AGP Executive Report

Afcon Buzz: Zimbabwe’s Warriors have been drawn into a tough Group E for the 2027 Afcon qualifiers—DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone—sparking instant debate over whether the group is “winnable” or a real test. Caribbean Security: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington is weighing how to bring Raúl Castro to justice as the Nimitz strike group enters the Caribbean, with officials calling it planned exercises even as tensions rise. Jamaica Football & Youth: Jamaica’s U-17s learned their World Cup group—Italy, Ivory Coast and Uzbekistan—while Cavalier edged through to the JPL final for a fourth straight year. Public Services: Jamaica says Hurricane Melissa housing delivery is moving into the implementation phase, with 924 containerised units already on island and more expected. Tech & Safety: A London conference highlights how everyday smart devices are being repurposed to harass and control women. Legal/Justice: A Jamaican murder suspect wanted abroad is sentenced in the U.S. for illegal firearms possession, with extradition back to Jamaica expected.

US-Cuba Tensions: The US has deployed the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the Caribbean as Washington moves to indict Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of civilian planes—an escalation timed with Cuba’s Independence Day. Jamaica Economy & Policy: The Bank of Jamaica is expected to decide soon on keeping its 5.5% benchmark rate; Barita’s CEO says holding it would protect recovery after Hurricane Melissa. Labour & Work Rights: Opposition MP Wavell Hinds wants labour matters under one ministry, while the government pushes new protections for BPO workers (a SAFE task force) and health insurance for farm workers going overseas. Early Childhood Push: The ECC has launched the ECCE Progress Assessment Tool, with a 26-member committee now set to evaluate Jamaica’s early-childhood system. Disaster Resilience: Jamaica secured a US$200m catastrophe bond for hurricane coverage. Local Life: Portmore United beat Mt Pleasant in JPL semis; a bus crash injured dozens of students on the Bustamante Highway. Weather Watch: Met Service is monitoring signs of an El Niño shift toward warmer, drier conditions.

Hurricane Finance Boost: Jamaica just locked in about US$200m in new World Bank-backed hurricane coverage, expanding a prior US$150m cat bond after strong investor demand—aimed at faster payouts ahead of the 2026 season. Digital Economy Push: Flow/Liberty Business says it’s investing millions to rebuild Jamaica’s digital infrastructure, hinting at a coming 5G rollout and announcing a Montego Bay HQ. Governance Clash: Opposition is pressing a parliamentary fight over whether the Integrity Commission’s Firearms Licensing Authority report is being tabled, with heated walkouts. Public Safety Upgrade: St Elizabeth police say body-worn cameras are now deployed in key commercial areas like Pedro, Lacovia, and Santa Cruz. Regional Migration: St Kitts and Nevis confirmed the first transfers of CARICOM nationals from the US under a migration MOU. Sports & Culture: Nigeria named its Unity Cup squad with Wrexham keeper Arthur Okonkwo getting a first call-up; and Vybz Kartel announced his God & Time album for June 5.

Hurricane Melissa accountability: Jamaica’s Auditor General spotlighted a painful gap between $1.44b in donations and just $26m spent, blaming weak controls and ODPEM delays—while government insists recovery spending is ongoing. Inflation squeeze: Bank of Jamaica is offering $27b in 30-day CDs at 5.75% to pull money out of circulation. Public safety and trust: A fourth suspect has been charged in the Digicel employee Kevin Walker murder case; meanwhile, the PNP is pushing for body-worn cameras after Latoya Bulgin was shot during a Granville protest and her body was handled in a way critics call “disturbing.” Cost-of-living and services: ROOFS shifts to direct cash payments to speed Hurricane Melissa shelter support; and the Early Stimulation Programme gets two mobile units for rural children. Labour and infrastructure: NWA staff may withdraw services over restructuring fears tied to NaRRA/One Road Authority; and Jamaica gets approval to replace 55 bridges in 12–18 months. Regional ripple: Long Island Rail Road service fully resumes after a three-day strike.

