What's Happening - July 5, 2026

World Famous Coach Dies!

Stephen Francis

World-famous Jamaican coach Stephen Francis has died. He has worked and helped to develop internationally known athletes such as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, Tajay Gayle, Michael Frater, and Nesta Carter as well as back-to-back world record holder Asafa Powell.

Third-Party Deportation

I want you to take a look at this video that was sent to me. I hope that it was not done by AI. I will send this post to the PM for verification. It relates to the view that is being spread nationally that Jamaica has signed an MOU with the US, which will involve us taking criminals who will be deported.

Did the Opposition Leader and/or the Advocates Network group who demonstrated in Cross Road write to the government or meet with the government to clarify these issues? I ask this question because neither the media nor other persons should run with stories just because they sound controversial and exciting.

Now that we have demonstrated, what's next? Will these persons write to the government about this matter? Let me put my position on the table. If the government gets an opportunity to house people who are detained in a country or are prisoners, and we are well paid to house them in Jamaica, then I do not have a challenge. That means earning well-needed revenue. It must be cheaper to house these people in Jamaica.

I remember when the British government was going to send people to finish their time in Jamaica, and a prison would be built for them; it created such a furore. We did get that prison; no prisoners came, and we will still contend with those old prison buildings. Amazingly, a country like this with the second-lowest net per capita income can throw away opportunities like that.

Making mischief and falsehood is a hell of a thing.

Chairman Of The Firearms Licensing Authority

The chairman of the Firearms Licensing Authority seems to be in an uncomfortable position. First, I don't know why it is hard-coded in the law that certain persons should be on boards. The attitude of some people is that independent people should be on boards. Apparently, we are going to get those independent people from the US or Canada. We cannot have a leader being democratically elected, and then we tie their hands.

Retired Justice Glen Brown, a former member of the judiciary, it is felt that you have been against a number of government policies. If that is so, then your position as chairman of the FLA is untenable. I note this letter to the editor that was published some time ago: https://past.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/letters/20180410/discipline-glen-brown-outrageous-conduct 

Man-Made Eggs

Plant-Based/Vegan Eggs: These are healthy, entirely plant-based commercial products designed to replace real eggs for cooking and baking. Popular brands use ingredients like mung bean protein or soy to mimic the taste and texture of scrambled eggs or to act as a binder.

Synthetic/Chemical "Fake" Eggs: There have been reports of synthetically made chicken eggs, but I have not seen this information on any reputable site.

Daredevil Climbers Or Mad People

On Wednesday, Nikolau, July 1, 33, who goes by Angela, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, who goes by Ivan Beerkus, took their romance to a height of about 1,450 feet while the burning heat penetrated the city. They climbed the needle of the Empire State Building, unfurling a black banner that read “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” and getting engaged."

A picture of the engagement ring atop the Empire State Building.

Public Servants In The Health Sector Undermining The Government

We have reports of public servants in the public sector who have been undermining the government by making certain statements to patients. Civil servants should not get involved in politics, and such staff members should face immediate dismissal.

I also got information from a reliable source that some members of the health sector are using their work time to do consultative work.

We need a government to set up a Public Service Inspection Branch, that is responsible for monitoring the public sector's quality of service and productivity. They should work closely with the Auditor General to ensure that there is accountability and increased productivity. It is the public servant who should do the work and not politicians. 

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From JIS

GOJ Minute 

Help Bark Di Trute to monitor government projects and let us know if the workers are doing a good job.

Take still pictures and videos of the project along with a verbal or text message report and send them by WhatsApp to (876) 816-5261.

PM Opens Rehabilitated Caenwood Road in Portland

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, officially opened the newly rehabilitated Caenwood Road in Portland on Friday (July 3), providing a safer, smoother and more reliable travelling experience for residents. 

The work was completed under the Government’s $45 billion Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement (SPARK) programme, with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) as the main contractor.  

Dr. Holness, in his address at the ribbon-cutting, said that the road is engineered for long-term durability. 

“The road that we open today is designed to last a minimum of seven years without need for rehabilitation. But every road, regardless of how well built, will need, at some point, to be rehabilitated. The better built, the longer the period of time before rehabilitation and less will be the need for rehabilitation,” he pointed out. 

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for the development of local contractor capacity to take on large-scale projects.  

He noted that Jamaica is entering a new phase of development and the country must have the institutional framework and capacity to properly execute the projects to the highest standards. 

“There is no way we are going to build Jamaica without having a strong local contracting class. We need good, strong solid contractors,” he said. 

“We need our contractors to move up to a level of enterprise and corporate thinking [where] they are investing in their business, they are getting the technical skills and they are building the balance sheets to be able to properly execute the level of work that the Government is coming with,” he added. 

