JIS Releases, August 26, 2025

RADA STRATEGY YIELDS POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN FIGHT AGAINST COCOA FROSTY POD ROT

Dwayne Henry

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has reported a positive response from cocoa farmers across Jamaica to newly introduced techniques aimed at combating the frosty pod rot disease.

These techniques, which include top grafting and basal grafting, have proven instrumental in enhancing the resilience of cocoa fields against the disease.

Director of Project Management and Coordination at RADA, Dwayne Henry, told JIS News that the techniques, though simple, have proven effective.

“Sometimes some technologies are pretty simple [and] create a big impact for us. We are facilitating training of farmers in both top grafting techniques and basal grafting techniques as a means of adding disease tolerance and variety to existing cocoa fields in order to increase the resilience,” Mr. Henry said.

Top grafting involves attaching disease-tolerant cocoa varieties to the healthy upper sections of mature plants.

“If you have an old field and you want to improve the resistance to frosty pod rot disease, some of those trees which are old, we graft the new tolerant varieties on a healthy part of the whole plant, and once that catches and starts bearing fruit, we remove the old plant to allow that tolerant variety to help you in managing the disease,” the Director outlined

He further explained that basal grafting, by contrast, involves introducing disease-tolerant cocoa varieties at the base of the plant.

“When that catches, we remove the other section of the plant. So that reduces the time that the crop will be out of production literally, because you don't remove the old crop until the new crop is actually bearing,” Mr. Henry said.

He pointed out that “after we train farmers, they know what the diseased pods look like”.

“If the diseased pods are not in the field and the fungus is not allowed to build up, they can remove them and either bury them or heap them and add agricultural lime or marl to break down the pods and kill the fungus quickly,” Mr. Henry added.

The effectiveness of these techniques is reflected in the marked increase in cocoa pod yields and the notable decline in the incidence of frosty pod rot.

 “We have assessed a consistent and healthy increase in pod production [ranging] between 52 per cent and 78 per cent, after interventions. Among involved farmers, we have seen an average 91 per cent reduction in the disease, and up to 100 per cent removal of the frosty pod rot disease from their fields,” Mr. Henry reported.

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BOJ PROJECTS GDP GROWTH OF UP TO 3% FOR 2025-26

Governor Byles

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is projecting that gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Jamaica will recover in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 per cent for the financial year 2025-26, largely due to the performance in agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors. 

This was noted by Governor Richard Byles during a recent press conference at the Bank’s headquarters in downtown Kingston. “Subsequently, growth is forecast to normalise in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 per cent. Employment levels remain high, even as anecdotal data suggest that wage pressures are moderate,” he said.

Meanwhile, he informed that the BOJ estimates that the domestic economy grew in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 per cent for the June 2025 quarter, resulting from expansion in most industries.

Mr. Byles said that economic activity is projected to continue to expand in the September 2025 quarter.

At the same time, the Governor reported that Jamaica’s balance of payments remains in surplus, reflecting continued growth in remittance inflows and tourism arrivals, despite policy changes in the international environment. 

“In this context, at 12th  August, Jamaica’s gross international reserves stood at the high and healthy level of US$6.2 billion, or 148 per cent of the measure considered adequate,” Mr. Byles stated.

Mr. Byles said, as reported by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), inflation at July 2025 was 3.3 per cent and core inflation, which excludes the prices of agricultural products and fuel from the Consumer Price Index, was 4.3 per cent, which was below the rate recorded at July last year.

Governor Byles said the economic outlook remained clouded by uncertainties related to the policies of the United States (US), as that country continues to reset relationships with its trading partners and tighten its immigration policies.

“These developments may slow the pace of economic activity and could cause inflationary pressures in the US, which could adversely affect the Jamaican economy,” he said.

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HEART/NSTA TRUST OPENS GLOBAL TRAINING CENTRE IN PORTMORE

Dr. Taneisha Ingleton

The HEART/NSTA Trust, in partnership with Guangdong VCOM Educational Technology Co. Ltd., officially launched the WorldSkills Jamaica Global Training Centre at the HEART College of Construction Services, in Portmore, recently.

