AGP Executive Report

Hurricane Relief & Education: Usain Bolt Foundation commits J$9.7m to support 100+ western Jamaica students for the 2026/27 school year, with J$1m grants to eight high schools and counsellors selecting the most in-need learners. School Repairs & Delivery: Education Ministry says 57 severely damaged schools are fully repaired and more are on track, while officials consider overseas contractors to fix grade-one contractor shortages; meanwhile, Petersfield Primary in Westmoreland is 98% complete and MoBay Bypass work is paused after an engineer’s death. Business & Innovation: WIPO and JIPO launch a scaled-up Intellectual Property Management Clinic for entrepreneurs, aiming to help firms use IP to grow—not just register it. Finance & Markets: Coralisle reports 38% higher 2025 net income to $94.7m after stronger insurance revenue and investment returns; JSE Index rises 1,801 points. Public Services & Compliance: Island Traffic Authority reports fibre disruption affecting learner permits and eFitness; SLB flags an email distribution error affecting one batch. Energy & Costs: Petrojam announces fuel price increases effective Sept 10, with gasoline up $0.25 and diesel up $2.94. Tourism Partnerships: Edmund Bartlett pushes Saudi Fund for Development cooperation on tourism training and reconstruction, while Almosafer Activities integrates with STA’s B2B tourism exchange portal. Governance & Justice: Attorney General urges prison reforms to cut costly lawsuits tied to overcrowding and unsafe conditions. Diaspora & Trade Links: JN Money partners with Kenya’s WapiPay to expand remittance/payment access into Jamaica. Legal/Policy Spotlight: Jamaica’s slavery reparations petition to King Charles III continues to draw UK scrutiny and debate.

Reparations Push: Jamaica has filed a landmark slavery reparations petition to King Charles III, asking him to refer three legal questions on the legality of chattel slavery and whether the UK owes a reparatory remedy to the Privy Council—Jamaica says it’s not seeking a direct payment in the petition. UK Response: The UK government rejected the demand, reiterating it “does not pay and will not pay reparations,” even as the delegation delivered the request at Buckingham Palace. Municipal Revenue Drive: Kingston and St. Andrew’s tax push with TAJ collected J$28m in property tax plus J$3.4m in trade licences and J$2.6m in signs/billboards, with arrears identified in Half-Way-Tree and other areas. Housing & Social Support: The New Social Housing Programme handed a Kingston Central homeowner her keys under the NSHP, while the Usain Bolt Foundation provided nearly $10m to help Hurricane Melissa-affected students with school expenses. Reconstruction Oversight: JAMRROC was launched to oversee NaRRA’s post-Melissa rebuilding, with quarterly public updates promised. Business & Innovation: JIPO launched a scaled-up IP Management Clinic to help MSMEs protect and commercialise brands and inventions, and WapiPay entered Jamaica via a JN Money partnership to expand remittances. Markets & Policy: The JSE Index rose by 1,801 points, while the Bank of Jamaica reported its digital currency in circulation fell by $15m in August.

Reparations Push: Jamaica has formally petitioned King Charles III to refer slavery reparations questions to the Privy Council, seeking legal clarity on whether Britain’s actions were unlawful and whether the UK owes compensation, with the UK government again rejecting payment and noting the King won’t personally decide the referral. Disaster Recovery Oversight: Prime Minister Andrew Holness launched the Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee (JAMRROC) to monitor NaRRA and speed up post-Hurricane Melissa delivery, while also flagging slow insurance payouts as a drag on private-sector rebuilding. Remittance Expansion: JN Money has partnered with Africa-focused fintech WapiPay to expand ways to send money to Jamaica, with payouts via JN Money locations or direct bank deposits. Corporate Investment: Wisynco Group says it plans up to $5 billion in capex over three years to expand manufacturing and warehouse capacity. Local Infrastructure & Services: St James’ pothole patching in Montego Bay is delayed due to asphalt shortages, and Trelawny is in line for a second synthetic athletics track at the multipurpose stadium. Education & Community Rebuild: Sandals Foundation’s $214-million Hurricane Melissa school restoration includes structural rebuilds, re-roofing, solar and water upgrades for the 2026/27 school year. Security & Justice: Police say a contract killer linked to multiple murders was killed in an operation, and the government is planning a new maximum-security prison facility.

