In custody: Satrohan Rajkumar, also called “Depoo”
Hours after Police issued a wanted bulletin for Satrohan Rajkumar, the personal mechanic of United States-sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed, for questioning the murder of Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes, he turned up at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters.
Rajkumar, also called “Depoo”, was accompanied by his lawyer, Damian Da Silva. This was confirmed by a source close to the investigations.
On Tuesday, Mark Richmond and Udoh Kanu, both former security guards of Mohamed, along with Amarnauth Ramsook, a car dealer, who were in custody and questioned about the murder of Fagundes, were released on $1 million bail each.
Richmond and Kanu were arrested last Thursday, but the Guyana Police Force had applied for an extension to further detain the men for another 72 hours after the detention period had expired.
That application was granted on Saturday and ended on Tuesday. With respect to Ramsook, detectives stated that he had reportedly sold the car used in the execution of the former miner.
He was released after his 72-hour detention period ended. Richmond was also represented by Attorney-at-Law Damien Da Silva.
Dead: Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes
The latest development marks another significant step in the high-profile probe into the killing of Fagundes, who was gunned down outside a popular night spot on Main Street, Georgetown, on March 21, 2021.
Reports indicate that the man was partying with a group of friends when his phone rang, and he exited the nightspot to take the call. However, shortly thereafter, several gunshots were heard.
The now-deceased man’s friends rushed out to enquire but found Fagundes lying motionlessly in a pool of blood near his motor car. The case remained unsolved for more than five years.
Nevertheless, in an effort to solve the murder, the Guyanese Government engaged the Regional Security System (RSS) for assistance.
The RSS, during its investigation, did not find any evidence of corrupt practices or an attempt to cover up the probe into the 2021 murder of Fagundes.
It stated that the bribery allegations made by Sergeant Dion Bascom in several social media posts against Detective Supt Caesar and Inspector Stephens, the RSS found no evidence of such.
Dear Editor,
I am deeply disappointed by the statement made by Shadow Minister of Human Services and Social Security Natasha Singh regarding my community, St Cuthbert’s Mission.
Please do not come into our community on a single visit and attempt to play politics with our young people. It is unfair to draw sweeping conclusions based on one visit while ignoring the work that has already been done.
The public deserves a complete and accurate account of the progress that has taken place.
Our community has also seen significant development. We recently welcomed a brand-new paved road leading to our village landing, fulfilling a commitment made by the Government.
Residents have benefited from GOAL scholarships, allowing many to pursue studies at CPCE and the University of Guyana. Our primary school is currently under construction. Our playfield has been renovated, providing a safe and improved space where our young athletes play cricket and other sports, with matches taking place regularly on weekends.
New water pipelines have been installed in various sections of the village, and new electricity poles have been erected through efforts led by Deputy Toshao Leroy Gonputh.
Our Village Council continues to work for the benefit of our people. Councillor Luke Simon and Councillor Orinn Dundas are actively involved with community farming, drainage and irrigation and poultry projects through the CSOs. Toshao Simon continues to represent the interests of our village, alongside Councillors Christella, Denise, Miranda, Stallone, Beverley, Debbie Rickford, Neil, Emmanuel and others who dedicate their time and effort to serving this community. These are facts, not opinions.
As for Azruddin Mohamed, who is under federal indictment, I respectfully remind you that if you intend to visit St Cuthbert’s Mission for political purposes, write to the village council first. It was disrespectful that the council was not informed of your visit. I only learned about it through social media. Every Government agency and private organisation follows this process. That process exists for a reason and should be respected by everyone.
Mental health is not a political slogan for me. In the past year, my family has lost three loved ones to suicide, including my cousin, Christiano Simon. Like many families in our village, we live with that pain every day.
That is why I know the claim that nothing has been done is simply false.
Mental health services have already been introduced, including monthly visits by a therapist. Just last week, Dr Timothy Morgan, Dr Mark Constantine, and a Ministry of Health team visited St Cuthbert’s Mission to engage residents and committed to returning with a programme to train teachers, nurses, Village Council members, and other community leaders.
There is still much more to do, and I will continue advocating for expanded services. But do not erase the work that has already been done for the sake of political headlines.
Our community deserves better than that.
Yours sincerely,
Tristan Henry
Councillor
St Cuthbert’s Mission
Village Council
If irony generated electricity, Berbice wouldn’t need a second gas pipeline. Only months after helping to broker an MoU between our Government under Pressie’s leadership and Cerebras Systems for a proposed 300MW artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in Berbice, Ernst & Young (EY) is now organising another data centre initiative – this time in Kamla’s Trinidad and Tobago. Talk about hedging your bets!!