The centre will enhance Jamaica’s national skills development strategy and position the country as a regional leader in workforce training and innovation.

In her remarks, Managing Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, said the facility will open a gateway that connects Jamaicans to world-class training standards, global partners, and to a future where skills are the passport to opportunity. 

“This milestone speaks directly to our commitment under Vision 2030 to build a world-class education and training system, to strengthen partnerships with industry, and to prepare a workforce that is globally competitive,” Dr. Ingleton said.

She pointed out that through a strategic and enduring partnership with Guangdong VCOM Educational Technology Company, a global industry partner of WorldSkills International, HEART/NSTA Trust was aligning Jamaica's workforce development strategies to the highest global benchmarks.

Dr. Ingleton informed that for more than 20 years, VCOM has been at the forefront of advanced training solutions and equipment for communications and Optoelectronic technology, supporting WorldSkills competitions in disciplines such as information network cabling and Optoelectronics.

 

“Their generous donation of cutting-edge equipment to this centre… represents a clear investment in Jamaica's future. We are starting with advanced ICT (Information and Communications Technology) communications and optoelectronics disciplines that power digital transformation, and we will expand into other high-demand technical fields,” Dr. Ingleton said.

The Managing Director stated that all programmes will be mapped to the WorldSkills occupational standards, the same gold standard benchmarks used in 89 member countries and regions, representing two-thirds of the world's population.

“This means that a young Jamaican who trains here will hold credentials recognised in every WorldSkills nation, ready to compete and to win anywhere in the world,” she said.

As of July 2025, some 84,567 Jamaicans are enrolled in HEART/NSTA Trust training programmes, representing 61 per cent of the agency’s annual target.

Thousands are also engaged in work-based environments, gaining valuable real-world experiences alongside their classroom training. 

“More Jamaicans with the skills to drive productivity, more industries with the talent to grow, and more communities with clear, sustainable pathways to prosperity. The centre that we're opening will accelerate that progress. It offers state-of-the-art infrastructure that rivals the best anywhere in the world [and] global recognition for Jamaican credentials and a platform to position Jamaica as a regional hub for technical excellence,” Dr. Ingleton said.

“Our records show that we are ready. We have delivered specialist training with WorldSkills Germany, and we have partnered with VCOM to train instructors and competitors in Optoelectronics. Each collaboration has strengthened our capacity and deepened our reputation in the international skills arena,” she added.

She further noted that in the months ahead the centre will hold regional training camps, facilitate expert exchanges, prepare national teams for the world stage and partner with employers to ensure training matches the industry demands. 

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BOJ ANTICIPATES DIGITAL CURRENCY EXPANSION WILL EASE ATM CHALLENGES
KINGSTON

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles.

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Deputy Governor with responsibility for Financial Markets and Payments Systems, Natalie Haynes

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles, says the full rollout of Jamaica’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), branded JAM-DEX, will alleviate many of the problems people experience at automated teller machines (ATMs).

JAM-DEX was first introduced in 2021 and rolled out to the Jamaican public on a phased basis in 2022. However, it is still not widely utilised as a form of payment across the country. 

The Central Bank maintains that JAM-DEX offers a safe, efficient, and convenient way to pay for goods and services without the need for cash.

Responding to a question during the recent BOJ press conference, Governor Byles stated that retrofitting point-of-sale (POS) machines at consumer-facing establishments to accept the CBDC will facilitate a broader rollout of JAM-DEX.

“The breakthrough with JAM-DEX will happen when we get the POS machines Converted… that’s when we will see a much more rapid spread of use. If… you have a wallet full of JAMDEX, unless you can spend it at places that use a POS machine, you have to resort to cash or you have to use your credit and debit card. 

“So it’s critical, and the commercial banks know the POS conversion is what is

holding up the effective and massive rollout of JAM-DEX. A lot of the problems that people are experiencing at ATMs to get cash can be addressed over the years when we get JAM-DEX rolled out,” he said.

Meanwhile, BOJ Deputy Governor, Financial Markets and Payments Systems,

Natalie Haynes, reported a 30 per cent increase in the volume of JAM-DEX transactions since the start of 2025.

