The RSE announced the partnership through a press release issued on January 26.

The MoU outlines several areas of cooperation, including knowledge exchange, staff training, market development programmes, and the exploration of opportunities for cross-listings and new financial products. 

According to the RSE, this partnership is expected to enhance both markets and establish new connections between Africa and the Caribbean.

The RSE was incorporated on October 7, 2005. It was demutualised from the start as a company limited by shares and officially launched on 31st January 2011.

RSE Chief Executive Officer Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba commented on the significance of the agreement, stating, “This partnership is about more than documents and meetings; it is about sharing experience, growing together, and opening new doors for businesses, investors, and market professionals in both regions.”

JSE Chief Executive Officer Livingston Morrison also said, “We are excited to begin this relationship with the Rwanda Stock Exchange. By learning from each other and sharing best practices, we believe we can create meaningful opportunities for our markets, our listed companies, and our wider financial communities.”

The JSE, founded in 1968, is one of the largest stock exchanges in the Caribbean, with over 70 companies listed in its main market securities. 

Before departing, the contingent was briefed by Brigadier General Faustin Tinka, Commander of the RDF Mechanised Division, who spoke on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff. He urged the engineers to apply their technical skills and professionalism to ensure the mission has a visible and positive impact on communities affected by the storm.

Brigadier General Tinka also reminded the team to uphold the core values of the RDF, particularly discipline, which he said was key to earning the trust placed in them by the force’s leadership. He called on both officers and enlisted personnel to maintain these standards throughout the deployment.

Hurricane Melissa hit the Caribbean in late October 2025, causing widespread destruction. Jamaica was among the hardest-hit countries, with severe damage to roads, public facilities and other essential infrastructure. The scale of the devastation prompted a large, multi-agency humanitarian response .

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Abka Fitz-Henley, said the decline reflects years of deliberate policy-making and closer cooperation between the government and security forces. While stressing that any loss of life remains unacceptable, he said the progress should be recognised in context.

“This did not happen by chance,” Fitz-Henley said. “It is the result of sustained planning, effective leadership and strong partnerships with our security forces,” the Jamaica Observer quotes.

He pointed to the Plan Secure Jamaica initiative, introduced by the government in the 2017 - 2018 budget, as a turning point. The strategy focuses on boosting intelligence capabilities, investing heavily in border security to stem the flow of illegal guns, and using technology to support law enforcement operations.

Targeted action against criminal gangs has also played a key role, alongside new legislation such as Zones of Special Operations, stronger anti-gang laws and the use of DNA evidence. The government has also increased support for police officers, including improving working conditions and expanding their presence on the ground.

So far this year, murders have fallen by about 43%, according to the government. However, Fitz-Henley said authorities are not celebrating prematurely.

“There is no victory lap,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Andrew Holness and National Security Minister Horace Chang remain focused on sustaining the gains and strengthening public safety.

The government says further measures are being developed as it seeks to lock in the progress and make Jamaica a safer place in the long term.

Cuban Ambassador to Venezuela Jorge Luis Mayo Fernández expressed gratitude to Caracas for the assistance and highlighted the solidarity between both nations despite external pressure. "While the empire continues to threaten the peoples of our America , the peoples of the Caribbean, and our sister Venezuela with weapons, the Caribbean is crossed by ships of solidarity, by ships of love, by planes of love and planes of solidarity” he said. The remarks were aired by Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).

He added that this gesture of solidarity reflects “the kind of relationship that should unite all the nations of the world .”

According to regional authorities, while Cuba reported no fatalities, the death toll from the hurricane has risen to more than 40 in Jamaica and Haiti.

The Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has issued a strong rebuke against Opposition Leader Mark Golding over his handling of constitutional reform matters. The group accused Golding of demonstrating poor leadership and a lack of maturity in engaging with the bipartisan process meant to guide Jamaica’s transition to a republic. G2K’s statement described his stance as obstructive and politically motivated, arguing that his approach undermines the cooperative spirit necessary for such a critical national transition. The organisation emphasised that constitutional reform should be treated as a matter of national interest rather than partisan politics. It urged the Opposition to return to the table with a genuine intent to collaborate on reshaping Jamaica’s governance framework for future generations.

PNP’s Gordon calls for urgent action to address Sandy Gully

Dennis Gordon, a representative of the People’s National Party (PNP), has called for swift government intervention to address the worsening conditions in the Sandy Gully area. He raised concerns about the dilapidated drainage systems that have led to flooding, infrastructure collapse, and health hazards for residents. Gordon warned that continued neglect could result in further environmental degradation and displacement of vulnerable communities. He stressed the need for a dedicated rehabilitation plan to restore the gully and prevent future disasters. His plea was framed not only as an environmental issue but also as a matter of social justice, urging the government to allocate the necessary resources to protect lives and livelihoods in the area.

Jamaica becoming a republic remains a pipe dream

In a widely circulated Letter of the Day, a commentator argued that Jamaica’s dream of becoming a republic remains distant, despite ongoing political discourse. The letter criticised both major political parties for lacking the political will and cohesive vision required to execute the transition from a constitutional monarchy to a republic. It suggested that while there is widespread public support for the idea, political leaders have failed to translate rhetoric into action. The author lamented the slow pace of reform, attributing it to entrenched political divisions, bureaucratic inertia, and public apathy. The letter concluded that unless Jamaica’s leadership can rise above partisan considerations and commit to decisive action, the dream of full sovereignty and a republican system will remain unrealised for years to come.

'Arrogant and immature’, G2K criticises Golding

In a follow-up to its earlier remarks, G2K intensified its criticism of Mark Golding, calling his behaviour in the constitutional reform discussions “arrogant and immature.” The group contended that Golding’s refusal to engage with the Constitutional Reform Committee fully reflects a disregard for the collective will of the Jamaican people. G2K further accused him of prioritising political optics over meaningful dialogue, suggesting that his attitude threatens to stall progress on critical constitutional amendments, including Jamaica’s move toward full republican status. The statement called for all political leaders to demonstrate maturity and patriotism, reminding them that constitutional reform is about the people’s empowerment and the modernisation of Jamaica’s democratic institutions, not personal political gain.