The juxtaposition is difficult to ignore. One moment, Berbice is being boosted as the future home of cutting-edge AI infrastructure for our region. Next, EY is helping position Trinidad to fill the same role!! Now, there’s nothing intrinsically wrong about that; EY’s a global consultancy firm – not Guyana’s economic development agency. Its job is to create business opportunities – and make money for themselves!! – wherever they exist. But Guyana’s policymakers should be asking whether the Guyanese fella heading up EY’s AI forays ain’t playing both sides against the middle!!
Data centres are among the world’s most energy-intensive facilities. They demand abundant, reliable and competitively priced electricity – not to mention water for cooling. That’s precisely why the proposed Cerebras project was strategically important. It offered a potential anchor customer to justify Exxon landing that second gate-to-shore pipeline for industrial-scale power generation in Berbice!! But if Trinidad snags the regional data centre ecosystem instead, we’ll be left in the lurch!! Pipelines follow demand. Investors follow customers. They don’t follow press releases!!
The uncomfortable truth is that an MOU ain’t no investment decision!! It’s just an agreement to explore “possibilities”!! Have we tied down the “possibilities” into “probabilities” since the signing?? Your Eyewitness certainly hopes so!! ‘Cause Berbice needs that jump start that a GTS-initiated industrialisation project would provide!! Meanwhile, Trinidad, under Kamla, desperately trying to regain its mojo, continues to leverage its industrial infrastructure, established utilities and decades of experience servicing multinational energy companies. They may not have our breakneck economic growth, but they’ve got experience with gas-fired power plants!! 750 MW of it – which would soon be fed from the new Dragon Mouth field the Yanks are arranging via Venezuela!! So until construction of the Cerebras project begins, we gotta resist the temptation to confuse ambition with achievement.
Now, there’s a certain poetic symmetry in EY facilitating both “possibilities”. Consultants, after all – especially if Guyanese are involved – don’t owe no loyalty to geography; their loyalty is to make a buck! Even more than countries, consultants got no eternal friends – just eternal interests in making money!! The question is whether we’re creating enough real opportunities to keep Berbice ahead in the race with the electricity demand that was supposed to justify that second gas pipeline.
Because in the digital economy, nobody remembers who signed the first memorandum. They’ll remember who opened the first data centre!!
…sovereignty
Your Eyewitness saw a very disturbing news item about a band of armed Chinese in military gear deployed in Suriname’s interior!! Some were in the country legally and some not!! They were arrested, and hopefully we’ll get some more details as to what they were doing there!! Like us, Suriname has gold deposits, and your Eyewitness suspects these armed Chinese were members of a “Triad” – a Chinese gang – protecting some Chinese operator from the Surinamese version of the Venezuelan Sindicatos extorting blood gold!!
Now this seizure of armed Chinese should be a warning to us. Over here, in addition to Chinese mining our bauxite and manganese, they’ve taken over the supermarket and home improvement market!! Periodically, we read about bandits attacking members of the latter businesses – and we shouldn’t be surprised if Chinese triads start operations here!!
Meanwhile, the Chinese Govt defines the Chinese diaspora as part of its citizenry – and recently passed laws to control their activities.
What say they about the Triads??
…PNC’s credibility
Fried Chicken Man – PNC’s Parliamentary leader – has called for changes in the Integrity Commission’s legal wherewithal to permit the release of details of the assets of stipulated “declarants”.
Shouldn’t he declare his assets as an exemplar of probity??
…tells young people, “This is your time”, to take up all opportunities
Since assuming office in 2020, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has reduced the unemployment rate in Guyana by half, including among young people.
This is according to the senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, while delivering the feature address at the Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry’s National Youth Skills Forum held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). The Forum was held in observance of World Youth Skills Day on Wednesday.
Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh addressing the National Youth Skills Forum on Wednesday
According to the Minister, the unemployment rate in the country was 12.8 per cent in 2020, but by 2024, that rate was reduced by half to 6.8 per cent. He also pointed out further that the youth unemployment rate in 2020 was 30.2 per cent, and by 2024, this rate was reduced by more than a half, moving to 12.1 per cent in just four years.
“And we did that by creating, in the first five years of being in Government, more than 104,000 new jobs. Now, in a population such as ours, 104,000 is a really staggering number, and jobs have continued to be created,” Minister Singh explained. He, however, noted that in Guyana’s rapidly growing economy, one of the biggest challenges faced is the challenge found in the labour market.
“It doesn’t require me to think for more than a few nanoseconds because the reality is that jobs are being created more rapidly than we are able to produce people with the skills required to take up those jobs,” the Minister emphasised.
