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  • Becoming… a strategic asset

    Becoming… a strategic asset

    Your Eyewitness sees a striking historical irony unfolding in Ole Mudland!! For much of our post-independence history, we’ve struggled desperately to woo foreign investors – and now, the world’s last-standing great power has sent its Deputy Secretary of State to CONCRETISE, not merely encouraging American companies to invest – but to invest itself!! Imagine that!!
    Oil might’ve given us geopolitical relevance, but bauxite and critical minerals are giving it strategic importance!! The language out of Washington is revealing. The State Department says Landau is gonna expand economic cooperation, particularly in energy and critical minerals. That combination is critical!! We got what the US increasingly wants: abundant energy, bauxite and other mineral resources, a politically stable investment environment, and a geographical position outside the major theatres of conflict that threaten global supply chains!!
    And Washington ain’t just talking about Guyana’s resources – it’s putting the American Govt’s money behind them!! Only days before Landau’s visit, the US Department of WAR announced an US$85.5 million equity investment in Strategic Bauxite USA to secure refractory-grade bauxite supplies and expand the First Bauxite operation at Bonasika!! For centuries, American interest in Latin American resources was expressed through private corporations. Now, the American Government itself is becoming an economic participant in strategic-resource projects!!
    Washington’s concern is access to and processing of our top-notch refractory-grade material required by strategically important industries. The US$85.5 million commitment – on top of the private sector’s US$65M – is therefore best understood as part of America’s broader attempt to reduce dependence upon China-controlled mineral supply chains. Up to now, we’ve been interpreting every American conversation through the prism of ExxonMobil and the Stabroek oil discoveries – but Washington’s interest is clearly much broader!!
    Our oil production’s already transformed our geopolitical significance. The Yanks now appear interested in building a much wider economic relationship encompassing oil and gas, electricity, infrastructure, mining, logistics, and potentially new technologies!! They’re simultaneously deepening their economic engagement with T&T and have announced their billion-dollar investment to reopen their Pt Lisas Steel plant!!
    We should also use Laundau’s visit to dissuade the Yanks from processing the RASC bauxite in the US – but as much as is practical, do that right here!! After all, we’ve got the energy to not only push Cerebrus Data Centers, but also alumina and ceramics plants, etc!!
    If American strategic interest helps us establish modern bauxite processing, refining, and downstream industries; develop roads, ports, and electricity; transfer technology; train Guyanese engineers and technicians; and create competitive local enterprises – then the relationship can become transformational!!
    So, while we’ve gotta understand from where the American breeze is blowing, this doesn’t mean everyone else gets “shocked out”!! We have gotta simultaneously maintain constructive relationships with Europe, India, Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Gulf states!!
    And where appropriate, China!!

    …a fulcrum
    Washington doesn’t have to mention China in every conversation for us to know the Chink factor’s unavoidable!! Critical minerals are of strategic importance, and the Yanks have openly expressed concerns about Chinese control of several minerals!! As such, we offer Washington a plum prize – a source of strategic raw materials located in a friendly country within the Western Hemisphere and increasingly connected to American capital!!
    So, it would be foolish not to welcome American investment!! But our objective can’t be just to replace Chinese or other foreign purchasers of Guyanese commodities with American purchasers!! Our goal has gotta be value-added development to avoid exchanging one form of dependency for another!!
    But why should the Yanks listen to us?? And the answer is we got bargaining power BEYOND oil and minerals!! We got strategic geographic positionality on the top of South America that makes us particularly valuable!!
    Your Eyewitness has long called for a military base in Essequibo to which the yanks can have access!!

    …free of Venezuela’s threat
    Our relationship with the US has always been affected by Venezuela’s border dispute. But our emergence as a major energy and minerals producer – and military ally – changes the equation!!
    Washington now gets a stake in our autonomy!!

    The post Becoming… a strategic asset appeared first on Guyana Times.

  • Fuel cost, maintenance, insurance, skilled personnel drive domestic airfares – operators

    Fuel cost, maintenance, insurance, skilled personnel drive domestic airfares – operators

    …suggests Govt put a voucher system to support vulnerable groups

    Days after President Dr Irfaan Ali expressed disappointment with the domestic aviation sector for failing to meaningfully reduce airfares, operators on Tuesday issued a statement defending the current prices, noting that the costs are driven by a range of factors, including fuel, aircraft maintenance, insurance, and the expense of employing skilled personnel.
    Last week Wednesday, President Ali said, “We are very disappointed in the aviation sector because we have not been able to get the corresponding returns on the investments that we are making.”
    However, the Aviation Operators Association of Guyana (AOAG) said the domestic airfares are driven by the actual costs of providing safe and reliable air transportation, including aviation fuel, aircraft maintenance, spare parts, insurance, financing, regulatory compliance, and the cost of skilled personnel.
    In fact, the association noted that the domestic aviation market is highly competitive, with several private operators competing daily for passengers and cargo. As a result, it said there is little difference between the prices of the competing airlines.
    The association explained that “the comparison between the prices charged by the domestic aviation operators for similar journeys in the Caribbean clearly shows that our prices are below those charged in the Caribbean and shows that our domestic operators are not profiteering. It is important to recognise, too, that our domestic operators fly in vastly more challenging conditions than those in the Caribbean.”
    The local operators also highlighted that they have spent decades investing in aircraft, infrastructure, training, employment, and safety. They explained that modern aircraft suitable for Guyana’s operations are expensive.
    “For instance, the capital repayment for a Cessna Caravan is over US$40,000 per month, or about US$700 per flight hour, and these costs are regardless of whether the aircraft is parked or flying. A Technam P2012 Traveller costs approximately US$3.2 million, while a Cessna Caravan costs approximately US$3.8 million, and the HAL 228 approximately US$10 million,” the AOAG highlighted.
    They noted too that aviation insurance premiums are generally some 300 per cent higher in Guyana than for comparable operations in the United States and are amongst the highest in the Caribbean region. They said this because insurance companies assess Guyana as a high operational risk, flying in conditions of remote aerodromes, a tropical environment, limited emergency infrastructure and landing and take-off on short unpaved runways.
    Notwithstanding, the operators said they acknowledge and appreciate the Government’s substantial investment in continuously upgrading hinterland aerodromes across Guyana, which have significantly improved safety, reliability and operational efficiency, but “our aircraft must still operate on laterite runways and gravel strips in the remote mining and village aerodromes, requiring higher maintenance costs than, for instance, operating in the Caribbean and the USA.”
    The operators said they remain committed to finding practical solutions that reduce transportation costs without undermining the safety and long-term sustainability of the industry.
    They also remain willing to participate in an independent review of the economics of domestic aviation so that future policy decisions can be guided by objective data and a shared understanding of the industry’s operating realities.

