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  • Fitz-Henley rejects criticism of Anderson appointment, accuses PNP of ‘maligning patriotic Jamaicans’

    Fitz-Henley rejects criticism of Anderson appointment, accuses PNP of ‘maligning patriotic Jamaicans’

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A senior ruling party official has launched a sharp rebuke of Jamaica’s main opposition party, accusing it of a pattern of bad-faith attacks against qualified public servants who agree to serve in key government roles.

    Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, made the comments in response to recent questions from the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) over the appointment of Ambassador Antony Anderson as chief executive officer of the newly established National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA). The PNP’s public statement, released earlier this week, centered on whether Anderson completed the formal application process for the high-stakes post before Prime Minister Andrew Holness finalized his appointment Wednesday.

    While the PNP acknowledged Anderson’s long record as a trusted technocrat with decades of experience in Jamaica’s military and policing sectors, the party said it held legitimate concerns about transparency and fairness in the NaRRA CEO recruitment and selection process.

    Fitz-Henley pushed back against these claims in an official statement released Thursday, defending Anderson’s appointment and dismissing the PNP’s scrutiny as a regrettable and unfounded smear campaign. He emphasized that Anderson, a retired Major General, has a long track record of cross-partisan public service to Jamaica, including serving as chief of defence staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) during most of the previous PNP administration. The minister argued that the opposition’s attempt to cast doubt on Anderson’s ability to lead NaRRA is entirely unprofessional and unwarranted.

    To further back up the appointment, Fitz-Henley outlined Anderson’s deep professional qualifications: he is a trained engineer who previously commanded the JDF Engineer Regiment before rising to lead the entire armed force. He also noted that the selection process was fully legitimate, pushing back against the PNP’s claims of irregularity. Per details shared by the prime minister, 85 candidates submitted formal applications for the role, which was eventually narrowed down to a shortlist of seven finalists. Anderson was the top candidate selected from that group, Fitz-Henley confirmed.

    He also rejected any questions about the integrity of the selection panel, noting that its members are widely respected public figures with experience serving on similar panels across multiple government administrations. The panel included the cabinet secretary, chairman of the Port Authority of Jamaica, and chairman of the Public Services Commission, three senior institutional leaders with long records of public service.

    Beyond the specifics of Anderson’s appointment, Fitz-Henley argued that the PNP’s criticism fits a broader pattern of the opposition unfairly targeting Jamaicans who take on critical public service roles under the current government. He cited a list of other public servants, including prosecutor Paula Llewelyn, Ambassador Rocky Meade, financial expert Kedesha Rochester, economist Professor Peter Blair Henry, and policy analyst Dennis Chung, all of whom he claimed were subjected to unfair opposition attacks in the past.

  • Caribbean urged to prepare for heat, drought and rising energy bills

    Caribbean urged to prepare for heat, drought and rising energy bills

    Against the backdrop of escalating climate volatility, a top Caribbean climate official has sounded a urgent call for regional preparedness, warning of overlapping climate and economic threats set to impact the area ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which kicks off in June.

    Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Wet and Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) held in Nassau, Bahamas this Wednesday, Dr. David Farrell, principal of the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), outlined that the climate phenomenon El Niño will drive worsening drought and record-breaking extreme heat across the region by the end of 2026. These dual climate hazards will arrive alongside already volatile global energy markets, he warned, bringing sharp increases in the cost of cooling for households and communities across the Caribbean.

    “We start preparing for a drier period,” Farrell told attendees of the regional climate gathering. “A drier period will induce droughts in some communities, and so we have to begin thinking about how we will deal with water. For other communities, it may mean excessive heat.”

    Farrell pointed out that these looming climate challenges are unfolding at a time of persistent global fuel price instability. Higher energy demand for cooling during prolonged heatwaves will directly translate to steeper utility bills for Caribbean families, placing additional financial strain on already vulnerable households. “It may mean that we pay more for cooling, and this could place a strain on communities and families. It’s going to be up to us to provide the best information possible to help people prepare,” he added.