To this end, Dr Singh urged young people to take up all the opportunities being provided in Guyana as he highlighted the PPP/C Government’s unwavering commitment to the development of the country’s youth.
He noted that under the leadership of President Ali, the Government is not just talking about the future but is actively building it by expanding free technical training and creating an unprecedented environment for employment and entrepreneurship.
The senior Minister therefore encouraged youths to ensure that they seek out and capitalise on the opportunities in the various expanding sectors of the country.
“Ask yourself, “Where do I see an opportunity in here for me? And what do I need to do to take advantage of that opportunity?” he urged the young people in attendance at the forum as he noted that with the demand for labour far exceeding supply and with more demand for skilled workers, this period in the country provides a huge opportunity for them all.
Attendees at the National Youth Skills Forum hosted by the Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Wednesday
“You are the people who are going to be filling those jobs and starting those small businesses. With that background in mind, I want to say to you that in this labour market, you are the sellers. You are the people with the skills. You’re the people who have or will be acquiring the skills that are needed in the labour market of today and, even more so, of tomorrow. You are the sellers in this labour market, and the opportunities are there for you to convert,” Dr Singh added.
Addressing those young people who are still unsure as to their career paths, Singh encouraged that they make a start at something.
“While you are figuring out what you want to do, get up and do something. Get up and do something. Make a start. Sign up for a training course; do the training course. Apply for a job; get the job and start the work. You can still be thinking about what you want to do. That’s okay. But make a start and do something,” he urged further.
Take advantage
The Minister also implored that young people take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities while also advising them that there is no longer gender-assigned jobs.
On this note, Singh concluded by recommitting on behalf of Government that no matter where each young person lives, lasting success and real prosperity cannot be built without three things.
“Education – and by education, I don’t mean only formal education, education and skills training, employment – meaning jobs and getting jobs and working in jobs – and entrepreneurship, business activity,” he said, adding, “Young people of Guyana, tomorrow’s Guyana is yours. This is your time!”
Also addressing the forum and delivering remarks as they outlined the government’s various programmes and policies beneficial to the young people while also encouraging them to take up all of the opportunities being presented countrywide were Minister in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs; Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith; Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) Kathy Smith; and Chief Executive Officer of BIT Richard Maughn.
For four days in June, the Montego Bay Convention Centre became a meeting place for Jamaicans from around the world. The 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference brought together government officials, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, youth leaders, volunteers and community organisations under the theme, “Diaspora Partnerships: Re-Building a More Resilient Jamaica.”
Now that delegates have returned home, Jamaicans.com asked attendees from across the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, regional diaspora groups, first-time participants and long-time conference veterans to reflect on their experience.
While no conference is without opportunities for improvement, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Delegates consistently praised the atmosphere of collaboration, the opportunity to reconnect with Jamaica and fellow Jamaicans, and the conference’s emphasis on service and nation-building. They also offered thoughtful suggestions that could make the 2028 conference an even stronger experience.
After reviewing dozens of comments and reports, these were the five themes that emerged most often.
The Top 5 Things Delegates Loved
1. A genuine sense of unity and shared purpose
More than any keynote speech or panel discussion, delegates said the defining feature of the 2026 conference was its atmosphere.
Words such as unity, respect, collaboration and shared purpose appeared repeatedly throughout the feedback. Long-time attendees remarked that this conference felt different, with less focus on individual agendas and more emphasis on working together for Jamaica.
Several participants described the event as having an uncommon spirit of camaraderie, with one delegate calling it “true unity, no power struggle,” while another said the Southern and Northeast USA diaspora regions came together “for one common purpose—Jamaica.”
2. Meaningful networking and stronger connections
For many attendees, the conference was about much more than attending sessions.
First-time delegates spoke about meeting entrepreneurs, educators, investors, government officials and fellow Jamaicans from around the world. Many left with new professional contacts, potential collaborations and friendships that they expect will continue long after the conference ended.
Others said the conference strengthened their personal connection to Jamaica and reminded them that members of the diaspora have an important role to play in the country’s future.
3. The Day of Service turned words into action
If there was one programme that consistently stood out, it was the Day of Service.
Volunteers painted schools, participated in medical missions, visited hospitals and clinics, supported hurricane recovery efforts and worked alongside local communities.
Many described these activities as the highlight of the conference because they demonstrated that diaspora engagement is about more than discussion. It is also about giving back.
Several delegates said the experience gave them a deeper sense of belonging and purpose while allowing them to make a tangible contribution to Jamaica.
4. Access to government services and practical resources
Attendees also appreciated the opportunity to interact directly with government agencies and service providers.
