Countdown Begins For Team Jamaica Bickle’s 31st Year At The Penn Relays

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 21, 2025: As Team Jamaica Bickle, (TJB), approaches its 31st year of service at the Penn Relays, preparations are in full swing for another successful year of supporting Caribbean athletes. Founded by Jamaican immigrant advocate Irwine Clare, O.D., the non-profit continues its mission of providing vital assistance to athletes and coaches competing in Philadelphia.

The countdown is on to another Labor of Love gala from Team Jamaica Bickle. (TJB image)

To support its efforts, TJB will host the 2025 “Black Tie Gowns & Sneakers” 3.1 Labor of Love Gala Fundraising Luncheon on Sunday, April 13, at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York, starting at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $200 per seat, with early bird tickets available for $175 until February 28th.

The gala promises entertainment, awards, special guests, and surprises, all under the theme “Our Athletes, Our Ambassadors.” Clare emphasized TJB’s ongoing commitment to athlete welfare, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all delegations. “The core of our efforts has and continues to be the welfare of our athletes,” said Clare.

For tickets and updates, visit teamjamaicabickle.com.

The 2025 Penn Relays will take place from April 24-26 in Philadelphia.

Haitian Woman Wins 2025 Arnold International Bikini Competition

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News Americas, New York, NY, March 6, 2025: Haitian fitness athlete Vania Auguste made history on March 1, 2025, by winning the prestigious Arnold International Bikini Competition in Columbus, Ohio, becoming the first Black woman and first Haitian to claim the coveted title.

Auguste was among 10 elite athletes competing for the title, but she emerged victorious, standing center stage as the 2025 Bikini International champion. This major win solidifies her status as one of the top contenders for the Bikini Olympia, scheduled for October 9-12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Haitian national Vania Auguste is the 2025 Bikini International champion. (L’Union Suite image/Instagram)

2025 Bikini International Top Six Results:

Vania Auguste

Aimee Delgado

Ashlyn Little

Maria Acosta

Ariana Brothers

Jasmine Gonzalez

The event also marked a significant moment in bodybuilding history, as two-time Olympia champion Angelica Teixeira made her final competition appearance. Teixeira, a former two-time Bikini International winner, was honored on stage for her achievements and contributions to the sport.

Vania Auguste is the first Haitian and First Black woman to win the contest.

A Shocking Victory

While Auguste is a respected name in the fitness industry, her victory was considered an upset, as Aimee Delgado was widely favored to win the competition. However, Auguste’s outstanding physique, presentation, and stage presence ultimately secured her the championship.

This triumph also means automatic qualification for Auguste to compete at the 2025 Bikini Olympia, where she will go head-to-head with the world’s best athletes in the category.

Auguste’s win is a monumental achievement not only for her career but also for Haiti, as she becomes the first Haitian athlete to claim an Arnold Classic title – one of the most prestigious events in bodybuilding. Her victory serves as an inspiration for Caribbean athletes looking to break barriers in the world of fitness and bodybuilding.

With this historic milestone, Auguste is now a name to watch as she prepares for her Bikini Olympia debut later this year.

ibex Names Phil Taylor Country Manager for Jamaica

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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Feb. 12, 2025: — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and AI-powered customer engagement technology solutions, today announced the appointment of Phil Taylor as Senior Vice President and Country Manager for Jamaica. In his new role, Phil will report directly to David Wilkerson, Executive Vice President of Global Operations, and will oversee the company’s operations and strategic initiatives in Jamaica.

Industry veteran Phil Taylor brings over 20 years of experience to lead operations and drive growth in Jamaica.

Phil joined ibex two years ago as Vice President of Operations and has since become an integral part of the organization. With over 20 years of experience in the contact center industry, Phil has built a reputation for his people-first leadership style, commitment to excellence, and ability to develop high-performing, collaborative teams. Prior to joining ibex, he held leadership roles at TaskUs and Alorica.

