分类： society

In a powerful demonstration of inter-community solidarity, Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School from St Catherine has delivered substantial relief assistance to two educational institutions in St Elizabeth severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa’s late October devastation. The catastrophic weather event that struck on October 28th prompted immediate action from the compassionate school community.

Principal Calvin Harris revealed to JIS News that the relief initiative extended significantly beyond conventional care packages. The comprehensive donation drive included essential educational materials, school bags, clothing apparel, and footwear. “We prepared 147 individual gifts for Pedro Plains Primary School and an additional 87 for Barbary Hall Primary School,” Harris detailed. “The contribution included two full barrels of shoes alongside separate containers filled with clothing and footwear.”

The humanitarian effort incorporated vital necessities including hygiene products, staple food items, rice, sugar, canned goods, and drinking water. These supplies were distributed to affected students, educators, and local residents in the hurricane-damaged regions.

The relief operation was entirely funded through collective contributions from Marlie Mount’s teachers, parents, and students. Harris recounted touching feedback from recipient families: “One parent remarked that Christmas had arrived early for her child, while another expressed gratitude for not needing to purchase gifts this year due to the generous donations.”

Administrators from the receiving institutions expressed profound appreciation for the cross-parish support. Mariann Chambers-Smith, Principal of Barbary Hall Primary, emphasized the significance of being selected for assistance: “We extend special gratitude to Principal Harris for reaching out to us when he could have chosen any other institutions. This demonstrates remarkable selflessness and proves that geographical distance cannot hinder compassion during times of disaster.”

Wilton Smith, Principal of Pedro Plains Primary, described the emotional impact on his community: “The atmosphere during distribution was overwhelmingly positive and deeply moving. Our parents and community members endured extreme hardship after Hurricane Melissa, and we remain profoundly grateful for this extraordinary gesture from Principal Harris and his dedicated team.”

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A grim discovery unfolded early Monday morning in the Brokenhurst area of Manchester, where local authorities recovered the body of an unidentified male exhibiting injuries consistent with fatal gunshot wounds. The victim was located on a secluded haul road, prompting an immediate investigative response from the Manchester police force.

Superintendent Carey Duncan, head of the Manchester Police Division, addressed media personnel at the crime scene, revealing that preliminary reports from residents indicated multiple loud explosions were heard around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday evening. Despite the auditory evidence of potential violence, law enforcement officials were not notified until the following morning when a civilian passerby chanced upon the deceased individual.

Investigative units remained actively engaged at the location throughout Monday morning, meticulously examining the vicinity for forensic evidence, potential ballistic materials, and any additional clues that might illuminate the circumstances surrounding the death. The identity of the victim, along with the precise motive and perpetrators behind the apparent homicide, remains undetermined as detectives continue their inquiry into this violent incident.

NEW YORK, USA — Jamaican diaspora organizations and community leaders throughout the United States are mobilizing intensively to capitalize on the extended December 31, 2025 deadline for customs duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT) exemptions on humanitarian shipments to hurricane-ravaged Jamaica. This critical tax relief initiative, initially scheduled to conclude on November 28, was prolonged by the Jamaican government in recognition of the sustained recovery requirements following Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact.

The Category 5 storm inflicted severe devastation upon Jamaica’s southwestern regions, resulting in approximately 45 fatalities and causing widespread destruction to residential infrastructure, public buildings, and agricultural sectors. Eligible items for tax exemption encompass essential commodities including food supplies, potable water, medical resources, construction materials, and vital equipment such as power generators and solar energy units.

Recent operational challenges have emerged at Jamaican ports in Kingston and Montego Bay, where the overwhelming volume of incoming relief shipments has created logistical bottlenecks. This congestion has heightened urgency among diaspora groups working within the constrained timeframe for customs processing.

