AGP Executive Report

Long Island Rail Road Deal: After a 3-day shutdown, LIRR service is set to resume in phases from noon Tuesday, with hourly trains on the Babylon, Huntington, Ronkonkoma and Port Washington branches, while shuttle buses keep essential workers moving in the morning. Disaster Recovery Scrutiny: In Jamaica, the Opposition is pushing back on claims that slow Hurricane Melissa spending is just “bureaucracy,” arguing the Auditor General’s findings point to planning and governance gaps. Transport Costs Tension: Taxi operators are furious after being asked to wait on a promised 16% fare increase, saying costs are already crushing daily income. Tourism & Airlift Push: Jamaica is touting new airline routes and major hotel investment as visitor numbers rebound post-Melissa. Business & Jobs: Atlantic Hardware & Plumbing reports a strong 2026 start, while Ecotact brings advanced agro-packaging to help farmers meet international standards. Tech & Internet Prices: Starlink raises Jamaica’s monthly residential internet price by 6.4%, effective June 18.

Tourism & Airlift Boost: Jamaica is pushing a big jump in visitor capacity and hotel investment, with new airline routes and a $5 billion tourism push after topping one million visitors and about US$956m in foreign exchange earnings in Q1. Construction Pressure: The cement shortage is still biting, with the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association urging government action to protect supply and avoid more FX and job losses. Energy Cost Relief: UTech says a two-megawatt solar system could cut its monthly power bill from $15m to $7.5m, with bids closing June 30. Digital Costs: Starlink raised Jamaica’s monthly internet price by 6.4% to $7,450 from June 18. Public Accountability: Opposition MPs renewed calls for an immediate account of uncollected Hurricane Melissa donations after Auditor General findings showed ODPEM spent only 1.8% of $1.44b by Feb 23. Transport Tension: Taxi and PPV operators are still in a holding pattern as fare decisions and policy timelines shift. Local Environment: The GraceKennedy Foundation’s Kingston Harbour cleanup lecture highlights progress in keeping plastic and waste out of the harbour. FX Watch: US$158.55 to J$1.

Long Island Rail Road strike: The LIRR strike is now in its third day, with Monday bringing the first full weekday shutdown and major disruption for hundreds of thousands of commuters as MTA and unions remain far apart on pay talks. Regional airlift push: Jamaica is set to host the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Air Connectivity Summit again in Kingston on Feb. 23, 2027, as tourism leaders chase more seats and better intra-Caribbean routes. Hurricane Melissa recovery: In Trelawny, Falmouth Primary students received school supplies and books months after Hurricane Melissa, with Disney Cruise Line and Good360 delivering backpacks and classroom essentials. Transport pressure at home: Jamaica’s Transport Ministry has scheduled a Monday meeting with public transport operators over a long-running fare increase demand, citing global fuel-price pressures. Westmoreland health focus: Authorities are stepping up monitoring and public guidance on chronic illness prevention and hantavirus awareness, even as no confirmed cases are reported locally.

Transport Talks: Jamaica’s Transport Ministry has scheduled a Monday meeting with the Transport Authority and public transport operators after reports of a possible strike over long-pending fare increase demands, with Finance Minister Fayval Williams set to address the issue at the Transport Centre in Half-Way-Tree—amid operator pressure from higher global fuel costs. Airport Finance Debate: Opposition transport spokesman Mikael Phillips says the government’s securitisation of future airport cash flow “mortgages” the future, arguing it limits flexibility while airport access and logistics still lag. Ride-Hailing Friction: Phillips also renewed criticism over delays in a national ride-hailing policy, pointing to the continued gap between promises and regulation. Health Focus: Westmoreland health officials are stepping up chronic illness monitoring and precautionary hantavirus surveillance at ports of entry, while residents are urged to track key health indicators and adopt healthier habits. Agriculture Recovery: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green announced Phase 2 of the Hurricane Melissa recovery programme with $250 million, citing strong crop rebound in 2025 despite storm damage.