“Phil is an exceptional leader with amazing energy and a passion for empowering teams to thrive,” said David Wilkerson. “We are thrilled to see him take on this expanded role and look forward to the continued success he will bring to our team, our clients, and our business. Phil’s deep industry expertise and unwavering commitment to operational excellence make him the ideal leader to continue our growth trajectory and strengthen our position as one of the top BPOs in Jamaica.”

In his new role, Phil will focus on championing employee development, enhancing operations, fostering strategic partnerships, and fueling overall growth to deliver exceptional results for ibex and its growing roster of blue-chip clients.

“I am honored and excited to take on the country leader role in Jamaica,” said Phil Taylor. “ibex is an incredible organization, and I am proud to be part of a company that truly values and rewards its people, while delivering world-class innovation and service excellence to its clients. I look forward to leveraging my experience to build on the amazing agent-first culture we have at ibex and continue to drive growth in Jamaica.”

Beyond his professional achievements, Phil is a dedicated family man with a passion for sports, travel, and music. An accomplished musician, he frequently performs the U.S. national anthem at NBA and NFL games alongside fellow musicians.

About ibex
ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Is Exxonmobil Depriving The US Treasury Of Tax Revenues?

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By Darshand Khusial

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Feb. 17, 2025: The U.S. Foreign Tax Credit, (FTC), is designed to prevent double taxation by allowing individuals and corporations to offset taxes paid to foreign governments against their U.S. tax obligations. However, there is compelling evidence that ExxonMobil and its affiliates obtain tax certificates issued by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) without actually paying taxes in Guyana. The Oil and Gas Governance Network Guyana (OGGN) suspects that these tax certificates may be used to claim illegitimate FTCs from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), potentially depriving the U.S. Treasury of billions of dollars in tax revenues.

The ExxonMobil Guyana offices at 86 Duke Street in Georgetown, Guyana. Photographer: Jose A. Alvarado Jr./Bloomberg via Getty Images

Guyana’s Taxation Arrangement with ExxonMobil
Under the 2016 Petroleum Agreement (PA) between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation, and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), the government agreed to pay the oil companies’ taxes from Guyana’s share of oil revenue. Specifically:
• Article 15.4 of the PA states that the Minister responsible for Petroleum will pay taxes on behalf of the Contractor (ExxonMobil and affiliates) and that this sum will be considered the Contractor’s income.
• Article 15.5 specifies that the Minister will ensure that the GRA issues tax receipts and certificates confirming these payments.
As a result, rather than paying corporate income taxes directly, ExxonMobil and its affiliates, benefit from Guyana’s tax payments, amounting to Tax Certificates issued to the value of approximately USD 2.8 billion from 2020 to 2023 (Table 1; adapted from Ref. 3, 1 USD = 208.5 GYD). This practice means that 78% of Guyana’s total oil revenues (USD 3.6 billion) were earmarked to cover taxes on behalf of foreign corporations. This leaves Guyana’s net share of total oil sales in real terms at a meager USD 0.8 billion (3.2% of Total Oil Revenue).

Guyana’s Net Share of Total Oil Sales, 2020 to 2023

Legal and Financial Concerns
The central issue is whether ExxonMobil and its affiliates use these tax certificates to claim U.S. FTCs without actually paying foreign taxes. If so, this practice could violate U.S. tax laws, particularly:
• 26 U.S. Code §901: Credit for taxes paid to foreign countries – This provision requires that foreign taxes be “actually paid or accrued” to qualify for U.S. tax credits.
• IRS regulations on economic substance (26 U.S. Code §701(o)) – Transactions must have economic substance beyond tax benefits.
Given that ExxonMobil and its affiliates do in effect not remit taxes to the Guyanese government, their ability to claim FTCs under these statutes is highly questionable.
It could be argued that the tax arrangement is legal under Guyana’s 2016 PA and that it is standard practice in the oil and gas industry. However, the IRS has strict guidelines requiring that tax payments be actual and compulsory, rather than merely recorded in agreements. Furthermore, there are no public records confirming that the Government of Guyana has remitted these tax payments to the GRA, making the tax certificates issued to ExxonMobil and its affiliates potentially misleading.

