Jamaican pilot freed in Paraguay case as taxi fares rise and dancehall releases make news

Jamaican-born pilot and social media figure Jabari Brown has been released from custody in Paraguay after prosecutors cleared him of involvement in a drug trafficking investigation, while Jamaica’s public passenger fares have gone up and dancehall acts Squash and Vybz Kartel are also making headlines.

Brown, 20, who is known online as Captain TraeZ, was arrested after a flight from Miami to Paraguay on Friday, May 29. Reports said he was working as co-pilot when authorities found 261.6 kilogrammes of marijuana. Prosecutors later determined that Brown neither knew about nor took part in transporting the cargo, leading to his release. Brown first gained wide attention in 2025 after winning a challenge staged by online personality Mr. Beast.

Public passenger vehicle fares were increased by 8 per cent this week, marking the opening stage of a planned 16 per cent adjustment. The remaining increase is scheduled to take effect in July. Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the phased approach was chosen because of concerns about the inflationary effect of applying the full increase at once. Taxi operators, however, have rejected the move as inadequate.

Dancehall entertainer Squash, whose given name is Andre Whittaker, is now expected to leave prison one month earlier than previously scheduled. Instead of January 25, 2027, his release date has been moved to December 26, 2026. He is serving a 27-month sentence for possession of a firearm while living illegally in the United States.

Vybz Kartel on Friday released his 14-track studio album, God Anuh Time. The project features collaborations with Mavado, Spice, Skillibeng, Shenseea, Farruko and Wizkid, and opened at number one on the United States reggae chart.

The week’s Dear Pastor item centred on an 18-year-old woman who said she is involved with a 20-year-old man who also has another girlfriend. After the girlfriend caught them together at his home and violence was threatened, the man reportedly persuaded her that the young woman was his cousin. The writer said she still loves him and is willing to continue pretending if necessary. Pastor advised her to seek employment and raise her standards.