Reparations Push (Legal Route): Jamaica has formally petitioned King Charles III to refer key slavery-reparations questions to the Privy Council’s Judicial Committee, asking whether Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement in Jamaica was lawful and whether a legal remedy is owed. Public Accountability (Reconstruction): The Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee (JAMRROC) has been launched to oversee NaRRA’s post-Hurricane Melissa work and long-term resilience, with a panel of technocrats named for monitoring and accountability. Business & Jobs (Private Sector): Industry Minister Aubyn Hill urged firms to “build bridges” to success via skills training, lower energy costs, better employer-employee alignment, and stronger links to financiers and global markets. Remittances (Payments): JN Money has partnered with WapiPay to expand remittance options to Jamaica, supporting easier cross-border transfers. Health (9/11 Cancer Data): Northwell Health says certified 9/11-related cancer cases rose sharply, with Jamaica-Queens residents among those affected, underscoring long-term health and policy pressure. Security (School Traffic): Police say extra personnel will be deployed for the first weeks of the new school year to manage congestion, especially in the Corporate Area.

Reparations Push: Jamaica has petitioned King Charles III to refer slavery-and-reparations questions to the Privy Council, seeking legal answers on whether enslavement in Jamaica was lawful and whether Britain owes a reparatory remedy—while the UK government reiterates it “does not and will not pay reparations.” Tourism & Trade: JAPEX 2026 returns to Ocho Rios (Sept 14–17) as Jamaica positions tourism for growth and resilience after Hurricane Melissa, with about 80% of hotels reopened. Pensions & Reserves: Jamaica’s private pension assets rose 2.33% to J$880b in Q1, and Net International Reserves stayed steady at US$6.64b in August. Education Under Strain: Back-to-school starts amid infrastructure gaps—some schools are still using tents or unfinished classrooms—while the JUTC reports rural school buses are rolling out and more units are planned. Social Support for Workers: The S Hotel Foundation is funding J$1.5m in back-to-school grants for children of tourism workers still affected by Hurricane Melissa closures. Local Business/Youth Sports: Project 2 Project and JISA sign an MOU to commercialise U-12 football competitions. PNP Focus: Ahead of its 88th anniversary, the PNP says it will concentrate on cost of living, drought response, Hurricane Melissa recovery and infrastructure.

School Transport & Roads: JUTC says the 2026/27 back-to-school rollout is running smoothly, with 99 rural school buses on 86 routes serving 126 schools, and plans to deploy 250 buses Monday while talks continue for 100 more units in phase two; Transport Minister Daryl Vaz also flagged $350m for road patching. Inclusive Education: The Mico CARE Centre received an upgraded classroom for students with special educational needs, backed by the CDB and JSIF. Public Finance & Food Security: Opposition finance spokesman Julian Robinson says government money isn’t reaching people, pointing to UN findings that 55% of Jamaicans are food insecure. Tourism Performance: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett reports 2.34m visitors and US$2.5b in earnings through Aug. 31, with about 70% of room inventory operational after Hurricane Melissa. Reparations Push (Legal Route): Jamaica’s delegation in London, led by Olivia Grange, filed a petition asking King Charles III to refer three slavery-legal questions to the Privy Council; Buckingham Palace says the process involves lodging with the Judicial Committee, while the UK government reiterates it will not pay reparations. Energy/Water Works: Water Minister Matthew Samuda ordered NWC to review Kingston/St Andrew work sites after complaints about traffic and reinstatement. Banking: JMMB will add an extra charge for international debit-card transactions.