    Vouchers
    Moreover, while acknowledging the burdens the current airfares have on vulnerable groups, the association revealed that it had suggested to the Government the implementation of vouchers to support schoolchildren, medical referrals, pensioners, and low-income residents of hinterland villages.
    The association said this approach would provide direct assistance to those who need it most while preserving competition and encouraging continued private investment.
    Earlier this year, nearly all the domestic airlines had announced a reduction in the rates for flights to locations with new airstrips.
    However, the local operators subsequently increased their airfares back in April after aviation fuel prices skyrocketed in the global market due to the Middle East conflict.
    The AOAG explained that over the past several months, they have had numerous and constructive meetings with the Government, where the industry’s cost structure was examined in considerable detail.
    Back in November 2025, President Ali had pointed out that the local aviation sector is financially capable of lowering domestic air transport fares to hinterland locations by as much as 15 per cent.

    Commercial arm
    During the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference last year, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that the Government was contemplating investing in a commercial arm of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in order to compete with domestic airlines that continue to exploit consumers.
    The VP had also noted that sometimes, there are middlemen who would charter flights from airlines and charge even higher prices – another issue that needs to be addressed.
    Nevertheless, the AOAG emphasised that the domestic aviation industry has always regarded itself as a partner in Guyana’s national development.
    “We remain committed to working collaboratively with the Government to ensure that the people of Guyana continue to benefit from safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable air transportation,” the association noted.

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  • Noticed the coordinated political assault on CCJ since its Mohamed ruling?

    Noticed the coordinated political assault on CCJ since its Mohamed ruling?

    Let it be pellucidly clear – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) made a unanimous ruling dismissing the appeal brought by Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed, who alleged that the Guyanese courts were wrong to declare that bias did not affect extradition proceedings. None of the CCJ Judges dissented with the ruling. The present CCJ email controversy does not change the fact that the CCJ unanimously dismissed Azruddin’s appeal.
    The orchestrated effort in the last few days to create a hype that the Guyana Government, miraculously, somehow influenced the CCJ is nothing but a desperate, wicked conspiracy to support the false allegations that the extradition proceedings are part of an Irfaan Ali/Bharrat Jagdeo-led political persecution of the Mohameds.
    The unrestrained freedom with which the Mohameds have attacked both the CCJ and the local courts, questioning their integrity and fairness, demands our attention and our voice. It is commendable, therefore, that the Guyana Bar Association issued a statement cautioning about normalising leaks of communication that are intended to be confidential business among the Judges of the CCJ.
    Azruddin Mohamed has always patterned his behaviour and strategies after famous Latin American drug lords, such as Pablo Escobar and El Chapo. Very much like them, he has invoked claims of political persecution, and, just like these drug lords in Colombia, Mexico, and other places, he has attacked the fairness of the courts to avoid extradition and jail. Just like the drug lords attacked the integrity and fairness of the ICC, he now attacks the integrity of the CCJ. Like Latin American drug lords, Azruddin Mohamed freely and massively finances public relations campaigns to promote claims of bias and political persecution to delay legal actions, and buy public sympathy. Just like these drug lords, he portrays himself as a victim of corrupt Governments and courts.
    Leaked emails where the President of the CCJ panel is alleged to act in a dictatorial manner in administering the court are part of the conspiracy to bring disrepute to the CCJ and to question its integrity and fairness. Importantly, nothing in the leaked emails in the CCJ thread indicated any difference between the Judges in the final ruling on the main appealed matter. But the email leaks are being used in Guyana by Azruddin Mohamed and his sycophants to maximally question the integrity and fairness of the court.
    It is no coincidence that soon after the CCJ dismissed the appeal brought by the Mohameds in their attempt to stymie the extradition proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court, there has been a coordinated massive political attack against the CCJ. Our view is that there is a centrally directed effort by players politically directed to question the CCJ’s integrity and fairness.
    The playbook has been widely predicted. The integrity and fairness of the CCJ were bound to become the newest battlefield in the Mohameds’ desperate attempt to further stall their extradition. It was always the plan by the Mohameds to frame their sanctions and criminal charges for money laundering and gold smuggling by the US Government as political persecution. It is their only defence against a mountain of evidence behind the criminal charges. The CCJ is collateral damage in a desperate effort to avoid facing the American courts.
    To be clear, President Irfaan Ali and his Government have nothing to do with the sanctions and criminal charges brought by the Government of the United States. The sanctions and the criminal charges against Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were a result of an investigation by Government authorities in America. The investigation was started long before Dr Irfaan Ali became President; long before he was even selected as the PPP Presidential Candidate. The sanctions against the Mohameds occurred before the re-election of President Irfaan Ali. The indictment and charges were filed by the US Government, and it is the US Government that requested the extradition of the Mohameds.
    Once the courts determined that the extradition request met the provisions of the treaty, President Ali had no say in the matter. The extradition treaty between Guyana and the US existed long before the Irfaan Ali-led Government came into place, and long before the Mohameds became politicians. The extradition proceedings before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman are not intended to establish guilt or innocence. That would be done by an American court in Miami, before an American Judge, and with an American prosecutor.
    These are hard, cold facts. Political persecution that the Mohameds and their mostly paid defenders have been aggressively pushing is merely a desperate ploy to find some way of avoiding criminal persecution in the US. One would think that if the Mohameds truly believed that the Government of Guyana controls and influences rulings of the Guyanese courts and the CCJ, they would be eager to face the charges in the US. Or is it that they know that the evidence against them is overwhelming? We must not forget that the Mohameds know of some of the evidence because they were confronted by the FBI in a meeting the FBI arranged in Barbados.
    The leaked emails coming out almost immediately after the CCJ’s Mohameds’ ruling raise the question of motivation and who leaked the emails. We perhaps will never know if the Mohameds were involved with something nefarious in the leaked CCJ emails. This is especially so since we know that the Mohameds have used their almost unlimited resources to buy favours and votes. Whether they have the ability to reach into the belly of the CCJ is another matter. But enquiring minds cannot avoid the temptation of pondering whether their capacity to buy favours has anything to do with the leaked CCJ emails. We have no evidence that the Mohameds somehow have anything to do with leaked emails. But the coincidence is too pregnant with possibilities.

