Tax tweak The Government has adjusted its tax policy in relation to the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages and the Environmental Protection Levy on domestic goods, but the measures will remain revenue neutral. In closing the 2026-2027 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, Finance and the Public Service Minister Fayval Williams said the SCT on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages would now be levied at a rate of 22 cents per gram of added sugar rather than on the volume of the beverage as previously announced.
‘Tell them fi sue’ Rae Town Division Councillor Rosalie Hamilton is daring Member of Parliament for Kingston Central Donovan Williams to proceed with his promised lawsuit as the now-public feud between the two Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) representatives intensifies. The division falls within the Kingston Central constituency. Yesterday, Hamilton, who has served the division as councillor for 19 years over separate periods, dismissed the legal threat issued by an attorney for Williams, which stemmed from a series of explosive allegations she levelled against him.
Doctor warns of choking risks as schools rethink bun-eating contests WESTERN BUREAU: Dr Anthony Taylor, principal of St Mary’s Preparatory School, says his institution will tighten safety measures around bun-eating contests but will not remove the activity from its sports day programme unless parents or the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information request that children not participate.
Defence paints lead investigator as incompetent in Clansman trial The further cross-examination of a senior investigator took centrestage in the Clansman gang trial yesterday, as defence attorneys sought to challenge the credibility and thoroughness of the policeman’s investigative work in relation to the murder of William Christian. The detective sergeant, who has served in the police force for approximately 20 years and is on a path to be promoted to an inspector, came under intense questioning from defence attorney John Mark Reid. Reid represents several defendants in the trial.
OUR head bats for multilayered disaster risk framework for utility sector As the transatlantic hurricane season approaches, Ansord Hewitt, director general at the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), is calling for a multilayered disaster risk framework for the utility sector to ensure access to funding and provide a critical safety net in the aftermath of any adverse event.
Hundreds in Hanover to miss back-to-school benefits due to flooding WESTERN BUREAU: Repeated flooding in the Oceanpointe Housing Scheme in Point, Hanover, is being blamed for the suspension of the 2026 ‘Back to School’ treat, usually hosted by the Oceanpointe Community Outreach Group for children within the parish. In an interview with The Gleaner, Chairman of the Oceanpointe Community Outreach Group and board member of the Homeowners’ Association in the development, Nickolette Robotham, stated that after careful consideration, the Homeowners’ Association has decided to suspend the event for 2026.
Regional private sector group launches framework for fight against NCDs As Caribbean countries intensify efforts to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) is seeking to showcase and document its role in this fight with the launch of a Reporting Framework for CARICOM Private Sector NCD Reduction Initiatives. The framework provides a mechanism to record, measure, and strengthen private-sector action to address NCDs across the region.
Doctors in departure lounge As the curtain falls on more than half a century of medical cooperation with Jamaica, highly trained Cuban specialists will begin exiting the island this Thursday, departing on four chartered flights from Kingston to their homeland, which has been reeling from increasingly frequent islandwide blackouts linked to a United States (US)-imposed fuel blockade.
Dr Tomlin Paul celebrated as a ‘Caribbean man’ Dr Tomlin J. Paul, the late deputy principal of The University of the West Indies (UWI), was yesterday remembered as a “Caribbean man”, a devoted father, and a distinguished medical professional, as mourners gathered at the University Chapel to bid him farewell. As rain clouds gathered overhead and birds chirped across the chapel grounds, tributes painted the picture of a one-of-a-kind man with a natural gift for making people feel valued. They spoke of a leader who prioritised students’ growth and well-being, reflected on their realities, and championed practical solutions.
3,000 acres of fruit trees by 2035 Jamaica is embarking on an ambitious drive to expand agricultural output, bolster food security and earn more foreign exchange by planting at least 3,000 acres of five key fruit trees – mango, ackee, breadfruit, avocado and coconut – by 2035. The initiative is designed to draw in farmers from one-acre plots to large commercial holdings, provided they have suitable land, appropriate crop choices and a willingness to participate.