Reparations Push: Jamaica’s Culture Minister Olivia Grange leads a delegation to petition King Charles III to refer three slavery-reparations questions to the Privy Council—whether enslavement in Jamaica was lawful under English law, whether it breached international law, and whether Britain has a legal duty to provide redress—framed as a “long outstanding settlement” rather than an immediate payment, with plans to meet the British Museum on repatriating Jamaican artefacts. Housing Recovery: Government signs J$1.05b (US$6.6m) contracts to build 268 semi-permanent homes for Hurricane Melissa-affected families—143 in Westmoreland and 125 in St Elizabeth—targeting early delivery within two months. Education Pressure: The Jamaica Teachers’ Association warns of school closures and mergers without proper consultation, while a separate report highlights staffing shortages at the Salvation Army School for the Blind forcing students to be turned away. Tourism & Cruise Strategy: JAMVAC is leaning harder on top international cruise sellers to grow arrivals and, crucially, get passengers to spend beyond ports as cruise numbers lag 2024 levels. Workplace Health: HRMAJ urges employers to strengthen protections for staff facing long-term illness, spotlighting breast cancer support and workplace policy gaps.

Slavery Reparations Push: Culture Minister Olivia Grange leads Jamaica’s delegation to file a petition to King Charles on Monday, asking the Privy Council to answer three legal questions on the legality of enslavement in Jamaica, whether it breached international law, and whether Britain has a duty to provide redress—Jamaica stresses it’s seeking legal clarity, not an immediate payment. Hurricane Recovery Housing: Government signed J$1.05b (US$6.6m) contracts to build 268 semi-permanent homes for Hurricane Melissa-affected families, with 143 units in Westmoreland and 125 in St Elizabeth, targeting early delivery within two months. Tourism Clean-Up: Ocho Rios stakeholders joined a major cleanup and beautification drive to protect the resort town’s appeal, with agencies and private groups coordinating across the area. Workplace Health: HRMAJ urged employers to strengthen protections for staff facing long-term illness, tying the call to breast cancer support efforts and the need for real job security during treatment. Medical Outreach: Help Jamaica Medical Mission ran back-to-school health fairs in St Andrew, offering screenings and free medication for months to help families manage conditions before classes start. Finance Watch: Barita received a credit rating upgrade from CariCRIS, citing stronger market position and improved earnings outlook.

Loss-and-Damage Finance: Nepal is asking a UN climate fund for compensation after catastrophic floods, but leaders face a huge, unquantified $5B+ recovery bill and a system that’s “new, underfunded and untested.” Local Health & Procurement: At Bellevue, the Public Procurement Commission says it was never given a submission for the delayed 100-bed mental health facility—pushing back on claims of blame for the hold-up. Remittances: Jamaica’s remittance growth after Hurricane Melissa largely bypassed storm-hit parishes, with Kingston and St Andrew capturing most of the increase. Banking Leadership: JN Bank appoints Luwanna Williams as managing director, signaling a push for disciplined growth. Housing Recovery: Government signs $1.05B contracts for 268 semi-permanent homes for Melissa-affected families, with NaRRA moving into project sequencing and planning. Education Support: USF’s Connect a Child tablets reach 630 PEP top performers, while JPS Foundation scholarships and grants total $21.8M. Business & Markets: Barita gets a credit upgrade from CariCRIS, and WapiPay enters Jamaica’s remittance market via a JN Money partnership.

Disaster Recovery & Housing: NaRRA says it will review Cabinet-referred reconstruction projects over the next few months, focusing on sequencing and planning to move quickly into Hurricane Melissa rebuilding with resilience. Banking Leadership: JN Bank appoints Luwanna Williams as managing director effective Sept. 7, strengthening leadership as it pushes growth and customer service. Tourism & Innovation: The Tourism Enhancement Fund selects 15 entrepreneurs for Cohort Three of its Tourism Innovation Incubator, with a seven-month push toward market-ready tourism products, including AI-powered prototypes. Student Finance Relief: The Students’ Loan Bureau streamlines its Debt Reset application, letting borrowers register online and choose affordable settlement or arrears-clearing plans. Back-to-School Support: JPS reports $22m in back-to-school help, while Digicel Foundation backs special education upgrades and multiple community initiatives support students returning to class. Craft & Tourism Jobs: Tourism officials urge vendors to shift from imported souvenirs to authentic Jamaican products, alongside plans to rehabilitate the Old Fort Craft Market and expand craft capacity. Trade & Markets: Jamaica’s manufactured exports are reported to be growing despite challenges, and WapiPay is entering remittances via a JN Money partnership. Legal & Reparations: Jamaica’s delegation will file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles, seeking legal clarification through the Privy Council.

