The love for farming and irrigation access have been cited by farmers on the Parnassus Agro-Park in Clarendon as reasons they returned to their fields after the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. The Parnassus Agro-Park falls under the Southern Plains Agricultural Development (SPAD) Project, which utilises former sugar lands for agricultural production in Clarendon and St. Catherine....

Sales are picking up for vendors at the popular Border food stop, following Government’s intervention to reconstruct the stalls that were flattened during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The popular roadside eatery, located on the St. Elizabeth-Westmoreland boundary, is well known for local favourites such as fish, bammy and festival. The rebuilding of the cluster of 44 shops was made...

Blondie Edwards’ journey has been shaped by personal loss and serious health challenges that resulted in the amputation of her left leg in 2022. Prior to her illness, the Lionel Town, Clarendon resident lived an extremely active life and often rode motorcycles, drove, worked and managed daily tasks independently. Ms. Edwards tells JIS News that illness and stress changed her...

Young people in St. Thomas are being empowered to embrace their civic responsibilities through a project launched by Miss St. Thomas Festival Queen 2025, Fiona DaCosta. The project, launched on International Human Rights Day (December 10) at the Anglican Church Hall in Morant Bay, is titled ‘Know Yuh Rights: Embrace Yuh Civic Responsibilities’. Addressing the event, Ms. DaCosta said the...

The ‘Shop with a Cop’ Initiative once again brought smiles, hope, and meaningful connections to dozens of children and families, as officers from the St. Catherine South Police Division partnered with community stakeholders to host the 2025 edition of the event. Founded by Territorial Officer for the St. Catherine South Police Division, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Paulette Baker, Shop...

Long before her home collapsed in the heavy winds of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, Trelawny teacher and businesswoman, Joan Montaque, held fast to a simple belief: even in the darkest storms, hope has a way of showing up. It was that hope, she recalls, that carried her out of danger, just moments before the ground beneath her building in...

The iconic Holland Bamboo, in St. Elizabeth, once a lush covering of bamboo trees which intersect over the road, now shows signs of devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Kemar Kennedy, a peanut and jelly coconut vendor, who has worked at his stall in Holland Bamboo for three years, says recovery of the area is important and very personal. Mr. Kennedy...

For education officials in Region 4, ‘Bouncing Back Better’ has become more than a slogan, it is the guiding framework for how schools, parents and communities are responding to learning loss, following the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Regional Director for Region 4 (Westmoreland, St. James and Hanover), Dr. Michele Pinnock, told JIS News that the Region’s...