LIRR Strike Fallout: After a late-night deal ended the 3.5-day Long Island Rail Road strike, service is back in phases starting at noon, with shuttles still running for the morning commute—so riders in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island are finally getting a path back to normal. Police Accountability: In Jamaica’s St James, Indecom is investigating CCTV of a woman shot dead during a protest over a prior police killing, reigniting body-camera and crowd-control questions. Housing Pressure: Tenants in a Queens rent-stabilized building tied to notorious landlord Ved Parkash are pushing for a forced ownership change and faster repairs as foreclosure moves forward. Transport Costs: Guyana’s government says no fare hikes are approved and warns operators against forcing passengers to pay unapproved rates. IP Training: Jamaica signed a Letter of Intent with WIPO to build a three-year intellectual property training programme for diplomats. Public Health Watch: WHO warns Ebola’s “scale and speed” could mean a long, fast-moving crisis. Culture & Sports: Grace Jones turns 78; Kingston’s ATP Challenger “Kingston Open” is set for August, and Vybz Kartel’s new collab with Chris Brown lands on Billboard charts.

Granville Police Fallout: Jamaicans for Justice and the Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches are both demanding a fully independent, trusted probe after Latoya Bulgin (“Buju”) was killed in Granville, with critics pointing to disturbing footage and renewed calls for body-worn cameras and de-escalation. One Road Authority Clash: Works Minister Robert Nesta Morgan says Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby’s comments on funding for the One Road Authority are misleading, reigniting a fight over who pays to maintain local roads. Hurricane Melissa Accountability: Opposition leaders are pressing ODPEM to explain why only $26.2m of $1.44b in donations had been spent by Feb. 23, while hundreds of millions reportedly remain uncollected or unspent. Transport Pressure in Jamaica: Taxi operators get a two-week extension before the government finalizes the long-awaited 16% fare increase decision (due June 1). Tourism & Infrastructure: Jamaica pushes new air routes and a $5b tourism investment push, while UTech moves toward cutting its power bill in half with a two-megawatt solar system. International Noise: On Long Island, the LIRR strike is over with phased service resuming after a deal—after days of chaos for commuters.

INDECOM Under Fire: Jamaica’s INDECOM has launched an investigation into the fatal police shooting of Latoya Bulgin (“Buju”) in Granville, St James, as the JCF High Command has already interdicted the officer involved after reviewing CCTV—while the body-worn camera debate flares again. Public Safety & Oversight: INDECOM is also appealing for witnesses in the same case, stressing how citizen video can shape how force is assessed. Transport Pressure: Across the region, the Long Island Rail Road strike is now in its third day, with Monday commuters facing shuttle-bus limits and a scramble for alternatives. Policy Push: Jamaica’s Transport Ministry has scheduled a Monday meeting with public transport operators over a possible fare increase, with Finance Minister Fayval Williams set to address the standoff. After Hurricane Melissa: In Trelawny, Falmouth Primary students finally received school supplies months after the storm, via Good360 and Disney Cruise Line.

Transport Standoff: Jamaica’s Transport Ministry has scheduled a Monday meeting with the Transport Authority and restive public transport operators over demands for a fare increase, with Finance Minister Fayval Williams set to address the crunch at Half-Way-Tree. Public Safety: The JCF High Command has ordered the immediate interdiction of the Granville, St James officer who shot a civilian on Sunday, with INDECOM and IPROB now running a full investigation. Health Watch: Westmoreland health authorities are stepping up hantavirus surveillance at ports of entry, while stressing there are no suspected or confirmed cases in Jamaica and urging residents to ignore fake health posts. Agriculture Policy: Floyd Green says the ministry is moving to reclaim agro-park lands not put into production—120 acres already reclaimed in 2025, with more targeted next. Sports & Culture: Montego Bay United edge Cavalier 1-0 in the JPL semi-final first leg; and Jamaica’s futsal scene gets a boost with 28 teams set for the National Futsal Tournament 2026.