    The post Noticed the coordinated political assault on CCJ since its Mohamed ruling? appeared first on Guyana Times.

  • Sisters shot during fight with armed security guard

    Sisters shot during fight with armed security guard

    Two sisters, ages 26 and 31, were reportedly injured following a shooting incident on Monday at West Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Police stated that the two sisters were seated along West Front Road when an altercation ensued between them and a 48-year-old security guard of Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. During the altercation, the security officer reportedly discharged several rounds from a firearm that was in his possession, thus resulting in the 26-year-old woman receiving gunshot injuries to her left ankle and upper left leg, while the 31-year-old woman received gunshot injuries to her right foot and left leg. Both women were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were treated and admitted in stable condition.
    The suspect, however, was subsequently contacted at a private hospital, where he was receiving medical attention for an injury he also received during the fight. Meanwhile, the firearm, which was identified as a licensed Glock 19 pistol, for which the security officer is the licensed firearm holder, was lodged along with two magazines containing a total of 27 live 9mm rounds of ammunition. Police confirm that one spent shell was also recovered at the scene. CCTV cameras were seen in the area and will be reviewed as investigations continue.

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  • Air Jamaica Chronicles: What the Lovebird Taught Oliver Mair About Service

    Air Jamaica Chronicles: What the Lovebird Taught Oliver Mair About Service

    Long before Oliver Mair became Consul General, he was a young university graduate faced with a career decision his father was not particularly happy about.

    Mair had a promising job at Jamaica Broilers when an opportunity arose to become a flight attendant with Air Jamaica. He had never seriously considered the job before, but the prospect of travelling the world — and the benefits that came with working for Jamaica’s national airline — proved difficult to resist.

    His decision would begin a journey of more than nine years with the Lovebird, during which Mair became one of Air Jamaica’s earliest male flight attendants and went on to make history as the airline’s first male purser and first male supervisor.

    In this episode of Air Jamaica Chronicles, Mair looks back at the decision that changed the course of his career and shares some of his most treasured memories of an airline he credits with teaching him lessons about people, service and Jamaica that remain with him today.

    A Love of Travel Leads to Air Jamaica

    Mair’s fascination with Air Jamaica began before his professional career.

    He recalls taking an early family trip that included Orlando, Miami and Cayman. Returning through the airport left the young Mair thinking about how much he wanted to travel and, in his mind, there was an obvious way to make that happen: work for Air Jamaica.

    His first summer job would eventually be with the airline in customer service, checking in passengers, meeting arriving flights and assisting unaccompanied minors.

    Even then, there were signs of the fun and camaraderie he would later associate with Air Jamaica. Mair remembers playing dominoes with colleagues during breaks while listening for arriving flights — and once having to sprint through the airport after realising he was late to meet one.

    By the time he left high school, he already knew Air Jamaica was somewhere he wanted to work.

    After graduating from the University of the West Indies, however, Mair found himself on a different path, working as an import and export supervisor at Jamaica Broilers. When a former Air Jamaica colleague encouraged him to apply to become a flight attendant, his father was firmly against leaving what he considered a “good job.”

    Mair applied anyway.

    His father eventually came around — helped considerably by discovering that Air Jamaica’s benefits allowed parents to travel for free. It would ultimately allow Mair’s father, who had always wanted to see the world, to travel extensively.

    Making History at the Lovebird

    When Mair joined Air Jamaica’s cabin crew, male flight attendants were still relatively new to the airline. He recalls that there had been one male flight attendant before his cohort, with Mair joining as part of a group of approximately four men.

    His career quickly progressed.

    Mair became Air Jamaica’s first male purser and later its first male supervisor. He also participated in a management trainee programme that exposed him to human resources, auditing, marketing and other areas of the airline before eventually becoming regional marketing manager.

    For Mair, Air Jamaica became far more than the opportunity to travel that had first attracted him. It was also where much of his professional development took place.

    Oliver Mair with Butch Stewart

    Memories From Life at Air Jamaica

    More than the titles and promotions, however, it is the people and experiences that dominate Mair’s memories of the Lovebird.

    Among his favourites is an Air Jamaica staff production in which he took on the role of then-chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart — complete with a padded belly, entourage and a humorous song — while Stewart himself sat in the audience.

