As Jamaica experiences record employment levels and rising optimism among businesses and consumers, concerns are mounting over a growing skills shortage that could undermine the country’s progress. This “confidence dilemma” will be the central theme at the third-quarter release of the GK Capital Management (GK Capital)/Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Business and Consumer Confidence Indices on October 28. Key Details The event will convene prominent leaders from business, academia, and workforce development to discuss strategies for aligning Jamaica’s talent pool with the evolving needs of its economy. Scheduled speakers include: Dr Kevin Brown , President of the University of Technology (UTech) Dr Taneisha Ingleton , Managing Director of HEART/NSTA Trust Steven Whittingham , CEO of GraceKennedy Financial Group and Chairman of the Jamaica Stock Exchange They will join Emile Leiba , President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director of DunnCox, and ...

  KINGSTON, Jamaica Scotiabank has officially appointed Yanique Forbes-Patrick as its new Head of Caribbean Corporate Affairs , effective July 1, 2025 . In her new role, Forbes-Patrick will oversee the bank’s corporate affairs in several key Caribbean territories, including The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago , and Turks & Caicos . According to Scotiabank, her mandate is to reinforce the bank’s values and culture , while driving brand promotion across all lines of business in the region. Leading Regional Communications Strategy Forbes-Patrick will spearhead both internal and external communications initiatives, as well as public affairs strategies , designed to align with Scotiabank’s long-term growth goals in the Caribbean. Her appointment comes at a critical time as the financial institution deepens its presence and customer engagement across regional markets. Experience and Education Forbes-Patrick brings...

  Sygnus Real Estate Finance (SRF) has posted a strong third-quarter performance for 2025, returning to profitability on the back of a strategic joint venture investment in Delphin Holdings Limited (DHL) . SRF, which has acquired 86% of the ordinary shares in DHL , reported a net profit of J$151.74 million for the quarter ended May 2025. This marks a significant turnaround from the J$136.02 million net loss reported in the same period last year. The company’s improved financial performance was attributed primarily to the DHL acquisition, which included 4.9 acres of strategic real estate in Trelawny . Consistent Growth Across Key Metrics Q3 Net Profit: J$151.74 million (vs. J$38.23M in Q2) Book Value Per Share: Up 7.3% to J$24.14 (from J$22.49) Retained Earnings: Up J$659.83 million to J$3.29 billion Five-Year Average Return on Equity: 19.1% SRF also reduced its cumulative net loss for the nine months ending May 2025 compared to the same period last year. The...

  KINGSTON, Jamaica NCB Financial Group (NCBFG) is set to release the full terms of its international capital raise this week, following a disclosure notice to the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange. The capital raise, first announced in June, involves a proposed offering of senior notes on the international securities market and is expected to move to the pricing phase shortly after the memorandum is shared. The company, which owns National Commercial Bank Jamaica , Guardian Holdings , and Clarien Bank , says it will update investors with a preliminary offering memorandum during the week of July 21, 2025 . This type of document is used specifically for private placement offerings , in contrast to a public prospectus, typically used for wider market raises. Terms Still Dependent on Market Conditions NCB cautions that the final pricing and successful close of the transaction remain contingent on market conditions . However, executives are optimistic that the offering will meet...

The MasterMac Group of Companies, one of Jamaica’s leading wholesale and retail distributors, has officially opened its newest outlet, the MasterMac Food Store, on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew. The new branch represents a major milestone in the company’s continued growth and modernization of its operations across the island. Key Details The launch ceremony, held on Thursday, October 16, brought together the company’s management, staff, suppliers, customers, and members of the media to celebrate the opening of the new facility. This latest addition comes 36 years after the company opened its first location in downtown Kingston in 1988. Since then, MasterMac has expanded to 15 locations across Jamaica, including five wholesale distribution centers and five supermarkets. The new Constant Spring Road location includes both the MasterMac Food Store and the MasterMac Supercentre, marking the completion of a four-year project that combined design, construction, and strategic planning...