Hurricane Melissa Recovery: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says Phase 2 of the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Programme is now funded with J$250 million, pointing to strong crop rebound in 2025 even after Melissa hit output down 22.1% in Q4. Public Safety & Livelihoods: In Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland, residents protest a curfew they say has been crushing income for more than two months, with claims of police action during a candlelight vigil. Community Policing: The JCF is expanding “Beat the Streets” in Westmoreland, sending police teams into communities to listen, boost foot patrols, and tackle local concerns. Cost of Living Reality Check: Jamaica’s inflation fell again in April, helped by lower electricity costs—but food, petrol and other essentials still keep households feeling squeezed. Tourism & Air Access: Jamaica will host the CTO Air Connectivity Summit in Kingston on Feb. 23, 2027, aiming to strengthen regional airlift and tackle capacity, taxes and weak intra-Caribbean links. Pensions: The FSC says a state micro-pension scheme is not feasible, urging improvements to the NIS and private ARS instead.

U.S. Commuter Shock: Long Island Rail Road service ground to a halt as unions launched the first strike in 30+ years, with nearly 300,000 daily riders facing “No Passengers” signs and major travel disruption after a pay gap of just 2 percentage points derailed talks with the MTA. Jamaica Policy Push: Opposition industry spokesman Anthony Hylton is calling for a national MSME growth and export programme, arguing small businesses need a full ecosystem—finance, logistics, digital tools, support and market access—to stop operating on the margins. Agriculture Blueprint: Jamaica has completed a draft 10-year National Agricultural Development Plan with FAO support, aiming at resilient production, stronger value chains, better trade, and food security—now open for stakeholder feedback. Education Support: Macmillan Education and Kingston Bookshop donated 4,000 textbooks worth $6m to schools hit by Hurricane Melissa. Health Watch: Westmoreland authorities are stepping up hantavirus surveillance at ports of entry, while stressing there are no confirmed cases in Jamaica. Sports & Culture: CPL draft reshuffled squads with Gudakesh Motie moving to Barbados and Jamaica targeting 5,000 diaspora fans; UWI also pitched its “digital revolution” agenda.

World Cup Business Deal: FIFA has finally sealed a China broadcast rights agreement for the 2026 World Cup at about US$60m, far below its earlier asking price—showing how fast the commercial terms shifted as the deadline closed. CPL Momentum: Jamaica is aiming to pull in about 5,000 diaspora fans for CPL 2026, with the league running Aug 7–Sept 20 and marketing focused on Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan communities abroad. Tourism Connectivity Push: Jamaica will host the 2nd CTO Air Connectivity Summit in Kingston on Feb 23, 2027, building on Bermuda’s first event to tackle capacity gaps and high air costs. Disaster Relief Accountability: Opposition is renewing pressure on ODPEM after an Auditor General report said only 1.8% of Hurricane Melissa cash donations had been spent by April. Food Security Investment: HMH Farms says it’s investing millions to strengthen Jamaica’s local food supply chain, including boosting egg production. Inflation Watch: April inflation fell back to -0.3% month-on-month as electricity costs eased, though food prices kept climbing.

Hurricane Melissa fallout and climate readiness: Jamaica’s inflation eased in April as electricity costs fell, with STATIN reporting the All Jamaica CPI down 0.3% month-on-month and point-to-point inflation holding at 4.3%—a rare bit of breathing room for households. Disaster recovery scrutiny: Opposition and government figures are trading numbers on Melissa spending, with JLP’s Marlon Morgan citing $67 billion in relief and recovery outlays, while St Elizabeth officials are already flagging that many shelters (mostly schools) are still unsafe after the storm. Security and cost pressures: A 68-year-old bearer was killed during an attempted robbery on Half-Way Tree Road, as police push higher visibility around financial centres. Policy and inclusion: MPs passed the Single-Use Plastics Act 2026 framework, while Scotiabank rolled out audio guidance on select ATMs to support customers with sight loss. Business and growth ideas: Opposition MP Anthony Hylton floated a national MSME growth and export programme, and Jamaica’s mining ministry renewed focus on turning bauxite residue (red mud) into a commercial rare-earths plant. Regional climate finance: CDB and FRLD training in Barbados is helping Caribbean states prepare submissions for the US$250M loss-and-damage grant window.

