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Abeng — Jamaica news

Schoolyard brawls
OBSERVER

Schoolyard brawls

Santa CRUZ, St Elizabeth — The indiscipline on show at several schools across the island in recent weeks reared its ugly head at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) on Wednesday leading to a suspension of classes on Thursday and uncertainty if students will return to the campus today. When contacted late Thursday, STETHS Principal Keith Wellington declined to comment on the situation

St. ElizabethNews
Big battle ahead!
OBSERVER

Big battle ahead!

From conference rooms in Ghana to expected clashes at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Antigua, former St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says the Caribbean reparation movement is preparing for what could become its most coordinated international campaign yet. Speaking during a Jamaica Observer Press Club on Wednesday, Gonsalves outlined a packed calendar of diplomatic meetings, international conferences, and political lobbying efforts that he believes could significantly expand global pressure on Britain and other former colonial powers to address the legacy of slavery and colonialism

News
Jah Lil: A new voice driven by purpose
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Jah Lil: A new voice driven by purpose

In a music landscape often dominated by trends and viral moments that are fleeting, emerging reggae artiste Jah Lil is carving out his own lane — one that’s not only rooted in talent, but also in purpose. Describing himself as “a people person” and “a leader in the room”, Jah Lil told the Jamaica Observer these traits aren’t forced — they’re instinctive and have become the driving force behind his career

News
My biggest mistake!
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My biggest mistake!

Dave Cameron may have been a polarising figure in regional cricket but former former Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves says the sport in the region was better governed under the Jamaican’s watch. Gonsalves says he regrets backing current Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr Kishore Shallow

KingstonNews
Goodness Graceous gives Wayne Binns his first training victory over five furlongs
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Goodness Graceous gives Wayne Binns his first training victory over five furlongs

Rookie conditioner Wayne Binns landed his maiden training victory on Saturday, May 2, when Goodness Graceous, ridden by Jaheim Anderson, swooped late to take the seventh race over five furlongs by two and a half lengths.

St. CatherineNews
Super David Signals 2000 Guineas Promise with Dominant Maiden Breakthrough
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Super David Signals 2000 Guineas Promise with Dominant Maiden Breakthrough

After placing third on debut, Super David returned six days later to crush a native-bred three-year-old maiden over 1,300m. Trainer-owner David Powell says the colt skips The Kingston and is being aimed at a June Guineas prep.

KingstonNews
TAJ King Street Office Briefly Closes as Workers Protest Persistent Odour
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TAJ King Street Office Briefly Closes as Workers Protest Persistent Odour

Operations at Tax Administration Jamaica’s King Street branch in downtown Kingston were paused Thursday after staff reported a strong smell. While officials said a dead animal was removed, workers said long-running sanitation and maintenance issues remain.

KingstonNews
$3m for 30 teachers in 14 schools
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$3m for 30 teachers in 14 schools

Montego BAY, St James — Member of Parliament (MP) for East Central St James Edmund Bartlett has launched a $3-million grant programme for 30 educators across the 14 schools in his constituency. Bartlett provided details of the programme during a Teachers’ Day luncheon he hosted at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Wednesday, as he kicked off celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of his education initiative

St. JamesNews
Legacy Isle leaves them chasing shadows
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Legacy Isle leaves them chasing shadows

No hype. No excuses

St. CatherineNews
Cashless system for Manor Park vendors
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Cashless system for Manor Park vendors

Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Central Delano Seiveright has welcomed the roll-out of a new digital payments initiative at the Manor Park/Constant Spring bus park. Seiveright, who is also state minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, described the development as a critical step in modernising small business activity and improving the overall commercial environment in the area

St. AndrewNews
Dane Nelson Opens 2026 at Century Mile with Front-Running Win
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Dane Nelson Opens 2026 at Century Mile with Front-Running Win

Jamaican jockey Dane Nelson made an immediate impact at Century Mile, taking Saturday’s fourth race on Crusher Royale. The seasoned rider controlled the five-furlong dirt contest and held off late pressure to begin his 2026 Canadian run in winning style.