    Beyond immediate household impacts, Farrell emphasized that El Niño-driven climate extremes will also create underdiscussed ripple effects across Caribbean regional trade and national economies, a topic that has not received enough attention within the Caribbean Community (Caricom). “We do not often discuss these issues within Caricom, but we trade,” he said. “What does a changing climate mean for regional trade and for how we engage with international markets? These are areas where we need to refocus our discussions within CariCOF and Caricom.”

    To improve regional climate action, Farrell stressed that the Caribbean must overhaul how climate science and risk information is shared with the general public, moving beyond dense technical language that is inaccessible to communities outside of scientific research circles. “We have to break down the scientific jargon, the equations and the technical language so we can communicate intelligently and meaningfully with the people of the Caribbean,” he explained. Stronger two-way public engagement and community feedback, he added, are core to building a more effective, responsive regional climate response framework.

    Farrell also recalled the severe whiplash of extreme climate events the region experienced between 2010 and 2011, when the Caribbean shifted abruptly from prolonged, debilitating drought to extreme rainfall and catastrophic flooding, as a reminder of how rapidly climate conditions can shift in the region.

    In a push to build intergenerational climate capacity, he called on public and private stakeholders across both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations to expand investment in youth engagement, through expanded internship programs and accessible climate-focused training opportunities. “This is one of the ways we bridge the gap between older and younger generations,” he said. “Young people are the ones who will have to face the future climate challenges in this region, and they must become climate aware, climate smart and climate literate from an early age.”

    Alongside his warnings and calls to action, Farrell used the regional forum to officially soft-launch a landmark new regional climate resource: the Caribbean Climate Impacts Database (CID). Designed as a centralized, collaborative hub, the platform will underpin evidence-based climate decision-making and policy development across the entire Caribbean region.

    Farrell explained that the core mission of the new database is to connect fragmented emergency management systems across Caribbean nations and create a single unified repository for standardized climate impact data. The platform will also play a critical role in supporting Caribbean countries’ applications to the international Loss and Damage Fund, a global financing mechanism designed to support vulnerable nations dealing with climate change impacts. By providing verifiable, evidence-based data on past and projected climate impacts, the CID will help regional states secure critical financing for climate resilience projects and support the future expansion of the database itself.

    While CIMH will take on day-to-day management of the new platform, Farrell emphasized that the future development and governance of the database will be led by regional stakeholders from across the Caribbean. Roche Mahon, a lead facilitator for the CID initiative, revealed that the platform already boasts an robust initial dataset: more than 7,000 individual records tracking hazard impacts across 29 Caribbean countries.

  • ROJ mobilises teams for Labour Day school projects

    ROJ mobilises teams for Labour Day school projects

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — What began as a company-wide volunteer drive turned 2026 Labour Day into a transformative day of community service for Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), the parent operator of iconic fast-food chains KFC and Pizza Hut across the island. The company coordinated hundreds of team members, building supplies, and catered meal support to upgrade eight primary and early childhood institutions across western Jamaica and St Catherine, delivering tangible improvements to learning spaces that serve local communities.

    In an official press statement released Thursday, ROJ outlined that the initiative was intentionally structured around community needs already identified by its own employees. Rather than launching a disconnected corporate charity project, the company organized cross-location and cross-department teams to support schools located in the very neighborhoods where their team members live and work, grounding the effort in local connection.

    The eight institutions that benefited from the drive span the region: Cornwall College, Howard Cooke Primary, Edward Basic, Granville Primary and Infant, Bridgeport Basic, Priory Primary, St Peter’s Early Childhood Institution, and Bogue Hill Primary and Infant School. ROJ covered all required material costs for the projects, donating multiple buckets of paint, along with brushes, rollers, paint pans, and native saplings for campus landscaping. To keep volunteer teams energized through the full workday, the company also provided hot meals from KFC and Pizza Hut, plus cold refreshments for every work site.