LIRR Strike Deadline: Long Island commuters are bracing for a possible walkout after union leaders said negotiations with the MTA were cut short and the sticking point remains pay for the contract’s fourth year—while the strike could hit as early as 12:01 a.m. Jamaica Inflation Watch: Jamaica’s inflation fight faces a new headache as fuel prices jump sharply, with regular gasoline up from $151.32/litre (Feb 26) to $189.88/litre (May 14), linked to tighter global oil flows. Period Poverty Pilot: Jamaica will launch a $50 million pilot to tackle period poverty in schools, reaching about 2,000 girls across eight schools with health, hygiene and support services. Climate Finance Push: Caribbean countries moved closer to accessing the US$250M loss and damage climate fund after a Barbados workshop set countries up for a June 15 submission deadline. Digital Literacy for AI: Jamaicans are being urged to improve digital literacy after a study found only 30% are familiar with deepfakes and misinformation. Airport Retail Expansion: NMIA’s operator plans to invite bids next month for a major expansion of shops, restaurants and duty-free concessions.

Birds & Hunting: NEPA has approved in principle a restricted 2026 bird-shooting season, but BirdLife Jamaica experts warn Hurricane Melissa left many species short on food, shelter and survival—so even “restricted” hunting could worsen the damage. Disaster Relief Accountability: Opposition says Hurricane Melissa donations are still largely idle—an audit cited only 1.8% spent and 88% uncommitted as of February—while ODPEM argues low cash spend reflects careful use of donated building materials. Public Safety & Crime: “Countree Hype” (Taugea Ubert Dayes) pleaded guilty in the US to smuggling dozens of firearms hidden inside office furniture shipped to Kingston. Tourism & Jobs: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett urged CARICOM to treat tourism as the region’s top economic engine, while TPDCo launched Licensing Expo 2026 to speed approvals for tourism operators. Agriculture & Water: $145m is earmarked for drought-mitigation mini water-catchment ponds and support for farmers. Forex: J$159.19 per US$1.

Tourism Watch: With less than a month to World Cup kick-off, hotels are already feeling the squeeze—occupancy in key host cities is lagging last year, raising fears that early-round demand won’t match the hype. Airport Hospitality: Jamaica’s Club Kingston just won Priority Pass “Lounge of the Year” for Latin America and the Caribbean, a fresh signal that the visitor experience is getting sharper. Disaster Governance: ODPEM says it will respond to the Hurricane Melissa audit by tightening how relief funds are managed, tracked and reported. Public Transport Pressure: Opposition says JUTC is in a “most pathetic state,” pointing to massive losses and calling for urgent fixes. Health Accountability: Health Minister Tufton moves to sanction boards and agencies over procurement, reporting and financial mismanagement. AI Skills Gap: A new SALISES study finds only 6% of Jamaicans have formal AI training—awareness is high, but know-how is low. Weather Prep: Jamaica is pushing a $145m drought-mitigation plan, including mini water-catchment ponds, as the season approaches.

Hurricane Melissa fallout: Jamaica’s Auditor General says ODPEM spent just 1.8% of donated funds (about J$26m of J$1.44b) by Feb 23, raising alarms about oversight and procurement, while ODPEM insists the low cash spend wasn’t inaction—pointing to donated materials already supporting shelter repairs and asking for proper regularisation before further spending. Public finance pressure: A separate parliamentary push is now focused on how $11.3b in recovery contracts is being executed versus the donations flagged as unspent. Tourism supply chain push: Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is backing a regional tourism logistics hub to help Caribbean countries keep more of the tourism dollar, with the CTO calling for stronger local control of the supply side. Health expansion: Minister Tufton says major facilities are slated for 2026/27, including Cornwall Regional Hospital and a Western Child & Adolescent Hospital. Care policy: A $50m pilot will integrate unpaid caregivers into Jamaica’s formal care system for the elderly and persons with disabilities. FX: The US dollar closed at J$159.24.

