Sing De Chorus! IGT (International Game Technology) Jamaica General Manager Debbie Green (left) and People Partner, Caribbean Simone Seymour-Thomas (right) join principal Elsa Simons (back) and students of Little Angels Learning Centre in a rousing rendition of ‘Sing De Chorus, Clap Yuh Han’. The carol singing occurred during an IGT-sponsored Christmas treat at the school, located at Mustard Seed Communities’ Sophie’s Place in St Andrew. The event brought joy, gifts, and holiday spirit to the children as part of the company’s annual outreach initiative.
Mustard Seed Communities students on autism spectrum thrive at IGT’s Coding and Robotics camp
The news of Team Jamaica earning a bronze medal at the recent Robotics Olympics in Athens, Greece, continues to inspire students across the island. The news, too, has revealed the number of coding and robotics programmes here in Jamaica that provide equal opportunities to under-represented communities to explore technology.
One such programme is IGT’s (International Game Technology) Coding and Robotics Rock! camp, which operates through the organisation’s after school advantage (ASA) programme. This year, however, students from Mustard Seed Communities’ Jerusalem! residential village and Dare to Care programme were the camp’s only autistic participants.“The camp’s curriculum was a great help to them. It took them further from where they were in terms of understanding and using information technology, preparing them for the new school year,” said Melisa Barrett, assistant administrator of Mustard Seed Communities’ Dare to Care Programme.
A State University of New York (SUNY) study entitled ‘The Benefits of Summer Camps for Youth at Risk: A Circle of Courage Framework’ states that community initiatives and partnerships (such as IGT’s ASA programme) are critical in bridging the digital divide.
“By providing tailored support and resources, these initiatives empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage with technology, ultimately promoting equity and fostering a more inclusive tech landscape,” said the study’s author Allison Klee.“The ASA programme is the IGT’s flagship community initiative, devoted to providing youth with access to technology at digital learning centres in communities where the company operates,” says Shavindra Tewarie-Singh, IGT senior people and transformation manager for the Caribbean. “The programme ensures students have access to participate in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational opportunities while developing the knowledge and skills for the jobs of tomorrow,” she said.
Barrett noted that the assignments during the coding and robotics camp encouraged the students to embrace new challenges, and teamwork allowed them to improve their communication skills. The students have taken their enthusiasm into the classroom this school year.
Klee’s study, too, notes that “…Camps intentionally foster autonomy and meaningful experiences, helping at-risk youth acquire vital skills and achievements that they may not find in traditional educational settings. Rather than merely functioning as temporary recreational facilities, summer camps are characterised as intentional communities that promote cognitive, behavioural, physical, social, and emotional development.”
Programmes such as IGT’s Coding and Robotics Rock! camp and ASA teach valuable technical skills and provide a supportive environment that fosters personal growth and achievement. Since 2011, IGT has opened 40 ASA computer labs across the English-speaking Caribbean.
“IT learning and tech-driven problem-solving not only has practical applications but also provides a sense of purpose, identity, and limitless opportunities to positively impact the world,“ said IGT Jamaica General Manager Debbie Green. ”IGT remains committed to driving learning through technology.”
The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) has recognised six Jamaicans for their lifelong service and contributions to the nation.
The honourees were recognised during the organisation’s annual Living Legacy Awards luncheon, held on November 3 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
This year’s distinguished recipients and their award categories were as follows:
– Dr Pauline Milbourn, awarded for Health in memory of Syringa Marshall-Burnett
– Kumar Sujanani, awarded for Business in memory of J Lester Spaulding
– Dr Lucien Jones, awarded for Philanthropy in memory of Michael Fraser
– Marva Bernard, awarded for Netball and Sport
– Hermine Metcalfe, awarded for Healthcare and Community Service
– Justice Seymour Panton, awarded for Law and Justice
Each honouree expressed heartfelt gratitude for being acknowledged by the CCRP and reaffirmed their commitment to serve and uplift the Jamaican people.
In her welcome address, Jean Lowrie-Chin, CCRP founder and executive chairperson, praised the actions taken in the Upper House of Parliament on October 25, to advance legislation for the care and protection of elderly Jamaicans.
“This milestone decision, supported across party lines, signifies an essential step forward in our ongoing journey to secure the rights and dignity of our senior citizens,” Lowrie-Chin said.