For some, that meant applying for a National Identification System (NIDS) card. Others began genealogy searches, explored investment opportunities or, after returning home, started the process of applying for Jamaican passports or reinstating citizenship by descent.
Delegates said these practical opportunities helped turn information into action and made the conference valuable beyond its formal programme.
5. Hope and optimism for Jamaica’s future
The conference theme of rebuilding a more resilient Jamaica resonated with many participants.
Despite the country’s ongoing challenges and recovery from Hurricane Melissa, delegates repeatedly said they left feeling encouraged by Jamaica’s progress and optimistic about the role the diaspora can play through investment, mentorship, volunteerism, skills transfer and community partnerships.
For many, the conference reinforced that Jamaica’s greatest strength is not only its people at home, but also its global community.
Click each photo to enlarge image
Five Ways to Make the Next Conference Even Better
1. Create more opportunities for dialogue
While delegates welcomed the strong government presence, many wanted more direct engagement with ministers, senior public officials and policymakers.
Suggestions included longer question-and-answer sessions, more town hall-style discussions and smaller breakout sessions where attendees could have meaningful conversations about the issues affecting Jamaicans at home and abroad.
Several participants also encouraged organisers to include more diaspora professionals and subject matter experts as panelists alongside government representatives.
2. Improve communication and planning
Communication emerged as one of the most common areas for improvement.
Several attendees said information regarding registration, transportation, programme updates and conference logistics often arrived late or changed at short notice, making it difficult to plan their schedules.
Many also recommended bringing back Sunday registration, as was done during the 2024 conference, allowing overseas delegates to collect conference materials and begin networking before the official opening.
Although the Day of Service received widespread praise, several volunteers reported challenges with transportation, assignment confirmations and communication.
Some participants had to arrange their own transportation, while others never received details about their assigned projects and had to find alternative volunteer sites.
Delegates suggested assigning multiple coordinators, confirming placements well in advance and improving transportation planning to make participation easier.
4. Put greater focus on young people
One of the strongest recurring concerns was the limited participation of younger Jamaicans.
Delegates called for more young people to serve as panelists, moderators and speakers, while also encouraging organisers to attract more first-, second- and third-generation Jamaicans living overseas.
Jamaicans.com’s own observations echoed this concern. Compared with the 2024 conference, youth participation appeared even lower in 2026, raising important questions about how the conference can continue to cultivate the next generation of diaspora leaders.
5. Build a Marketplace that better serves small businesses
The Marketplace was widely praised as one of the conference’s most valuable features, particularly for providing access to government agencies and information.
However, some exhibitors felt foot traffic was lighter than expected.
Compared with the 2024 conference, where craft vendors and smaller enterprises featured more prominently, the 2026 Marketplace was dominated by government agencies and larger organisations. Several exhibitors suggested creating dedicated Marketplace hours without competing sessions and encouraging government officials and delegates to spend more time engaging with smaller businesses and community organisations.
Pre- Conference link up, click each photo to view image
Building On A Strong Foundation
The feedback collected by Jamaicans.com makes one thing clear: delegates left the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference feeling inspired, connected and committed to Jamaica’s future.
Their recommendations were not criticisms of the conference but reflections from people who want to see it continue to grow and evolve.
As organisers begin planning for 2028, the challenge will be to preserve what made this year’s conference special—its unmistakable sense of unity and purpose—while building on the practical suggestions offered by the very people who travelled from around the world to be part of it.
If the recurring feedback is any indication, delegates are ready to return. They simply want the next conference to be even better than the last.
There will be many deserved tributes to Stephen Francis in the days ahead. His athletes will remember the demanding training sessions and uncompromising standards. Fellow coaches will reflect on his technical brilliance, meticulous preparation and relentless pursuit of improvement. Sports fans will remember the medals, the records and the remarkable athletes who emerged from MVP Track & Field Club.
Those achievements alone secure Francis’ place among the greatest coaches in the history of athletics.
His broader contribution was demonstrating that world-class coaching could be developed in Jamaica and compete with the best programmes anywhere in the world.
For decades, many of Jamaica’s most gifted athletes viewed overseas universities and foreign coaching systems as the natural pathway to international success. Francis challenged that assumption. Through MVP (Maximising Velocity and Power), the programme he co-founded in 1999, he demonstrated that Jamaican athletes, coached by Jamaicans and training in Jamaica, could consistently become Olympic champions, world record holders and global standard-bearers.
That may prove to be his most enduring legacy.
Establishing A Jamaican Coaching Model
Athletics is one of the few sports where achievement is measured with unusual clarity. Records endure, Olympic titles remain part of history and performances can be compared across generations.