TUI Shock to Tourism Demand: TUI says UK summer bookings are down as travellers get spooked by the Iran war and even Jamaica hurricanes—summer tour/air revenues are down 7% overall, with the UK down 10%, and the company flags a €61m hit (about €40m from Iran-related repatriations plus €5m from Hurricane Melissa). Fuel-Shortage Reassurance: TUI’s CFO insists there’s no aviation fuel shortage for the next 10 weeks, though prices may rise. Local Governance & Accountability: Jamaica’s Auditor General report puts ODPEM under fire over Hurricane Melissa relief—only $26m of $1.44b donated had been spent by Feb 23, 2026, with gaps in transparency and shelter programme documentation. Policy Push: Opposition MP Hylton renews calls for a Jamaica Sovereign Wealth Fund to turn resource proceeds into long-term investments. Human Rights Warning: GARR says over 68,000 Haitians were repatriated in early 2026, urging stronger protection for immigrants’ rights.

Disaster Relief Accountability: Jamaica’s Auditor General says ODPEM’s handling of Hurricane Melissa funds fell short—only $26.2m (1.8%) of $1.44b in cash donations was spent as of Feb 23, and it flagged weak transparency and gaps in controls for Hurricane Beryl and the ROOFS shelter programme. Health System Push: Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says Cornwall Regional Hospital will reopen this year after a decade of repairs, while NHF spending rose to $11.5b delivering about 3m prescriptions and the ministry set up an International Recruitment Unit to tackle shortages. Sugar Tax Compliance: Manufacturers are being urged to reformulate non-alcoholic sweetened beverages as the May 1 sugar-related tax takes effect. Local Governance Pressure: MPs Omar Newell and Kenneth Russell question SPARK road delays and budgeting in St Mary. Business/Assets: RJRGLEANER signed to sell the historic Gleaner building at 7 North Street, Kingston, with completion expected in 45 days.

US-Jamaica Diplomacy: President Trump has nominated former TV anchor Kari Lake as U.S. ambassador to Jamaica, sending the pick to the Senate for confirmation and potentially reshaping how Washington engages the island. Public Health Watch: Jamaica’s National Blood Transfusion Service is under renewed scrutiny after concerns surfaced that an earlier audit’s problems may still be unresolved, raising safety worries. Regional Trade & Migration: Bermuda’s push for full Caricom membership is sparking political heat over “mixed messaging” on whether free movement would mean open borders. Cost Pressures: Jamaican Teas’ CEO warns Middle East-linked fuel, freight and fertilizer shocks could lift business costs by about 20%, feeding inflation. Tourism & Travel: Airfares on Jamaica–US routes are rising after Spirit Airlines’ shutdown, with fewer low-cost options. Crime & Safety: U.S. Customs deported 27 cruise ship workers tied to child pornography investigations, underscoring tighter scrutiny on travel-linked labour.

US-Jamaica Diplomacy: Donald Trump has nominated anti-immigration hardliner Kari Lake as the next US ambassador to Jamaica, sending her to Senate confirmation—an appointment that could shape how the diaspora and Jamaica-US ties are handled. Air Travel Costs: Jamaica-US fares jumped after Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, with one route up about 50% as low-cost competition vanished. FX Watch: The Jamaican dollar closed at $158.92 per US$1. Public Health: The Health Ministry says TB is spreading in detention facilities, with Hunts Bay Police lock-up flagged as the biggest concern after two deaths and dozens of cases. Tax & Prices: TAJ extended licensing for sweetened beverage manufacturers to May 15 under the new sugary drink tax rules. Local Governance: Westmoreland’s mayor disputes claims over shelter accommodation works after Hurricane Melissa, saying promised sites weren’t ready and payments were delayed. Business & Investment: A Seiveright-led trade mission is pushing Jamaica exports and investment links in Ireland and the UK. Safety & Environment: “Mining Matters” lets motorists report aggregate spillage by app. Cyber Threat: Fortinet says Jamaica logged 46 million cyberattack attempts in 2025.