    “Everybody was nervous for me,” Mair recalls of performing the impersonation in front of his boss.

    His years in the air also brought him into contact with well-known passengers, including dancehall star Patra, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff and attorney Johnnie Cochran.

    One particularly memorable assignment unexpectedly placed him among Jamaicans travelling to support the Reggae Boyz during the country’s historic journey towards qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Mair had not even realised the significance of the flight when he selected it, but soon found himself outfitted with a Jamaica shirt, flag and match ticket.

    Captain Horace Burrell was among those travelling, and Mair remembers the late Jamaica Football Federation president confidently telling him that Jamaica would qualify for the World Cup.

    Then there were Air Jamaica’s famous in-flight fashion shows.

    Mair served as an emcee for the shows on London flights, introducing flight attendants as they modelled through the cabin at 35,000 feet. The presentations became memorable enough to attract television coverage.

    As Mair and host Xavier Murphy joke during the conversation, he had effectively “gone viral” before social media.

    The Lessons in Service He Carried Beyond Air Jamaica

    Looking back, Mair sees another dimension to his years with the airline.

    He worked at Air Jamaica during a period of expansion under Butch Stewart, when the carrier was opening routes across the Caribbean, United States and South America. Those routes did more than transport passengers; they helped maintain connections between Jamaica and its growing communities overseas.

    Mair recalls being told years later that Air Jamaica employees like him had helped to “build the diaspora.” It was a comment that made him reconsider just how closely his airline career was connected to the diplomatic work he would later undertake.

    The lessons extended beyond geography.

    Air Jamaica, he says, taught him the value of service — and, importantly, that serving someone should not be confused with being subservient.

    “It is an honour to serve people,” Mair says, explaining that whether he is dealing with a CEO or visiting Jamaican farm workers, the principle remains the same: treat people with respect, love and dignity.

    Decades later, Jamaicans still approach him and remember him from his Air Jamaica days — a reminder of how deeply the airline and its employees became woven into the diaspora experience.

    An Iconic Part of Jamaica

    Asked what he hopes people 50 years from now will remember when they see Air Jamaica’s famous Lovebird, Mair places the airline in distinguished company.

    For him, Air Jamaica belongs alongside Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Miss Lou — Jamaican names and symbols recognised far beyond the island’s shores.

    He describes the national carrier as “an iconic part of our history and culture which helped to put Jamaica on the map.”

    Years after Air Jamaica ceased operations, the friendships, memories and sense of pride remain. So too does Mair’s belief that Jamaicans have not seen the last of their national airline.

    For someone whose journey from young traveller to flight attendant, airline executive and eventually diplomat was profoundly shaped by the Lovebird, the connection remains deeply personal.

    Watch the full interview with Oliver Mair on our YouTube channel, and explore previous episodes of Air Jamaica Chronicles here.

  • Team Jamaica Wins 42 Medals at 2026 World Championships of Performing Arts

    Team Jamaica Wins 42 Medals at 2026 World Championships of Performing Arts

    Jamaica delivered a strong showing on the international performing arts stage, securing 42 medals and awards at the 2026 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), with six Jamaican acts advancing to the Finale and Montego Bay pianist Nathan Smith emerging as a world champion.

    Team Jamaica finished the championships with 18 gold medals, 16 silver medals and four bronze medals, inclusive of divisional awards. The team also secured four divisional championships, awarded to competitors achieving the highest scores within their respective age groups and categories.

    Among the standout achievements was Nathan Smith crowned Senior Instrumentalist of the World, the highest honour earned by a member of Team Jamaica at this year’s championships. The Montego Bay pianist, who trained at Western Tutorial Music Studio, was the only Jamaican competitor to leave the championships with a World Title.

    It was one of several major accomplishments for the Jamaican delegation at an international competition often described as the “Talent Olympics” for aspiring performers.

    Antonio Dennis – National Director for WCOPA Jamaica

    What is WCOPA?

    The World Championships of Performing Arts is an international competition for aspiring performers and entertainers representing countries from around the world.

    Now in its 28th year, the competition brings together invited and qualified performers, known as “Worldstars”, who compete while representing their respective countries. This year, 45 countries were represented at the championships, while WCOPA currently has licences in more than 70 countries worldwide.

    Competition spans several areas of the performing arts, including singing, dancing, acting, modelling, instrumental music and variety performance.

    Much like athletes seeking to represent their countries at an international championship, performers must first qualify for their respective national teams.

    In Jamaica, the process is overseen by National Director Antonio Dennis. Contestants are screened and selected according to WCOPA guidelines, with Dennis holding auditions for the 2026 Jamaican team in September 2025 before overseeing preparations leading up to the championships.

    20 Jamaican Performers Take on the World

    This year’s Team Jamaica featured 20 contestants, comprising 10 solo acts and two groups of six and four performers respectively.

    The Jamaicans competed across modelling, vocals, instrumental music, acting and dance, with variety circus performance the only WCOPA discipline in which Jamaica was not represented. Accompanied by 35 parents and supporters, the country’s full delegation numbered 55 people.

    Six Jamaican acts — three junior competitors under 16 and three senior competitors aged 16 and older — advanced to the Finale, the largest number to do so since Antonio Dennis took over as National Director. Four Jamaican acts were also named Divisional Champions after earning the highest scores in their respective age groups and categories.

    Beyond the medals and titles, the championships also opened doors for further training and development, with four scholarships awarded to Jamaican performers.

    Jayla Hutchinson received a New York Film Academy scholarship valued at US$20,000 per year towards a degree programme. Arya Chin received 25 per cent off a New York Film Academy Short Term Youth Camp as well as a consultancy with Grammy Award-winning producer Jeff Webber, while Savannah Steele also received a 25 per cent discount off a New York Film Academy Short Term Youth Camp. PAH! Deaf Dance Company also received a US$250 Dance Scholarship Cash Award towards dance education.

