Alpart restart, JSE micro market and Windies series win lead July 8 bulletin

Western Jamaica could see fresh jobs if the Alpart alumina refinery in St. Elizabeth returns to service before year-end, Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister Floyd Green said after talks in China with owner Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO).

Green said the government used the China mission to press for action on the long-delayed restart. JISCO has committed to a two-phase redevelopment meant to restore capacity to about two million tonnes of alumina a year — one million tonnes in each phase — and to install a five-megawatt solar and energy-storage system. The company is working to meet preconditions so construction can begin before the end of 2026, with an official launch targeted before June 2027. Green called Alpart a major economic lifeline for St. Elizabeth and surrounding communities, supporting workers, transport operators, contractors and small businesses.

"The objective is to restore Alpart as a modern, competitive operation and a major player in global alumina production," he said.

In Parliament on Tuesday, Finance Minister Fayval Williams said the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s new micro market could open equity capital of $50 million to $100 million for micro and small enterprises that struggle with traditional funding. An initial group of 25 firms that graduated from the Jamaica Business Development Corporation accelerator has been identified as leading candidates. A stock-market sandbox will expose prospective issuers to reporting duties, governance standards and regulatory expectations. Opposition finance spokesman Julian Robinson supported the plan, saying access to capital is the greatest inhibitor of growth for micro enterprises. Under the framework, companies may raise up to $100 million, must have at least 20 per cent public shareholding and a minimum of 50 new shareholders, and must move to the junior market once they exceed the capital threshold.

MBJ Airports Limited chief executive Shane Monroe said new airline services show carriers remain confident in Jamaica despite disruption from Hurricane Melissa. Wingo began thrice-weekly flights from Medellín, Colombia, on June 23; LIAT is set to start Guadeloupe–Montego Bay service later this month; Breeze Airways will begin twice-weekly Tampa flights in the winter season; and Porter Airlines plans routes from Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa in late November.

In St. Thomas, Lloyd’s Cemetery in Yallahs is overgrown and closed after boundary breaches and roadway encroachments, yet residents say burials continue. Community member Rafael Watson said the burial ground was donated to the community and urged authorities who collect fees to intervene. St. Thomas Municipal Corporation chief executive Kevin McIndoe said the corporation will deploy the same drone-assisted approach used at Red Hills Cemetery in Morant Bay and is finalising a schedule.

Regionally, CARICOM leaders meeting in Saint Lucia sought consensus on United States third-country deportation arrangements. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said bilateral deals without a coordinated Caribbean stance weaken negotiating power. Martinique was welcomed as CARICOM’s seventh associate member. Heads agreed to refer Trinidad and Tobago’s challenge to Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett’s reappointment to the Caribbean Court of Justice under Article 212 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, pausing the reappointment until the court rules. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley called for a regional compact on rising food prices, arguing Massy Stores Barbados’ reported $49 million profit left middle-class households struggling to afford food.

In sport, the West Indies sealed a 1–0 Test series win over Sri Lanka — their first home series victory in two years and first against Sri Lanka since 2003 — after a rain-affected draw at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua left the hosts 109 without loss chasing 302.