“I don’t care who your daddy is, I’ll kill you right here.” According to a police affidavit, that’s what a Daytona Beach man told William Roberts III, the son of Rick Ross and Tia Kemp, before hitting him in the head with a handgun.[#item_full_content]
The year 2000 did not arrive quietly in Kingston. Sound systems rang in the new millennium on fresh riddims, Greensleeves was boxing up whole rhythms for record shops abroad, and a young deejay from uptown was quietly becoming the music’s next export.[#item_full_content]
Every family reunion has a playlist, but only one family’s playlist has won a cabinet full of Grammys.[#item_full_content]
In 2001, if you were near a sound system, a car stereo or a radio in Kingston, you heard riddims.[#item_full_content]
The relationship is over—and, according to Mekelia Green, the next chapter is headed for court.
The attorney and entrepreneur, known online as “Mekhi Doll” or “Mekie Doll,” announced on Instagram that she intends to file a defamation lawsuit against her former partner, Jamaican music producer Donovan “Don Corleon” Bennett, on Tuesday, October 20.[#item_full_content]
Legacy in music is crucial because it bridges past artistic traditions with future generations, shapes cultural identity, and gives work meaning beyond commercial or short-term viral trends.[#item_full_content]
Close to 700 attendees explore opportunities to capitalize on projected cruise growth through distinctive experiences, stronger partnerships and greater local economic participation
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Oct. 20, 2026) — With global cruise passenger numbers projected to climb from about 37 million in 2025 to 46 million by 2031, Caribbean and Latin American destinations are well positioned to benefit from the industry’s continued expansion, drawing on their distinctive visitor experiences, tourism infrastructure and strong relationships with cruise lines to generate greater economic opportunity.
That message emerged from the 32nd annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show, held Oct. 12-16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where close to 700 cruise executives, government officials, port operators, tour providers and other stakeholders gathered to explore opportunities to strengthen tourism offerings and expand the benefits of growth for local communities.
“Destinations are at the heart of what makes cruising such a compelling vacation experience,” said Adam Ceserano, president of FCCA. “Today’s travelers want variety, authenticity and memorable experiences, and our destination partners are essential to delivering that. This conference demonstrated the tremendous opportunities that exist when cruise lines and destinations work together to create value for guests and local communities.”
The importance of destinations was a central theme of the President & CEO Leadership Panel, featuring executives from Carnival Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages. The discussion explored deployment priorities, changing passenger expectations and the role of destination partnerships in developing compelling itineraries. The region’s diverse attractions and established tourism infrastructure offer opportunities for continued collaboration as the industry grows.
In “Building Your Port into an Unforgettable Experience,” port and cruise representatives examined how the visitor experience begins before passengers reach a beach, restaurant or attraction. Efficient terminals, welcoming personnel and access to local culture all help shape impressions. Speakers highlighted language lessons and customer service training, alongside greater participation by local artisans, restaurants and cultural performers, as ways to enrich the welcome ashore while expanding business opportunities for residents.
Homeporting offered another avenue for expanding tourism’s economic contribution. During “Homeporting: The Gateway to the Caribbean,” speakers examined opportunities for hotels, transportation providers, provisioning companies and other businesses when a destination serves as the starting or ending point of a voyage. They also highlighted the importance of coordination among ports, airports, cruise lines and public authorities, along with efficient passenger and baggage handling.
Technology and innovation featured in discussions about developing visitor experiences, including immersive attractions, digital storytelling and AI-powered visitor guidance. The conference also examined luxury cruise tourism, exploring how distinctive local experiences, personalized service and carefully curated shore excursions can meet the expectations of high-end guests traveling on ships of all sizes.
An Oxford Economics presentation outlined cruise tourism’s economic contribution through visitor spending, employment and local business development.
“The success of this year’s conference reflects the strength of our partnerships and the shared commitment to growing cruise tourism in ways that benefit destinations and their people,” said Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA. “We are especially grateful to Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company for their tremendous partnership and hospitality in hosting this important gathering. Together, we are helping create a stronger, more prosperous future for cruise tourism throughout the region.”
Puerto Rico’s music, cuisine and cultural heritage were showcased throughout the conference, from the opening ceremony to various receptions.
As cruise lines expand their fleets and develop new itineraries, Caribbean and Latin American destinations can build on their established strengths through stronger local supply chains, enriched visitor experiences and deeper cruise partnerships, translating passenger demand into greater business opportunities for local operators and sustained economic benefits for their communities.
News Americas Now, NY, NY, Tue. Oct. 20, 2026: Legal immigration from the Caribbean to the United States fell 53 percent under policies the Trump administration adopted late last year and early this year, according to a New York Times analysis of State Department data published October 18 – one of the sharpest regional declines anywhere in the world outside Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East.