Guyana’s Net Share of Total Oil Sales, 2020 to 2023

Conclusions and recommendations
The tax arrangement for ExxonMobil and its affiliates as outlined in the 2016 PA is an outlier; other companies in Guyana do not receive similar benefits. Given these facts, OGGN, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in New York, United States, urges the US authorities to:

Initiate a formal investigation into ExxonMobil’s use of tax certificates issued under Guyana’s 2016 PA.

Request IRS review of whether ExxonMobil’s claimed FTCs comply with U.S. tax laws.

Hold hearings or introduce legislation to prevent similar arrangements from depriving the U.S. Treasury of revenue in the future.
The potential loss to U.S. taxpayers over the 40-year duration of the PA could amount to tens of billions of dollars. Ensuring tax fairness is critical to upholding transparency and corporate accountability.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article represents the opinion of OGGN solely and not News Americas. It was written by Darshanand Khusial with contributions from Andre Brandli, Kenrick Hunte, Alfred Bhulai, Janette Bulkan and Joe Persaud for the Oil & Gas Governance Network Guyana (OGGN)

ibex Celebrates Employee Growth and Career Advancement in Jamaica with Third iGrow with ibex Event

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CARIBPR WIRE, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Feb. 19, 2025: ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and AI-powered customer engagement technology solutions, recently hosted its third iGrow with ibex event in Jamaica, celebrating employee achievements and fostering career growth within the organization. The event, a cornerstone of ibex’s talent development strategy, recognized the 89 Jamaican team members who earned promotions over the past two quarters, highlighting the company’s commitment to nurturing talent from within.

iGrow with ibex is a recognition program designed to empower employees, drive employee development and engagement, and build a robust leadership pipeline. The event provides employees with opportunities to connect with leaders, participate in career pathing discussions, and learn about future career opportunities within the company. This year’s event also celebrated two standout employees: the longest-tenured team member and the most promoted individual at ibex Jamaica, both of whom exemplify the company’s culture of career acceleration.

“At ibex, we believe that our people are our greatest asset,” said Phil Taylor, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for ibex Jamaica. “iGrow with ibex is a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of growth and opportunity. By investing in our employees’ development, we ensure that ibex remains a place where talent thrives and where future leaders are born.”

The event, led by ibex’s Talent Mobility team, reinforces the company’s focus on internal mobility as a key differentiator. Through initiatives like iGrow with ibex, ibex Jamaica continues to strengthen its foundation by identifying, developing, and elevating talent from within. This approach enhances employee engagement while supporting the company’s ability to scale effectively.

As ibex Jamaica looks to the future, programs like iGrow with ibex will remain central to its mission of creating a workplace where employees can grow, succeed, and achieve their career aspirations.

About ibex
ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

The Bahamas Makes History With First-Ever SpaceX Rocket Landing

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News Americas, New York, NY, February 19, 2025: Elon Musk may fast becoming one of the most disliked men in the world among liberals, but The Bahamas is celebrating Musk’s company SpaceX as it officially allowed them to make history as the first international destination to welcome a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster landing.

At approximately 6:29 PM ET on February 18, the reusable rocket from SpaceX successfully touched down on an autonomous droneship off the coast of The Exumas, marking a monumental moment for both space exploration and Bahamian tourism.

This historic achievement is just the beginning. SpaceX reportedly will make 19 more landings in The Bahamas, solidifying the country’s role in the future of space tourism and STEM education.

A New Era for The Bahamas

A delegation of Bahamian officials, led by Prime Minister Phillip E. Davis and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation Chester Cooper, gathered at Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina to witness the event firsthand. The successful landing not only highlights the growing global interest in space travel but also showcases The Bahamas as a hub for innovation, tourism, and scientific advancement.

