AGP Executive Report

New Kingston Revitalisation: Kingston and St. Andrew’s municipal plan is moving into implementation, with coordinated outreach targeting homelessness, mental health and substance abuse alongside public safety, sanitation and environmental fixes. Central Banking Leadership: Dr. R Brian Langrin has been appointed governor of the Bank of Jamaica, taking office Aug. 19 as Richard Byles’ term ends. Public Service Efficiency: PM Andrew Holness says Jamaica will overhaul slow, duplicative institutional processes and use more technology to speed approvals and cut red tape. GBV Tech Push: Amber Innovations will develop the JamSafe app at no cost to the government, aiming for emergency alerts, 24/7 helplines, AI-assisted support and better case data. Water Security Planning: Feasibility studies are underway for limited desalination in St. Thomas and Clarendon, with no nationwide rollout due to cost and environmental concerns. Connectivity Guidance (Paid): A 2026 guide urges Jamaicans to compare ISP coverage, real speeds, plan value, bundling and support quality as Flow expands 5G. Education After Storms: WISTA Jamaica donated tablets, laptops and learning tech to Carisbrook Infant and Primary School in St. Elizabeth after Hurricane Melissa. Policy + AI Drafting: A legislative counsel leader says AI can help drafters, but Caribbean legal access gaps limit what it can reliably generate.

AI Policy & Local Tech: OpenJM, a Jamaican-developed agentic AI platform by Crimson Tide AI, is launching ahead of Jamaica’s public consultations on its first AI policy framework, aiming to keep more user data under local control and reduce hallucinations. Public Safety Tech: The Government has approved about $790m for JamaicaEye expansion and maintenance, including 300 CCTV cameras for Portmore and islandwide system upkeep, as debate continues over safety vs privacy. GBV App Contract: Amber Innovations will build the JamSafe app at no cost to the Government to connect people at risk of gender-based violence with emergency help, services, a 24-hour helpline, and AI-assisted support. Water & Energy Planning: Feasibility studies are underway for limited desalination in St Thomas and Clarendon, but officials say it won’t be a nationwide solution due to cost and environmental concerns. Healthcare Workers: Five medical technologists sue the Government over alleged unpaid wages and contract breaches, seeking back pay and legal-cost coverage. Science for Kids: TVJ’s “Science Zone” invites children to run a simple erupting volcano experiment using baking soda, vinegar, and food colouring.

Public Sector Tech Push: PM Holness says Jamaica will change slow, duplicative institutional processes and use more technology to speed approvals—while keeping standards and accountability. GBV App Contract: Amber Innovations will build the JamSafe app at no cost to the Government (initial value $80m), aiming for emergency alerts, 24-hour helpline access, AI-assisted support, and data for case management. AI Policy Moment: A Jamaican-developed agentic AI platform, OpenJM, launches ahead of public consultations on Jamaica’s first AI policy framework, targeting local control over data and reducing hallucinations. Water Tech Planning: Feasibility studies for limited desalination are underway in St. Thomas and Clarendon, with officials ruling out a nationwide rollout due to cost and environmental concerns. Education & Devices After Melissa: WISTA Jamaica hands Carisbrook Infant and Primary School in St. Elizabeth tablets, laptops, printer, books and supplies (over $850,000) to support recovery. Surveillance Expansion: Government awards about $790m in new JamaicaEye contracts—Portmore gets 300 CCTV cameras, while islandwide maintenance is also funded. Scholarship in Honour of Coach Stephen Francis: A UTech scholarship will be named for late track coach Stephen “Franno” Francis, following tributes at the National Indoor Sports Centre. School Bus Uptake: PIOJ reports 86 Kingston students use the rural school bus service daily, with major attendance and punctuality gains for riders.