Coaches rarely stand on the medal podium, but their influence is evident in every performance. Francis earned international respect through technical expertise, meticulous planning and an uncompromising commitment to high-performance coaching.
His approach was grounded in continuous research, technical analysis and a willingness to challenge conventional coaching methods. He studied biomechanics, refined training programmes through constant evaluation and treated coaching as a discipline that demanded continual learning rather than fixed formulas. That commitment to innovation became a defining feature of MVP and helped establish one of the most successful high-performance programmes in world athletics.
The first major validation of Francis’ approach came through Asafa Powell.
Before Jamaica became synonymous with sprint dominance, Powell became the country’s first men’s 100-metre world record holder. Under Francis’ guidance, he lowered the world record several times, eventually running 9.74 seconds and becoming the first man to run under ten seconds more than 100 times.
Powell’s success demonstrated that the world’s fastest man could be developed in Kingston under a Jamaican coach. It also established the credibility of a high-performance system built on Jamaican expertise.
Asafa Powell established the credibility of Stephen Francis’ coaching model. The athletes who followed demonstrated that it could be sustained and replicated at the highest level.
Francis Produced Homegrown Icons
Perhaps no statistic illustrates that better than the women’s Olympic 100 metres. Across two Olympic Games, athletes coached by Francis occupied all six medal positions.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who would become one of the greatest female sprinters in history, joined Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson to complete the first sweep of all three medals by a single nation in the women’s Olympic 100 metres. All three were coached by Francis.
Thirteen years later, at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, another generation of MVP athletes, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson, along with Fraser-Pryce repeated the feat, completing a second Jamaican sweep of the podium.
Francis’ influence extended well beyond those landmark performances. Athletes including Melaine Walker, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Michael Frater and others also achieved Olympic and World Championship success under his guidance, while Kishane Thompson represents the latest generation to emerge from the high-performance environment he established. The MVP programme also attracted elite athletes from across the Caribbean, including Barbados’ Olympic medallist Sada Williams and Bahamian sprinter Anthonique Strachan.
But the medals and records tell only part of the story. Equally significant was that these were home-grown, home-trained athletes, developed in Jamaica within a high-performance system conceived, built and continually refined in Jamaica. Their success challenged the long-held belief that world-class athletes needed overseas coaching or foreign training environments to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Over time, Francis’ success strengthened confidence in Jamaica’s coaching systems and reinforced the country’s reputation as the global benchmark for sprint excellence.
For us, Stephen Francis’ greatest achievement was changing what Jamaican athletics believed it was capable of achieving.
Yes, Jamaica had long been recognised for producing exceptional sprinting talent, but Francis took that legacy to another level. He had a remarkable knack for identifying talent, spotting future champions in our school system and moulding them into athletes who could outcompete the world.
That consistency strengthened confidence in Jamaican coaching and athlete development. His athletes believed in his methods. Fellow coaches respected his technical expertise. Even when his uncompromising style attracted criticism or controversy, the performances of the athletes he produced continued to validate his approach.
We believed in Stephen Francis because, time and again, he gave us reason to. That belief may be his greatest legacy.
Stephen Francis showed what was possible. The question now is whether Jamaica can ensure that his work does not end with him.
Too often, we celebrate extraordinary individuals without giving enough attention to preserving the knowledge, systems and culture that made their success possible. Succession planning has not always been one of our strengths, whether in business, public institutions or sport. Stephen Francis built more than champions; he built a high-performance culture. That culture should be documented, strengthened and passed on.
Jamaica will continue producing gifted young athletes. The greater challenge is ensuring that future generations also benefit from coaches who can identify talent, develop it with the same technical excellence and inspire the same confidence that Stephen Francis did.
If his greatest legacy was making Jamaica believe that the world’s best could be developed right here at home, then our responsibility is to make sure that belief never leaves with him.
The Jamaican diaspora has long been a driving force in Jamaica’s development, contributing billions in remittances, investing in communities and rallying to support the island during times of need. From North America to Europe and Asia, Asha Richards, Lisa Rutty, Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand and Dr. Nicoleen Johnson continue that tradition of service, each making a unique contribution to Jamaica’s growth.
Throughout their careers, they have built and strengthened connections across the global diaspora, creating opportunities through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, advocacy and international partnerships that continue to strengthen Jamaica and Jamaicans around the world.
Although their careers span different countries and disciplines, they are united by a shared belief that success is most meaningful when it creates opportunities for others. Through the connections they have built across the global diaspora, they continue to strengthen Jamaica in ways that extend far beyond their individual achievements. It is this spirit of service that earned them the 2026 Governor-General’s Achievement Awards Diaspora during the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference.
