CARIBBEAN

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF)says a fire that broke out at the barracks area of Up Park Camp on Friday night has been extinguished.According to the JDF, the blaze broke out at approximately 7:41 pm Friday. The JDF Fire Unit as well as the Rollington Town, Half Way Tree, York Park, Trench Town and Spanish Town Fire Stations responded swiftly and worked collaboratively to contain the blaze, the JDF said in a release."The fire has since been successfully extinguished. At this time, the cause of […]

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has begun to restore electricity to Jamaicans following an all-island power outage on Friday night, according to energy minister Daryl Vaz.Vaz, in a statement late Friday, described the blackout as "unacceptable".He said he has been advised by the leadership of the JPS that all power stations are being restarted with a view of having electricity restored to the entire island on a phased basis overnight into Saturday morning.The energy minister has […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fire broke out at Up Park Camp in Kingston on Friday evening.Jamaica Fire Brigade Commissioner Stewart Beckford confirmed the fire but did not immediately provide details on the cause of the blaze or the extent of the damage.Observer Online is tracking this developing story and will provide more information as it becomes available.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — True Pet Food recently brought together retailers, distributors, customers and team members for its inaugural "Inner Circle" event, held at Sandals Dunn's River, as the company sought to strengthen relationships across its distribution network and share plans for future growth.The invitation-only gathering, held under the theme: "Impact", served as a platform for the company to introduce new products, recognise key partners and reinforce its brand messaging among those who […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Blackouts have been reported across several parishes in Jamaica, affecting electricity service in multiple areas.Efforts to contact the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) for information on the cause of the outages and estimated restoration times have so far been futile. The JPS is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.This is a developing story.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has stepped up its engagement with Jamaica, hosting its first roadshow in the country as it seeks to expand trade, investment and industrialisation opportunities between the Caribbean and Africa.The June 2 event comes less than a year after Jamaica signed Afreximbank's Partnership Agreement and follows the bank's approval of a US$5-billion financing facility for Caribbean countries, including Jamaica.Held under the theme […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A weekend packed with music, star power and celebration is set to unfold at Club MECA as the venue rolls out a two-night entertainment experience featuring some of Jamaica's most talked-about acts.The festivities begin Friday night with a performance from rising sensation Nigy Boy before dancehall hitmaker Serani takes centre stage on Saturday, which also coincides with his birthday celebrations.For Serani, returning home to mark another year around the sun is a tradition […]

TRELAWNY, Jamaica — National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB) will relocate its Falmouth branch to Champion Plaza on July 6 as the financial institution seeks to improve customer access, parking and service efficiency in the growing Trelawny market.The branch will move to Shop B2, Champion Plaza, 63A Market Street, approximately 10 minutes from its current location, according to the bank.NCB said the relocation comes as both Falmouth and the bank's customer base have outgrown the […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The urology service at Spanish Town Hospital has completed nearly 1,500 surgical procedures since its establishment five years ago, as the public health facility continues to expand access to specialised urological care in St Catherine and neighbouring parishes.The service, which was launched on May 3, 2021, has also provided outpatient treatment to thousands of patients and has grown into one of Jamaica's leading public-sector urology units, according to a release issued […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Stewart's Automotive Group has opened a new US$7-million showroom for Chinese vehicle brand Great Wall Motor (GWM) on South Camp Road, betting on continued growth in Jamaica's automotive market despite recent economic disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa.The 9,000-square-foot facility, formally named the Diana Stewart Building, was officially opened on June 3 and will serve as GWM's flagship showroom in Jamaica, with space to display up to eight vehicles, including the […]

The ATL Automotive Group will be out in full force as the title sponsor for Skvnk Fest, scheduled for this Sunday, June 7, at Cinema 2, New Kingston.“The Skvnk lifestyle brand has always had a good relationship with ATL Automotive, and when you think about a company that has variety for consumers, we can only be talking about ATL Automotive,” Nick Lue, event organiser, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.Kellise Wong, Group Marketing Manager, ATL Automotive, echoed Lue’s […]