News
JTA head Mark Malabver says he won’t settle for record-low teacher pay increase
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JTA head Mark Malabver says he won’t settle for record-low teacher pay increase

JTA President Mark Malabver says he will not accept an increase that ends up as the smallest in the union’s 62-year history, as talks continue with the finance ministry. He made the remarks at a JTA professional development event in Hanover.

HanoverNews
Appeal denied
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Appeal denied

Two Westmoreland men currently serving life sentences for the 2011 murder of a 72-year-old housewife during a home invasion, and the wounding with intent of her then 67-year-old husband, have lost their bid to bring fresh evidence on their appeal. The men, Carvel Hines and Bruce Lamey, were convicted in February of 2017 by a seven-member jury for the offences of wounding with intent and murder in the Westmoreland Circuit Court

WestmorelandNews
Golden Tempo Ruled Out of Preakness After Historic Kentucky Derby Victory
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Golden Tempo Ruled Out of Preakness After Historic Kentucky Derby Victory

Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo will not contest the Preakness Stakes, ending any 2026 Triple Crown bid. Trainer Cherie DeVaux said the team chose extra recovery time, with the horse now being aimed at the June 6 Belmont.

News
Hyde wants to remain at Harbour View despite relegation
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Hyde wants to remain at Harbour View despite relegation

Head Coach Lenworth Hyde says he wants the opportunity to lead Harbour View back to the Jamaica Premier League after the Stars of the East suffered relegation for the first time in 31 years. Hyde, who took charge in January, was the club’s third coach of the season following the departures of Byjeon Thomas and Vassell Reynolds

News
FIFA Fan Festival Miami brings spirit of W’Cup 2026 to Bayfront Park
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FIFA Fan Festival Miami brings spirit of W’Cup 2026 to Bayfront Park

Visitors to Miami during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will find that the tournament experience extends well beyond the stadium. From 13 June to 5 July, Bayfront Park in downtown Miami will be transformed into the FIFA Fan Festival™ Miami, a free, open-air gathering space where fans can watch matches on large-format screens, enjoy live entertainment and experience the energy of one of the world’s most culturally vibrant cities

News
Trump says he would not pay $1,000 to watch US at World Cup
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Trump says he would not pay $1,000 to watch US at World Cup

New YORK, UNITED STATES (AFP) — President Donald Trump said in an interview published Thursday that he would not pay the US$1,000-plus (over J$158,000) ticket price for the United States’ first World Cup match, piling pressure on FIFA over its sky-high costs. “I did not know that number,” the billionaire Trump told the New York Post, adding, “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.” US lawmakers and international fan groups have slammed FIFA over its pricing structure for the tournament that kicks off in June, with Football Supporters Europe branding it a “monumental betrayal”

News
Turning pages into play
OBSERVER

Turning pages into play

The lawns of Devon House were transformed into a literary wonderland as the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) hosted its Reading Picnic last Friday. Held as a Reading Week activation for the second consecutive year, the event treated 120 Grade 3 students, aged seven to nine years old, to an immersive day dedicated to literature, learning, and fun

St. CatherineNews
PORTMORE STAKES: Dream Catcher’s to lose
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PORTMORE STAKES: Dream Catcher’s to lose

The $3-million Portmore Stakes takes centre stage at Caymanas Park on Sunday, May 10 — the final major prep on the ‘Road to the Triple Crown’ for native-bred fillies. A field of 10 faces the starter in the Graded Stakes event over 7 ½ furlongs (1,500m)

St. CatherineNews
Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman Marks Read Across Jamaica Day at Jamaica House Basic School
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Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman Marks Read Across Jamaica Day at Jamaica House Basic School

Children at Jamaica House Basic School welcomed Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman for a Read Across Jamaica Day activity focused on literacy. The visit featured a read-aloud session, student interaction, and donations of books and classroom supplies.