    Across all participating schools, the core goal of the effort was simple but impactful: to create brighter, cleaner, more welcoming learning environments for both students and teaching staff. ROJ highlighted two sites in particular for their focused, community-integrated work: St Peter’s Early Childhood Institution in Falmouth and Bogue Hill Primary and Infant School in Montego Bay.

    At both locations, ROJ volunteer teams worked side-by-side with school administrators, parent groups, teachers, and local community volunteers. Campus walls were repainted in fresh, vibrant hues, faded playground artwork was restored, new trees were planted across school grounds, and deep cleaning work was completed throughout every building. Even young students found small ways to contribute to the upgrades, joining in the collaborative spirit of the day.

    For St Peter’s in Falmouth, the support went beyond cosmetic upgrades: ROJ’s team also completed critical repairs to the roof of a classroom that had sustained severe damage during Hurricane Melissa the previous season.

    Michael Black, Restaurant General Manager of Pizza Hut Whitter Village and lead coordinator for the St Peter’s project, said the day perfectly embodied what ROJ’s Labour Day service model was designed to achieve. “This was all about meeting a demonstrated need in the community and bringing the right resources to get the job done,” Black explained. “St Peter’s is a core institution for this area, and after the damage Hurricane Melissa left behind, we knew this work would change daily life for the kids here. What impressed me most was how seamlessly team members from different restaurants and departments came together to pitch in. Everyone understood why we were there, and that made all the difference.”

    Levene Sheriff, Marketing Officer at ROJ, added that the initiative allowed the company to support local community action in a way that felt authentic rather than performative, leaning into the existing connections ROJ employees already have with their home neighborhoods. “Across both of our brands, our team members are embedded in communities all over Jamaica, and many of them already volunteer for local causes on their own time,” Sheriff noted. “Labour Day gave us the chance to back that existing spirit of service with company resources — whether that’s building materials, catered meals, or extra volunteer hands. Our goal wasn’t to launch something new from the top down; it was to strengthen the work that was already happening in these school communities.”

    For Gillian Brissett, Principal of St Peter’s Early Childhood Institution, the volunteer drive came as a much-needed boost after months of uncertainty following the hurricane. “We are truly grateful for every bit of support the ROJ team gave St Peter’s,” Brissett said. “They showed up ready to work from the minute they arrived, and it was so encouraging to see parents, teachers, and even our own students join in. The school looks completely different now, brighter than ever, and after everything we went through with Hurricane Melissa, this means more than we can say. Support like this reminds us that the wider community hasn’t forgotten us, and that we all have a stake in these kids’ education.”

    By the end of the 2026 Labour Day, the effort had brought together more than 200 participants from ROJ, local schools, and the surrounding community, all united around the shared goal of building better learning spaces for Jamaica’s children. By leveraging its existing employee network to target local needs, ROJ was able to deliver impactful upgrades to multiple schools while keeping the work rooted in personal connection, practical action, and community-focused service.

  • Jamaican model Romae Gordon shines in WWD eyewear spread

    Jamaican model Romae Gordon shines in WWD eyewear spread

    Formerly retired Jamaican fashion model Romae Gordon is steadily solidifying her triumphant return to the upper echelons of the global fashion industry, landing a lead spot in a new high-profile editorial spread for *Women’s Wear Daily (WWD)* that highlights one of summer 2026’s most prominent accessory trends: statement eyewear. The spread, which carries the headline “Heavy Metal Eyewear Trend: From 90s Inspired Shields to Sharp Rectangular Frames,” showcases Gordon modeling a curated collection of cutting-edge, futuristic outfits paired with luxury designer sunglasses from some of the world’s most iconic fashion houses, including Prada, Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren and Gucci.

    Captured on location in New York City by acclaimed fashion photographer Vanessa Granda, the editorial blends structured, sharp tailoring, polished leather outerwear and dramatic, bold silhouettes to craft a high-fashion tribute to the resurgent popularity of 1990s-inspired eyewear designs. The spread’s styling was helmed by *WWD* fashion director Alex Badia, with hairstyling by Andrew Chen and cosmetic work by makeup artist Shaina Ehrlich.

