Lay Magistrates are encouraged to remain firm as custodians of fairness and guardians of community justice, as their progress is measured by the lived experiences of the people they serve. Making the call, newly installed President of the Lay Magistrates’ Association of Jamaica (LMAJ), Paulette Kirkland, said the roles of Justices of the Peace (JPs) and Lay Magistrates are critical,...

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs is seeking support on behalf of participants in the 2024/25 Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) Builder, who were impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Acting Manager of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Business and Entrepreneurship Development Unit, Odean Bernard, disclosed that an assessment of participants’ losses has been completed. The findings were drawn from a survey in which...

Darliston in Westmoreland received a significant lifeline on Sunday (January 25), with the official commissioning of a 500-kilowatt emergency mobile power-generation unit, nearly three months after Hurricane Melissa tore through western Jamaica. The temporary solution was set up at the Darliston Primary School by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and the Government. The unit will restore some semblance of...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says workers at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland continue to provide yeoman service despite grappling with overcrowding, storm-related damage and staffing shortage. During a tour of hospitals in the Western Region on January 23, which began in Mandeville, Manchester, and included Black River, St. Elizabeth, Dr. Tufton acknowledged the difficult...

A major allocation of $270 million is in place to fully repair the hurricane-battered St. Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz, over the next five months as the Government moves to restore comfort and safety for the facility’s 46 vulnerable residents. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, told journalists that approximately $250 million has been allocated for...

The Government is advancing plans to establish a 300‑acre aquaculture agro‑park at Amity Hall, St. Catherine, alongside the development of a Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Mitchell Town, Clarendon. These developments form part of the strategic measures being pursued to address challenges constraining the local tilapia industry and strengthen Jamaica’s aquaculture sector. State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries...

The Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is expanding psychosocial support services across Westmoreland, to assist residents affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Health Promotion and Education Officer for Westmoreland, Gerald Miller, said the initiative forms part of a wider response being implemented in parishes impacted by the hurricane, with a focus on providing emotional and mental health support to...