Notable initiatives include the North Bronx Seventh-day Adventist Church, which is coordinating a comprehensive relief operation valued at approximately US$40,000. The congregation has assembled a 40-foot container shipment containing construction materials, power tools, lumber, medical supplies, tarpaulins, generators, non-perishable food, and mattresses. Church Elder Keith Williams confirmed collaborative partnerships with the Greater New York SDA Conference, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, and volunteer teams preparing for on-ground restoration activities in Jamaica.

Simultaneously, the New Jerusalem Apostolic Church in Queens, New York—serving a predominantly Jamaican congregation—has secured container space for humanitarian supplies under Pastor Alton Blackwood’s leadership. In Florida, businessman David Bhoorasingh of Diddy’s Caribbean Mart is coordinating with World Outreach Evangelical Ministries to gather clothing and food supplies for end-of-month shipment, with planned coordination through Food For the Poor organization.

California-based entities under the coordination of Dr. Shauna Chin, Jamaica’s honorary consul in Los Angeles, have collectively contributed over US$150,000 in resources. The coalition comprising Jamaica Awareness Association of California, Caribbean Cricket Club of California, Global Humanity Inc, and Carib Press has already facilitated the refurbishment of 20 residences and prepared 500 food packages for distribution. Dr. Roy Davidson of the Caribbean Cricket Club reported additional commitments of computer equipment for educational institutions in Westmoreland, noting encouraging environmental recovery indicators despite the monumental reconstruction challenges.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A ray of hope emerges for Chester Castle Basic and Primary School as recovery efforts gain momentum through crucial international assistance. The educational institution, which suffered catastrophic damage when Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, has received vital support from the German Embassy to address its most pressing needs.

The tropical cyclone’s ferocious winds completely tore off the school’s roof, resulting in extensive water intrusion across all floors. Classrooms were inundated, destroying valuable educational resources including textbooks and teaching materials. The aftermath required comprehensive sanitization with bleach to combat mold and mildew growth, transforming the once vibrant learning environment into a scene of devastation.

Professor Opal Palmer Adisa, who has adopted the school, facilitated the critical intervention by submitting a formal request for assistance. The German Embassy responded by providing essential funding for roof reconstruction and perimeter fence repairs. Notably, the project included rebuilding safety railings that protect students from the adjacent river, which had been completely destroyed during the storm.

German Ambassador Jan Hendrik van Thiel recently conducted a site visit, spending several hours observing students demonstrating remarkable resilience through performances of Caribbean Christmas songs and religious scriptures. The children’s voices radiated joy and determination despite the personal tragedies many have endured.

Professor Palmer Adisa highlighted the ongoing challenges, revealing that approximately 75% of students lost their homes during the disaster. Many remain in temporary shelters or have been relocated to distant areas including Kingston. The school itself continues to operate without electricity and has lost virtually all its resources. One teacher disclosed that even the clothes and shoes she wore were donated items, having lost her own home to the hurricane.

Ambassador van Thiel commended the students for their exemplary behavior and performances, praising their demonstrated strength and resilience. He also congratulated Principal Patricia Palmer and her staff for their extraordinary efforts in restoring basic operations despite overwhelming obstacles.

Professor Palmer Adisa contextualized the situation within broader regional challenges: “Chester Castle represents an impoverished rural community, similar to many others that have faced decades of neglect. This pattern extends across multiple parishes and schools. Recent visits to five other institutions in St. Ann and Westmoreland revealed overwhelming needs that require more than sympathy—they demand committed adoption and sustained support.”

While expressing profound gratitude for the German Embassy’s intervention, Palmer Adisa emphasized that roof repairs represent merely the initial phase of recovery. The school urgently requires furniture, computer laboratory equipment, digital devices, and diverse reading materials to fully restore educational capabilities. She issued a compelling appeal to affluent Jamaicans to consider adopting rural schools like Chester Castle, stating: “Our children demonstrate remarkable resilience, talent, and hope. They now require collective action to ensure they can stand tall and thrive academically.”