    In a statement released Thursday by the Sheldon Alexander Group, Gordon opened up about the experience of working on the project, noting that aligning with the creative team’s original vision was a seamless process. “It was super easy to translate the vision for the creative team,” Gordon said. “The looks are so me — I loved the movement, the edge, the sleekness of the direction throughout.”

    Gordon stepped away from professional modeling for a number of years before announcing her retirement exit last year, and in the months since, she has booked a steady stream of high-profile campaigns and runway shows with many of the luxury fashion industry’s leading brands. Her official comeback kicked off when she walked in Versace’s Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2026 presentation during Milan Fashion Week, but her rise back to mainstream industry attention accelerated after she secured an exclusive runway spot for Mathieu Blazy’s highly anticipated couture debut in January 2026. She followed that milestone with a runway appearance for New York-based brand Proenza Schouler shortly after.

    Following her string of high-profile bookings, leading global fashion industry platform Models.com honored Gordon with the designation of “Model of the Moment,” cementing her status as one of the most in-demand rising (and returning) talents in contemporary fashion.

  • Enhanced Games raises Usain Bolt record bonus to $10m

    Enhanced Games raises Usain Bolt record bonus to $10m

    After a promising debut in Las Vegas, the controversial Enhanced Games has announced a massive tenfold increase in the prize for any athlete who can dethrone Usain Bolt’s iconic men’s 100-meter world record at its 2027 second edition, catapulting the reward from $1 million to an unprecedented $10 million.

    The landmark prize adjustment was revealed in a shareholder update from Maximilian Martin, chief executive officer of the Enhanced Games organization, coming hot on the heels of the competition’s inaugural showcase. During the first Games, 13 participating athletes notched 21 personal best performances under the event’s unique medically supervised performance enhancement framework, a core policy that sets the Enhanced Games apart from traditional international athletics competitions.

    Bolt’s 9.58-second 100m record, set at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, has stood unbroken for more than 15 years, and remains the high bar that the $10 million reward hinges on. The massive payout is the most high-profile step the organization has taken to draw elite competitors to its alternative model of athletics.

    Beyond the record-breaking bonus announcement, Martin shared key early success metrics from the first Games: the inaugural event secured over $32 million in total sponsorship deals, and cumulative viewership across linear television, streaming platforms, and social media channels outpaced the organizing team’s initial projections, signaling strong market interest in the unorthodox competition format.

    One of the biggest success stories from the debut event came from swimming, where Greek sprinter Kristian Gkolomeev walked away with $1.5 million after clocking a new 50m freestyle world record of 20.81 seconds. Organizers noted that this payout is the largest single prize ever awarded to a swimmer in the history of the sport.

    A core point of emphasis from the Enhanced Games organization is its commitment to competitor safety: all participants underwent rigorous pre-competition health screenings, and every athlete completed their events without major incident. With the 2027 Games already in active planning, organizers are also exploring opportunities to expand the Enhanced Games brand, including smaller satellite competitions and new endurance-focused sporting categories to broaden the event’s scope.

  • ‘You are not alone’ in Ebola fight, says WHO chief heading to DR Congo

    ‘You are not alone’ in Ebola fight, says WHO chief heading to DR Congo

    GENEVA, Switzerland — As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grapples with a fast-spreading, deadly Ebola outbreak, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus departed for the African nation Thursday, making a public pledge to deploy every resource at his disposal to curb the epidemic.

    In a detailed public address shared on social platform X ahead of his trip, Tedros extended solidarity to Congolese communities affected by the outbreak, emphasizing that “together, we will overcome this outbreak.”

    Latest official data compiled by WHO, updated to May 24, shows that since the outbreak was formally declared on May 15, the country has recorded over 1,000 combined confirmed and suspected Ebola cases, with 10 confirmed deaths and 223 deaths among suspected cases.

