News

Ethlyn Clarke (centre), of Mt Salem, St James, together with family members and well-wishers on Thursday, following the celebration of her milestone 100th birthday on Tuesday. Also pictured (from left) are Paulette Ricketts, caregiver for Ms Clarke; Tyler
January 24, 2026 by Christopher Thomas

Centenarian Ethlyn Clarke stood tall through sickness and Hurricane Melissa

WESTERN BUREAU: In August last year, Ethlyn Clarke suffered a major health scare. Two months later, she survived the brutal assault of Hurricane Melissa, so, when she celebrated her 100th birthday on…
A view of the front section of the Hemmingay Preparatory and Kindergarten School in Paradise, Norwood, St James.
January 24, 2026

Hemmingay’s 50th anniversary celebrations in limbo

WESTERN BUREAU: The Hemmingay Preparatory and Kindergarten School in Norwood, St James, which was in the middle of planning this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations when Hurricane Melissa impacted…
Drumming formed part of the formal proceedings at the celebration of life for Kenya‑born artist Mazola wa Mwashighadi.
January 24, 2026 by Paul H. Williams

A colourful and moving farewell for artist Mazola

On the afternoon of Saturday January 17, Lecture Theatre 49 at the University of Technology Jamaica (UTech) was filled for nearly two hours with colourfully dressed members of the creative industry,…
Oliver Mair
January 24, 2026

What’s brewing?

A number of stirring features are to be showcased at this year’s 3rd annual Jamaica Brew Literary and Film Festival being presented by the Consulate of Jamaica, Miami, at the Broward South West…
Reverend Clive Foster MBE, UK Windrush Commissioner.
January 24, 2026 by George Ruddock

Greater, faster compensation for Windrush victims

LONDON: The Windrush Compensation Scheme got a well-needed boost last week when the UK Home Office announced that thousands of people affected by the 2017 Windrush scandal will see greater…
The house at 439 New Cross Road, south London in which 13 black people died in a fire on January 18, 1981.
January 24, 2026

New Cross house fire remembered 45 years on

LONDON: This week marked the 45th anniversary of the infamous New Cross fire in Lewisham, south London when 13 young black people, between the ages of 14 and 22 years old, perished in a blaze at a…
Director of Governance at the Social Development Commission, Sherine Walker.
January 24, 2026 by Ruddy Mathison

SDC moves to reset community governance framework

The Social Development Commission (SDC) is seeking to reset collaboration between state and non-state actors through a renewed focus on governance and community participation, according to its…
Paulette Simpson (left), executive, corporate affairs and public policy for the JN Group in the UK examines items shipped to Food for the Poor along with Chief Operating Officer of Food for the Poor, Mark Khouri (right) and Chairman of the JN Foundation, P
January 24, 2026

JN, UK diaspora boost Food For The Poor’s hurricane relief efforts

As recovery efforts continue following Hurricane Melissa, The Jamaica National Group, through its philanthropic arm, the JN Foundation, recently handed more than seven 40-foot containers of hurricane…
Wayne Hewett
January 24, 2026 by Derrick Scott

Jimmy Cliff to receive posthumous honour at Waga Hunt scholarship gala

The late reggae icon Jimmy Chambers Cliff will receive a posthumous honour when the David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Scholarship Foundation hosts its 12th annual red-carpet gala in Washington, DC, on February 21.…