Long Island Rail Road strike standoff: MTA CEO Janno Lieber and rail unions say talks are stalled, with workers walking off at 12:01 a.m. Saturday—setting up Monday’s commute chaos for roughly 275,000 riders. The MTA says it’s ready to bargain and will run limited shuttle buses to subway connections, while unions say no new bargaining sessions have been scheduled. Hurricane Melissa recovery: Jamaica’s Agriculture Minister Floyd Green announced Phase 2 of the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Programme—$250 million—after Phase 1 “went extremely well,” helping push crop output to the second-best on record. Curfew backlash in Westmoreland: Burnt Savannah residents protest a curfew they say has lasted over two months and is crushing livelihoods, including after police allegedly pepper-sprayed people during a candlelight vigil. Tourism airlift push: Jamaica will host the CTO Air Connectivity Summit in Kingston on Feb. 23, 2027, building on last year’s Bermuda meeting focused on fixing capacity, fees, and weak intra-Caribbean links. Community policing: Westmoreland’s JCF is expanding its “Beat the Streets” initiative with more direct officer-community engagement.

ATP Challenger in Kingston: Jamaica is set to host the first English-speaking Caribbean ATP Challenger, the Kingston Open running Aug 16–29 with US$214,000 in prize money and ranking points—Blaise Bicknell expected to lead the regional charge. UWI’s Digital Push: The UWI says it’s “future-proofing” with AI planning, including a One-UWI AI Research Cluster and an AI Institute in advanced development, while also leaning into “doing more with less” and new global partnerships. LIRR Strike Fallout (US): Long Island Rail Road workers walked out early Saturday—the first strike in 32+ years—after talks with the MTA collapsed over a small wage gap, leaving hundreds of thousands scrambling. Health Policy: Jamaica is drafting a dedicated menopause and andropause policy, citing major numbers affected and gaps in diagnosis and care. Local Sports & Culture: CPL draft reshuffled squads with Gudakesh Motie moving to Barbados and Knight Riders keeping their core; meanwhile, Kingston’s youth football Elite Cup final is set for today.

Agriculture Blueprint: Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture has finished a draft 10-year National Agricultural Development Plan, built with FAO support and aimed at resilient farming, agribusiness value chains, trade efficiency, food security, and cross-cutting priorities like research, youth, gender, and even praedial larceny—next week’s workshop will take it to key stakeholders. Transport Shockwave: Across the region, the Long Island Rail Road strike is now fully underway after talks collapsed over a small wage gap, leaving nearly 300,000 commuters stranded and forcing limited bus shuttles that officials say won’t truly replace train capacity. Culture & Value Capture: Opposition culture spokesperson Nekeisha Burchell argues Jamaica should move from exporting influence to owning more of the US$3 trillion creative economy, with stronger copyright and licensing at the center. Community Relief: Macmillan Education and Kingston Bookshop donated 4,000 textbooks worth $6m to schools hit by Hurricane Melissa. Sports Pipeline: CPL draft headlines keep rolling—Trinbago Knight Riders retain their core, while Andre Russell heads to the new Jamaica Kingsmen and Gudakesh Motie lands with Barbados Tridents.

LIRR Strike Fallout: Long Island Rail Road service has been shut down after five unions walked out once a federal cooling-off period expired, hitting nearly 300,000 daily riders and forcing MTA contingency shuttles and work-from-home plans—commuters in Valley Stream, Bellmore-Merrick, Glen Cove, Wantagh and Seaford are scrambling as negotiations stayed stuck on wages and contract terms. Immigration—Doctors: The US lifted a hold on immigration applications for doctors, but attorneys say the fix may not guarantee approvals fast enough to meet deadlines. Disaster Relief Accountability: Jamaica’s opposition is pressing Prime Minister Andrew Holness to take responsibility for ODPEM’s slow spending of Hurricane Melissa donations, pointing to Auditor General figures showing only a small fraction spent so far. Health & Safety: Scotiabank Jamaica rolled out audio guidance at select ATMs, while police reported a fatal robbery attempt on Half-Way Tree Road. Sports Draft: CPL squads are set after right-to-match moves—Trinbago kept a West Indian core, and Russell heads to Jamaica Kingsmen. Climate Finance: Caribbean states trained to access the US$250M loss-and-damage grant window.