    The outbreak is disproportionately concentrated in the country’s northeast, with more than 90% of all cases recorded in Ituri province. Smaller clusters of infections have also been identified in the adjacent North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

    “I want to be with you in these moments. And I want you to know that you are not alone,” Tedros stated, acknowledging the fear and strain the outbreak has placed on local populations. “I know how frightening that is, and I know that the people of Ituri are bearing a burden that is not easy to carry.”
    He added that the regions impacted by Ebola were already confronting multiple overlapping crises before the outbreak, including endemic malaria, widespread food insecurity, and chronic armed conflict. “It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise,” he said.

    Tedros outlined that the international response to the outbreak will center on lifting up and supporting the existing resilience of local communities. “We do not come to Ituri with only medicine and expertise. We come to join a community that already knows how to fight for its survival,” he explained.

    A key barrier to containment efforts, Tedros noted, is the decades-long conflict and persistent insecurity that has destabilized eastern DRC for generations. Ongoing violence has blocked access to affected communities, slowing the rollout of response measures.

    Complicating the response further, the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently exists. WHO has also warned that the virus circulated undetected for an unknown period before being declared, meaning the actual scope of infections is almost certainly far larger than the current confirmed and suspected case count suggests.

  • Powerful women and men show drawing new national leaders

    Powerful women and men show drawing new national leaders

    As the countdown to June 21 ticks on, anticipation is rapidly building across Jamaica for the upcoming *Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity* – a one-of-a-kind fundraising gala that brings some of the nation’s most prominent public figures out of their professional roles and onto the stage. Scheduled to kick off at 7:00 pm at the Jamaica College auditorium in Kingston, rehearsals are already in full swing, with participants from the country’s political sphere, private sector, and civil society refining their performances ahead of the big night.

    The roster of talent continues to expand, with new high-profile additions joining the lineup in recent weeks: Miss Jamaica World 2026 Nevaeh Allen, opposition culture spokesperson Nekeisha Burchell, and renowned designer and radio host Karen Booker are the latest names confirmed to take the stage. They join an already star-studded cast that includes House Speaker Juliet Holness, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, whose acts are teased to leave audience members stunned.

    Event executive producer Cordel Green shared that attendees can expect a dynamic, surprise-filled program that showcases little-known, hidden talents of these leaders and influencers far beyond their usual work in government offices and boardrooms. “This isn’t just a show – it’s a chance to see the people who shape our country in a completely new light,” Green explained, noting that the event will also feature representation from Jamaica’s western region, with veteran Montego Bay-based journalists Lloyd B Smith and Janet Silvera, fresh off her successful Jill Stewart Memorial Run, joining the performance lineup.

    For the event’s long-time beneficiary, the Mustard Seed Communities, this annual gala has become a transformative source of support. Over the history of the *Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity* show, the initiative has raised more than JMD $80 million for the organization, which provides care and housing for nearly 500 children impacted by HIV and abandoned youth across 12 facilities islandwide. All proceeds from this year’s event will continue to fund this critical outreach work.

    Organizers have made the event accessible to both in-person attendees and remote viewers, including Jamaicans living in the diaspora. Adult tickets are priced at JMD $4,000, with tickets for children under 12 available at JMD $2,000. Physical tickets can be purchased at any Fontana Pharmacy location across the country, including outlets at Loshusan, Sovereign Centre, Tropical Plaza, Sovereign Village Portmore, and Montego Bay, while digital tickets are available for purchase online via touchstonelink.com. For those unable to attend in person, the show will be broadcast via pay-per-view through the Alive Podcast Network, with a second streaming platform expected to be announced in the coming days.

    The 2024 event boasts widespread support from a diverse group of corporate and community sponsors, including Tastee, Optimum, Kinematix, Bloozick Media Productions, Viva Events, Phase Three Productions, Alive Podcast Network, Jamaica National Bank, Bank of Jamaica, Digicel, LP Azar, Touchstone Productions Limited, Fontana Pharmacy, Josephs Holdings, New Levels Décor (Sireta Hammond), Rainforest Seafoods, TVJ, The Gleaner, RJR 94FM, IRIE FM, Kool FM, Nationwide News Network, Mello FM, Suncity Radio and Roots FM.