She welcomed the formation of a bipartisan special select committee to advance the legislation, stating CCRP’s readiness to assist in gathering stakeholder input for robust elder protection laws.
The CCRP Chairman also detailed the organization’s ongoing Hurricane Beryl Relief efforts and expressed her gratitude to CCRP’s parish representatives and volunteers who assisted in providing both essential supplies and messages of solidarity.
Lowrie-Chin also announced that a recent CCRP partnership with the National Dance Theatre Company raised over $790,000 towards repairs for elderly citizens’ homes in Manchester.
The CCRP Living Legacy Awards, marking its 11th staging this year, are an annual tradition that celebrates seniors aged 60 and over who have made outstanding contributions to the country’s development. These awards honour innovators and leaders whose tireless work has created lasting, positive impact.
BY ALICIA DUNKLEY-WILLIS Senior staff reporter observer
LONGMORE… we tend to seem to skirt around the very significant impact of not just dementia but mental wellness challenges that our elderly population face
OVERNMENT Senator and psychiatrist Dr Sapphire Longmore, in appealing for members of the Jamaica Psychiatric Association to be included in the deliberations of the special select committee of the Senate mulling legislative protection for Jamaica’s senior citizens, says the issues of mental wellness and dementia amongst that population cannot be avoided.
“We tend to seem to skirt around the very significant impact of not just dementia but mental wellness challenges that our elderly population face; at that time there is significant depression, and long-term effects of trauma, etcetera. You have persons who have interest in Alzheimer’s research, dementia research who are aligned with the association,” Longmore said on Wednesday during the inaugural meeting of the special select committee.
In batting for their involvement, the consultant psychiatrist continued, “We are finding in the medical space that dementia in Jamaica is almost becoming what we call Type 3 diabetes. That is what the latest research is showing. I say this to say that dementia doesn’t start after 65; the processes occur prior to that and so we need to have the measures in place before the age that we are recognising as the direct point of effect. So I would want for us to have those persons who can contribute to the awareness of such preventative measures so we can seek to address it preventatively,” she stated.
Type 3 diabetes is a term used by some researchers to describe the theory that insulin resistance and insulin-like growth factor dysfunction in the brain may cause Alzheimer’s disease. Some research studies have suggested that Alzheimer’s disease should also be classified as a type of diabetes, called type 3 diabetes. However, type 3 diabetes is not currently an official medical term and is not recognised by national health organisations or the American Diabetes Association.
According to the National Institute of Health, the exact connection between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes is still in debate. However, poorly controlled blood sugar may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. This relationship is so strong that some have called Alzheimer’s “diabetes of the brain” or “type 3 diabetes (T3D)”.
At Wednesday’s sitting of the committee, Opposition Senator Dr Floyd Morris, who had moved the Private Member’s Motion resulting in the formation of the committee, in sharing that a relative of his who has been suffering from dementia has been missing from last Monday, said, “That is one of the reasons I am going to be very relentless in pushing for this legislation”.
He, in the meantime, said at the head of the queue of invitees to address the committee must be Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer, executive director of the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, who has done extensive work on the welfare of the elderly as well as representatives of the Caribbean Community for Retired Persons, the Council for Senior Citizens as well as the Bankers’ Association.
Meanwhile, Opposition Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns said the input of members of the Medical Association of Jamaica was also necessary “because the general practitioner really, in so many ways, is the first point of contact when it comes on to any medical issue the elderly has to deal with”.
She further recommended that the committee should rely on the guidance of the Jamaican Bar Association given that “there are so many different pieces of legislation that touch and concern our elderly”.
In also calling for feedback from the Household Workers’ Association, given that the care of the elderly is often in the hands of their members, Frazer-Binns said insurance companies should also be part of the conversation.
The motion, originally tabled in 2021 when Morris served as the spokesperson on labour and social security, was approved by the Senate in October this year. The special select committee, which willdeliberate on the scope and details to be included in the legislation, will prepare a report for the Senate’s consideration before it proceeds to Cabinet.
Speaking on the motion in October Senator Morris said, “This is a significant development; our senior citizens, numbering over 350,000 and comprising 13.2 per cent of our population, represent a vital part of our society. They are also our largest voting block.”