CPL Draft Shock: The 2026 road to the Republic Bank CPL kicked off with major roster moves—Motie leaves Guyana for Barbados, while Trinbago locks in experience with Narine, Pooran and Pol­lard and adds fresh faces like Justin Greaves and Dominic Drakes. LIRR Strike Looms: Long Island’s commuter lifeline is hours from a possible shutdown, with unions and the MTA still split over the fourth-year contract pay—contingency shuttles and subway reroutes are being lined up for a worst-case Saturday. Jamaica Period Poverty Push: Jamaica is rolling out a $50M pilot to tackle period poverty in eight schools, with health and hygiene support plus HPV and prevention programming. Gun Case in Boston: A Jamaican man was arrested at Franklin Field on gun charges tied to a record dating back to 1993. CARICOM Election Watch: CARICOM’s Bahamas observation mission wrapped its pre-election stakeholder work ahead of the May 12 vote. Sports & Culture: KFC Elite Cup finals hit Kingston Saturday, and lovers rock gets a Kingston spotlight with Bitty McLean and Vivian Jones.

Kingston Stakes Shock: Stardom, a 13-1 outsider, surged late to win the Kingston Stakes on May 9, with trainer Gary Subratie and jockey Dane Dawkins delivering a 1-2-3 sweep. Racing Community Loss: Jamaica mourns legendary owner and breeder Edmund “Big Ed” Thomas, 77, whose War Zone won the 1996 Triple Crown. Reggae Girlz Prep: The JFF confirmed two senior women’s friendlies vs Panama in Panama City on June 5 and 8 as the Reggae Girlz build toward Concacaf qualifiers. Airport Retail Push: NMIA operator PAC Kingston Airport Limited says it will invite bids next month for a major expansion of shops, restaurants and duty-free concessions. Hurricane Melissa Fallout: Opposition renews pressure over Hurricane Melissa donations, citing an Auditor General finding that 88% remained uncommitted as of February and only 1.8% had been spent. Drought Plan: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green outlined a $145m mini-water catchment pond programme plus mulch, drip irrigation and water trucking for farmers. Sports Sponsorships: Supreme Ventures backed Netball Jamaica’s Major/Minor League finals, while JaBA landed Adidas as kit partner for the men’s national team. Mental Health Focus: CISOCA urged students to learn coping skills at an advocacy workshop, as Jamaica also moves to draft a social media policy for children and adolescents.

EU-Jamaica Partnership: Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith marked Europe Day in Kingston, stressing the EU’s steady support on poverty, gender and climate, and pointing to the new Global Gateway push to connect EU investors with Jamaican businesses and infrastructure. Tourism Money, Not Just Sun: Caribbean ministers are alarmed by “leakage” in tourism—estimated at 80% of visitor spend leaving the region—while Jamaica’s Edmund Bartlett backs a regional tourism logistics hub to keep more value at home. Remittances Up: Bank of Jamaica reports US$542m in remittances in the first two months of 2026, up 4.2%, with the US driving nearly two-thirds. Birth Rate Response: Christopher Tufton announced a National Fertility and Family Support Strategy as Jamaica’s fertility rate falls to about 1.3. Disaster Relief Scrutiny: ODPEM says $600m of donated Hurricane Melissa funds is earmarked for modular housing bases, after Auditor General questions on low spending. Elections Watch: CARICOM observers say The Bahamas’ May 12 vote was peaceful and orderly.

Tourism Momentum: Armenia says foreign tourist arrivals rose 17.2% in Q1 to 453,138, led by Russia and Georgia—an upbeat signal for regional travel demand. Caribbean Tourism Strategy: Jamaica’s Edmund Bartlett is pushing a Caribbean tourism logistics hub so islands keep more of the tourism dollar, with support from the IDB and World Bank. Hurricane Melissa Accountability: Jamaica’s Auditor General reports only 1.8% of donated Melissa relief was spent by Feb 23, while ODPEM says the low spend reflected prudent handling of already-available materials and approvals. Health Policy Push: Jamaica will launch a $50m pilot to tackle period poverty in schools, plus a new international recruitment unit to fill health worker shortages. Local Safety & Compliance: TAJ extended the sweetened beverage sugar tax licensing deadline to May 15; meanwhile, Jamaica’s NWC is upgrading wastewater systems in the Corporate Area. Sports & Culture: Barbados Royals will return as Barbados Tridents for CPL 2026, and Jamaica’s Express Canteen backed a school track team for Penn Relays.