Danville Walker Resigns from West Indies Petroleum Ahead of Petrojam Managing Director Role

Danville Walker has resigned as senior vice president of West Indies Petroleum (Whip) ahead of his appointment as managing director of Petrojam on Wednesday.

In a letter to Whip chief executive Charles Chambers, Walker said his resignation takes effect at the end of June. He has also stepped down from all positions held across Whip subsidiaries, affiliates, associated companies and related entities. These include Whip Energy Limited, West Indies Petroleum Terminal Limited and West Indies Petroleum South Terminal Limited. Walker resigned from the board of Whip Energy and confirmed he has disposed of all legal and beneficial interest in the St. Lucian company World Energy Solutions Limited, which holds shares in Whip Terminal.

Households across Jamaica continue to face cost-of-living pressures, and shoppers are reporting a related form of inflation known as shrinkflation, where product sizes shrink while prices stay the same. Consumers say biscuit packs contain fewer items, chip bags feel lighter and boxed meals offer smaller portions, including less chicken.

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) says the ongoing war in the Middle East is pushing up global costs and straining supply chains, leading some manufacturers to reduce product size or weight so consumers can still afford purchases. CAC officers found a small tin of tuna that once weighed 170 grams is now 142 grams. Condensed milk that previously weighed 392 grams has settled at 385 grams after distributors described earlier size changes as a test, with prices unchanged.

United States consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky, chief executive of consumerworld.org, said manufacturers count on shoppers not checking net weight or sheet counts on products such as paper goods. CAC representative Miss Halsall pointed to the Consumer Protection Act and said that when a product's advertised weight changes, companies should inform the public. Several firms were contacted about shrinkflation concerns but did not respond.

On the markets, the Jamaica Stock Exchange main index declined by 823 points while the junior market index advanced by 16 points. Gainers included Productive Business Solutions US dollar ordinary shares, Jamaica Public Service, Berger Paints Jamaica, The Lab and General Accident Insurance Company. Losers included JFP Limited, Eppley Limited 7.25% preference shares, Jamaican Teas, and Proven Group shares. Sixteen stocks traded firm. At the close of foreign exchange trading, banks and cambios sold the US dollar for an average J$158.22, the Canadian dollar for J$113.22, the pound for J$210 and the euro for an average J$183.53.