Jamaica mourns coach Steven Francis as leaders cite peace gains and infrastructure push

Jamaica is mourning the death of legendary track coach and businessman Steven Francis, known affectionately as Frano, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 64.

Francis co-founded the MVP Track Club and served as its technical director. He is widely credited with helping to build the island’s sprinting powerhouse, guiding the careers of Olympic and world champions including Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson, and Shericka Jackson. In 2017, he received the Order of Jamaica, the nation’s fourth-highest honour.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness recalled that Francis left a career in finance to devote himself to coaching, a decision Holness said shaped one of track and field’s greatest legacies and inspired athletes to pursue excellence. He described Francis as a remarkable son of Jamaica whose herculean efforts were noted and lauded. Culture Minister Olivia Grange called him a giant of sport, while Opposition Leader Mark Golding said Francis revolutionised athletics by proving world-class talent could be developed at home. Golding added that beyond medals, Francis instilled discipline, belief, and opportunity in young athletes. Opposition spokesman on sports Wyville Hines described him as a principal architect of Jamaica’s rise in international athletics, and both major parties extended condolences to his family, MVP, and the wider sporting community.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness defended his administration’s infrastructure record during a tour of the Bound Brook Urban Centre in Port Antonio, Portland. He urged Jamaicans to judge the government by completed works rather than online misinformation, saying projects such as Bound Brook are transforming town centres. He also dismissed speculation about future Portland developments, insisting no initiative under his leadership would dispossess residents, and rejected rumours linked to Navy Island.

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Senator Aubyn Hill said Jamaica’s standing as the Caribbean’s most peaceful nation and third in North and Central America behind Canada and Costa Rica sends a strong signal to investors and tourists. He linked improved security, including a fully staffed police force, to greater business confidence.

Opposition spokesman on roads Dwayne Vaz questioned the rollout of phase one of the SPARK road-upgrade programme, noting budget allocations now extend to 2030 despite an originally planned three-year timeline. Opposition spokesman on youth and human rights Lisa Buchanan said recent criticism of her parliamentary comments took her remarks out of context.

Education stakeholder Ricardo Allen, president and CEO of One-on-One Educational Services, warned that artificial intelligence in classrooms must preserve critical thinking, suggesting students could be tasked to argue positions against AI to deepen learning.

The National Water Commission announced scheduled water disruptions across the corporate area as declining inflows strain storage at the Hermitage Dam. Corporate relations manager Delano Williams cited seasonal rainfall patterns and rising demand, while noting pipe repairs and pressure management have reduced losses in Kingston and St. Andrew.

Police and tourism officials are expanding community sensitisation training in Kingston under a Tourism Product Development Company programme aimed at preparing residents for growing visitor activity, including awareness of human trafficking and related crimes.

Duval Ebanks, a grade-five teacher at Camperdown Primary and Infant School in St. Andrew, was named ICT Innovation Teacher of the Year by the FLOW Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Jamaica Teaching Council. He received a $100,000 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the FLOW annual conference in the Dominican Republic.