    For Dennis, the team’s performance reinforces Jamaica’s standing as a serious competitor at the championships.

    “Jamaica does well consistently, and this year being one of the most entries in the Finals from Jamaica, is a testament that the Team Jamaica process is working, and that Jamaica is among the best talent in the world,” he said.

    Montego Bay Pianist Nathan Smith Earns World Title

    At the head of Jamaica’s list of accomplishments was pianist Nathan Smith.

    Smith advanced further in the competition than any other member of Team Jamaica and ultimately secured the title of Senior Instrumentalist of the World, recognising him as the top senior instrumentalist at the 2026 championships.

    The Montego Bay musician was trained by Western Tutorial Music Studio and became Team Jamaica’s sole World Title holder for the year.

    His achievement follows another major Jamaican success at WCOPA.

    Andrene Brown, who represented Jamaica and was crowned the 2024 Grand Champion Performer of the World, returned to the championships this year. Brown performed her winning rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain” on saxophone before handing over the title to a new champion.

    Dennis described watching Brown return to the stage as an especially proud moment, having scouted and mentored her through her WCOPA journey.

    PAH! Deaf Dance Company Strikes Gold

    Jamaica also made an important mark through PAH! Deaf Dance Company, which was the only Deaf dance group competing at this year’s championships.

    The Jamaican dancers earned two gold medals, one for their Ethnic Dance piece and another for their Open – Dancehall Dance performance. They also received commemorative medals for advancing to the Semi-Finals and Finale.

    For Dennis, their achievement was significant not simply because they represented the Deaf community, but because they competed on the same terms as the other performers.

    “They competed not because of their disability but despite their disability,” Dennis said, noting that the dancers received no preferential treatment and instead used sound vibrations to execute their performances.

    He said PAH!’s participation demonstrated the need for greater representation of Deaf and hard-of-hearing performers and other performers with disabilities at international competitions.

    Their performances also left an impression on audiences.

    “If they were not announced as a Deaf Dance Company by the announcer, you would not have known that they were performing with a disability,” Dennis said.

    “They were in sync, they were expressive, they were consummate professionals.”

    He credited Artistic Director Stephanie McIntyre Groves and choreographers Tara Pryce and Shavaughn Byndloss for preparing the dancers for the international stage.

    Team Jamaica Already Looking to 2027

    With another successful championships behind them, Team Jamaica is already preparing to find the next group of performers capable of representing the country internationally.

    Auditions for the 2027 team are scheduled for September 20 at the NDTC Studio in Kingston and September 27 at JAMDANCE Studio in Montego Bay.

    Dennis encouraged aspiring Jamaican performers to train seriously, develop what makes their artistry distinctive and begin building communities around their work.

    “Believe that you can do it too,” he advised. “It takes a lot of work, and sacrifice, it’s not an easy road… but to those who succeed, it is very rewarding.”

    He also encouraged prospective competitors to seek sponsorship, use social media to build support, remain receptive to criticism and make the most of the opportunities the WCOPA experience provides.

    After returning from this year’s championships with a world title, six Finale acts, four divisional champions and 42 medals and awards, Team Jamaica will be hoping to raise the bar even higher in 2027.

  • CODA’s New Spotlight Series Creates Space for Caribbean Filmmakers to Shine

    CODA’s New Spotlight Series Creates Space for Caribbean Filmmakers to Shine

    Filmmaking in the Caribbean is nothing new. The region has long produced talented filmmakers and compelling stories, but building a thriving and sustainable film industry has remained a challenge. Among the biggest obstacles is access — access to distribution, promotion and the wider markets needed to get Caribbean films in front of larger audiences.

    CODA Network is looking to help bridge that gap with the launch of its new Filmmaker Spotlight Series, a curated initiative designed to give Caribbean filmmakers greater visibility while allowing audiences to discover both their work and the stories behind the people creating it.

    Jamaican filmmaker JP Williams has been selected as the inaugural filmmaker for the series, with four of his films now streaming exclusively on CODA Network.

    Putting Caribbean Filmmakers in the Spotlight

    CODA, short for Caribbean On Demand: All in One Place, is a global streaming platform dedicated to Caribbean and culture-driven entertainment. Its catalogue spans films, series, documentaries, music, live entertainment and independent productions, with a particular emphasis on connecting Caribbean creators and stories with audiences around the world.

    The Filmmaker Spotlight Series builds on that mission by bringing together a curated collection of a filmmaker’s work on CODA alongside an original one-on-one conversation exploring their creative journey, process and perspective.

    Rather than simply making individual films available for streaming, the initiative is designed to introduce audiences to the filmmaker behind them and encourage further discovery of their work.

    “At CODA, we believe discovery has to extend beyond simply putting a film on a platform,” said Lexi Chow, founder and CEO of CODA Network. “Filmmaker Spotlight Series allows us to create a dedicated space for the work while also introducing audiences to the person behind it. We want viewers to discover these filmmakers, understand their journeys and ultimately seek out more of their work.”

    CODA says the series will continue to expand to include additional Caribbean and diaspora filmmakers and curated collections.

    JP Williams Opens the Series

    Williams’ collection is anchored by his award-winning short film BLV, which won at FilmGood 2024, alongside Uhuru, I Love Jamaica and Catch the Vibe.

    For Williams, the partnership represents an opportunity not only to introduce his own films to new viewers but to contribute to the growing visibility of Caribbean filmmakers internationally.

    “I am very excited about this opportunity to partner with CODA Network for the streaming of my films! It is a sign of progress for me, positively stepping in the right direction,” Williams said.