The Mentor: Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand (France)
Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand went to France to pursue a PhD but ultimately built a life there, marrying, raising a family and becoming a leader within the Jamaican diaspora. Nearly three decades later, she uses education as a bridge between Jamaicans overseas and young people at home, connecting students with professionals who can support their academic and personal development.
As founder of the Jamaica Diaspora Mentorship Academy, she has brought together 80 mentors from around the world to guide 90 Jamaican students, opening doors to opportunities many might not otherwise have accessed.
“We now have 80 mentors from all over the world mentoring 90 Jamaican students… they’re making an amazing difference in the lives of these mentees,” she said.
The programme has already produced remarkable success stories, including one student who struggled with discipline and personal challenges before becoming her school’s valedictorian. The student later established a mentorship initiative at her school and received help applying to The University of the West Indies, with her mentor offering to cover her expenses if she is accepted.
For Colly-Durand, mentorship is more than career guidance. It creates a cycle in which diaspora professionals help young Jamaicans realise their potential and, in turn, inspire them to support others.
She described learning of her selection for the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora as both “surprising and humbling”, saying the recognition affirmed years of service to Jamaicans at home and abroad.
The Bridge Builder: Dr. Nicoleen Johnson (China)
Dr. Nicoleen Johnson travelled to China on a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree, expecting to return home once her studies were complete. Instead, she fell in love with Shanghai, immersed herself in the language and culture, and accepted an invitation to continue into a PhD programme. The decision changed the course of her life.
Today, nearly three decades later, Johnson has become one of Jamaica’s foremost ambassadors in China. The first Jamaican to earn both a master’s degree and a PhD from Fudan University, she has spent her career building bridges between Jamaica and China through education, trade, cultural exchange and business.
She has also helped create a support network for the growing community of Jamaican students in China, ensuring newcomers have access to information, mentorship and a sense of belonging.
For Johnson, every interaction is an opportunity to represent Jamaica.
“When people meet me, they fall in love with my country because I think I exude Jamaica… Whenever I meet someone that’s not from Jamaica, they will know something about my country immediately after meeting me,” she said.
When she learned she had been selected for the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora, Johnson was in Shanghai and made a special trip to Jamaica to receive the honour in person. She was nominated by Jamaica’s Ambassador to China in recognition of her longstanding leadership within the diaspora.
The Community Builder: Lisa Rutty (Canada)
Lisa Rutty left Jamaica more than two decades ago to build a new life in Canada, but she has never left her homeland behind. Today, the licensed realtor, who works in both Ontario and Jamaica, has become a respected leader in the Jamaican-Canadian community, using her professional success to strengthen connections between the two countries.
Through her work with the Jamaican Canadian Association and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, Rutty has championed disaster relief efforts for Jamaica while also expanding educational opportunities for Jamaican-Canadians. One of her latest initiatives is a partnership with George Brown College that helps students navigate pathways to post-secondary education.
“What we do is really aim to find out what the stumbling blocks are with our Jamaican-Canadian community… and plan sessions around that information to make sure we can get them to post-secondary education,” she explained.
For Rutty, the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora carried special significance because it came from the country where her journey began.
“Having something from my country of birth… was an absolute honour to say that I was recognised by the Government of Jamaica as well,” she said.
Whether responding to natural disasters or helping young people pursue higher education, Rutty believes strong communities are built by investing in people and creating opportunities that last.
Although she was born in the United States, Asha Richards has always seen Jamaica as an integral part of her identity. Raised by parents from St. Ann and Westmoreland, she grew up deeply connected to her Jamaican heritage, a connection that has shaped both her personal journey and her professional life.
Now one of the youngest recipients of the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora, Richards has built a career spanning advocacy, youth leadership and international development. A former Chair of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council and an International Organization for Migration Youth Changemaker, she has represented Jamaican perspectives in global forums from Switzerland to Azerbaijan while creating opportunities for young members of the diaspora to engage with their homeland.
Receiving the award prompted her to reflect on years of work that often happened quietly behind the scenes.
“When I found out I had been selected for the award, I was honestly overjoyed… This process made me sit down and truly take stock of all that I have accomplished over the years,” she said.
Richards says her Jamaican identity is something she carries into every room she enters.
“My Jamaican identity is not something I only bring out for particular events or occasions. It is reflected in how I advocate, how I present myself, and how I use my platforms.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue doing what she believes the diaspora needs most: bringing people together.