  • Neymar a doubt for Brazil’s World Cup opener due to injury — doctor

    Neymar a doubt for Brazil’s World Cup opener due to injury — doctor

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A sudden calf injury has thrown 34-year-old Brazilian football star Neymar’s participation in the opening match of the upcoming World Cup into serious question, the Brazilian men’s national team’s medical head Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed in a press briefing Thursday.

    The injury, which Lasmar confirmed will require between 14 and 21 days of targeted treatment and rehabilitation, has already ruled the Al Hilal forward, who recently returned to his boyhood club Santos on a short-term deal, out of Brazil’s two scheduled pre-tournament warm-up friendlies. Those exhibition matches, scheduled to take place ahead of the World Cup kickoff against Panama and Egypt, will proceed without the team’s most high-profile attacking playmaker.

    Beyond the friendlies, however, the timeline for recovery also casts uncertainty over whether Neymar will be fit enough to feature when Brazil kicks off their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13. Following Neymar’s complaint of discomfort after training, the medical team conducted an MRI to assess the damage, which revealed a grade two muscle strain in the calf.

    “Our current medical expectation is that he will be cleared to return to team activity and available for selection within that two to three week window,” Lasmar explained, adding that the medical staff will adjust the rehabilitation plan as Neymar progresses to avoid any risk of re-injury ahead of the tournament.

    For Brazilian fans, the news comes as a major blow ahead of what is widely expected to be Neymar’s final appearance at a World Cup. The five-time champions have relied on Neymar’s creative attacking output for more than a decade, and his absence from the opening match would force head coach Dorival Júnior to adjust his starting lineup just days before the tournament gets underway.

  • Holly Bostock appointed Red Stripe managing director in leadership transition

    Holly Bostock appointed Red Stripe managing director in leadership transition

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Iconic Jamaican brewery Red Stripe has unveiled a major leadership reshuffle that will make corporate sustainability and public affairs veteran Holly Bostock the first woman to lead the brand in its 100-year history. Effective July 1, 2026, Bostock will step into the role of managing director, while incumbent Daaf van Tilburg will take up a new regional leadership position with parent company Heineken’s Asia Pacific (APAC) division.

    The announcement, made public by the brewery Thursday, frames the leadership handover as the opening of a new growth-focused chapter for Red Stripe, which operates in one of the most competitive and fast-evolving beverage markets in the Caribbean. Industry observers note the appointment also marks a landmark shift for gender diversity in Jamaica’s manufacturing and brewing sectors, aligning with global corporate pushes for more inclusive leadership pipelines.

    Van Tilburg, who took the helm at Red Stripe in July 2023, earned his regional promotion after a tenure marked by strong operational results and strategic transformation. During his three years at the Jamaican brand, he led a refinement of the company’s commercial strategy, reinforced the value of Red Stripe’s core product portfolio, launched multiple market-facing innovations, and deepened long-standing partnerships with retail and hospitality partners across the island.

    One of his most notable achievements was steering the successful turnaround of Celebration Brands Limited (CBL), Red Stripe’s joint venture for sales and distribution. Under his leadership, CBL upgraded its on-the-ground sales execution, lifted customer service standards, and improved engagement with vendors across Jamaica.

    Beyond commercial results, van Tilburg prioritized corporate resilience and local community engagement, most notably leading Red Stripe’s support for national recovery efforts after Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa hit the island. Reflecting on his time leading the brand, van Tilburg called the role an incredible privilege, noting that “the passion, resilience, and talent of the Jamaican team are truly inspiring. I am proud of what we have achieved together and confident the business will continue to thrive.”

    In his new role as APAC Managing Director, van Tilburg will oversee a diverse portfolio of Heineken operating companies across the region, guiding their progress on core strategic priorities: growth acceleration, productivity improvements, and long-term operational adaptation. Heineken cited van Tilburg’s proven strategic thinking and track record of driving transformation and performance across global markets as key factors in his appointment.