“We have seen, since the start of this year, more interest in JAM-DEX by the

individual users who do what we call peer-to-peer transactions. The data for the quarter, ending June shows, in terms of value of transactions, about a 30 per cent increase,” she informed.

 Mrs. Haynes said this outturn is partly attributable to BOJ “now actively pursuing the communication and the events, in terms of persons using JAM-DEX”.

 “So we have moved from brand awareness to more transaction-oriented events. We were very big… for those who were at Sumfest… and that has contributed to the increase, in terms of merchants accepting it and individuals using it,” she added.

The Deputy Governor further noted that retrofitting point-of-sale (POS) machines, together with onboarding additional digital wallet providers, is essential to advancing the rollout of JAM-DEX.

 

“We are still working on getting the point-of-sale machines for the larger merchants retrofitted… we are doing that in collaboration with the banks. The solution is working; it works, but it’s just to have [the machines] retrofitted and we are waiting on the banks. Also [we are] waiting on other wallet providers to be onboarded. Two are onboarded and are distributing JAM-DEX and we expect two more before year end,” Mrs. Haynes informed.

She also noted that additional staff have been recruited to strengthen public communication around JAM-DEX and encourage its adoption.

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BOJ PROJECTS GDP GROWTH OF UP TO 3% FOR 2025-26

Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Richard Byles.

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is projecting that gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Jamaica will recover in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 per cent for the financial year 2025-26, largely due to the performance in agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors. 

This was noted by Governor Richard Byles during a recent press conference at the Bank’s headquarters in downtown Kingston.

“Subsequently, growth is forecast to normalise in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 per cent. Employment levels remain high, even as anecdotal data suggest that wage pressures are moderate,” he said.

Meanwhile, he informed that the BOJ estimates that the domestic economy grew in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 per cent for the June 2025 quarter, resulting from expansion in most industries.

Mr. Byles said that economic activity is projected to continue to expand in the September 2025 quarter.

At the same time, the Governor reported that Jamaica’s balance of payments

remains in surplus, reflecting continued growth in remittance inflows and tourism

arrivals, despite policy changes in the international environment. 

“In this context, at 12th  August, Jamaica’s gross international reserves stood at the high and healthy level of US$6.2 billion, or 148 per cent of the measure considered adequate,” Mr. Byles stated.

Mr. Byles said, as reported by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), inflation at July 2025 was 3.3 per cent and core inflation, which excludes the prices of agricultural products and fuel from the Consumer Price Index, was 4.3 per cent, which was below the rate recorded at July last year.

Governor Byles said the economic outlook remained clouded by uncertainties related to the policies of the United States (US), as that country continues to reset relationships with its trading partners and tighten its immigration policies.

“These developments may slow the pace of economic activity and could cause

inflationary pressures in the US, which could adversely affect the Jamaican economy,” he said.

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TPDCO AND RED STRIPE SIGN MOU FOR NEW TOURISM PRODUCT IN PORT ROYAL
KINGSTON

Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) Executive Director, Wade Mars (left); and Brand Manager of Red Stripe and Dragon Stout, Amoye Phillpotts-Brown (right), sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday (August 25) to collaborate on the development of the Port Royal Saloon Waters Tour. The signing ceremony was held at Red Stripe’s Spanish Town Road headquarters in Kingston.

Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) Executive Director, Wade Mars (left); and Brand Manager of Red Stripe and Dragon Stout, Amoye Phillpotts-Brown (right), shake hands to signal the agreement reached after they signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday (August 25) to collaborate on the development of the Port Royal Saloon Waters Tour. The signing took place at Red Stripe’s Spanish Town Road headquarters in Kingston.

The Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) and Red Stripe officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday (August 25) to collaborate on the development of the Port Royal Saloon Waters Tour. 

The initiative is a cultural tourism product which will be carried out in Port Royal, Jamaica’s second site on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list.

According to TPDCo Executive Director, Wade Mars, creating this product will connect the history of the place once known for piracy and as a “wicked city” to modern enterprise. 

