas Reaves, legal counsel for the plaintiffs, echoed that framing, arguing Colorado has arbitrarily excluded religious families from a public benefit designed to be open to all residents. “Colorado promised free preschool for all, then slammed the door on families who chose a religious education for their children,” Reaves said.

In its legal brief submitted to the Supreme Court, Colorado defended its policy, noting that any organization accepting public funding through the universal preschool program is required to comply with basic non-discrimination rules that bar exclusion based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity — regardless of whether the exclusion targets the child or their parents. “Petitioners seek an exemption from this law to allow them to receive public funding while turning away preschoolers because of their, or their parents’, gender identity or sexual orientation,” the state’s filing said.

The case comes before a Supreme Court that holds a solid conservative majority, which has repeatedly ruled in favor of religious liberty claims in recent years — and many of those high-profile rulings have originated in Colorado. In 2018, the court sided with a Denver-area baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, citing religious objections. Just weeks before the Supreme Court agreed to take the new preschool case, it issued a ruling backing a Christian therapist in Colorado who challenged a state ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors.

Oral arguments in the Catholic preschool case are scheduled to take place during the Supreme Court’s upcoming 2026-2027 term, which kicks off in October. A final decision is expected to be handed down by the end of the term in June 2027.

19 4 月, 2026
Cop building legacy with JCS Courier and more

Against a backdrop of working-class upbringing in Jamaica, Jermaine Harvey turned a lifelong dream of entrepreneurship into a fast-growing courier business, defying the lack of generational wealth and family financial backing that often acts as a barrier for new founders.

Harvey, a serving police officer, made the strategic decision to launch his own venture, recognizing that his public service career would not be a lifelong path. In 2020, at the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic when national movement restrictions shut down many traditional services and left communities stranded, he launched JCS Courier Services Limited, now headquartered in eastern Kingston.

Looking back on his childhood, Harvey credits his parents for instilling the strong work ethic and core values that have carried him through the toughest early days of building the company. While his father prioritized education for his children, the family simply did not have the capital to fund new business ventures or give Harvey a financial head start. Every milestone the company has hit, he says, has come from relentless hard work and perseverance. There have been countless days where he considered abandoning the project, but his track record of building something from nothing pushes him to keep going.

Today, JCS Courier Services is built on a mission of simplifying daily life for busy Jamaicans, with major expansion plans already in motion. The company is putting the final infrastructure in place to roll out 24/7 service across its operating area, and is preparing to formally open a new branch in the parish of St Thomas, a region currently underserved by formal courier operators.

Unlike many new market entrants that frame growth as a zero-sum competition, Harvey emphasizes that JCS exists to lift up the entire local logistics ecosystem, not drive existing informal operators out of work. “There is a slice of the cake in courier business for everyone, whether by air, sea, motor cycle, motor car, van or truck,” he explained. The company meets a wide range of customer needs: same-day delivery of meals and documents between any two locations, door-to-door delivery of online purchases shipped from international warehouses in China and the United States via air or sea freight, with no extra delivery fee for final mile drop-off at a customer’s home or office. It also offers shared warehousing space for small local shipping companies that lack their own storage facilities, filling a critical gap in the regional market.

While JCS has already been operating informally in St Thomas for months, counting major local brands like Tastee among its clients, the official launch is still upcoming. Customers can access the company’s services via the JCS mobile app, available on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store for Android users, or place orders over the phone directly through the JCS office.

Harvey says that bringing reliable formal courier services to St Thomas will dramatically improve quality of life for local residents, who currently rely only on informal freelance transporters. Looking further ahead, JCS has its sights set on regional expansion: Harvey aims to grow the brand across the entire Caribbean and serve the wider global Jamaican diaspora, cementing its mission of making daily logistics hassle-free for customers at any time of day.