AI Policy & Data Control: A Jamaican-developed agentic AI platform, OpenJM, launches ahead of Jamaica’s public consultations on its first AI policy framework, aiming to keep more user data under local control and reduce hallucinations. Public Safety Surveillance: Government approved about $790m for JamaicaEye expansion and maintenance, including 300 cameras in Portmore and islandwide upkeep, as debate continues over safety vs citizens’ privacy. Water Security: Jamaica is exploring limited desalination feasibility in St Thomas and Clarendon, but rules out a nationwide rollout due to cost and environmental concerns. Digital Justice & Tech Ethics: Commentary highlights how Caribbean Court of Justice decisions shape regional governance, while another piece warns about the “silent brief” of legal ethics in a more tech-driven, transparent society. Emergency Response Tech: Jamaica Fire Brigade received $12m+ in firefighting and rescue equipment, including helmets and hydraulic lifting systems, to strengthen disaster readiness post-Melissa. Gender Tech for Safety: Ministry of Culture signs a deal to build the Jamsafe app for domestic violence victims—single-button calling, links to services, and no data/credit needed. Education & Health Tech in Schools: Back-to-school leadership spotlights robotics and entrepreneurship wins, while the VCB Foundation returns with health and wellness screenings for students. Sports Legacy: Government announces a scholarship at UTech to honour sprint coach Stephen “Franno” Francis.

Scholarship for Stephen “Franno” Francis: Jamaica’s Government will establish a UTech scholarship in honour of the late sprint coach, announced by Olivia Grange during Francis’ thanksgiving service, with details to follow after talks with UTech and his family. Emergency response upgrade: The Jamaica Fire Brigade received over J$12M in firefighting and rescue gear from National Safety Limited, including HEROS NFPA helmets and hydraulic lifting bag systems, to strengthen disaster readiness after Hurricane Melissa. Digital safety for victims: The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport signed a deal with Amber Innovations to build the Jamsafe domestic violence app—one-button calling for help, plus links to counselling and services, designed to work without data or credit. Public health and tech policy: CARPHA is pushing lab capacity in Jamaica as part of regional efforts, while the wider region continues building cross-border digital public infrastructure. AI transparency: New invisible watermarking for AI-written text is rolling out globally, raising stakes for businesses using AI content. Security and enforcement: Jamaica Customs detailed its biggest cocaine seizure since the year began—over two tonnes—along with ganja, citing tech-led operations and stronger collaboration. Financial regulation timeline: Bank of Jamaica’s Richard Byles says the Twin Peaks overhaul will take years longer than earlier targets, as laws still need drafting and parliamentary debate.

Public Safety Tech: Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport signed a deal with Amber Innovations to build the Jamsafe domestic violence app, letting users press a single button to call for help, link to counselling services, and work without data or credit. AI & Business Compliance: Anthropic says its Claude models now embed an invisible watermark in generated text (and provenance labels for files), pushing AI content toward easier identification—something businesses writing with AI will need to plan for. Digital Public Infrastructure: A new regional look at Caribbean digital public infrastructure says countries are connecting systems through cross-border, practical use cases—aiming for interoperability and digital trust rather than one big shared build. Transport Enforcement Tech: New York’s MTA is expanding automated camera enforcement on bus routes, with warnings first and then fines for bus-lane and stop violations. Crime & Security: Jamaica Customs reported its biggest cocaine seizure since the start of the year at KFTL—over two tonnes of cocaine plus ganja—citing advanced scanning, canine teams, and intelligence-led operations. Energy/Water Planning: Jamaica’s water minister says feasibility studies are underway for limited desalination in St Thomas and Clarendon, paired with integrated energy projects due to cost and environmental concerns.

