Month: May 2026

Club Kingston, Lounge of the Year Regional Winner Priority Pass

“Priority Pass Executives and the Club Kingston team”

In a major win for Jamaica’s tourism and aviation sectors, Club Kingston has been named “Lounge of the Year” for the Latin America & Caribbean region by Priority Pass; rising above more than 350 airport lounges across the region to earn the prestigious title.

The recognition comes at a meaningful moment for Jamaica as the country continues to strengthen and rebuild its tourism momentum following the impacts of Hurricane Melissa. The award not only highlights the quality of Jamaica’s hospitality product, but also reinforces global confidence in the destination and its ability to deliver world-class visitor experiences.

Priority Pass is the world’s leading airport lounge and travel experiences program, with access to more than 1,800 lounges and experiences across 725 airports in over 145 countries worldwide. Its millions of members regularly rate and review their airport experiences, generating more than 700,000 reviews and surveys annually; making the awards among the most respected and data-driven recognitions in the global travel industry.

This year, travelers from around the world spoke clearly: Club Kingston stood at the top.

“This recognition is incredibly special because it comes directly from the travelers we serve every day,” said Tanya Beckford, the CEO of VIP Attractions Limited, Club Kingston and Club Mobay. “To be recognized by global passengers in this way is a tremendous honor not only for our team, but for Jamaica. It reflects the warmth, resilience, and excellence that define our people and our tourism product.”

At the award presentation on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Jeremy Dalkoff, Vice President of Partnerships at Priority Pass, praised the achievement, noting that the recognition reflects genuine traveler sentiment from across the globe.

“Club Kingston consistently delivers a standout experience for our members,” said Dalkoff. “What makes this award especially significant is that it is driven by direct feedback from travelers themselves. Earning the top spot in the Latin America and Caribbean region is a remarkable accomplishment and speaks volumes about the team’s dedication to service excellence.”

For the Club Kingston team, however, the award represents something even deeper; the opportunity to showcase Jamaica to the world through hospitality.

“Every guest who walks through our doors gets a chance to experience the spirit of Jamaica before they even board their flight,” Ms. Beckford added. “This award proves that those moments matter.”

The award arrives at a critical time for the country, as Jamaica continues efforts to drive visitor confidence, strengthen air connectivity, and enhance the overall travel experience. The recognition positions Jamaica even more strongly within the competitive Caribbean tourism market and highlights the importance of investing in quality guest experiences from arrival to departure.

CPL TEAMS CONFIRM THEIR BREAKOUT PLAYER RETENTIONS

Ahead of the highly anticipated Caribbean Premier League Draft, all six franchises have confirmed their mandatory pre-draft Breakout Player retentions, locking in a group of emerging Caribbean stars who represent the next generation of regional cricket excellence.

Under the CPL’s player draft and acquisition regulations for the 2026 season, each franchise was permitted to retain one player ahead of the draft, with that player required to be selected from the team’s Breakout Player category. The retained players – Joshua James, Ramon Simmonds, Quentin Sampson, Navin Bidaisee, Ackeem Auguste, and Nathan Edward – have each earned recognition for their performances, potential, and growing impact across Caribbean cricket.

The six retained Breakout Players are:

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons – Joshua James

Barbados Royals – Ramon Simmonds

Guyana Amazon Warriors – Quentin Sampson

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots – Navin Bidaisee

Saint Lucia Kings – Ackeem Auguste

Trinbago Knight Riders – Nathan Edward

Each franchise will name a total of three Breakout Players in their final squad for the 2026 season, reinforcing the CPL’s continued commitment to developing emerging Caribbean talent and providing young players with opportunities on the region’s biggest cricketing stage.

As part of the tournament regulations, every team will also be required to field at least one Breakout Player in every match throughout the season.

With only one pre-draft retention allowed – and that retention reserved exclusively for a Breakout Player – the remaining squad positions for all six teams will now be filled during the CPL Draft, setting the stage for one of the most competitive and exciting player selections in league history.

The Caribbean Premier League continues to serve as the premier platform for Caribbean cricket, combining elite entertainment with a proven pathway for the next generation of players to develop and succeed on the global stage.

Digicel Foundation Marks Read Across Jamaica Day with Digital Safety Initiative in Schools

Curious students at Constant Spring Primary School gather around Sharika Miller, volunteer and Customer Care Team Leader at Digicel, as she reads from the SIT Squad comic and interactive activity book during Read Across Jamaica Day on May 5, 2026. The school was among four visited by Digicel Foundation volunteers as part of efforts to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour

In recognition of Read Across Jamaica Day 2026, the Digicel Foundation brought literacy to life through a series of interactive reading sessions in primary schools across the island, delivered
under its Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme.


More than 20 Digicel employees volunteered their time to support the
initiative, visiting St. Richards Primary, Rollington Town Primary, Spanish
Town Primary and Constant Spring Primary, where they read with students
and facilitated engaging discussions focused on online safety.


Students were introduced to the “SIT Squad” by Kavelle Hylton, CEO of
STEM Builders Learning Hub. The interactive comic and activity book
promotes safe, responsible and positive internet use. By blending reading
with practical digital lessons, students learned how to protect their personal
information, recognise online risks and make informed decisions when
navigating digital spaces.


Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Charmaine Daniels, CEO of
the Digicel Foundation, highlighted the need for early and inclusive digital
education.
“As children become increasingly connected online, it is essential that they
are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world
safely,” said Daniels. “The Safer Internet Together programme goes beyond

students, it engages teachers, parents and even senior citizens, ensuring
that entire communities are empowered to use technology responsibly and
confidently.”


The Safer Internet Together programme is a year‑long national initiative
designed to educate and empower students, teachers, parents and the
elderly on digital literacy, online safety and emerging technologies. In its
pilot year in 2025, the programme directly reached more than 34,000
students across 150 schools and impacted over 2,000 senior citizens
through digital literacy and artificial intelligence workshops.


Building on this success, year two of the Safer Internet Together
programme begins in May 2026, with an expanded focus on deepening
digital awareness and creating safer online environments for all Jamaicans.