Reparations Push: Culture Minister Olivia Grange leads Jamaica’s delegation to the UK to file a slavery reparations petition to King Charles III, seeking legal clarification via the Privy Council on the legality and consequences of chattel enslavement. Drought & Food Prices: Markets are seeing higher prices as drought bites—vendors cite shortages and rising costs for items like lettuce, sweet peppers, pumpkins and potatoes. Water Security: St James Municipal Corporation plans to activate emergency funding for water trucking to drought-hit communities, while the government has earmarked $500m for drought relief ahead of school reopening. Back-to-School Support: JPS says it invested about $22m through the JPS Foundation for vouchers, supplies, scholarships and school/community support. Craft Industry Upgrade: Edmund Bartlett and Horace Chang urge a shift from imported souvenirs to authentic Jamaican products, alongside a $53.5m Old Fort Craft Market rehabilitation and calls for a larger north-coast craft centre. Remittances Competition: JN Money Services partners with WapiPay to expand cross-border transfers and business-to-business payments into Jamaica. Corporate & Markets: JN Bank appoints Luwanna Williams as managing director effective Sept 7; JSE suspends trading for MDS over delayed audited financials. Manufacturing Resilience: Jamaica’s manufactured exports keep growing despite broader export declines and supply shocks from Hurricane Melissa and higher energy costs.

Food Prices & Drought: Jamaica’s drought is pushing market prices higher, with vendors reporting shortages and steep increases for Irish potatoes ($350/lb), sweet potatoes ($250), pumpkins ($300), lettuce ($1,000) and sweet peppers ($600), while carrots ($400) and onions ($250) also rise as water-dependent crops struggle. Tourism & Capacity: Jamaica’s tourism recovery is gaining momentum, with 2.34 million visitors and about $2.5 billion in earnings through Aug. 31, but hotel availability remains the constraint—about 70% of room inventory is currently in service after Hurricane Melissa. Capital Markets: The JSE suspended trading in Medical Disposables & Supplies (MDS) after delays in filing audited financials, citing an IT disruption that affected accounting records. Housing Recovery: Government has signed contracts to build semi-permanent homes for Hurricane Melissa-affected families, with 268 units planned for Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth under a $1.05b first phase. Back-to-School Support: JPS says it invested about $22m via the JPS Foundation to provide vouchers, supplies, uniforms and grants for schools and communities ahead of the new academic year.

Remittances & trade expansion: JN Money Services has partnered with Africa-based fintech WapiPay to expand money transfers and trade payments across the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, following Bank of Jamaica approval. Export compliance push: The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association is urging MSME exporters to go beyond certification and fully understand and follow the regulations of each target market to keep access and grow sustainably. Public finance & debt management: The Government of Jamaica is raising US$1B via an unsecured international bond to support liability management, including a tender/exchange for existing global bonds. Bond buyback: GOJ is also offering investors premiums to buy back US$2.33B in bonds (2028, 2036 and 2039), tied to a concurrent new issuance. Capital markets disruption: Medical Disposables & Supplies (MDS) has been suspended from trading on the JSE after missing audited filing deadlines. Craft sector protection: The National Craft Council is calling for stronger protection against imported imitations of Jamaican craft symbols, alongside the $53.5M rehabilitation of the Old Fort Craft Market in Montego Bay. Water crisis response: Government has allocated $500M for drought relief ahead of school reopening, including $150M for water trucks to schools and health centres. Tourism & hospitality investment: H10 Hotels is rebranding its Trelawny property as an adults-only luxury resort, “Ocean Allure Eden Bay,” effective Nov. 1. Corporate results: Purity (Consolidated Bakeries) says it will take production offline over the next 18 months for a plant overhaul, with costs hitting results before benefits arrive.

