Top things to know
- The government has guaranteed full funding for the 2026 celebrations of National Hero Alexander Bustamante's birthday in Blenheim, Hanover, and Kingston.
- Norman Manley International Airport resumed normal operations after a scheduled overnight shutdown for electrical upgrade work was completed successfully.
- The Opposition is urging the government to reform contract employment practices in tourism, noting most hotel workers are on short-term contracts with little job security.
Culture Minister Olivia Grange has reaffirmed the government's commitment to fully fund and execute the annual celebrations for National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante's 142nd birthday. The commemorative events are scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and will include a floral tribute ceremony at National Heroes Park in Kingston at 9:00 am, followed by a birthday tribute ceremony at Bustamante's birthplace in Blenheim, Hanover, at 11:00 am. The announcement comes as a direct response to recent concerns that the celebrations in Hanover could be hampered, with Minister Grange citing decisive past action to mandate the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) to ensure the observance is safeguarded.
The annual celebration honors the legacy of Jamaica's first prime minister and a founding father of the nation's trade union movement. Sir Alexander Bustamante also served as the Member of Parliament for the Clarendon South Eastern constituency for approximately 18 years, a fact highlighted by the current MP, Pearnel Charles Jr, who is planning his own series of activities. This national observance is a key event for reflecting on the country's political history and the contributions of its national heroes, making its uninterrupted continuation a government priority.
In other national news, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed that operations at the Norman Manley International Airport have returned to normal following a successful overnight scheduled shutdown for electrical upgrades. Meanwhile, the Opposition is calling on the government to address the widespread use of short-term contract employment in the tourism sector, a pressing issue highlighted by the post-Hurricane Melissa uncertainty leaving hundreds of hospitality workers without job security.