Digital Public Infrastructure: Caribbean countries are building cross-border digital public infrastructure, leaning on interoperability and digital trust rather than waiting for one big regional identity plan. Public Health & Labs: CARPHA is establishing a regional reference laboratory in Jamaica to strengthen medicine quality testing, and support the wider fight against antimicrobial resistance. Climate Finance: Insurers are increasingly using catastrophe bonds to transfer disaster risk to investors as climate-driven losses keep rising. Drug Enforcement Tech: Jamaica Customs says it seized over two tonnes of cocaine and 256 pounds of ganja at KFTL, citing advanced scanning, canine teams, and intelligence-led operations. Water Security: Feasibility studies are underway in St Thomas and Clarendon for limited-scale desalination, paired with integrated energy projects. Education & Recovery: NET is monitoring hurricane-rebuild progress at multiple western Jamaica schools, focusing on roofs, classrooms, labs and canteens. Business & EVs: Jetcon plans to launch BAIC’s Arcfox EV and plug-in hybrids as Chinese brands gain traction. Regulation Update: Bank of Jamaica’s Twin Peaks overhaul will take years more, with laws still needing drafting and parliamentary debate.

Kingston 8 Development Tension: Manor Park residents in upper St Andrew say they’ve been left in the dark about a planned multi-family build at 2 Broadway Close, complaining developers won’t share details after a July notice. Regulation Update: Bank of Jamaica governor Richard Byles warns “Twin Peaks” financial regulation reforms will take years longer than planned, with laws still needing drafting and parliamentary debate. Security & Trade: Petrojam worker Vashel Witter faces charges after police allege he was part of an ammo-selling ring, while Jamaica Customs reports its biggest drug seizure of the year at KFTL—over two tonnes of cocaine plus ganja. Youth Online Safety: CVC is pushing a social media education campaign for minors as research links platform exposure to explicit content. EV Market Push: Jetcon says it’s expanding Chinese brands, with Arcfox electric and plug-in hybrid models lined up after strong earnings. Hurricane Recovery Tech in Schools: NET continues restoring damaged classrooms and facilities, but rain is delaying work at Maggotty High in St Elizabeth. Business Automation: 876Laundry is scaling capacity and aiming for ISO 9001 as it targets hotels and manufacturers with outsourced laundry services. Climate Finance: Insurers are increasingly using catastrophe bonds to shift disaster risk to investors as extreme weather losses rise. Water Planning: Government feasibility studies are exploring limited desalination in St Thomas and Clarendon, not a nationwide fix. Cannabis Permits Watch: New licensing permits aim to bring traditional farmers into legal cannabis, but advocates warn profits depend on follow-through. Regional Science: CARPHA is expanding lab capacity in Jamaica to strengthen regional reference testing, including for antimicrobial resistance.

UWI & Pan-African Reparations: Ghana President John Dramani Mahama visited The UWI Regional Headquarters, praising the university’s Centre for Reparation Research and its role in pushing reparatory justice. Hurricane Recovery in Schools: The National Education Trust (NET) inspected restoration work at Rusea’s, Green Island, Corinaldi and Chetwood Memorial schools, focusing on roofs, classrooms, labs and safer learning spaces after Hurricane Melissa. Export Readiness for MSMEs: JAMPRO urged Jamaican small businesses to calculate the full cost of exporting—shipping, duties, taxes, marketing and pricing—before chasing overseas opportunities. AI in the Caribbean: Future Caribbean says 450-plus builders from 39 countries are now in the build phase of its Agen­tic AI Buil­dathon, targeting deployable solutions across sectors. Tech Training Upgrade: A Kingston truck-driving academy is using a simulator with Jamaica-specific road scenarios to train drivers for real-world certification. Coral Science for Tourism: Iberostar expanded coral reef conservation with a coral lab and genetic bank, including thermotolerance research and restoration support across the Caribbean. Local Business Growth: NUGL reported strong Q2 results, with revenue up 45.3% to $1.26M, as its Kaya brand continues expanding.

