News

A section of the field hospital established at Black River High School by Samaritan’s Purse. 
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

‘We always come with Jesus first’

IN LESS than 48 hours after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, Samaritan’s Purse airlifted the first members of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and tons of…
The St Andrews Anglican Church in Albert Town, Trelawny. Normally a place of refuge, churches across Jamaica were also victims of Hurricane Melissa, which passed through Jamaica on October 25, 2025, leaving estimated damage of US$8.8 billion and counting.
December 9, 2025

Sean Major-Campbell | Churches should consolidate not rebuild post-Melissa

A CATASTROPHIC disaster has presented the Church with a wonderful opportunity to choose between operating from a place of understandably anxious, emotional responses and that place of inspired…
Residents of Giddy Hall, St Elizabeth receive care packages from Give Back Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025

Yaakov Raskin | Jamaica will rise

WE WILL all never forget where we stood when Hurricane Melissa hit us on Tuesday, October 28. This storm will be remembered for generations,, not only for the damage it caused, but for how it changed…
Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Commander Alvin Gayle. - File photo.
December 9, 2025 by Kimone Francis

NONE SPENT

The Government has confirmed that US$1.68 million and J$635 million have been donated to Hurricane Melissa relief accounts controlled by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management…
The vehicle which Bijorn Ellis drove, showing bullet holes.
December 9, 2025 by Mickalia Kington

W’land man killed at police checkpoint

A birthday viist to a friend ended in terror for 30-year-old Bijorn ‘Cody’ Ellis of Bath district, Burnt Savannah, who was fatally shot by police along the Llandilo main road late Sunday. A close…
Finance Minister Fayval Williams.
December 9, 2025 by Edmond Campbell

Finance minister to speak on economy Tuesday

Finance Minister Fayval Williams will next Tuesday table the third Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure and update the nation on the various sources of financing to help Jamaica recover from the…
Two little girls play at the edge of floodwaters along Coast Road in Alligator Pond, Manchester, a day after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Corey Robinson

Schools, NGOs partner to help children cope amid growing post-storm stress

With hundreds of mental health cases already reported before Hurricane Melissa struck, professionals now fear a surge as communication lines reopen and more Jamaicans seek help. Already, several…
Denise ‘Macka’ Sinclair of Bottom Halse Hall in Clarendon said Hurricane Melissa caused water to rise at her house to window level. She had to run out due to fear.
December 9, 2025 by Livern Barrett

Officials: True mental health impact of Melissa expected to surface within weeks

Jamaica is likely to see an increase in “adverse mental health outcomes” in the aftermath of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, a consultant psychiatrist has warned. Post-traumatic…
Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie. - File photo.
December 9, 2025

Gov’t eyes prefabricated housing to relocate hurricane evacuees, homeless

The Ministry of Local Government is looking to prefabricated housing solutions as an alternative arrangement to relocate hurricane evacuees, particularly those in schools, as well as members of the…