MANHATTAN, New York — Jamaica's Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Supply-Side Ministerial Committee, Edmund Bartlett on Thursday addressed the launch of the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) Supply-Side Initiative in New York, calling for a fundamental shift in how the region measures and develops its tourism economy.Speaking under the theme: 'Reimagining Caribbean Tourism', Bartlett argued that the sector must move beyond traditional metrics of arrivals and occupancy to […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mount Pleasant Academy will play All Saints United of Antigua and Barbuda in the Round of 16 of the Caribbean Football Union Club Shield on either July 25 or 26, it was announced after Friday’s official draw.The third place finishers in the Jamaica Premier League were one of eight teams that were given byes to the Round of 16 in the competition that will be played in Trinidad and Tobago between July 23 and August 2.Twenty-two teams are taking part in the tournament that […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition spokesman on environment and climate resilience and Member of Parliament for St Mary Central, Omar Newell, has welcomed the Government's proposed ticketing system for travel waste offences, while calling for a wider overhaul of the country's waste management framework.According to a release on Friday, Newell said the proposed measure should serve as a starting point for a more comprehensive national strategy to address Jamaica's solid waste challenges.“I […]

Kanya King, the London born entrepreneur who alongside Andy Ruffell founded the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards in 1996, has died at the age of 57.King’s death was announced by the MOBO Organisation in a statement on its official social media pages.“It is with immeasurable sorrow that the MOBO Organisation announces the passing of its founder and CEO, Kanya King CBE. Kanya passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026 after a courageous and characteristically determined battle with colon […]

Customers have been promised a more reliable and cost-effective way of sending and receiving packages through a new flat-rate parcel delivery service introduced by Showfa Express Limited and Paymaster Jamaica.Showfa One, which was officially launched on Thursday at Paymaster's head office on Molynes Road in St Andrew, will allow customers to send and receive packages that fit within a standard package envelope through four selected Paymaster locations at a flat rate of $690.The participating […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United State (US) CDC on Friday urged strong public health interventions against the current Ebola outbreak, citing their models that show it could otherwise rival the scale of the 2014 West Africa outbreak.That eruption of the virus resulted in more than 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths."That scale is possible," said Jason Asher, director of CDC's Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, during a press briefing.The US projections from the […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Parliament's Economy and Production Committee is to undertake a comprehensive review of flexible work hours and work-from-home policies.The review comes against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, and rising fuel prices, which are placing pressure on businesses, workers, and national economies.Committee chairman, Alando Terrelonge, said these developments have renewed discussions worldwide regarding the future of work and the […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Friday, June 5, ended trading at $158.10, down 28 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $113.80, down from $116.77 and the British pound at $215.04, up from $212. 30.

Most Jamaican finance teams I work with are not short on ideas. They are short on hours. A senior accountant spends Tuesday cleaning a messy export from a point-of-sale system. The CFO of a mid-sized manufacturer in Spanish Town spends Thursday rebuilding a budget because a line item moved. The founder of a Montego Bay tour operator spends Sunday wrestling a spreadsheet into something her bank will accept.Quietly, in the background, the tool that swallows most of those hours — Google Sheets […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government will invest $200 million this year to expand capacity at care facilities, thereby easing overcrowding and freeing up bed space.Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, explained that the issue of social cases occupying hospital beds has been long-standing.He noted that a special effort will be made this year to address the matter in collaboration with other ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Wellness.McKenzie […]

After his 2025 birthday party in St Croix, Spragga Benz’ management planned an even bigger event to celebrate his 57th year in 2026. They got that and more at "Step Into A Journey to Kingston", which took place on May 31 at Miramar Cultural Center in South Florida.The 800-seat venue was sold out as the guest of honour was joined by fellow artistes for an evening that tracked his career from its early days in Dunkirk, East Kingston to the present.Allison Hunte, who coordinated "Step Into A […]

United Kingdom (UK) based reggae singer Debbie DeFire is showcasing two distinct sides of her artistry with the release of her latest singles, Rude Bwoy and Life.While both songs are rooted in reggae, they deliver very different messages, highlighting the singer’s ability to blend storytelling, reflection and timeless Jamaican musical influences.One of the most intriguing aspects of Rude Bwoy is its history. The song traces its origins back to the mid-1970s and was originally written by […]

Reggae artiste El Feco says the response to his latest single, Love Seems Far Away, has been deeply encouraging since the release of the official music video.The track, which features international reggae crossover star Apache Indian and Jamaican vocalist Kvon Lewis, has been gaining attention online for its message of love, unity and understanding.“Fans have really connected with the message of the song,” El Feco said. “It is not just a love song in the romantic sense; it is about the […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Delroy Chuck, has expressed profound sadness at the passing of Justice Ian Forte, OJ, CD, KC (Ret’d), hailing him as one of Jamaica’s most distinguished legal minds and a towering figure in the administration of justice.In a tribute issued following Justice Forte’s passing on Friday, Chuck extended condolences to his widow, Marlene Forte, family members, friends, former colleagues, and the wider legal fraternity, noting […]