Lead Stories

The Wheeler’s Mount Basic School in St Catherine, which was damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
December 31, 2025 by Ruddy Mathison

Crawford threatens court action over early childhood education

Opposition spokesman on education, Damion Crawford, says he is prepared to take the Government to court to defend what he describes as the constitutional right to early childhood education, citing…
JTA President Mark Malabver.
December 31, 2025 by Christopher Thomas

Malabver wants mandatory programme for learning-challenged students

WESTERN BUREAU: Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Mark Malabver is calling for the mandatory installation of a diversion programme in schools to assess children who may have learning…
TUI UK passengers on arrival into the arrivals hall just outside customs at the Sangster International Airport earlier this month. They were among the first UK passengers to arrive on a charter flight from the UK since the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
December 31, 2025 by Janet Silvera

Bartlett hails strong tourism rebound

WESTERN BUREAU: As 2025 draws to a close, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica’s tourism sector is staging a strong and confidence-boosting recovery just weeks after the island was battered…
Linvern Wright, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools.
December 30, 2025 by Christopher Thomas

FUNDING FLAW

WESTERN BUREAU: With the 2026 Easter term set to begin next week, school administrators are again calling on the Ministry of Education to review its funding model, arguing that the current per-student…
Clothing vendor Maureen Daley said she adjusted her pricing strategy to suit consumers’ limited spending power.
December 30, 2025 by Sashana Small

Mixed bag for Kingston vendors as Melissa squeezes Christmas shoppers

While several business owners across the Corporate Area have expressed dissatisfaction with their Christmas sales, one downtown Kingston entrepreneur is revelling in the increased profits from the…
The overflowing community garbage skip in Blackstonedge, St Ann.
December 30, 2025 by Tanesha Mundle

Garbage pile-up sparks outbreak fears in Blackstonedge

Fears of a disease outbreak are mounting in Blackstonedge, St Ann, where residents say they are being forced to live alongside uncollected garbage and are now pleading for urgent intervention from the…
News
December 30, 2025 by Andre Williams

Jamaica nears year-end with lowest murder toll since 1994

Jamaica is closing out the year with a dramatic fall in murders, recording a 42 per cent fall in murders at the end of 52 weeks with 666 killings, the lowest number recorded since 1994. That year some…
Dr Bevan Earle, more popularly known as ‘The Dukeof Earle’, presenting school bags to children during his 39th annual Christmas Day treat at the Barrett Town Police Station in St James.
December 30, 2025 by Albert Ferguson

Duke of Earle delivers hope, again

WESTERN BUREAU: For nearly four decades, Christmas Day in Barnett Town has meant more than celebration. It meant preparation, hope, and a fresh start for hundreds of children in the St James-based…
Energy Minister Daryl Vaz.
December 30, 2025

Govt to repair, rewire 800 storm-ravaged homes, says Vaz

WESTERN BUREAU: Energy Minister Daryl Vaz says the Government has diverted $372 million from its National Energy Poverty Reduction Programme to support households severely affected by Hurricane…