JAAA president speaks on positives of Puma partnership
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer
Jamaica’s Jehlani Gordon (left) hands the baton to Kishane Thompson in the men’s 4x100m heat during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Jamaica is sponsored by German sporting gear manufacturer Puma.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle says the new deal struck between the body and sporting goods manufacturer Puma was the best one for the country.
At the JAAA’s annual general meeting held at Jamaica College last weekend, Gayle confirmed reports carried by the Jamaica Observer that the JAAA had opted to re-sign with Puma whose existing contract runs out at the end of the year.
While still not sharing the worth or duration of the new deal, Gayle, who responded to questions from the Observer, through a public relations firm, said they had advised Puma what the terms of another competing bid was and felt they did what was best for Jamaica’s track and field.
The JAAA had declined an offer from competing brand adidas worth up to US$40,400,000 (over $6 billion) over eight years between 2025-2032, an increase from another offer of US$26,000,000 (over $4 billion) that was said to have been made in 2013 and was to have also been for eight years as well.
The adidas proposal offered an “annual retainer of US$2.5 million” ($393 million) included in a budget of just under US$3 million ($471 million) in addition to products worth up to another US$2.13 million ($334 million) per year.
Dr Warren Blake, who was president of the JAAA in 2013, has, however, denied that any offer was made at the time.
In his response to the Observer, Gayle said that while there are some “confidentiality provisions” in most sponsorship agreements, “We can share that one of the stipulations is that whatever terms a competitor may offer, they have to be shared with the current sponsor. We acted accordingly and came to the conclusion that the Puma offer was more beneficial to Jamaica.”
One stipulation he shared was that “The Puma offer does not include any penalty for failing to achieve any medal targets”, which was in response to a ‘reduction’ clause in the adidas proposal.
The adidas proposal said failure by Jamaica to win at least five medals, including one gold, at either the World Athletics Championships or the Olympic Games,” then the annual retainer for the subsequent following contract year would be reduced by US$250,000 ($39 million).”
Adidas had offered a US$2.5-million retainer for each of the eight years of the contract.
Additionally Gayle said they were honouring “Puma’s loyalty to JAAA during the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining their support, when they could have declared ‘force majeure’ [greater force relating to an act of God] and paused their payments.”
“Adidas had been the JAAA sponsor up to 2001, when we were informed that they were not interested in renewing their sponsorship,” Gayle said. “It was at this time that Puma agreed to be our sponsor. Since then, Puma has extended their support beyond our contract, providing gear and cash to individual school programmes, the National High School Athletic Championships and other national competitions.”
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle
(From left) Student Morsell Weir; communications officer at Digicel Foundation, Kedisha Clarke; principal at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, Kingston Campus, Terri Ann Bernard and mathematics teacher, Leah Gregg engage with the smartboard in the smart lab at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf on Monday. Photos: Karl Mclarty
CAROL Robertson, board chair at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, is optimistic that the school’s new smart lab, courtesy of the Digicel Foundation, will create “a more level playing field” for students now and in the future as they navigate and find new ways to bridge the gap for students living in Jamaica with disabilities.
“Technology and the way that it is being used now actually creates a more level playing field because you no longer have to be impatient with the communication barriers of the hearing world,” Robertson told the handing-over ceremony held at the school’s Kingston campus on Monday.
She told the students that they can now adequately represent themselves and participate in the world out there — the global economy — through digital tools, which she said is very important.
Robertson noted that this initiative is important for students as it provides them with a platform to grow and sharpen their skills, despite their challenges.
“There are many persons out there in the world who are performing very skilled professions behind a digital screen and they are having the same results simply because they are no longer viewed as somebody who needs extra assistance. I am a part of your community, and we feel that we don’t necessarily get all open doors because people assume that we can’t,” said Robertson.
She urged students to make use of the devices and capitalise on the opportunity gifted to them by the foundation to maximise their potential.
“Get involved [because] technology will always be scary for somebody. Don’t let it be scary for you. Embrace it, and as the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf and everything that we represent that is godly, it is your responsibility to use the technology in a positive way, honouring God as you go while you use it to serve yourselves,” Robertson said as she encouraged the students.
The Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, Kingston campus, became the 13th school to receive a smart lab under the Digicel Foundation project to put 21 smart labs into schools.