    “I strongly believe in what CODA Network is doing in representing Caribbean media and making it accessible to the world. Beyond me, this is a great achievement for all Caribbean filmmakers, something that we have needed for some time now.”

    Williams said the opportunity to expand the audience for his work made the partnership an easy decision.

    “Signing this streaming deal was a no brainer as it will open me up to a wider audience, allowing more persons to get familiar with my work.”

    As part of his Spotlight, CODA also sat down with Williams at Abundance Labs, his newly established creative studio in Los Angeles, for a candid conversation about his filmmaking journey, creative process and plans for the future.

    The interview will stream alongside the collection, giving viewers additional insight into the filmmaker behind the four works.

    Lexi Chow, Founder of CODA Network and JP Williams

    Lexi Chow’s Vision

    CODA Network was founded by Jamaican entrepreneur Lexi Chow with a vision of creating greater access to Caribbean content and connecting the region’s storytellers with audiences and oppotunities around the world.

    For Chow, that mission extends beyond making Caribbean content available to stream. It is also about creating pathways for the filmmakers and content creators behind the work to be discovered and reach wider audiences.

    That philosophy is at the heart of the new Filmmaker Spotlight Series.

    By pairing each filmmaker’s collection with a conversation about their journey, creative process and perspective, CODA is seeking to give audiences a reason to connect not only with individual films, but with the Caribbean creatives making them.

    For Chow, the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the visibility of Caribbean stories and the people telling them on the global stage.

    Creating More Pathways for Caribbean Stories

    For Caribbean filmmakers, greater access to global distribution remains an important part of building sustainable careers and expanding the reach of Caribbean stories beyond their home markets. Initiatives such as the Filmmaker Spotlight Series can provide another pathway for filmmakers to have their work seen, while giving audiences an opportunity to discover the people and creative journeys behind the films.

    Williams’ inaugural Filmmaker Spotlight is now available on CODA Network, with additional Caribbean and diaspora filmmakers expected to be featured as the series expands.

    For Williams, the significance extends beyond having another place to stream his films. As he puts it, the opportunity represents something Caribbean filmmakers “have needed for some time now”: another pathway for their work to be discovered by the world.

  • Dancers and Selectors Take Centre Stage at A Taste of Reggae Sumfest 2026

    Dancers and Selectors Take Centre Stage at A Taste of Reggae Sumfest 2026

    Weeks after A Taste of Reggae Sumfest brought Vybz Kartel and Mavado together for one of the year’s most talked-about dancehall moments, much of the conversation has understandably centred on the historic Gaza-Gully reunion. Given the longstanding rivalry between the two artistes and the movements they came to represent within dancehall, the attention was hardly surprising.

    But even dancehall’s biggest stars do not create these memorable moments alone. Behind and alongside the headline acts is a wider community of dancers, dancing crews, selectors and other cultural players who help make the performances magnetic, sustain the energy and carry forward the traditions that make dancehall what it is.

    That wider ecosystem was on full display at Plantation Cove.

    Shelly Belly, Energy, Expensive, Dansabling, Boysie and the Magnum Dancers were among those showcasing Jamaican dancehall movement, appearing in dedicated segments as well as alongside artistes during their performances. Selectors including Marlon “Boom Boom” Wizard and DJ Tom brought another foundational element of the culture to the stage.

    While the artistes may command the biggest stages and headlines, the spectacle and cultural power of dancehall have always been a collective creation.

    Boom Boom and DJ Tom Rep Sound System Tradition

    Sound system culture has been inseparable from dancehall’s development, and selectors Marlon “Boom Boom” Wizard and DJ Tom were among those bringing that tradition to the Sumfest stage.

    Also known as World Boom and Billboard Selector, Boom Boom was joined by fellow selector Harry Hype and the Magnum Dancers for a set that demonstrated the interplay between music, selection and movement. The dancers’ choreographed routines added another layer to the performance, helping transform the set into a full dancehall spectacle.

    Sumfest also marked another milestone for the veteran selector, who was announced onstage as a Magnum Tonic Wine brand ambassador in recognition of his contribution to dancehall culture. As part of the presentation, he received a custom collectible jacket designed by Tribe Nine Studios.

    DJ Tom brought the sound of Jamaica’s contemporary street-dance scene to Plantation Cove. Known for weekly dancehall sessions including Leggo Di Streets and for performing alongside Raevaz through T&R Entertainment, he was previously booked as a selector for Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street concert.

    At Sumfest, he once again commanded a major dancehall stage, keeping the Plantation Cove crowd moving with his signature mixes as fireworks lit the night sky.

    The Dancers Who Make Dancehall Move

    In dancehall, the music and the movement have always fed each other. Dancers do more than accompany a performance; they help create its energy, translate songs into movement and develop dances that can become inseparable from the music itself.

    At Sumfest, several generations of that tradition shared the stage, including Sheldon “Shelly Belly” Lewis, Dansabling, Energy, Expensive and the Magnum Dancers.

    Originally from St Mary, Shelly Belly has spent more than two decades in Jamaica’s street-dance scene and is associated with moves including Cow Foot, Nineties Rock and Fling Chain. His longevity has made him one of the recognisable figures in contemporary Jamaican dancehall dancing.

    Dansabling represents another dimension of the culture. The Kingston-based dancer, artiste and instructor has taken dancehall beyond Jamaica through workshops for international students locally and overseas. His work combines dance instruction with the history and theory behind the movements, helping introduce international audiences to dancehall as a Jamaican cultural form.

    Energy and Expensive of Get There Squad represent another generation of Kingston’s street-dance culture. Known for appearances at street dances across the capital, the collective has also taken its performances overseas, carrying Jamaican dancehall movement and culture to international audiences.