“This initiative will open new doors for community development, foster entrepreneurial opportunities, and invite visitors to experience Port Royal in a way that is authentic, educational, and sustainable,” Mr. Mars said. 

He was speaking at the signing of the MoU held at Red Stripe’s Spanish Town Road headquarters in Kingston. 

Mr. Mars went on to express gratitude to Red Stripe which has invested $9 million into the development of the initiative.

 

The sum covers training of bartenders, improving bars, developing signature beer cocktails that depict Port Royal’s history, and uniforms for staff so quality standards are maintained. 

“We are deeply grateful to Red Stripe. They have joined us on this transformative mission. Their reputation for creativity and commitment to responsible growth make them an ideal partner in showcasing Port Royal's story to the world. This partnership reflects the very best of public-private collaboration, purposeful, impactful, and forward-looking,” Mr. Mars noted. 

The Port Royal Saloon Waters Tour is designed to bring Port Royal’s rich history to life through a curated heritage-based bar-hopping walking experience.

 

It is a model for sustainable heritage tourism where the history of the city will be preserved through the educating and entertaining of visitors and residents alike. 

The tour will feature themed guides, period-inspired storytelling, while visitors sip on signature cocktails that evoke the history of Port Royal’s maritime trade and exploits of pirates. 

Brand Manager of Red Stripe and Dragon Stout, Amoye Phillpotts-Brown, also believes the tour will create opportunities for the wider Port Royal community. 

“While this is about the cocktails and the bars, it's also about the people of Port Royal. It's about the bartenders who will sharpen their craft, the small businesses that will see new customers, and the wider Port Royal community that will benefit from this sustainable activity. Visitors will carry home unforgettable memories, while residents carry forward new opportunities,” Ms. Phillpotts-Brown said. 

She added that it will also bring a unique experience to Jamaica where walking tours – which allows visitors to interact with and experience the culture of a place and its people – are not prevalent. 

 

“Each stop tells a story. Each bartender shares Jamaica's spirit, literally and figuratively, through signature cocktails designed with our support. It's history meeting hospitality with a little bit of mischief thrown in for fun,” she said. 

The initiative took effect on Monday, following the signing of the MoU, and will remain in effect for one year.

Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) Executive Director, Wade Mars (second right), is joined by Brand Manager of Red Stripe and Dragon Stout, Amoye Phillpotts-Brown (right); Head of Commerce at Red Stripe, Sean Wallace (second left) and TPDCo Director of Product Development and Community Tourism, Kerry-Ann Lowe (left), at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the tourism agency and Red Stripe. The MOU signals an agreement between the two entities to collaborate on the development of the Port Royal Saloon Waters Tour. The signing ceremony was held at Red Stripe’s Spanish Town Road headquarters in Kingston.

Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) Executive Director, Wade Mars (second row, right), shares lens with trainee bartenders who will benefit from the Port Royal Saloon Waters Tour following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between TPDCo and Red Stripe on Monday (August 25). The MOU represents an agreement between the two entities to collaborate on the development of the Port Royal Saloon Waters Tour. They are joined by Brand Manager of Red Stripe and Dragon Stout, Amoye Phillpotts-Brown (front row, right); TPDCo Destination Manager for Kingston, Mikisha Silvera (front row, second right); and TPDCo Director of Product Development and Community Tourism, Kerry-Ann Lowe (front row, left). The signing of the MOU took place at Red Stripe’s Spanish Town Road headquarters in Kingston.

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JAMAICA’s DISASTER RESPONSE CAPACITY GETS TECH BOOST THROUGH CANADIAN DRONE DONATION

Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and response capacity has been strengthened with the handover of drones under the Natural Resources Canada – Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project. 

The drones, presented to representatives of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation during a handover ceremony at the High Commission of Canada in Kingston on Monday (August 25), will enhance Jamaica’s disaster monitoring capabilities and deliver vital data to inform planning and emergency response.

Speaking during the ceremony, Head of Development Cooperation for Jamaica and Belize at the High Commission, Shehryar Sarwar, said the donation is part of broader technical assistance efforts to strengthen national resilience.

“This is being done through TAP, which is being executed by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in partnership with Natural Resources Canada's Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation that’s providing technical assistance to stakeholders in this Ministry,” he explained.