“This historic feat positions our nation as a global leader in space tourism and technological progress,” said Prime Minister Davis. “Yesterday’s rocket landing reaffirmed that The Bahamas is not just a destination of beauty, but also of limitless possibilities in exploration and discovery.”

Deputy Prime Minister Cooper echoed the sentiment, calling the event a “launchpad for Bahamian tourism, economic growth, and education.” He added, “Space tourism is here. Innovation is here. The future is here in The Bahamas.”

International Collaboration & STEM Advancement

The event was also attended by former NASA scientist and STEMBoard Founder & CEO Aisha Bowe, whose work has been instrumental in establishing space protocols in The Bahamas. SpaceX has committed to donating $1 million to the University of The Bahamas to advance STEM education, inspiring young Bahamians to pursue careers in science and technology.

A New Frontier in Space Tourism

With the success of this first landing and 19 more planned, The Bahamas is poised to become a premier destination for space tourism. The partnership with SpaceX not only elevates the nation’s status in aerospace innovation but also opens new doors for economic growth, job creation, and technological development.

As the world watched this groundbreaking event unfold, The Bahamas has officially staked its claim as a leader in space exploration and futuristic travel experiences—blending natural beauty with cutting-edge innovation.

Probe Reveals Usain Bolt’s Missing Millions Were Stolen Before Reaching SSL

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News Americas, New York, NY, February 19, 2025: A high-level probe into the missing $12 million investment of Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has revealed that a significant portion of his funds never made it into his account at Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL).

Jamaican Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, seen here during a photo session as he launches a new brand of electric scooters named “Bolt” in Paris, on May 15, 2019, has lost millions to fraud in Jamaica.

According to Nationwide News Network (NNN), forensic investigators – including UK-based Kroll Associates – discovered that Bolt’s principal investment was stolen before ever reaching SSL, exposing a deeper level of fraud than previously suspected.

Reports indicate that Bolt’s management team was deceived with falsified invoices and account statements, allegedly sent by Jean-Ann Panton, the former SSL employee now facing multiple fraud charges. These fabricated documents misled Bolt’s team into believing that his investment was secure and growing, when in reality, the funds had been siphoned off before being deposited into an SSL account.

The revelation casts doubt on Bolt’s chances of recovering his money, as investigators now question the full extent of the scheme and the likelihood of restitution.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is still awaiting further documentation from the Financial Investigations Division (FID) to determine whether additional individuals from SSL will face criminal charges. These documents are expected to provide crucial evidence in assessing the depth of the fraud and identifying other possible perpetrators.

Jean-Ann Panton, who has allegedly confessed to orchestrating fraudulent activities at SSL for years, remains before the court. Following the scandal, Bolt dismissed a member of his management team who was responsible for overseeing his SSL investments.

In a recent appearance on the podcast ‘The Fix’, Bolt voiced his frustration with the slow progress of the investigation, urging the Jamaican Government to take greater action in facilitating the return of his missing funds.

With these latest findings, Bolt’s fight to reclaim his stolen millions remains uncertain, as authorities and investigators continue to unravel the full scope of the fraud.

Exxon Mobil To Expand Natural Gas Development In Guyana

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News Americas, New York, NY, February 19, 2025: U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil has unveiled plans to expand natural gas production and supply in the South American CARICOM nation of Guyana, responding to the government’s push for more gas to power onshore energy and petrochemical projects.

The ExxonMobil Guyana offices at 86 Duke Street in Georgetown, Guyana. Photographer: Jose A. Alvarado Jr./Bloomberg via Getty Images

Announced at the Guyana Energy Conference in Georgetown, the Wales Gas Vision aims to support industrial growth by delivering gas through a $1 billion pipeline completed last year. Exxon’s Guyana head, Alistair Routledge, outlined the initiative, which will supply gas for power generation and petrochemical production.

The Guyana government will receive a portion of the gas from Exxon’s Stabroek Block, while U.S.-based Fulcrum LNG will develop an offshore gas processing and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.