    Gerald “Bogle” Levy
    Boysie Roses Dancer
    Dansa Bling
    Shelly Belly

    From Bogle to Today’s Dancehall

    The dancers assembled at Sumfest also reflected the connections between different generations of Jamaican street dance.

    Boysie represents a direct link to one of its most influential eras. A member of the Black Roses Crew founded by the late Gerald “Bogle” Levy, also known as Mr. Wacky, Boysie was closely mentored by the legendary dancer whose influence on dancehall remains visible decades after his death.

    His presence alongside dancers from subsequent generations illustrated something that can sometimes be lost when dancehall is viewed primarily through its latest songs and artistes: its dances, crews and traditions have their own lineage.

    Artistes and songs may change, but dancers, crews and the movements they create have helped define different eras of dancehall and shape how those eras are remembered. New movements emerge, new personalities and crews take their place in the culture, and each generation builds on what came before.

    It Takes an Ecosystem to Make Dancehall Move

    The international story of dancehall is often told through its biggest artistes, songs and chart successes. Those stars are undeniably central to the culture, but the moments that make dancehall memorable are rarely created by one person standing on a stage.

    Selectors control the energy. Dancers translate the music into movement. Crews introduce steps and styles that become associated with songs and eras. Together with the artistes, they create the atmosphere, spectacle and audience connection that can turn a performance into a cultural moment.

    That ecosystem was on full display at A Taste of Reggae Sumfest.

    Vybz Kartel and Mavado may have been the names that brought enormous attention to Plantation Cove, but around them was a wider community of dancehall practitioners helping to make the occasion feel as big as it did.

    Sumfest offered a reminder that the magic of dancehall has never rested on one artiste alone. It is what happens when the music, movement, selectors, performers and the wider community around them come together that makes the culture magnetic.

  • Bulletin météo pm du jeudi 13 août 2026

    Bulletin météo pm du jeudi 13 août 2026

    Today's forecast: • Temps chaud, brumeux et parfois venteux, sous un ciel
    temporairement nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;

    Valable jusqu'au 15 août 2026

    Valable jusqu'au 15 août 2026

    Situation synoptique dans la Caraïbe et sur l'Atlantique
    La poussière saharienne sévit dans l'atmosphère sur Haïti.
    Toutefois, le passage partiel de la 31e onde tropicale sur l'île,
    conjugué aux effets du relief, pourrait favoriser le développement
    d'averses isolées, localement soutenues et orageuses sur certains
    départements au cours de l'après-midi et de la soirée.

    Par ailleurs, la 32e tropicale, située à l'est des Petites
    Antilles, est devenue moins organisée sous l'effet de l'air sec
    saharien et d'un fort cisaillement des vents en altitude. Elle
    conserve toutefois 60 % de probabilité de se développer en un
    système cyclonique au cours des 2 et 7 prochains jours. Malgré son
    éventuel développement, elle pourrait apporter de fortes pluies et
    des vents violents sur les Petites Antilles, notamment vendredi
    soir et samedi. La 33e onde tropicale, située au sud-ouest des îles
    du Cap-Vert, produit actuellement des averses et des orages
    désorganisés. Elle présente 30 % de probabilité de formation au
    cours des 48 prochaines heures et 50 % au cours des 7 prochains
    jours. Compte tenu de leur déplacement général vers l'ouest ou
    l'ouest-nord-ouest, l'évolution de ces deux ondes tropicales mérite
    une surveillance attentive.

    Prévision pour Haïti

    • Temps chaud, brumeux et parfois venteux, avec un ciel
    progressivement plus nuageux dans certaines régions au cours de
    l'après-midi et de la soirée ;

    • Température max. prévue : 34 à 36 °C ; température min. prévue
    : 20 à 24 °C ;

    • Quelques averses, ponctuellement soutenues et orageuses, sont
    prévues sur certaines zones de l'Artibonite, du Centre
    (notamment le Haut-Plateau central), de la Grand'Anse, des
    Nippes, du Nord-Ouest, du Sud, ainsi que sur plusieurs massifs
    de l'Ouest, au cours de l'après-midi et de la soirée.

    Note

    En raison de la persistance de la chaleur, accentuée par la
    présence de poussière saharienne sur le pays, l'UHM, en
    concertation avec les autorités concernées, appelle la population à
    une vigilance accrue et l'invite à :
    • Boire régulièrement de l'eau, même en l'absence de sensation de
    soif ;
    • Éviter les expositions prolongées au soleil, particulièrement
    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 ;

    • Limiter, autant que possible, l'exposition prolongée à la
    poussière, particulièrement pour les personnes sensibles, et porter
    un masque de manière appropriée lorsque nécessaire, notamment lors
    des déplacements ou des activités en plein air.

    Tendance pour les deux prochains jours :

    Vendredi et samedi : temps relativement sec, avec quelques averses
    isolées sur l'Artibonite et le Centre en fin d'après-midi et en
    soirée.

    Prévision pour Port-au-Prince et ses environs

    • Temps chaud, brumeux et parfois venteux, sous un ciel
    temporairement nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;

    • Température max. mesurée : 34˚C & Température min. prévue :
    23˚C ;

    • Temps relativement calme et stable, avec toutefois quelques
    averses très isolées possibles sur ou à proximité de certains
    massifs en fin d'après-midi et en soirée.