St. AndrewNews
We Jammin set to conduct The Kingston
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We Jammin set to conduct The Kingston

We Jammin returns to headline a 10-horse field in The Kingston, the final major prep for native-bred colts and geldings at Caymanas Park tomorrow. After his commanding performance in the Prince Consort Stakes on April 11, We Jammin looks to put an exclamation point on his dominance before the 2000 Guineas in June

KingstonNews
Children at St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Tarrant Primary get love from KFC Jamaica
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Children at St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Tarrant Primary get love from KFC Jamaica

Children in the paediatric ward at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital were not forgotten for Read Across Jamaica Day 2026. KFC Jamaica took its activities to children in health-care and school settings, creating moments of connection, comfort and learning at the hospital as well as at Tarrant Primary School in St Andrew

St. AnnNews
Crystal Palace book first European final after seeing off Shakhtar Donetsk
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Crystal Palace book first European final after seeing off Shakhtar Donetsk

Crystal Palace advanced to their first European final with a 2-1 second-leg win over Shakhtar Donetsk, sealing a 5-2 aggregate. Oliver Glasner will lead them into a May 27 showdown with Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

ManchesterNews
DBJ Volunteers Promote Reading at St Jude’s Primary and Mona High on Read Across Jamaica Day
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DBJ Volunteers Promote Reading at St Jude’s Primary and Mona High on Read Across Jamaica Day

The Development Bank of Jamaica sent volunteers to St Jude’s Primary School and Mona High School for Read Across Jamaica Day, leading reading sessions and donating library resources to strengthen student learning and literacy development.

St. AndrewNews
Dancehall Deejay Kkrytical Sets Sights on Jamaica and Miami Shows
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Dancehall Deejay Kkrytical Sets Sights on Jamaica and Miami Shows

Dancehall act Kkrytical says he is sharpening his live set for three late-May events in Jamaica and Miami, while pushing new songs and building toward an EP after more than 15 years in music.

St. CatherineNews
Kuebler brace sends Freiburg past Braga into Europa League final
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Kuebler brace sends Freiburg past Braga into Europa League final

Freiburg IM BREISGAU, Germany (AFP) — Lukas Kuebler scored in each half as Freiburg beat Braga 3-1 at home on Thursday to win 4-3 on aggregate and qualify for the Europa League final where they will face Aston Villa. Freiburg trailed by a goal from the opening leg but were given a leg up after seven minutes when Mario Dorgeles of Braga received a straight red card

News
Panama Bronze and FEMUNDO Appointments Expand Jamaica’s Influence in World Domino
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Panama Bronze and FEMUNDO Appointments Expand Jamaica’s Influence in World Domino

Jamaica secured third in the 2026 FEMUNDO World Domino Series Nations Cup in Panama, while two delegates took senior federation posts, strengthening the country’s role in shaping international domino governance and development.

Sports
Island Routes brings stories and smiles to Rose Heights Basic School
OBSERVER

Island Routes brings stories and smiles to Rose Heights Basic School

True to its mission of supporting local education, team members from the Montego Bay-based Island Routes brought books, stories, and inspiration to the children of Rose Heights Basic School for this year’s Read Across Jamaica Day. The team spent the morning engaging with the young learners, who were eager listeners and enthusiastic participants

St. JamesNews
Mikey General releases spiritually charged Medhane Alem
OBSERVER

Mikey General releases spiritually charged Medhane Alem

Veteran reggae artiste Mikey General has released his new album Medhane Alem, which became available worldwide on May 5, 2026, through Zojak. The project is released under Mikey General’s own imprint, Qabalah First Music, and is now streaming across all major digital platforms

News
JCA president, departing CEO deny claims of security bar
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JCA president, departing CEO deny claims of security bar

Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Dr Donovan Bennett and departing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Courtney Francis have dismissed claims that the latter was barred by security from accessing his office at Sabina Park. Bennett charged, however, that the CEO, whose position he said was made redundant effective the end of July 2026, was showing up for work in contravention of a directive to stay away from the office

