Jamaica wins Esri award as Holness highlights GIS in disaster readiness

Jamaica has received the Esri President's Award for its use of geographic information systems in disaster management, with Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness accepting the honour in San Diego, California, on behalf of the country.

Holness said the recognition honours public servants, technical staff and partners who have strengthened preparedness and response through mapping and data. He told a conference that GIS is sharpening planning, emergency coordination and recovery, and helping government take better-informed decisions. Jamaica, he added, has woven GIS into nearly all of its operations, including spatial management of roads to set maintenance priorities and budgets. Even so, he said the award also underscores how much resilience work remains.

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Grange unveiled Jamaica's 64th Independence programme under the theme "united in celebrating resilience," pointing to recovery after Hurricane Melissa. Highlights include the Jamaica Festival Song Competition's 60th anniversary, with televised shows and voting ahead of a July 25 results broadcast; a National Emancipation and Independence Thanksgiving Service on July 26; the Civil Emancipation Jubilee on July 31; and Independence Village at the National Stadium Complex from August 1 to 6, climaxing in the Independence Grand Gala on August 6. Events will be streamed live for audiences at home and in the diaspora.

The Jamaica National Reserve began its 2026 annual training camp on Monday, running to July 26. Reserve members from across the Caribbean and the United States are taking part in air, land and maritime drills, disaster-response exercises, leadership and specialist instruction, plus community outreach in Kingston, St. Ann and Portland. Camp Director Major Marlon Kennedy said the fortnight is the reserve's main active-duty period and aims to boost Jamaica Defence Force readiness.

In business, Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Senator Aubyn Hill urged micro, small and medium-sized enterprises at a Kingdom Builders Business Expo in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, to formalise and ready themselves for contracts under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority. He projected US$6.5 billion to US$20 billion in investment over five to seven years, with opportunities in transport, food supply and other services.

Regionally, Martinique took its seat as CARICOM's seventh associate member at the opening of the 51st Conference of Heads of Government in St. Lucia, after ascending on June 16. Executive Council President Serge Letchimy said the focus must move from membership to action on investment and cooperation.

Authorities put Venezuela's twin-earthquake death toll at 4,490, with more than 16,700 injured, tens of thousands missing, about 69,400 buildings damaged or destroyed in Caracas and coastal La Guaira, and more than 17,000 people left homeless. Trinidad and Tobago group Is There Not A Cause (ITNAC), led by founder Avanel Hector Joseph, was among the first regional teams to assess damage and deliver aid.

In sport, more than 20 Jamaicans, led by two-time Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, were due at Tuesday's World Athletics Memorial meet in Budapest, the season's final Gold-level fixture, with teammates including Tina Clayton and others across the sprints. FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals pit France against Spain and England against Argentina on July 15 after England beat Norway 2-1 and Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 on July 11. Trinidad and Tobago's Under-19 men beat the Windward Islands by three wickets in the West Indies Rising Stars Championship and face Jamaica on July 15.