Tommy Ricketts, a singer and a poet, passed on yesterday. He was a founding member and president of the Poetry Society of Jamaica.
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Bark Di Trute, the blog for Jamaicans at home and abroad. Bark Di Trute welcomes your financial support and materials submitted for publication. Please add your comments to the blogs. Comments that are libellous, abusive, or nonsensical will be deleted. This blog is about sharing information, helping others, and lobbying for a better life for us all.
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Congressman Carlos A. Giménez Threatens Jamaica
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| PM Andrew Holness and Congressman Giménez |
United States Congressman Carlos A. Giménez has warned that “Jamaica will face the consequences” for comments made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness about Cuba on Tuesday.
Carlos Antonio Giménez is a Cuban-born American politician and retired firefighter currently serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 28th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he has held this office since 2023, following his tenure representing the 26th district from 2021 to 2023.
I do understand the emotions tied up with those who had to leave Cuba because of Castro. I have not heard leaders like PM Holness and Prime Minister Bissessar defending the Cuban regime. Issuing threats to leaders in the Caribbean for speeches made is not the way to treat your friends, especially when such speeches are misunderstood. Jamaica has been a friend and a partner of the US for many years.
Many of us remember the days of Cuba and its interference in Jamaica's internal politics. We remember when Michael Manley was supported by Cuban Ambassador Estrada in his position on the Gleaner Company. We know all of that, sir, and more. At the same time, the Cubans are people, and I believe that the prime minister was concerned about the hardship that the people would have to go through with this embargo. That position does not mean that Jamaica is a supporter of the Cuban regime.
Note that the people in Cuba cannot demonstrate against the Cuban authorities. Mr Gimenez. Many don't support the regime. I know you are hurting, but let us tone down the rhetoric and work with Caribbean leaders to deal with the Cuban situation. CARICOM leaders do not support communism, and therefore, they do not support the communist regime in Cuba.
There is no reason to get hot under the collar, Mr Giménez. Allow your Secretary of State to lead things. He knows what he is doing. There is no need for the US to have enemies in the Caribbean because of the regime in Cuba. I encourage you to have a sip of Jamaican white rum and listen to PM Holness's speech again. The link to the speech given at CARICOM 2026 is below.
Click here to listen to PM Andrew Holness.
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Breaking News - Media House Downsizing!
A source has informed me that the RJR group is facing major financial challenges and changes are coming. Power 106 FM and Hitz FM will be no more and the Gleaner building will be sold.
This has not been confirmed by the management of RJR.
Will they continue to publish the Gleaner newspaper?
PM Holness Not The Highest Paid PM In CARICOM
Contributed by Michael Spence
Jamaica based on per capita GDP, is the second poorest country in the Caribbean, at $7000. HAITI IS #1 Caribbean POOR WITH $2300. In CARICOM, Jamaica, excluding Haiti, is the poorest.
Take a look at the following:
Estimated 2023 Per Capita GDP (USD) for Selected CARICOM Countries:
Bahamas: $35,517
Trinidad and Tobago: $25,031
Barbados: $23,167
St. Kitts and Nevis: $20,568–$22,553
Guyana: $20,626–$21,307
Antigua and Barbuda: $16,778–$21,560
Dominica: $11,411
Grenada: $10,720
Saint Lucia: $10,452
Jamaica: $7,946
Barbados, at $23,167, is among the highest in per capita GDP. Mia Mottley is not the highest-paid PM in Caricom.
The irony is that Jamaica's PM is the 4th highest paid, but the country is the poorest in CARICOM.
Check it:
Highest Paid CARICOM Leaders (Estimated Annual Salary in 2025:
- Philip Davis (Bahamas): $86,000
- Keith Rowley (Trinidad and Tobago): $85,655 - $85,681
- Mia Mottley (Barbados): $79,550
Andrew Holness (Jamaica): Following 2023 adjustments, the Prime Minister of Jamaica's salary increased significantly, with reports indicating it reached over JAD 28.5 million (approx. $58,550, though some reports suggested it to be among the highest in the region.