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Morgan, said that the Caenwood Road, which is an important thoroughfare, was in a deplorable condition. 

“I am happy that we can come here today and we can open this road officially so that the people can see that their tax dollars have been working for their benefit,” he said. 

He highlighted the quality of work done, noting that the road now has proper drainage.  

Minister Morgan reported that 110 quality roads have now been completed under the SPARK programme, with eight roads across East and West Portland at various stages of works.  

Member of Parliament for Portland Western, Hon. Daryl Vaz, in his remarks, expressed gratitude on behalf of the residents. 

“I’m so delighted for the rehabilitation that has taken place on the Caenwood Road,” he said, noting that “we have done patching before, but of course, with the amount of rain in Portland that doesn’t last.” 

He highlighted work being done on the nearby Whitegate to Rodney Hall road, informing that the project is in its final stages of completion.  

“I can say that the SPARK is fully sparking…in the parish of Portland,” Mr. Vaz said.

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The Day Isat Buchanan Spoke And Parliament Listened In Silence!

Contribution

MP Isat Buchanan.

Leadership is often easiest to recognize when it stands in sharp contrast to disorder. That was certainly the case during last Tuesday's debate on the review of Parliament's Standing Orders, when Opposition MP Isat Buchanan distinguished himself with a thoughtful, measured and statesmanlike contribution.

At a time when sections of his own party were engaged in conduct that disrupted the proceedings and was widely viewed as disrespectful to the authority of the Speaker, Mr. Buchanan chose a different path. Rather than adding to the tension, he focused on the substance of the debate. Rather than feeding the political theatre, he elevated the discussion. That is what Parliament should be about.

The review of the Standing Orders is not a trivial exercise. These are the rules that safeguard the integrity of Jamaica's highest legislative institution. They determine how members conduct themselves, how debates are managed, how accountability is exercised, and, ultimately, how democracy functions. This is not an issue that should be approached with slogans or spectacle. It demands careful thought and mature leadership. Mr. Buchanan demonstrated exactly that.

Particularly refreshing were his remarks about the young people and school children who watch the sittings of Parliament. He reminded his colleagues that Parliament is more than a battleground for political disagreements; it is also a classroom in which future generations observe the conduct of their elected representatives. His call for members to set an example through their behaviour was both timely and commendable. At a time when public confidence in politics is often tested, his appeal for civility, respect, and decorum sent exactly the right message—that leadership is as much about conduct as it is about conviction.

His presentation reflected a clear appreciation that the Standing Orders should not be treated as partisan weapons but as constitutional guardrails that serve every member, regardless of which side occupies the government benches. He spoke with reason rather than rancour, and with an understanding that strengthening Parliament is in the national interest, not merely in the interest of any political party.

Ironically, the value of his contribution was made even more apparent by the behaviour unfolding around him. While attention was being drawn to interruptions and confrontational conduct directed at the Chair, Mr. Buchanan reminded the country that vigorous opposition does not require disrespect, and passionate advocacy does not require disorder. His own words about children watching the proceedings made the contrast even starker. If Parliament is to inspire confidence in the next generation, its members must demonstrate the standards they expect young Jamaicans to emulate.

Democracy is strongest when elected representatives challenge each other vigorously while respecting the institution that gives legitimacy to those very debates. Parliament cannot command the respect of the Jamaican people if its own members fail to respect its rules or the authority of the Speaker, who is entrusted with enforcing them.

Mr. Buchanan's intervention demonstrated that it is entirely possible to be a committed Opposition Member while remaining committed to the dignity of Parliament itself. That is the kind of political maturity Jamaicans have been crying out for.

In a political culture that too often rewards confrontation over constructive engagement, Isat Buchanan showed that substance still matters. His contribution deserves recognition—not because everyone will agree with every position he advanced, but because he reminded the nation that Parliament functions best when ideas take centre stage and disorder takes a back seat.

Jamaica needs more debates that resemble his contribution and fewer moments that diminish the dignity of Gordon House. Last Tuesday, Isat Buchanan showed that respect for Parliament is not a sign of weakness. It is a mark of leadership, and his reminder that the nation's children are watching should resonate with every Member of Parliament, regardless of political affiliation.

Contributed by Anthony Fisher

Anthony Fisher

Anthony Fisher attended Frome Technical High and Illinois State University. He has a BSc in Mass Media. A former videographer at the Jamaica Information Service, he is now a Multimedia Communication Specialist at the University of Illinois.

Anthony is a member of the diaspora who continues to show keen interest in Jamaica. We appreciate members of the diaspora supporting Bark Di Trute.