News
Strictly 2K to mark 10th anniversary May 23
OBSERVER

Strictly 2K to mark 10th anniversary May 23

Strictly 2K – Throwback Music Festival, one of Jamaica’s most-celebrated dancehall events, marked a major milestone this week as the team behind the iconic staging celebrates a decade of music, culture, and community. Directors Gabrielle Curling and Ibrahim Konteh of 433 Entertainment, the promoters of Strictly 2K, along with Boom Energy Drink Brand Manager Khaleel Smith paid a courtesy visit to Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) head, Mayor Andrew Swaby, at his office in downtown Kingston, presenting him with a commemorative jersey in honour of the event’s 10th anniversary

KingstonNews
Transport Authority pushes for safer, more informed commuters
OBSERVER

Transport Authority pushes for safer, more informed commuters

The Transport Authority (TA) has started a major programme to influence behaviour change in the public transport sector, especially the interaction between commuters and its route inspectors. Dubbed ‘Moving People, M-Powering Lives’, the Inspector-Commuter Engagement campaign started last Friday at Half-Way-Tree in St Andrew; Santa Cruz Transport Centre, St Elizabeth; Montego Bay Transport Centre, St James; and in Ocho Rios, St Ann

St. AndrewNews
Dozens remanded in custody after post-PSG match unrest
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Dozens remanded in custody after post-PSG match unrest

Paris, France (AFP)—Parisian authorities have remanded in custody 95 people, including nine minors, following unrest in the French capital after Paris Saint-Germain reached the Champions League final, the public prosecutor’s office said on Thursday. Another 14 minors outside of Paris were also remanded in custody after celebrations turned violent following PSG’s 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in Germany that sealed a 6-5 aggregate victory in the semi-final

News
EU climate service warns ocean heat is nearing records as El Nino builds
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EU climate service warns ocean heat is nearing records as El Nino builds

Europe’s climate monitoring agencies say global sea-surface heat has climbed close to historic peaks, with El Nino likely to form soon. Scientists warn the Pacific shift is combining with human-driven warming to increase the risk of severe global weather extremes.

News
Brazil’s Lula and Trump hail positive talks after rocky relations
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Brazil’s Lula and Trump hail positive talks after rocky relations

Washington, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday hailed a positive three-hour meeting in Washington, as the ideological opposites sought to smooth tensions. Leftist Lula, 80, who grew up dirt poor, and right-wing billionaire Trump, 79, have clashed before over everything from tariffs to Trump’s bid to exert US dominance over the Americas

News
Brunch at Brew’d to offer premium Mother’s Day experience on Saturday
OBSERVER

Brunch at Brew’d to offer premium Mother’s Day experience on Saturday

Kingston, Jamaica— Jermaine Harvey, the promoter of the three times a year event, Brunch at Brew’d, has promised that for this Mother’s Day edition on Saturday, patrons can expect a premium experience at the Police Officer’s Club in St Andrew. “Everyone can expect to have premium fun at Brunch and Brew’d with a lot of food,” Harvey told the Jamaica Observer during a recent interview

KingstonNews
Jamaica readies adoption law and CPFSA overhaul to speed family placements
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Jamaica readies adoption law and CPFSA overhaul to speed family placements

Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon said Wednesday legal updates to adoption and administrative changes at CPFSA should shorten waits, with a fostering framework and joint select committee review.

KingstonNews
Toddler among three people murdered in Trinidad
OBSERVER

Toddler among three people murdered in Trinidad

Port OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago Stuart Young has called for the resignations of two senior government ministers following the murders of three people, including a two-year-old child on Thursday in Morvant, on the outskirts of the capital. The incident followed a similar pattern last month when three other people, including an eight-year-old child, J’layna Armstrong, who were also gunned down in Morvant in a drive-by shooting

News
Fulbright programme to equip NGOs with tools to strengthen funding
GLEANER

Fulbright programme to equip NGOs with tools to strengthen funding

About 60 Jamaican non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are set to receive training under the Fulbright Specialist Programme, an effort to strengthen their ability to secure funding and better communicate their impact.The effort, a partnership between American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) and The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona School of Business and Management’s Professional Services Unit, will culminate in an intensive in-person workshop in Kingston from May 11 to 15.The programme targets a persistent weakness in Jamaica’s non-profit sector. Many NGOs, despite delivering essential services in vulnerable communities, struggle to secure funding, not for lack of results, but because they find it difficult to articulate their value to donors