The drop stems from an expanded travel ban and a sweeping visa pause that took effect January 1, 2026, on top of an earlier ban the administration put in place last June. Both rounds swept several Caribbean nations. The administration placed Haiti under a full travel ban, blocking its nationals from receiving visas or entering the country outright. Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba and Dominica were placed under partial visa restrictions. A broader State Department pause – officially framed as targeting countries “at high risk of public benefits usage” – also swept in the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Times’ country-by-country breakdown shows the toll: Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines all saw immigrant visa issuance fall 80 percent or more. Guyana, which was not named on either restriction list, still saw a decline of 50 percent or more, part of a broader slowdown the Times found even in countries facing no explicit ban.
Not every Caribbean nation lost ground. The Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago were both among a small group of just 10 countries worldwide – alongside Mexico, Canada, India, and Honduras – where immigrant visa issuance actually increased over the period, the Times found. The newspaper’s data did not explain why those two countries moved against the regional trend.
Nationally, the State Department issued just 26,000 immigrant visas in February – the status that grants a green card and legal permanent residency – compared with a monthly average of 52,000 in the years before Mr. Trump took office. The policies made it all but impossible to immigrate from 91 countries and cut visa availability in 61 more; immigration from Muslim-majority countries plunged by more than 90 percent. Student, work, tourist, and business visas also fell, down roughly 30 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Federal courts have since ordered the government to resume issuing visas in two separate lawsuits, but the Times reported that most people whose visas were blocked are still waiting months later. Among them: Wilian Nelson Hernandez Morales, stranded in Guatemala since January and separated from his wife and four children in New Jersey despite being told his marriage-based green card application would have been approved if not for the freeze.
The administration has said the policies are meant to improve security screening of visa applicants and guard against future use of public benefits. Immigration experts cited by the Times describe the combined effect of the visa cuts, a narrowed refugee program, restricted asylum access at ports of entry and the administration’s mass deportation campaign as amounting to a broad curtailment of immigration of nearly every kind – achieved through executive action rather than congressional legislation.
News Americas Now, NY, NY, Tues. Oct. 20, 2026: A Nigerian proverb warns, “The man who swallows a whole coconut must trust his throat.” Some risks are simply too costly to take. A secret favor, an unexplained gift, or a private promise can destroy years of public service. When I was a young man growing up in my small village, faithful young leaders taught me a song that has never left my soul: “There’s a Father up above, looking down with tender love; watch your hands, watch your hands, what they do.” Those simple words taught me a lifelong lesson: character reveals itself in the choices we make when nobody appears to be watching. Nelson Mandela captured this truth when he observed, “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” Leadership and to lead require both the wisdom to recognize danger and the character to resist it. The surest protection against scandal is to establish boundaries before temptation arrives.
The Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, a four-term Prime Minister, offers three practical tests: never envy what other people have; ask yourself, “If my parents were with me, would I be doing this?”; and remember that there is a God who never put on pajamas. These reminders confront greed, awaken conscience, and challenge the illusion that wrongdoing escapes accountability after dark. Warren Buffett’s warning about reputation reinforces the point: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” One reckless decision can jeopardize a lifetime of earned trust. Before accepting a gift, approving a payment, or granting a favor, ask three questions: Is it lawful? Is it ethical? Can I explain it honestly to the public? Disclose conflicts of interest, document expenses, follow procurement rules, and submit decisions to independent scrutiny. Former Bermuda Premier Paula Cox puts the principle plainly: “Integrity matters above all else.” If a gift creates an obligation you cannot disclose, its true price may be your independence.
Integrity must also shape the systems through which leaders exercise power. Keep proper records, respect legitimate confidentiality, and never use secrecy to hide misconduct. Document sensitive decisions, observe appropriate safeguards in private meetings, and resist pressure to approve transactions before examining the facts. Every leader needs a trusted adviser who can challenge a decision without fearing retaliation. Former Jamaica Stock Exchange Managing Director Dr. Marlene Street Forrest captures the practical meaning of good governance: “There’s only good in good governance when you do things right. Doc, a so de ting set.” Her words bring governance down to earth: principles matter when they guide actual decisions. Transparency limits favoritism; independent oversight exposes conflicts; and accountability protects institutions from personal abuse. If nobody can question your decisions, nobody can reliably protect the institution you lead.
A leader’s legacy rests on more than accomplishments, awards, or years in office. It rests on the trust that remains when the title is gone. Allegations require evidence, and fairness and due process must always prevail. Yet leaders can reduce the risks of scandal by choosing discipline over impulse, disclosure over concealment, and public service over private advantage. I return to the song I learned in my village: “Watch your hands, watch your hands, what they do.” Those hands can misuse public resources or put personal gain ahead of duty. They can also build schools, protect vulnerable people, and restore confidence in institutions. The difference lies in the values guiding every decision. Guard your character before you guard your reputation. Protect the public trust before you protect your position. And when your leadership ends, leave behind a record that your family can respect, your community can trust, and history can examine without shame. Lead without leaving a scandal behind.
Before Super Cat became the Don Dada, he made Jamaica laugh at the man picking up the bill.“Boops”,[#item_full_content]