Digital Payments & Finance: Bank of Jamaica’s outgoing governor Richard Byles admits the JAM-DEX rollout was mishandled, saying BOJ waited too long to involve deposit-taking institutions and should have treated digital payments as a national priority. Public Health Labs: CARPHA has launched a new regional reference referral laboratory in Jamaica to strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance and cut reliance on overseas testing. Tourism Research: CHTA selected Florida International University to run a Caribbean-wide tourism demand study, aiming to map demand, reduce import leakages, and spot new investment links. Energy & Youth Tech Pathways: Clemson electrical engineering student Tyler Shakespeare received the Paylor Family Scholarship, driven by Jamaica-rooted experience with power outages and a goal to build AI tools for underserved communities. Food & Tech Safety: A major U.S. foodborne outbreak is tied to Cyclospora, highlighting how hard it is to trace contamination through complex fresh-produce supply chains. Environment & Mining: Six African countries now back a precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining, citing gaps in science and governance. Local Healthcare Upgrade: Spanish Town Hospital’s urology unit is expanding access with new ultrasound and prostate biopsy equipment to detect cancer earlier. Industry & Jobs: Sherwin-Williams ended paint manufacturing at its White Marl factory, shifting to imports while keeping its distribution centre running.

Digital Health: Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness launched the Jamaica Moves mobile app and the Chronic Care Connect pilot to help people manage diabetes and hypertension with digital monitoring, reminders, and coordinated care. Public Health Labs: CARPHA set up a new regional reference referral laboratory in Jamaica to strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance and reduce reliance on overseas testing. Central Banking & Payments: Outgoing BOJ Governor Richard Byles admitted JAM-DEX’s rollout was mishandled, saying BOJ should have pushed digitisation as a national priority and ensured rate changes reach customers. Land & Taxes: The National Land Agency will revalue about 900,000 land parcels, a move likely to raise property tax bills as updated values replace older figures. Food & Farming Tech: Black soldier fly larvae are being tested across the Caribbean as a way to turn food waste into locally produced animal feed, cutting import dependence. Education Recovery: NET reports progress restoring hurricane-damaged schools, repairing dozens and upgrading key learning spaces. Business & Industry: Sherwin-Williams ended paint manufacturing at its White Marl plant and will import products going forward.

Digital Payments & Finance: Outgoing Bank of Jamaica governor Richard Byles admits BOJ’s JAM-DEX rollout moved too slowly and says the central bank must do more so rate changes actually reach borrowers and savers. Land & Taxes: The National Land Agency will revalue about 900,000 land parcels, likely pushing property taxes higher as records catch up to today’s land values. Public Health Tech: CARPHA launched a regional reference referral lab in Kingston to speed antimicrobial resistance testing and cut reliance on overseas labs. Health Apps: Jamaica’s Ministry of Health rolled out the Jamaica Moves mobile app and a Chronic Care Connect pilot to help people manage diabetes and hypertension with digital support. Food & Circular Tech: Black soldier fly research in the Caribbean aims to turn food waste into locally produced animal feed, reducing costly imports. Business & Manufacturing: Sherwin-Williams ends paint manufacturing at its White Marl plant in St Catherine and shifts to imports, while Massy reports revenue growth but profit pressure tied to investments and Hurricane Melissa. Climate Science: A new State of the Climate report flags record highs in greenhouse gases, ocean heat and sea level for 2025.

Tourism & Skills: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett urged Jamaicans to see tourism as an “all-of-life” engine—from artisans and food vendors to engineers and healthcare workers—pushing people to turn natural and human assets into real business opportunities. Mobile Connectivity: A new GSMA Caribbean report says 5G is set to reach 23% of mobile connections by 2030, but warns regulatory upgrades and spectrum access are needed to close the investment gap. Public Health Lab: CARPHA has opened a new regional reference referral laboratory in Kingston to speed up antimicrobial resistance testing and cut reliance on overseas labs. Digital Safety: Jamaica’s authorities are warning jobseekers to be cautious with online employment offers, as scammers increasingly use social media to lure victims into human trafficking. Healthcare Tech: May Pen Hospital says its electronic health records system is improving monitoring and speeding up patient registration and treatment decisions. Infrastructure & Growth: Work on the Montego Bay perimeter road is progressing ahead of a September 2026 deadline, aimed at easing traffic and unlocking development. Local Conservation: A Jamaican biologist’s TikTok highlights invasive green iguanas threatening endangered native iguanas by competing for food and resources. University Disruption: UTech and UWI lecturers are on strike over unresolved compensation and promotion delays.