    View original source — Unité HydroMétéorologique d'Haïti (U.H.M)

  • La sérigraphie comme passerelle vers un avenir meilleur pour les jeunes déplacés du camp de Cité ONA

    La sérigraphie comme passerelle vers un avenir meilleur pour les jeunes déplacés du camp de Cité ONA

    Au camp de Cité ONA, à Lalue, l’encre, les images et lacréativité ont pris, pendant deux jours, une dimension tout à fait particulière. Les 10 et 11 août 2026, plus d’une vingtaine de jeunes, filles et garçons, âgés de 15 à 19 ans, ont participé à une formation pratique en sérigraphie. Une initiative de OKNJ, Oganizasyon Koze Nouvel Jenerasyon (OKNJ) qui, selon la coordonnatrice de l’organisation, Norvilus Woulda, se veutun prétexte pour doter les jeunes en situation difficile d’un métier

    Dans un contexte marqué par l’insécurité et les déplacements forcés, cette activité apparaît comme une bouffée d’air frais pour ces adolescents issus de camps accueillant des personnes déplacées du centre-ville de Port-au-Prince. Leurs familles, contraintes de fuir leurs quartiers d’origine pour échapper aux violences des groupes armés, ont trouvé refuge dans ces espaces précaires où les besoins demeurent considérables.

    Pendant ces deux journées, l’équipe de OKNJ, très dynamique et soucieuse de partager leur expertise au plus vulnérable, ont été initiés les jeunes retrouvés dans ce camps aux techniques de base de la sérigraphie, notamment à l’impression d’images et de photographies sur différents supports dont le PVC. À travers des exercices à la fois théoriques et pratiques, ils ont pu découvrir une activité susceptible de devenir, à terme, une compétence professionnelle et une source de revenus. Une formation qui apermis de créer aux jeunes de jouir gratuitement d’un espace d’apprentissage, de découverte et de socialisation. Un groupe de jeunes dont le quotidien est profondément marqué par les conséquences de la violence.

    Ce séminaire sur la Sérigraphie semble avoir suscité un intérêt allant bien au-delà du groupe initial de participants. Des personnes présentes dans les environs ont manifesté leur souhait de voir l’équipe de l’OKNJ élargir cette formation à un plus grand nombre de jeunes. Plus surprenant encore, certains adultes ont également exprimé le désir de participer à ces séances d’apprentissage. Pour eux, la sérigraphie représente non seulement une activité créative, mais également une possibilité d’acquérir une compétence pratique susceptible de contribuer à leur autonomie économique.

    Face à cet intérêt, plusieurs personnes ont encouragé les responsables de l’OKNJ à renouveler l’expérience et à envisager une nouvelle session accessible à un public plus large. Une demande que la coordonnatrice de l’organisation, NorvilusWoulda, dit vouloir examiner avec son équipe. « Nous allons analyser cette demande avec notre équipe et voir dans quelle mesure nous pouvons envisager une nouvelle session qui puisse bénéficier à un plus grand nombre de personnes », a-t-elle indiqué en substance.

    Pour redonner confiance

    Pour Norvilus Woulda, cette initiative constitue bien plus qu’une simple activité de formation. Elle s’inscrit dans une démarche visant à accompagner les personnes les plus vulnérables et, particulièrement, les jeunes confrontés aux conséquences de la violence armée. La coordonnatrice de l’OKNJ se dit fière de pouvoir contribuer, à travers ce type d’initiative, à l’encadrement de jeunes vivant dans des conditions particulièrement difficiles. Son objectif, explique-t-elle, est de poursuivre les actions en faveur des personnes vulnérables et de favoriser l’acquisition de compétences susceptibles de leur ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives.

    Dans les camps de déplacés, les besoins sont multiples : alimentation, logement, soins de santé, éducation et protection. Mais l’avenir des jeunes constitue également une préoccupation majeure. Privés de stabilité et parfois éloignés de leur environnement scolaire habituel, ils risquent de voir leurs perspectives d’avenir compromises par une situation qu’ils n’ont pas choisie. C’est dans ce contexte que des initiatives de formation prennent toute leur importance.

    Un acte de résilience

    Au camp de cité ONA, les gestes des jeunes autour des cadres de sérigraphie, des encres et des supports d’impression racontent une histoire différente de celle habituellement associée aux camps de déplacés. Pendant quelques heures, ces adolescents ne sont plus seulement considérés comme des victimes de l’insécurité. Ils deviennent des apprenants, des créateurs et, potentiellement, de futurs professionnels. La sérigraphie devient ainsi un outil de résilience. Elle permet d’apprendre, de créer et d’envisager la possibilité de transformer une compétence manuelle en activité génératrice de revenus. 

    L’expérience de ces deux journées aura également permis de faire émerger une autre réalité : le désir des jeunes à apprendre malgré leur situation sociale d’existence. Une réalité qui ne concerne pas seulement les adolescents. Elle touche également des adultes désireux d’acquérir des compétences pratiques. Ce qui porte l’équipe de L’OKNJ à croire que cette manifestation d’intérêt pourrait ouvrir la voie à une nouvelle étape : élargir l’initiative, multiplier les sessions et permettre à davantage de personnes affectées par les violences de bénéficier d’une formation.

    Au camp de Cite Ona, à Lalue, les images imprimées sur le PVC ne sont peut-être que les premiers résultats visibles d’une expérience de deux jours. Mais derrière ces impressions se dessine une ambition plus grande : faire de l’apprentissage un instrument de reconstruction personnelle et sociale pour une jeunesse fragilisée par la violence et le déplacement forcé, a laissé comprendre Norvilus Woulda.

    Joe Antoine Jn Baptiste

    joeantoinejnbaptiste@gmail.com

     

    The post La sérigraphie comme passerelle vers un avenir meilleur pour les jeunes déplacés du camp de Cité ONA first appeared on Radio Télévision Caraïbes.

    L’article La sérigraphie comme passerelle vers un avenir meilleur pour les jeunes déplacés du camp de Cité ONA est apparu en premier sur Radio Télévision Caraïbes.

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