Volunteers of the humanitarian non-profit organisation, World Central Kitchen (WCK), were recently honoured for their support in Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts, during a ‘Gratitude Concert’ featuring reggae recording artiste Peter Lloyd and the ‘Fi Real’ Band, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James. The crowd broke into cheers as WCK announced it had achieved the milestone of delivering...

For many Jamaicans, ‘Home’ has always held a special place in their hearts, and over the years, the term has become a global concept sought after by visitors and the diaspora who yearn to experience the vibrancy of Jamaican culture through its food, fashion, music, literature, aromatherapy and craft. This Christmas, Things Jamaican, a retail chain operated by the Jamaica...

One of the hallmarks of Christmas in Jamaica is the tradition of sprucing up homes and living spaces for the festive season. For residents of the Torrington Park Housing Scheme in the Corporate Area, Christmas has come early, as the complex has received a facelift through a $58-million rehabilitation project undertaken by the Government. Among the improvements were the reconstruction...

With the gains made in reducing violent crimes across the island, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is expressing confidence that murders will remain low in 2026. As at December 8, Jamaica recorded 463 fewer murders compared to the same period in 2024, a 42.5 per cent reduction. Projections indicate that the country will finish the year with fewer than 700...

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) is urging all stakeholders involved in the post-Hurricane Melissa rebuilding process to ensure that buildings are redesigned and constructed to guarantee accessibility for all citizens, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). Executive Director, Dr. Christine Hendricks, emphasises that persons rebuilding should do so using the universal design principles. “It is just simply building...

A team of 25 HEART/NSTA Trust trainees is helping to advance restoration efforts at Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth. The hotel was badly hit during the passage of Category Five Hurricane Melissa on October 28. The trainees were deployed on December 2 from three Southwest TVET Institute campuses – Black River and Derrick Rochester (Junction) in St. Elizabeth,...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has implemented a maternal outreach programme targeted at pregnant and new mothers, particularly in parishes impacted by Hurricane Melissa. State Minister, Hon. Krystal Lee, tells JIS News that expectant and new mothers are among the most vulnerable groups during and in the aftermath of a hurricane, and the programme aims to ensure that they...

For writer, producer and presenter at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Andrae Palmer, being shortlisted as one of 14 finalists for the 2025 Civil Servant of the Year awards was one of the proudest and most significant moments of his professional life. Mr. Palmer, who has been in the Radio Department for 16 years, was nominated in the Mid-Managerial category...

In the 2024, when the mathematics pass rate at Edwin Allen High School plummeted to 25.4 per cent, the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information decided to intervene. The decision was made to place the Clarendon-based institution under the National School Learning Intervention Plan (NSLIP), with targeted approaches to improve results. Fast forward to 2025 and the institution is...