“The role I hope to play in the Jamaican diaspora, especially in the youth space, is to be a connector,” she said, explaining that she wants to strengthen relationships between young Jamaicans overseas and those on the island.
Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand, Dr. Nicoleen Johnson, Lisa Rutty and Asha Richards embody the conference theme, “The Power of Us,” demonstrating that the diaspora’s greatest strength lies not simply in individual achievement, but in its ability to build bridges, share knowledge and create opportunities for others.
The conference itself reflects that same mission, bringing Jamaicans from around the world together to reconnect, collaborate and forge partnerships that advance national development. It is fitting, then, that four women whose careers have been defined by building bridges of their own were among those honoured. Through mentorship, education, advocacy and community leadership, they have strengthened the bonds between Jamaica and its global diaspora, ensuring that wherever Jamaicans succeed, Jamaica benefits too.
As Jamaicans around the world prepare to celebrate Jamaica’s 64th anniversary of Independence on August 6, one of the country’s best known choral groups is returning to South Florida for two special performances. The UWI Singers of The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, will present An Evening with the University Singers: A Cultural Exchange on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 at the Miramar Cultural Center. The concerts are part of the season of events leading up to Jamaica Independence Day and bring one of the island’s leading musical ensembles back to a community with deep Jamaican roots.
A Return to South Florida
The UWI Singers are returning to South Florida more than a decade after performing From Mozart to Marley at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale in 2011.
Their upcoming engagement also marks the ensemble’s first appearance at the Miramar Cultural Center. The concerts are being held under the patronage of Jamaica’s Consul General Oliver Mair, hosted by Miramar Vice Mayor Carson Eddy Edwards, presented by the Jamaica Hi5 Foundation, and produced by Tallawah Productions.
The performances come at a fitting time. Jamaica celebrates its 64th anniversary of Independence on August 6, marking the day in 1962 when the island became an independent nation after gaining its freedom from the United Kingdom.
A Perfect Setting for Jamaica Independence
Miramar is home to one of the largest and most active Jamaican communities outside of Jamaica. Along with the wider South Florida region, the city has become a center for Jamaican culture, business, community organizations, and public service. Many residents even refer to the area as Kingston 21, reflecting its strong connection to Jamaica.
Each year, Jamaica Independence is celebrated across South Florida with concerts, festivals, church services, flag raisings, and community events. The return of the University Singers adds another cultural event to this year’s Independence calendar while giving audiences an opportunity to experience a group that has represented Jamaica around the world.
A Choir with a Rich History
Founded in 1958, the UWI Singers are the premier performing choir of The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. For nearly seven decades, the ensemble has promoted Jamaican and Caribbean music through performances across the Caribbean, Europe, and the United States.
The choir has also performed for international leaders, including former South African President Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II.
Throughout its history, the group has remained committed to promoting Caribbean musical traditions while serving as a cultural ambassador for both Jamaica and The University of the West Indies.
A Program That Reflects Jamaica’s Musical Heritage
The UWI Singers perform music from many traditions. Their repertoire includes classical works, gospel, spirituals, Caribbean folk songs, reggae, jazz inspired selections, contemporary arrangements, and original Caribbean compositions.
Their performances often combine choral singing with movement and costumes, creating presentations that reflect the diversity of Jamaican and Caribbean culture.
The Miramar concerts are expected to feature a blend of traditional favorites and modern interpretations that showcase the range of the ensemble.
Connecting the Diaspora Through Music
For many Jamaicans living in South Florida, cultural events during the Independence season provide an opportunity to reconnect with traditions from home and pass those experiences on to younger generations.
The UWI Singers have long been recognized for preserving Jamaica’s musical heritage while introducing Caribbean music to audiences around the world. Their return to South Florida continues that tradition by bringing together members of the Jamaican diaspora and the wider community through music.
The performances also reflect the close relationship between Jamaica and South Florida, where generations of Jamaicans have helped shape the region’s cultural identity.
Event Details
The University Singers will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 at the Miramar Cultural Center.
The concerts are presented by the Jamaica Hi5 Foundation and produced by Tallawah Productions under the patronage of Jamaica’s Consul General Oliver Mair and hosted by Miramar Vice Mayor Carson Eddy Edwards.
Tickets start at $45 and are available through the Miramar Cultural Center website and box office.
For those celebrating Jamaica’s 64th anniversary of Independence, the performances offer an opportunity to experience one of the country’s most respected musical ensembles during its return to South Florida.