Terrance Drew (St. Kitts and Nevis): $55,500
Gaston Browne (Antigua and Barbuda): $55,500
GODWIN FRIDAY (St. Vincent and the Grenadines): $55,724 - $57,840.
Is PM Holness deserving of his high salary in light of Jamaica's economic performance and his stewardship?
Michael Spence
Micspen2@hotmail.com
Editor's Note
Salaries are in USD unless indicated otherwise.
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Breaking News - Cuban Guards Kill Men Who Went Into Cuban Waters
CBS TV from the US has reported, "The Cuban government said Wednesday that a speedboat from Florida that had entered Cuban waters was carrying weapons and that its occupants, Cuban nationals living in the US, allegedly planned to carry out terrorism on the island. Cuba's coast guard killed four people on the boat after the occupants opened fire, the interior ministry in Havana said."
Is this the beginning of the war between the US and Cuba? Are these people who entered Cuban waters a part of the drug trade? Were they really armed? These are details we will never know because media houses cannot independently verify the information provided by the Cuban government.
This is not looking good. This is just 90 miles from Jamaica. Fisherfolk need to exercise caution at this time.
Click to watch the CBS News video.
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Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Another Jamaican Excelling In The US
Contributed by Everett Smith
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| Michelle Watkis-Robinson |
Dear family, please join me in proudly celebrating an extraordinary achievement by our very own Michelle Watkis-Robinson.
Michelle has been recognized by Keller Williams Worldwide with three of its most prestigious global honors:
- Top 100 Agents Worldwide – Number of Units Sold
- Top 100 Agents Worldwide – Sales Volume
- Top 100 Agents Worldwide – Gross Commission Income
To put this into perspective, Keller Williams is ranked as the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count (189,258 agents globally per a 2023 report).
This marks a historic milestone:
She is the first Jamaican agent ever to rank in the Top 100 globally across all three major production categories.
Her discipline, leadership, consistency, and commitment to excellence have not only elevated her career but have also placed Jamaica on the global stage within Keller Williams.
We are immensely proud of her accomplishment and grateful to witness history in the making.
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement, Michelle—your family celebrates you today and always.
Everett Smith
Editor's Note:
The contribution of Jamaicans in the US is unbelievable. Don't forget that they continue to contribute to Jamaica.
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Death for Guilty murderers
Contributed By Michael Spence
As I reflect on Jamaica's state with babies, girls, women and men young and old being chopped up, burnt or shot to death.
I am reminded that empathy and understanding can bridge our divides. In 1962, we had 63 murders.
Fast forward to recent years: 2022 (1,498), 2023 (1,393), 2024 (1,193), and 2025 (673).
It's time for dialogue, peaceful, civilised behaviour, and cooperation.
No more drop off pants, nasty mouthism, slackness, corruption, gangs or community conflicts.
Let's work together for a brighter, murderless, chop-up-less, fire-free future.
We can bring murders down to under 10. Singapore, with twice our population, had 7 murders in 2025 – why can't we?
Jamaica needs speedy trials and rapid punishment by death for guilty murderers.
Let's shun "Murder Music" and titles like "Killi Killi", "Gorgon", "Dons", "Shottas", and "Murderas". These glorify violence.
Wake up, pull up yuh pants Jamaica, no more under me nasty mouthism! Let's lead as a civilized Third World nation, even at "96° in the Shade, real hot".
Michael Spence
micspen2@hotmail.com
Editor's note:
We get excited when a young boy or a woman is killed, and then we hear talk of new measures to be taken to deal with the problem.
A life is a life. Murder is murder. There is nothing conditional about murder. Now we are hearing that if someone is in a rage when they commit murder, then murder becomes manslaughter. The only defence should be killing someone in self-defence or insanity.
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