However, this contribution stands out for more than just providing 12 laptops, 12 tablets, and an interactive smart board like other schools in the programme. According to Kedisha Clarke, communications officer at Digicel Foundation, the room also includes customised features tailored to the unique needs of the students.
“So the space was specially retrofitted to meet the unique needs of our deaf students, [and] the advancements include a visual alert doorbell providing a visual cue for students and staff, a network-attached storage system enabling the recording and storage of large video files, including sign language recordings [and] a high quality webcam facilitating clear and effective communication through video conferencing and online learning platforms,” she said. This smart lab is the second to be established in a special needs institution and the first ever by the foundation in a school for the deaf.
In the meantime, the school’s principal, Terri-Ann Bernard, reflected on the process of building the smart lab, noting that it offers teachers the opportunity to diversify their lessons by introducing students to more interactive learning methods.
“When I bring experiences to them it sticks more. So an interactive board like the one that we’re about to demonstrate definitely goes for that interactive doing, which makes learning happen to a different academia, different learning styles, and the interactive tactile and kinaesthetic where you’re doing things and taking on concepts and making them come to real life is one of the things that Ithink definitely resonates with our students,” said Bernard.
Acting executive director of the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, John Meeks, also expressed his gratitude for the smart lab, emphasising how the partnership aligns with the school’s mission of “reaching, teaching, and nurturing” deaf students.
“When you bring two visions together — the Digicel Foundation’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and our mission to reach, teach, and nurture the deaf — the synergy created, the coming together of organisations, foundations with a vision of taking people to the next level only speaks well for the future,” Meeks said.
He emphasised that the smart lab is not just a technological upgrade but a transformative tool that will help bridge communication gaps and empower students.
(From left) Principal at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, Kingston Campus, Terri Ann Bernard; student Mackalia Sturlin; Communications officer at Digicel Foundation, Kedisha Clarke; chair of the centre Carol Robertson; acting executive director John Meeks; and student Nathaniel Ross cut the ribbon to signal the opening of the school’s new smart lab.
Man poses with donations from food for the poor after Beryl
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – More than 100 days after Hurricane Beryl’s passage a sense of normality is returning to affected communities, but the most pressing need remains housing repairs, particularly roof restorations, according to Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFTP).
With a specific focus on Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, FFTP says over the past four months, approximately 24,000 lives have been positively impacted from various recovery activities. Additionally, up to 5,000 care packages which include food and toiletries have been distributed; and the charity says it directly improved the living conditions of over 700 individuals through roof repair activities.
FFTP Executive Director Kivette Silvera-Stephens said, “We understand the importance of not just immediate relief, but building resilience for the future. Our focus is on ensuring that families, farmers and fisherfolk can rebuild sustainably, and thanks to our many partners, we are seeing resuscitation in the communities and sectors that were impacted.”
The agricultural sector was heavily impacted by the hurricane and is a key focus of FFTP’s recovery initiative. Farmers and fisherfolk experienced severe losses, affecting scores of families and food production island-wide. Agricultural projects are currently being implemented to further the redevelopment of farms, directly benefiting close to 100 individuals and impacting over 300 more. Additionally, over 600 farmers and fisherfolk benefitted from tools, relief packages and training, FFTP said.
Agatha McDonald, a centenarian residing in Portland Cottage, Clarendon benefited from FFTP’s housing repairs. Her family evacuated the premises before the hurricane hit, only to return to a roofless house. Following the renovation, McDonald’s daughter and caregiver shared her thoughts about the experience: “The house top gone, everything gone…we were left empty after the hurricane but thanks to all the donors and Food For The Poor for coming to our rescue and helping to fix our roof.”
Michelle Parchment is a farmer from St Elizabeth. Like other residents in the community, her livelihood was placed on pause following Hurricane Beryl.
“I was doing pretty well…then Hurricane Beryl came along. I had eighty chickens, 4-weeks-old…the hurricane took off the entire roof of the coop and all the chickens drowned…I lost everything,” Parchment said.
As part of the recovery efforts in the parish, FFTP assisted Parchment with a new chicken coop and baby chicks…and today her business is thriving.
“It is a nice and needed gesture and to get the chickens is a great and a big start for all of us who benefited. Whatever I earn from this, I plan to put it back into my business, maybe even expand the business in the future. My family and I are in a better place,” Parchment said.