According to Guyana Energy Minister Vickram Bharrat, Exxon may construct additional pipelines to transport profit gas—the government’s share – to Fulcrum LNG’s plant. The facility will enable LNG exports and gas supply to Berbice for fertilizer and alumina production.

While total investment figures remain undisclosed, Bharrat emphasized that Guyana has sufficient gas resources for commercial projects. The country is set to launch a national gas strategy this year as it moves toward a diversified energy mix.

Exxon, alongside partners Hess Corporation and China’s CNOOC, is expected to ramp up gas output through upcoming projects, including Longtail, which could produce 1.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of gas. A final investment decision on Longtail is expected in 2026.

Routledge reaffirmed Exxon’s commitment, stating the company is “ready to deliver gas” to shore. Meanwhile, the group’s fourth floating oil production facility, built by SBM Offshore, is set to begin operations in the third quarter of 2025.

With natural gas emerging as a key component of Guyana’s energy future, these developments are expected to drive economic growth, expand industrial capabilities, and establish the country as a regional energy powerhouse.

Cuba Pushes Solar Energy To Tackle Worsening Blackout Crisis

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News Americas, New York, NY, Fri. Feb. 21, 2025: As the Donald Trump administration dials back on renewable energy and restored sanctions on Cuba, the Caribbean nation is ramping up efforts to combat its crippling power outages by expanding its renewable energy sector, aiming to install 55 solar parks by the end of the year to generate 1,200 megawatts of electricity. The move is expected to increase Cuba’s renewable energy output from 5% to 12% as the country struggles with an aging power infrastructure and fuel shortages.

View of a solar panel field in Havana, taken on February 21, 2025. Cuba on Friday unveiled a new solar-powered electricity park in the capital Havana, the first in an ambitious project to alleviate the communist island’s increasingly desperate struggle with power blackouts. (Photo by YAMIL LAGE / AFP) (Photo by YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

The first of these solar parks, developed in collaboration with China, went online last Friday, with another set to follow next week. President Miguel Díaz-Canel praised the new facility, calling it “a beauty” and highlighting its role in reducing daytime blackouts in Havana.

Cuba’s electricity crisis stems from its outdated thermoelectric plants, many in operation since the 1980s and 1990s, frequent breakdowns, and reliance on Venezuelan oil. The country has also leased floating power plants from Turkey and uses generators fueled by crude oil -which it struggles to afford – to supplement supply.

Earlier this month, schools and businesses were forced to close for two days as electricity supply fell to half of national demand. By 2030, Cuba aims to generate over a third of its electricity from renewable sources like solar.

Connect With Invest Caribbean On Renewable Energy Projects in The Caribbean Or Latin America

EU-LAC Digital Accelerator Opens 3rd Call for Caribbean Startup Partnerships

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News Americas, New York, NY, February 24, 2025: The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator has launched its 3rd Open Call, inviting business partnerships across the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe to apply. The initiative seeks collaborations between corporates facing digital challenges and startups or innovative SMEs offering solutions.

This year, the accelerator is expanding its focus to HealthTech, in addition to CleanTech and Smart Production, creating new opportunities for Caribbean businesses to innovate and scale.

To qualify, partnerships must consist of at least one corporate and one startup from two of the three eligible regions – the Caribbean, Latin America, or the European Union.

Selected participants will receive in-kind acceleration services valued at up to €30,000, with an increased amount of €40,000 if a Caribbean partner is involved. These services include:

A customized acceleration roadmap
Design and implementation of a proof-of-concept
Validation of a business model
Investment and scaling readiness assessment

The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator is committed to fostering cross-regional innovation by supporting corporate-startup partnerships until they are investment-ready.

How to Apply?

Interested partnerships can submit their application in just five minutes via the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator website. A detailed “Guidelines for Applicants” document is also available to provide essential information.

For more details, contact the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator team.