19 4 月, 2026
Even better after Hurricane Melissa

When Hurricane Melissa tore through Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica last October, it left a path of destruction that permanently shuttered dozens of local businesses. But for one beloved community staple, the disaster did not spell an end — it opened the door to a radical rebirth. Eleven Restaurant and Lounge, long a treasured gem of the coastal town, was reduced to rubble in mere hours by the storm, taking with it years of careful work and upending the lives of team members, many of whom saw their own homes damaged alongside the restaurant.

For co-owner Glenton Rowe, the devastation was overwhelming. “Seeing years of hard work torn down was truly devastating,” Rowe recalled in an interview with the Jamaica Observer. Nearly every piece of core equipment — from dining fixtures and seating to audiovisual and security gear — was destroyed, requiring full replacement and a complete restart. What could have broken many business owners, however, only galvanized the Eleven team, whose dedication became the driving force behind a rapid decision to rebuild. Instead of walking away from the ruin, the leadership prioritized their staff and community, committing to revival not just for profit, but to restore livelihoods for the people who had built the brand.

Even before breaking ground on reconstruction, the Eleven team stepped up to support the broader community recovery effort. Partnering with global food security non-profit World Central Kitchen, the group mobilized to serve hot meals to hundreds of local families displaced or impacted by the storm. The outpouring of gratitude from recipients reinforced a long-held truth for the restaurant: it was always more than a commercial venture. It had evolved into a pillar of local community care, and that new purpose would fuel every step of its comeback.

Fueled by faith, a commitment to their team, and a desire to serve their community, the Eleven group reframed the catastrophic storm damage not as a crippling setback, but as an unexpected opportunity to grow. The road to reconstruction was far from smooth, however. With widespread damage across the entire parish, demand for building materials and skilled trade workers spiked, creating massive supply chain delays and labor shortages that slowed progress. Undeterred by these hurdles, the team pushed forward, determined to build something better than the original space they had lost.

What emerged from the rubble is a fully reimagined dining destination that exceeds even the founders’ pre-storm dreams. While gradual renovations had long been part of the business’s long-term plan, the hurricane’s destruction left a blank canvas that allowed the team to bring a far bolder, more ambitious vision to life. The result is a more elegant, visually striking and refined space that elevates the original guest experience. Today, patrons can choose from four distinct dining zones to suit any occasion: an intimate private privacy corner, an elevated open-air space, a scenic patio adjacent to a local waterfall, and a cozy, welcoming indoor area.

The upgrades do not end at the physical space. The menu has been reworked to elevate Eleven’s signature blend of modern Caribbean cuisine with thoughtful international twists, and the overall ambiance has been refined to feel more inviting than ever. Customer input played a central role in shaping the new layout and offerings, and the public response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Even team members share that excitement, with many noting the new space is far more inspiring to work in.

“I like working here because I have a great team; each one helps one, and I have a great boss,” said Tanece Smith, a long-time server at Eleven. “You should come here because we have an awesome ambience, great food, and great vibes,” she added, echoing the warm welcome the restaurant extends to all guests.

For Rowe and the entire Eleven team, the comeback from Hurricane Melissa has been a masterclass in the power of perseverance. They have learned that success is never measured by how easy a path a business travels, but by how it endures through hardship. Built on a foundation of faith and sustained by unwavering community support, the team has overcome staggering adversity, with patron loyalty acting as a constant reminder of why they fought to rebuild.

As the restaurant approaches its third anniversary, Rowe says the business remains focused on steady growth, continuous improvement, and strengthening the foundation they worked so hard to rebuild. “Our main priority right now is to continue delivering exceptional experiences to every guest who walks through our doors,” he explained. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Eleven is now a vibrant community hub, far more than just a dining space. It has become the go-to venue for life’s most special moments — from birthday celebrations and wedding anniversaries to community gatherings and corporate meetings — earning a reputation as a five-star dining destination in the heart of Savanna-la-Mar.

Quoting an age-old proverb, Rowe summarized the restaurant’s journey: “The race is not for the swift, but for those who can endure.” To the regulars and new patrons who have stood by the business through its darkest days, he extended a sincere message of gratitude: “To our loyal customers, we extend heartfelt gratitude, because it is through your unwavering support that Eleven continues to rise, stronger than ever.”