The organisation’s work has garnered support from both local and international partners, enabling additional projects in greenhouse repairs, back-to-school grants, training for fisherfolk, installation of community water points, mental health sessions, and the restoration of a health centre in Rocky Point, Clarendon.
“We remain committed to supporting families and communities, focusing on long-term resilience and sustainable recovery. With the humanitarian spirit that we have experienced from our many partners, we are confident that better days are ahead, and we are grateful that after four months, a sense of normality is returning to the affected communities,” Silvera-Stephens stated.
On October 28, 2024, in Bongo Town, Victoria, on the outskirts of Linstead, St. Catherine, Marubeni Power International, in collaboration with Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ), provided a new home for Mavadeen Aldred (front, centre), a single mother of three who survived years of abuse and housing instability. Sharing the frame are Marubeni Power International Inc. Senior Vice President Damian Obiglio (third left) and colleagues Takuya Kokawa, associate (front, left) and Keisuke Harada, senior manager (back, left). And Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) management, Executive Director Kivette Silvera (front, right), Director of Agriculture & Fisheries Nakhle Hado (right) and Development and Marketing Manager Marsha Burrell-Rose.
Since Marubeni Power International, Inc made its entry into Jamaica’s energy sector as one of the major shareholders of Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, the company has not only focused on business growth but also demonstrated its strong commitment to corporate social responsibility.
For many years, Marubeni has been actively engaged in philanthropic activities aimed at giving back to the people of Jamaica.
On October 28, at Linstead, St Catherine, Marubeni, in collaboration with Food For the Poor Jamaica, provided a home for a family in need. The Marubeni team of Damian Obiglio, Keisuke Harada and Takuya Kokawa were there to hand over the keys to Mavadeen Aldred, a mother of three.
Mavedeen is on a path to a brighter future thanks to the compassion of Marubeni and the dedicated efforts of Food For The Poor Jamaica and ending decades of instability, uncertainty and woe. In 2011, after leaving an abusive partner, Aldred moved into a one-room structure belonging to her grandmother; it was later demolished due to safety concerns. In 2021, she moved to Bongo Town, Victoria (Linstead), into a house owned by a caring friend. It had a deteriorating ceiling that leaked whenever it rained and posed ongoing difficulties for the family of five (Aldred, her three children and her mother), who are striving for stability and safety.
“We have been collaborating with Food For The Poor Jamaica because we see the excellent work they have been doing over several decades. Their values align with the Marubeni creed: Fairness, Innovation and Harmony,” said Damian Obiglio, Senior Vice President, Marubeni Power International Inc.
He continued: “When it comes to harmony, there is no better place to develop this than in the home. A loving home is the foundation of harmony. It is a place to build family values, a place to study, a place to rest.”
This partnership highlights the importance of community support and corporate responsibility in helping those in vulnerable situations. “Partnerships foster a spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility. When we unite our efforts, we maximise resources and inspire others to join the cause,” said Food For the Poor Jamaica Executive Director Kivette Silvera.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support we have received,” said Aldred. “This new house will not only improve our living conditions but also bring hope and security to my family.”
Finance Minister Fayval Williams cuts the EPOC celebration cake with (from left) Donovan Wignal, MSME Alliance, Courtney Williams, Fiscal Commissioner, Terron Francis, Ministry of Finance and Keith Duncan, EPOC Chair.
Over its 11-year history there have been continuous laurels for the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), born out of the need for close monitoring of our economy while benefitting from an IMF loan. The PSOJ’s crime monitoring committee, CMOC, has been modelled on it, and there have been calls for the Education Transformation Programme to have a similar oversight Committee.
At last Friday’s final quarterly EPOC press briefing, Chair Keith Duncan noted that Dr. Peter Phillips serving as Minister of Finance in 2013, ‘heeded the call of civil society and actively guided and supported the establishment of EPOC’ under the joint chairmanship of Bank of Jamaica Governor (BOJ) Richard Byles and former BOJ Governor Brian Wynter.”