AI Governance: Jamaica’s Science Minister Andrew Wheatley is urging CARICOM to push a unified approach to Artificial Intelligence rules, arguing the region must shape regulations that affect economies and public services. Parliament in the Digital Age: Nevis is taking part in the CPA conference in Jamaica, with its Assembly President Michelle Slack-Clarke presenting on keeping parliamentary decorum as legislatures go digital, while youth parliamentarians meet virtually on AI leadership. Tax Tech Update: Tax Administration Jamaica says its RAiS eServices and Jamaica Tax Portal services (property tax, traffic tickets, fitness fees) will be down Friday Sept 4 from 7:00–10:00 pm for a scheduled upgrade. Sports & Giving: Flow will donate TT$200 for every Trinbago Knight Riders six in CPL 2026 to the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities, with Jamaica’s Flow Foundation also pledging support for back-to-school initiatives. Tourism & Culture: Island Village in Ocho Rios will host the inaugural Jamaica Fashion Week Nov 19–22, 2026, aiming to spotlight local designers and grow the fashion platform. Public Health: Stevie Face and Help Jamaica Medical Mission stage the third annual St Thomas Health Fair Sept 5 with screenings, free eyeglasses, HIV/STI tests and medications. Casino Framework: Jamaica’s Casino Gaming Commission says the first licensed operator is expected to start by March 2027 under strict anti-crime and responsible gambling safeguards.

Tourism & Housing: Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says the push to build about 4,000 houses for tourism workers is on track, with safeguards to ensure only bona-fide employees benefit, and talks underway on longer-term mortgage financing. Parliament & Governance: Bartlett also urged regional legislatures to become trusted, fact-based institutions in the digital age, while House Speaker Juliet Holness stressed protecting democratic values as parliaments modernise. Drought Response: Government approved an extra $500m for Jamaica’s worsening drought and extreme heat—water trucks for schools and critical facilities, constituency support via MPs, and municipal assistance ahead of reopening. Economy & Finance: Opposition finance spokesman Julian Robinson criticised the government for not drawing down available international funding, warning it could mean falling tax revenues and more borrowing. Business & Markets: JSE suspended trading in shares of Medical Disposables and Supplies, while other market items included NCB’s bond offer overshooting target and Digicel appointing a new group chief business officer. Health & Social Impact: Supreme Ventures Foundation donated $2.1m to Chain of Hope Jamaica to help cover paediatric cardiac surgery costs; JASL launched a “Know Your Rights” app to tackle HIV discrimination. Community & Security: Protest erupted in St Catherine’s Harkers Hall after the killing of a Spanish Town Hospital worker, with INDECOM investigating.

Parliament & Democracy (Digital): Speaker Juliet Holness and Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett pushed for stronger, resilient digital parliaments, warning that democracy must stay “human-centred” and never shut down during crises. Jamaica’s Business & Finance (Markets): The Jamaica Stock Exchange suspended trading in Medical Disposables and Supplies after it missed audited financial filings, citing an I-T disruption and expecting completion by end-November. Charities Go Digital: Jamaica’s JSWIFT platform now lets charitable organisations register and renew status online, aiming to simplify access for groups in Jamaica and the diaspora ahead of FATF scrutiny. Education & Inclusion: USF Connect-a-Child awarded tablets to 630 PEP students, targeting low-income learners and boosting participation in a more digital society. Regional Economy & Governance: Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said parliaments can strengthen regional cooperation by linking international policy to everyday public concerns. Tourism & Sports Diplomacy: Jamaica signed a training camp agreement with Japan’s Tottori Prefecture for 2027 World Athletics preparations, extending a partnership dating back to 2007. Airfare Politics: Senator Marlon Morgan accused the Opposition of misleading Jamaicans over rising airfare, arguing government has limited leverage over privately owned airlines. Local Talent & Youth Tech: LASCO-backed Creative Design Camp scholarship helped a 12-year-old build a skincare app, turning digital creativity into a product she can sell.