AI for weather: Google released its WeatherNext 2 and Cyclones models to researchers, saying tests show up to an extra day of reliable hurricane warning—potentially helping Jamaica and the region plan evacuations earlier. Health tech: May Pen Hospital says its electronic health records system is speeding monitoring and decisions, while UHWI expands cardiac, stroke and critical care services plus new diagnostic tech. Public universities: UTech and UWI lecturers are on strike over unresolved compensation and delayed promotions, with possible knock-on effects for exams and orientation. Biosecurity: A Jamaican biologist’s TikTok highlights invasive green iguanas threatening endangered native iguanas by outcompeting them for food and resources. Scam prevention: Officials warn Jamaicans to be vigilant about online job scams that can lead to human trafficking and document confiscation. Infrastructure & recovery: Noel Holmes Hospital repairs are on track for September completion after Hurricane Melissa, and NaRRA’s chief heads to Peru to study resilient reconstruction. Tech & trade: Jamaica Post upgrades international systems for faster, more secure processing and better customs data sharing.

Online Safety: Jamaica’s National Security minister Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn warns of fake overseas job offers used to lure victims into human trafficking, urging people to verify employers and use authorised recruitment channels. AI for Weather: Google opens its WeatherNext 2 cyclone forecasting tech to researchers, saying it can add over a day of warning for storm tracks, intensity and damaging winds. Deep-Sea Science: The ISA’s Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative marks milestones, including a push to name 1,000 new deep-sea species by 2030. Healthcare Tech Upgrades: UHWI expands specialist care with new cardiac and stroke services, a catheterisation lab, minimally invasive valve programme, thrombectomy, and 30+ clinical technology upgrades. Digital Health: May Pen Hospital reports gains after adopting the e-Care electronic health records system, improving monitoring, data collection and decision-making. STEM Capacity Building: UWI and UTech lecturers strike, while Jamaica’s Scientific Research Council continues STEM teacher attachments to strengthen lab-light, rural classroom delivery. Logistics Modernisation: Jamaica Post upgrades international mail and customs systems to speed processing and improve tracking, with possible short disruptions during rollout. Education & Access: UTech students win fee reductions after a stand-off with the university administration. Climate & Water: Stormwater management research highlights how better systems can reduce disaster impacts across Caribbean SIDS. Environment: Plastic waste from abroad is piling up on Jamaica’s east coast, stressing the need for regional cooperation on marine litter.

Health Infrastructure: Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea is nearing the end of a $300M Hurricane Melissa restoration, with staff quarters 99% done and key repairs on track for completion by end-September. UHWI Expansion: The University Hospital of the West Indies is rolling out new cardiac and stroke services, upgraded diagnostics, expanded critical care, and a catheterisation lab to speed access to specialist treatment. Postal Tech Upgrade: Jamaica Post is upgrading its International Postal and Customs Declaration systems from Aug 1 to improve tracking, customs data exchange, and security—expect possible short disruptions during rollout. Education & Skills: UTech students and administration reached agreement on fee reductions (J$60k→$50k semester one; J$40k semester two) and a push for a zero tuition increase in 2027/28, while SRC’s STEM Summer Attachment Programme is training rural teachers (83% of participants). AI for Weather: Google DeepMind released WeatherNext 2 and WeatherNext Cyclones for research, reporting up to an extra day of reliable hurricane warning lead time—relevant to Jamaica’s disaster readiness. Community & Inclusion: Montego Bay will host the Special Olympics Caribbean Beach Games (Nov 18–22) and St James High School will benefit from a Fitt Nation876 Charity 5K Night Run/Walk on Aug 15.