Jamaica clarifies US third-country transit deal as SPARK road works advance

The Jamaican government has sought to draw a clear line between a United States-backed third-country nationals transit arrangement and separate efforts to attract skilled workers, as ministers outline strict limits on who may pass through the island and how many.

Information Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon told a Jamaica Information Service ministerial update that Washington proposed the third-country nationals programme and that Caribbean and Latin American states are often used as transit points under its terms. Her comments followed disclosure that Jamaica signed a memorandum of understanding allowing individuals transferred from the United States to pass through Jamaica en route to final destinations, including their home countries.

Dixon said discussions on skilled labour were wrongly conflated with the transit initiative. "No, no, no, no, no. TCN is this, and this is what we're negotiating," she said, adding that talks have since focused solely on third-country nationals. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace Dr Horace Chang told a post-Cabinet briefing that those covered by the agreement are not being brought to Jamaica as permanent migrants. The agreed quota allows 25 individuals every two weeks to transit through Jamaica to a third territory. Chang said most are expected to head home or seek re-entry to the United States rather than remain on the island. The government said the deal followed negotiations involving foreign affairs, national security, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Attorney General's Chambers.

Minister without Portfolio Robert Morgan told Parliament during sectoral debate that 26 per cent of roads selected under the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network programme were completed by April 2026. Nine work orders valued at $18 billion cover 369 community roads across several parishes; construction has started on 210, with 109 already finished. Morgan said rehabilitated roads must meet standards set by an independent consultant before handover.

Listed companies on the Jamaica Stock Exchange posted mixed results. Scotia Group reported net income of $10.1 billion for the six months ended April 30, with revenue excluding credit losses up 11 per cent. Dolphin Cove recorded revenue of US$2.5 million for the quarter to March 31, down 39 per cent, while Lasco Financial Services posted net profit of $82.1 million, up 40 per cent.

In regional news, Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit again called for reform of international financial institutions, saying lengthy loan approval processes delay projects and raise costs for developing countries.

Kingston's Port Royal hosted the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, drawing local and international crews. The Bahamas won the Caribbean Cup for overall performance, JDF Wave Riders posted the fastest local time, and the Chinese Embassy team earned bronze.