Today's forecast: • Temps chaud et brumeux, sous un ciel passagèrement nuageux en
fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
Valable jusqu'au 18 juillet 2026
Valable jusqu'au 18 juillet 2026
Situation synoptique dans la Caraïbe et sur l'Atlantique
Les conditions météorologiques demeurent sous l'influence des
résidus de poussières sahariennes, combinée au renforcement de
l'anticyclone de l'Atlantique sur la région. Cette configuration
favorise le maintien d'un temps presque sec, accompagné de
températures élevées sur l'ensemble du territoire haïtien.
Néanmoins, quelques pluies très isolées pourraient se développer en
fin d'après-midi et en soirée sur certains massifs ou à leur
proximité.
Prévision pour Haïti
• Temps chaud, brumeux et venteux par endroits, avec un ciel
temporairement nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
• Quelques pluies très isolées sont possibles sur ou à proximité
de certains massifs des départements du Sud, de la Grand'Anse,
du nord de l'Ouest et du Centre, notamment sur le Haut-Plateau
Central, en fin d'après-midi et en soirée.
Note
En raison de la persistance d'une forte sensation de chaleur, liée
aux températures élevées et à l'humidité ambiante, l'UHM, en
concertation avec les autorités concernées, appelle la population à
redoubler de vigilance face aux effets de la chaleur et de la
poussière, et l'invite à :
• Boire régulièrement de l'eau, même sans sensation de soif, afin
d'éviter la déshydratation;
• Éviter les expositions prolongées au soleil, surtout entre 10 h
et 16 h ;
• Porter des vêtements légers, amples et de couleur claire ;
• Réduire les activités physiques intenses durant les heures les
plus chaudes de la journée ;
• Surveiller les enfants, les personnes âgées et celles souffrant
de maladies chroniques ;
• Porter un masque ou se couvrir le nez et la bouche lors des
déplacements à l'extérieur afin de limiter l'inhalation des
particules de poussière.
Tendance pour les deux prochains jours :
Vendredi et samedi : les conditions météorologiques devraient peu
évoluer sur l'ensemble du pays. Toutefois, une dissipation
progressive des poussières sahariennes est attendue.
Prévision pour Port-au-Prince et ses environs
• Temps chaud et brumeux, sous un ciel passagèrement nuageux en
fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
• Température max mesurée : 37˚C & Température min prévue :
23˚C ;
• Pluies très dispersées possibles sur certains massifs et
secteurs avoisinants, en fin d'après-midi et en soirée.
Today's forecast: • Temps chaud, brumeux et localement venteux, sous un ciel
passagèrement nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
Valable jusqu'au 18 juillet 2026
Valable jusqu'au 18 juillet 2026
Situation synoptique dans la Caraïbe et sur l'Atlantique
Les résidus de poussières sahariennes, associés à la domination de
l'anticyclone sur la région, favorisent le maintien d'un temps
presque sec et de températures élevées sur l'ensemble du territoire
haïtien. Toutefois, quelques pluies très isolées pourraient se
développer sur ou à proximité de certains massifs en fin
d'après-midi et en soirée.
Prévision pour Haïti
• Temps chaud, brumeux et venteux par endroits, avec un ciel
temporairement nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
• Quelques pluies très isolées sont possibles sur ou à proximité
de certains massifs des départements du Sud, de la Grand'Anse,
du nord de l'Ouest et du Centre, notamment sur le Haut-Plateau
Central, en fin d'après-midi et en soirée.
Note
En raison de la persistance d'une forte sensation de chaleur, liée
aux températures élevées et à l'humidité ambiante, l'UHM, en
concertation avec les autorités concernées, appelle la population à
redoubler de vigilance face aux effets de la chaleur et de la
poussière, et l'invite à :
• Boire régulièrement de l'eau, même sans sensation de soif, afin
d'éviter la déshydratation;
• Éviter les expositions prolongées au soleil, surtout entre 10 h
et 16 h ;
• Porter des vêtements légers, amples et de couleur claire ;
• Réduire les activités physiques intenses durant les heures les
plus chaudes de la journée ;
• Surveiller les enfants, les personnes âgées et celles souffrant
de maladies chroniques ;
• Porter un masque ou se couvrir le nez et la bouche lors des
déplacements à l'extérieur afin de limiter l'inhalation des
particules de poussière.
Tendance pour les deux prochains jours :
Vendredi et samedi : les conditions météorologiques devraient
rester quasi identiques sur l'ensemble du pays.
Prévision pour Port-au-Prince et ses environs
• Temps chaud, brumeux et localement venteux, sous un ciel
passagèrement nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
• Température max prévue : 37˚C & Température min prévue : 23˚C ;
• Quelques gouttes de pluie ne sont pas à exclure sur les
secteurs d'altitude en fin d'après-midi et en soirée.