Mr. Sarwar noted that Canadian officials have already trained Ministry staff in the use of advanced geospatial technologies, capable of on-demand processing, mapping, and monitoring of natural and man-made disasters. 

The capability is essential for making informed decisions related to migration, recovery, and resilience strategies. 

Mr. Sarwar emphasised that the training encompassed a comprehensive evaluation of Jamaica’s existing hardware and software infrastructure, hands-on sessions focused on stakeholder identification, and the application of Natural Resources Canada’s advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based mapping technology.

The project also aims to equip local teams with the tools and training needed to generate real-time data for disaster planning, with continued support to ensure the technology is effectively applied.

“In terms of results, we hope that Jamaica will improve its capacity to prepare and respond to disaster, as well as improve the resilience of vulnerable and marginalised communities,” Mr. Sarwar said.

For her part, Principal Director of the Ministry’s National Spatial Data Management Branch (NSDMB), Alicia Edwards, highlighted the practical benefits of the equipment, noting the role of AI technology and the capacity to collect real-time data in the aftermath of disasters as critical. 

“We look forward to the drones, especially since your technical team pushes authoritative… quality data that we can use to train the whole system to determine damage. Simple, impactful… far-reaching activities that can feed into the full disaster management and resilience building cycle of our country,” she added.

Geographic Information System (GIS) Project Manager in the Ministry, Okieno Samuels, explained that the drones will enhance field operations and play a critical role in supporting Jamaica’s disaster risk management efforts.

“Essentially, after disasters… a voluntary team called NERGIS - the National Emergency Geographic Information System team - would go out and assist the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to do a post-disaster risk assessment. It would involve persons physically going to locations that have been flagged as having a high degree of damage or being affected by the disaster at hand,” he further outlined.

Mr. Samuels pointed out that the new equipment will help reduce risk to personnel, noting that “with use of the drones, now, we could have an automated response to [disasters]; instead of having a person physically go or putting themselves at risk, we could have the drone do a flyover.”

He added that integration of the new technology will significantly enhance the process, noting, “We’re also utilizing Geo-AI, which is a process of training an iterative model to identify different buildings… to know what buildings are damaged, the extent of the damage, to then feed to ODPEM to see what resources are needed and how best to mitigate for future events.”

Geographic Information System (GIS) Project Manager at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Okieno Samuels (centre), outlines the features of a drone to (from left): Director, Urban and Regional Planning, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Simone Barnett; Head of Development Cooperation for Jamaica and Belize at the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, Shehryar Sarwar; Principal Director, in the Ministry’s National Spatial Data Management Branch (NSDMB), Alicia Edwards; and Senior GIS Manager and Trainer, NSDMB, Simone Lloyd. The occasion was the handover of drones donated under the Natural Resources Canada – Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project. The presentation was made at the High Commission on Monday (August 25).

Head of Development Cooperation for Jamaica and Belize at the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, Shehryar Sarwar, presents documents to Principal Director, National Spatial Data Management Branch (NSDMB), Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Alicia Edwards, during the handover of drones donated under the Natural Resources Canada – Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project on Monday (August 25). The presentations were made at the High Commission.

Head of Development Cooperation for Jamaica and Belize at the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, Shehryar Sarwar, explains features of a drone to Principal Director, National Spatial Data Management Branch (NSDMB), Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Alicia Edwards, during Monday’s (August 25) handover of several of the devices that have been provided under the Natural Resources Canada – Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project. The presentation was made at the High Commission.

Geographic Information System (GIS) Project Manager at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Okieno Samuels (centre), outlines the features of a drone to (from left): Director, Urban and Regional Planning, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Simone Barnett; Head of Development Cooperation for Jamaica and Belize at the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, Shehryar Sarwar; Principal Director, in the Ministry’s National Spatial Data Management Branch (NSDMB), Alicia Edwards; and Senior GIS Manager and Trainer, NSDMB, Simone Lloyd. The occasion was the handover of drones donated under the Natural Resources Canada – Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project. The presentation was made at the High Commission on Monday (August 25).

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