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.
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?
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:
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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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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You can view the blog with your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar to see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles. There is also a weather link, which you can use to track hurricanes.
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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:
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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- Do you need a decent and honest person to work three days each week in your home?
- Do you need a live-in caregiver?
- Place needed to store bookshop stocks. Stocks are being sold at a reduced rate.
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Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.
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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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Bark Di Trute requests that you click on the advertiser's link on the page and also donate to the work of Bark Di Trute. It takes cash to care!
- A very qualified IT expert is seeking to go on a new project. He has over twenty years of experience in the field. He has an MSc in the field.
- Do you need a decent and honest person to work three days each week in your home?
- Do you need a live-in caregiver?
- Place needed to store bookshop stocks. Stocks are being sold at a reduced rate.
Send a WhatsApp message to (876) 816-5261 if you are interested in any of these people.
These persons have been endorsed by Bark Di Trute.
|
| Click here to see what's happening. |
Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.
You can view the blog with your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar to see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles. There is also a weather link, which you can use to track hurricanes.
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I want to hear from the relatives of the lady shown in the picture above. Dee Anthony, a Facebook user, can you give me more information? A significant amount of false information is being posted online about Jamaica. I would like to know the name of this lady and the period that she sat in a chair and eventually died at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
I will do all that is possible to have this matter investigated at the highest level.
We must investigate this matter to ascertain its veracity. Are people overseas just making mischief and trying to damage the name of our island?
Information can be WhatsApped at 876 816-5261.
Click here to go to the link on Facebook.
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| PM Andrew Holness |
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr Holness, gave an interesting speech at CARICOM today. It was not a speech full of emotions and not one which was electrifying, but his comments about CARICOM and the role of CARICOM should be noted.
His comments about the Cuban situation and its effect on the Caribbean were well-made. His call for dialogue might be a waste of time because it is time for the kill. The Cuban diaspora has a plan, and they are powerful. The Cuban diaspora is led by a powerful man.
Russia cannot afford to support Cuba as it did before, so there will be changes in Cuba. Only time will tell.
Bark Di Trute brings you PM Holness' full speech.
Click here to listen to PM Andrew Holness.
Remember to add your comments to the blog about CARICOM and especially the Cuba vs. USA issue.
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Bark Di Trute requests that you click on the advertiser's link on the page and also donate to the work of Bark Di Trute. It takes cash to care!
|
| Click here to see what's happening. |
Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.
You can view the blog with your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar to see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles. There is also a weather link, which you can use to track hurricanes.
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