19 4 月, 2026
SOL Harbour welcomes homeowners

OCHO RIOS, St Ann, Jamaica — PROVEN Properties Limited gathered nearly 200 property purchasers and industry stakeholders Saturday evening for a celebratory welcome event at the scenic clubhouse and pool terrace of its flagship SOL Harbour development, the first large-scale project of its kind built along Jamaica’s popular north coast in four decades. Founded by former Jamaican politician and business leader Peter Bunting, the landmark waterfront development targets both personal vacation use and income-generating short-term rental opportunities, tapping into Jamaica’s rapidly growing tourism sector. Against the backdrop of a golden Caribbean sunset stretching across Ocho Rios harbour, guests enjoyed a curated experience featuring live steelpan music from the Silver Birds Pan Orchestra, a custom cocktail reception, and remarks from key industry and government leaders. In his address, Bunting, who serves as founder and executive director of the project, outlined the strong investment logic that has driven demand for SOL Harbour units. He noted that short-term vacation rentals now account for roughly 30 percent of all accommodation stays for stopover visitors to Jamaica, and properties located in St Ann — Jamaica’s most popular tourist parish — command an impressive 60 percent average premium on nightly rates compared to listings in other parts of the island. Bunting also encouraged new unit owners to frame their purchases as active, managed business ventures rather than passive investments, urging them to serve as enthusiastic hosts and brand ambassadors for Jamaica’s global tourism identity. Matthew Samuda, Member of Parliament for St Ann North East and a Jamaican government minister, joined the event to offer official praise for the development, framing it as a model for the kind of high-impact infrastructure Jamaica’s north coast needs to grow its tourism economy. “Developments like SOL Harbour are precisely what the north coast of Jamaica needs. I am proud to see PROVEN Properties leading the way, and I look forward to not one more development of this scale. I am looking forward to 20 more seven-storey buildings,” Samuda told the gathered crowd. Chris Nakash, chairman of PROVEN Properties Limited, emphasized that the project represents the firm’s long-term commitment to building lasting, resilient communities along Jamaica’s coast. “This is the first development of this kind in 40 years. The confidence shown by every purchaser in this room is the foundation upon which PROVEN Properties continues to build,” Nakash said. Spanning two seven-storey structures, SOL Harbour features a total of 140 studio apartments and 12 two-bedroom units, paired with resort-style amenities designed to appeal to both owners and short-term guests. These amenities include two swimming pools, a waterfront clubhouse, manicured landscaped gardens, and the pool terrace that hosted Saturday’s event. The development also benefits from a prime central location, just minutes from some of Ocho Rios’ most popular tourist attractions, including Island Village, Dolphin Cove, and the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls. Purchasers hail from both across Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora based overseas, reflecting broad interest in the country’s growing tourism real estate market.

19 4 月, 2026
WATCH: St James residents block roads leading from Gutters to Hampton

Residents in St James, Jamaica, have escalated long-simmering frustrations over chronically crumbling infrastructure into direct action, shutting down a critical thoroughfare that links the northern and southern districts of the parish to demand urgent repairs for a severely damaged section of the Springmount roadway. The demonstration kicked off in the early hours of Monday, when protesters dragged assorted debris and heavy objects onto the road to completely block through traffic. What began as a protest over unmet infrastructure needs has quickly upended daily life for hundreds of local people: school-aged children have been locked out of their classrooms, while working residents and commuters have been left stranded, unable to reach jobs, services and commercial hubs in downtown Montego Bay. According to protesters, the road’s steady deterioration began in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, which swept through the region in October 2025. What was already a compromised roadway has since grown increasingly unsafe for daily use, with repeated calls to government authorities for repairs falling on deaf ears. Residents have stood firm in their demands, making clear that they will not lift the blockade until local officials provide clear, binding assurances that the long-delayed repair work will get underway immediately. The protest highlights the growing tensions between Jamaican communities and public agencies over slow disaster recovery and unaddressed basic infrastructure needs across the island.

19 4 月, 2026