Duncan succeeded Byles as co-chair with Wynter, and in 2019 continued as sole chair. Team members at our shop were inspired by Duncan’s passionate resolve that the people of Jamaica must understand our economic status. He kept reminding that EPOC was monitoring “not the IMF plan, but Jamaica’s plan.” He used every possible mode of communication: his team led by Althea Walters pulled on the skills of Adtelligent and PROComm and the media responded positively to his frank, down-to earth updates. Duncan embraced our suggestion to go ‘Pon di Corner’ to engage ordinary Jamaicans in the understanding of our economic progress. Sharing in refreshments, citizens of our inner-city communities listened and asked questions, taking with them simply worded flyers.
At the briefing Finance Minister Fayval Williams lauded the Committee: “The commitment to responsible fiscal policy and prudent fiscal management by successive administrations since 2013 has delivered a reduction in public debt to 68% of GDP – the lowest in almost 50 years and our debt trajectory is on track to meet the target of 60 per cent of GDP by Fiscal Year 2026/27. Macro-economic stability is now entrenched, and key economic indicators are aligned to create a positive outlook for growth and development.”
We owe a debt of gratitude to Duncan and members of EPOC: Richard Lumsden, David Noel, Septimus Blake, Donovan Wignal, Helene Davis-Whyte, Jason Morris, Lenworth Fulton, Ralston Hyman, members of the Finance Ministry team: Terron Francis and Trevor Anderson and members of the Bank of Jamaica team.
We need not be concerned at the closure of EPOC. Minister Willams announced that the Fiscal Commission as directed by the Independent Fiscal Commission Act passed in 2021, will come into effect on January 1, 2025, and will be led by Courtney Williams in his capacity as Fiscal Commissioner. Courtney Willams is a seasoned public servant who held a post at the IMF for three years. She noted: “The Independent Fiscal Commission is a permanent agency with a statutory mandate to assess publicly and independently from partisan influence, a government’s fiscal policies, plans, and performance against macroeconomic objectives related to the long-term sustainability of public finances and short to medium-term macroeconomic stability.”
As the saying goes, “the reward for good work is more work”, and so Minister Williams announced the Fiscal Advisory Committee (FAC), to be chaired by Keith Duncan. “As it was with EPOC,” she said, “the Fiscal Advisory Committee will have representation from a wide cross-section of society including the trade union movement, civil society, academia and the private sector. Along with Mr. Duncan, the Committee will be served by Helene Davis-Whyte, immediate past president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions; Nancy Pinchas, Executive Director of the Council of Voluntary Social Services; Dr. Patrice Whitely, Head of the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies, Mona and Kareem Tomlinson, Managing Director of GK Capital Management Limited.” Let us continue to follow the progress of the Commission; it should continue keeping stakeholders on their toes, as did EPOC.
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Beginning November 16, 2024, Avelo Airlines will operate its first scheduled international route between Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) and Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL).
These non-stop flights will operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, providing an accessible and affordable travel option for passengers.
Introductory one-way fares between MBJ and BDL start at US$178.
The airline made the announcement on Wednesday.Avelo is the only airline offering nonstop service between Montego Bay, St James and the capital region of Connecticut.Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has welcomed Avelo Airlines’ announcement.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Avelo Airlines to Montego Bay with their new direct flights from Hartford, Connecticut. This route is of great significance as Connecticut and the surrounding areas represent a major market for visitors to Jamaica. Additionally, these regions have a high concentration of Jamaica’s Diaspora, making this new service a vital link for families and friends. We are confident that this new connection will not only enhance convenience for travellers but also boost tourism and strengthen the cultural ties between our nations,” Bartlett stated.
Avelo Airlines announced this expansion as part of the largest growth initiative in its history, introducing nonstop service from Bradley International Airport to seven new destinations, including its first-ever international flights. Alongside Montego Bay, Avelo will also launch flights to Cancun, Mexico, beginning November 20, 2024.
“The Ministry of Tourism commends Avelo Airlines for recognising the value of expanding their service to Jamaica and looks forward to a successful partnership that will benefit both destinations,” Minister Bartlett added.
Founded in 2021, Avelo Airlines has quickly established itself as a leading ultra-low-cost carrier in the United States. With a focus on providing affordable and convenient travel options, Avelo has rapidly expanded its network to include a variety of domestic and international destinations. The airline’s commitment to customer satisfaction and innovative service has made it a popular choice among travellers.
Jamaica Highlights 