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37 Roads to Be Rehabilitated Under SPARK

Press Release From The Ministry of Economic Growth And Job Creation - July 2, 2026

Thirty-seven of Jamaica's busiest road corridors will be upgraded under the Main Roads Component of the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme, as the Government invests $25 billion to improve connectivity, ease congestion and support islandwide economic activity.

The investment will rehabilitate 37 priority roads in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. James, St. Ann, St. Mary, Trelawny, Hanover and Westmoreland, benefiting more than 900,000 Jamaicans.

Speaking today (July 2, 2026) at the launch of the programme at Jamaica House, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, noted that the islandwide programme includes several major engineering interventions designed to improve traffic flow, strengthen connectivity and unlock economic opportunities.

Work orders have already been issued for 31 projects, allowing the main contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), to begin pre-construction activities.

"We have issued 31 of the roads as work orders and that means that China Harbour, who is the contractor on the project, will begin to do the preparatory works and then move into actual construction”, the Prime Minister said.

Two flagship projects were announced under the Main Roads Component.  The  Washington Boulevard Improvement Project, which will feature a grade-separated crossing at Molynes Road to increase capacity and reduce congestion; and the Dunrobin Avenue Extension to East Kings House Road via Sandy Gully, a major new roadway that will improve connectivity between Constant Spring Road and East Kings House Road.

In his address, Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, underscored the importance of investing in Jamaica's major road network.

"The roads leading to our schools, town centres, hospitals, markets, plazas, government services transport hundreds of thousands of people and facilitate billions of dollars of economic activities. They are not simple surfaces that we travel on. They are arteries through which the Jamaican economy moves", he stated.

Highlighting the transformative impact the programme will have on the public, Minister Morgan noted that approximately 150,000 trips are made daily along five major corridors, Red Hills Road, Washington Boulevard, Oxford Road, Port Henderson Road and the Old Harbour to Freetown corridor.

"These are workers trying to reach their jobs, students travelling to schools, patients seeking health care, businesses transporting goods and families carrying out their ordinary activities in life," he said.

The SPARK Main Roads Component complements the programme’s Community Roads Component, which focuses on improving roads within communities and connecting residents to the national road network.

More than 300 roads have already been brought under the wider SPARK Programme and over 25 local subcontractors engaged alongside China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), to accelerate one of the largest road rehabilitation programmes undertaken in Jamaica in recent years.

 

Editor's Note

If the NWA under the leadership of EG Hunter is responsible for the road development under the SPARK programme, then the good Lord help us because there will be a dull SPARK.

I remember one minister saying that Jamaica will be pothole-free in 2003, and now mi bex when mi si di whole heap a potholes in 2026. We shall have plenty of potholes to fix in 2026. Let's hope that they have come up with new and modern methods of maintaining our roads.

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Bark Di Trute Keeps On Barking

Bark Di Trute has been made public by promoting it since 2020. It has been set up since May 2013. Maintaining a blog alone is a mammoth job, especially when you try your best to keep it at a high standard.

Your skill set has to be wide if you want to do an excellent job. You need to be a writer and also edit pictures, videos, and sound files. Recently, I have had to be a statistician. It makes a difference when you are competent in the use of the various Microsoft suite of products and other software.

It costs money to maintain a blog, and the minimal revenues earned cannot cover your costs. There is the cost of the Internet service, telephone, annual fees for using software, maintaining the computer, printer, and other equipment, paying for the rights to use music and graphics, and the long hours spent getting materials published. 

I knew all along that I must expand my market in this competitive area of the social media field. One has to expand the market significantly to cover more of the expenses. It means, therefore, I will have to put less emphasis on consumer matters. It is interesting to note that people who have been assisted and who volunteered to give financial support to the work, sometimes you never hear from them after they have benefited from the assistance.

Very few people have even volunteered to write for the blog. It means, therefore, that when a qualified and experienced person volunteers to contribute articles, it does not matter what their religion or political persuasion is; you have to grab the opportunity.

Many will stay in their corner and criticise, but few are willing to help. Bark Di Trute is also very fortunate to have supporters who send in reports from Jamaica and other countries.

Bark Di Trute has started to expand its publications by having people write about political things, and this has attracted attention and controversy. Controversy sells. In June, we had record views. We need other people to write on other topics and issues, such as sports, education, and health, for example. We need people who can create some jokes and submit them for publication. Submit short videos of dramatic scenes that you have created.

Remember, none of us, and that includes me, will support all that is written in the blog, but there is always the opportunity to learn something. This is the people's blog, giving the people a voice. It is not controlled by any big financial, political, or religious powerhouse. We just Bark Di Trute.

Remember that it is best to view the blog on your computer. The address is htps://vderby.blogspot.com. You will have access to some useful links there. Also, always leave a comment at the end of the blog.

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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.

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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