News

Devon Osbourne battens down a section of his house in Compound, Alligator Pond, Manchester, as he prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Sashana Small

Déjà vu

Haunted by the devastation left by Hurricane Beryl last year – which flattened homes and ripped off roofs – residents of Compound Alligator Pond in Manchester have spent the last few days securing…
File photo
December 9, 2025

‘We’ve never experienced this before’

Jamaicans are being urged to brace for the worst as Hurricane Melissa intensifies south of the island and is forecast to make landfall as a Category 4 system early this week. At a media briefing on…
From left: Sean Hamilton, Devon Dubidat, Sally Ann Richards, residents of McGlashen, St Andrew, share their concerns about the roads in the community and potential worsening of the access challenges after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Sashana Small

Neglect and fear collide in McGlashen as residents brace for Melissa

It’s been nearly a year since torrential rains caused a massive road collapse along the main thoroughfare in McGlashen, St Andrew – yet no repairs has been made. Now, with Hurricane Melissa…
One of the entrances to Munro College in Malvern, St Elizabeth.
December 9, 2025 by Albert Ferguson

Scarred by Beryl, strengthened by its lessons

WESTERN BUREAU: As Jamaica braces for Hurricane Melissa, Munro College – one of the nation’s oldest boarding institutions – says it is far better prepared this time, drawing on hard-earned lessons…
In this file photo goat farmer Patricia Gordon is seen with her goats in the Blue Mountains.
December 9, 2025

Why safeguarding farming should be a priority

The notion that agriculture and farming are menial skills is a dangerous misconception that undermines the very foundation of societal well-being. Far from being a lowly pursuit, farming is a…
 The cone from the United States' National Hurricane Center contains the probable path of the centre of Tropical Storm Melissa at 7 a.m. on October 25, 2025. It  does not show the size of the storm. Hazardous conditions can occur outside of the cone.
December 9, 2025

Storm Melissa to 'rapidly intensify' today, Jamaica to start feeling effects in hours - Met Office

Rapid intensification of Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to begin today, with the system forecast to become a hurricane within hours and strengthen into a major hurricane by Sunday, according to…
Opposition People's National Party Spokesman on Energy Phillip Paulwell.
December 9, 2025

PNP presses JPS to publish storm billing data

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is demanding that the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) publish key billing data to ensure transparency for customers affected by Tropical Storm…
Transport Minister Daryl Vaz
December 9, 2025

Airports stay open today, Sunday operations uncertain amid approaching storm Melissa - Vaz

Both of Jamaica’s international airports will remain open today to accommodate scheduled flights, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has announced. “After a 7 a.m. meeting this morning with both airport…
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. - File photo.
December 9, 2025

'Rules not suspended in a disaster' - Holness warns ministers and heads of gov't bodies

There is no suspension of accountability rules in a disaster, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has warned. The warning to technocrats in the various Government ministries, departments and agencies…