St. AndrewNews
GLEANER

Kristen Gyles | Deepfakes can’t be left unregulated

The explosion in the creation of deepfakes has left us in the middle of an information war. No longer can we safely consume audiovisual content without questioning whether we are watching something real or totally fabricated

Opinion
GLEANER

Manchester Writer Warns Against Social Media Prophets and Questionable Doctorates

A Manchester letter writer says Jamaica is seeing a troubling surge in online prophets who operate without proper spiritual grounding. He also raises concern that pay-for-title doctoral claims are misleading believers and weakening trust in faith leadership.

ManchesterOpinion
GLEANER

Government Moves to Replace 72-Year-Old Tourism Law Under Tourism 3.0 Push

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica will repeal the long-standing Tourism Act and bring a new Tourism Authority Act, part of a wider Tourism 3.0 plan to keep more tourism earnings in local hands through stronger supply linkages.

St. JamesNews
GLEANER

VIRAL CRIME - Conservationists call for crackdown on TikTok’s illegal trade in endangered species

Concerns are growing over the use of social media platform TikTok as a marketplace for the sale of endangered Jamaican species, with conservation biologist Damion Whyte urging the authorities to make every effort to find and prosecute individuals who engage in the practice. He warns that the trend could further threaten already vulnerable populations

News
GLEANER

Forensic expert refutes claim nitrates prove victim fired gun in Acadia case

A retired government forensic analyst on Thursday rejected defence suggestions that the presence of nitrates on the hand of one of three men killed by police in St Andrew in 2013 was proof that he had fired a gun during the incident.Attorney Hugh Wildman, during cross-examination of the expert witness, suggested that nitrates were “the primary component of gunshot residue” and that their presence on the victim’s hand was “compelling evidence” that the man had gunshot residue.But the analyst resisted the suggestion.“I don’t know it as the primary component. I know it as a component,” she said

St. AndrewNews
OUR cops OCCUR Regulator of the Year award
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OUR cops OCCUR Regulator of the Year award

Western BUREAU:The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has hailed winning the coveted OCCUR’s Regulator of the Year Award for 2025 and the Winston Hay Award for Most Outstanding Consumer Protection Initiative as a rare and meaningful validation of its much-vaunted position in the region. “It's a wonderful thing to have your colleagues acknowledge the work that you do

TrelawnyNews
GLEANER

Free Press Survival Critical to Caribbean Democratic Stability

A letter writer argues that weakening traditional media across the Caribbean is a growing democratic threat, and urges CARICOM governments to jointly regulate digital platforms and support accountable journalism.

Opinion
GLEANER

Billie Eilish and James Cameron deliver immersive 3D concert cinema with Hit Me Hard and Soft tour film

Billie Eilish’s new 3D concert movie, co-directed with James Cameron, captures her Manchester arena show with striking detail and crowd energy. The review praises its immersive staging while noting a few weaker interview-style moments.

ManchesterEntertainment
UDC Sets Aside $1.21 Billion for New Head Office Land in 2026-27 Budget
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UDC Sets Aside $1.21 Billion for New Head Office Land in 2026-27 Budget

Jamaica’s Urban Development Corporation has put $1.21 billion in its new budget to secure land for a head office, but has not named the site. The allocation sits inside a $5.47-billion capital programme that started in April 2026.

KingstonBusiness
5 Questions with Loraine ‘Raine’ Seville
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5 Questions with Loraine ‘Raine’ Seville

This week, 5 Questions With … gets into the Mother’s Day groove with a delightful interview with singer and songwriter Loraine ‘Raine’ Seville and her beautiful, talented teenage daughter, Layla-Rei. Raine is one of those artistes who keeps her family life on a mode called ‘private’, but the pure love and heart-warming mother-daughter dynamics she shares with Layla-Rei cannot be hidden

Entertainment