    For Bostock, the promotion to Red Stripe’s top role builds on a successful three-year tenure leading Heineken St Lucia. During her time in that position, the business delivered consecutive annual growth in revenue, gross profit, and operating profit, posted record cash flow results, and implemented a sustainable debt and dividend framework designed to future-proof operations and deliver long-term value to shareholders.

    Bostock launched her Heineken career in 2010 through the company’s competitive International Graduate Programme, and has since built a cross-functional, global career spanning multiple regional markets. She cut her teeth in senior roles in public affairs, communications, and sustainability at Heineken’s global headquarters, before moving into regional leadership as corporate affairs director for Heineken Myanmar and later Heineken Vietnam. This trajectory has equipped her with deep international experience and cross-market strategic insight that Red Stripe’s board says will be invaluable in her new role.

    Red Stripe emphasized that Bostock’s appointment is not an isolated change, but a direct reflection of the company’s ongoing commitment to cultivating diverse, inclusive leadership at all levels. The milestone also stands as a progressive step forward for gender representation across Jamaica’s brewing and manufacturing industries, which have historically been led by male executives.

    Reacting to her appointment, Bostock said: “It is an honour to join Red Stripe, a company deeply rooted in Jamaican heritage and globally respected for its iconic brands. I look forward to working with the talented team to build on its success, drive sustainable growth, and continue contributing to Jamaica’s economic and social development.”

  • SBAJ welcomes Anderson’s appointment to NaRRA

    SBAJ welcomes Anderson’s appointment to NaRRA

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s top small business advocacy group is throwing its support behind the newly appointed leader of the country’s flagship infrastructure agency while calling for long-overdue changes to how major infrastructure contracts are awarded.

    The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) has extended congratulations to retired Major General Antony Anderson, who was tapped to serve as the first chief executive officer of the National Road Reconstruction Agency (NaRRA), the newly formalized body tasked with guiding the country’s large-scale road network upgrades.

    Prime Minister Andrew Holness first revealed Anderson’s appointment during a dedicated post-Cabinet media briefing held Wednesday at the Jamaica House banquet hall. Alongside the announcement, Holness confirmed that the NaRRA Bill — the legislation that formally established the agency — had been successfully passed into law, with Anderson set to take up his new leadership role starting June 1.

    In an official statement released to the public Thursday, SBAJ President Garnett Reid framed Anderson’s appointment as a milestone coming at a critical juncture for Jamaica’s infrastructure development trajectory. Reid emphasized that Anderson’s decades of decorated public service have equipped him with extensive expertise, a well-documented history of delivering results, and deep institutional knowledge that makes him well-suited to lead the new agency.

    Reid also called on all public and private stakeholders to extend full collaboration and backing to Anderson, noting that robust coordinated support will be key to helping him execute NaRRA’s mandate effectively and efficiently.

    But beyond welcoming the new leadership, Reid outlined a core priority the SBAJ is pushing for under Anderson’s tenure: guaranteeing that local small and medium-sized contractors get a fair share of the billions in infrastructure investment set to roll out through NaRRA.

    “My only hope is that small and medium-sized contractors get some of the contracts from the NaRRA investments,” Reid stated plainly.

    He underscored that structured, transparent procurement processes will be non-negotiable to correct a long-standing gap in Jamaican infrastructure development. For decades, smaller local construction firms have been sidelined for major projects, with most large contracts going instead to bigger, often international companies.

    Reid further made the economic case for prioritizing local businesses, arguing that awarding contracts to Jamaican firms keeps investment capital circulating within Jamaica’s domestic economy, fuels growth of local small enterprises, and builds long-term resilience for the national economy. In contrast, he explained, when large multinational corporations win major infrastructure contracts, a large share of the financial benefits from those investments flow off the island, leaving minimal lasting impact on local communities.

    Looking ahead, the SBAJ says it is eager to build a collaborative, productive working relationship with both Anderson and the entire NaRRA team. The group’s end goal is to ensure that Jamaica’s ongoing national infrastructure expansion doesn’t just improve the country’s roads — it also drives inclusive, sustainable economic growth that benefits Jamaican businesses and workers at the grassroots level.