MINNA, Nigeria — In a significant development for Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis, approximately 130 Catholic school pupils were formally transferred to state custody on Monday following their liberation from captors. The children’s release concludes a harrowing month-long ordeal that began with one of Nigeria’s most severe mass abduction incidents in recent history.

The handover ceremony at Niger State Government House witnessed six vehicles transporting the children under heavy security escort, including armored personnel carriers. The group comprised the final batch of victims taken during the late November raid on St. Mary’s co-educational boarding school in north-central Nigeria, accompanied by seven teachers and support staff.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed profound relief during the reception, stating, ‘We give thanks for divine mercy, as contemplating the torment these young souls endured is truly unbearable.’ According to attending educators, the rescued children ranged from four to ten years old.

This incident echoes the notorious 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping by Boko Haram, highlighting persistent security challenges in Africa’s most populous nation. Nigeria continues grappling with interconnected security threats, including northeastern jihadist insurgencies and northwestern armed banditry.

While officials haven’t disclosed either the perpetrators’ identities or the negotiation particulars leading to the release, security analysts speculate based on historical precedents that prohibited ransom payments may have facilitated the resolution. The November abduction wave drew international attention to Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape, where kidnappings have become a lucrative enterprise for armed factions operating within the conflict-ridden nation.

WPM Waste Management Ltd is confronting significant operational hurdles in the wake of a recent hurricane as it strives to reinstate regular garbage collection services throughout Westmoreland, Jamaica. Dramaine Jones, Regional Operations Manager, provided a detailed assessment during the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation’s monthly assembly in Savanna-la-Mar, highlighting the severe impact on both personnel and infrastructure.

The company’s workforce suffered substantial disruption, with approximately 73 local employees experiencing considerable personal impacts from the storm. Jones emphasized that the challenges extended beyond visible damage, noting the psychological and logistical complexities of resuming operations. ‘We encountered difficulties restarting as it required several days to mobilize our team members. Locating personnel and ensuring they were mentally prepared to return to work presented significant obstacles,’ Jones explained.

Despite these setbacks, WPM has achieved partial service restoration with six operational units currently active in the region. However, supplementary contractors remain unable to contribute due to persistent staffing shortages and mechanical failures. The company has successfully recommenced daily sweeping activities in major urban centers and public areas, while cleanup initiatives are progressively expanding to include Savanna-la-Mar town center, Whitehouse, and Waterworks Lane.

Jones conveyed optimism regarding augmented support, revealing that additional resources from other regions are being deployed to address the accumulated waste backlog. This reinforcement is expected to accelerate recovery efforts and facilitate a return to normal service levels across the affected communities.

In a significant departure from conventional seasonal marketing campaigns, JN Money has unveiled its transformative ‘Holiday Hope’ initiative. This comprehensive program is specifically designed to deliver substantial support to Jamaican families and communities still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s destructive path.

The initiative represents a strategic pivot from commercial promotions to genuine humanitarian aid, focusing on three core objectives: direct family support, community recovery assistance, and maintaining crucial familial connections across international borders. At its heart, the program demonstrates how financial transfers can serve as powerful instruments of relief and hope restoration during periods of acute need.

Horace Hines, General Manager of JN Money Services, emphasized the heightened significance of remittances during this recovery phase. ‘As Jamaica undertakes its rebuilding mission following Hurricane Melissa, transfers made throughout this holiday period carry profound meaning,’ Hines stated. ‘These funds directly enable families to purchase essential food supplies, settle critical utility bills, acquire necessary medications, and secure holiday groceries. For numerous households, these transfers represent not just financial support but tangible expressions of love and solidarity from relatives overseas.’

The Holiday Hope initiative expands upon JN Money’s ongoing disaster relief efforts, aligning with the institution’s fundamental mission of community support and national development contribution. With impacts designed to extend far beyond the festive season, the program empowers customers to actively participate in reconstruction efforts and community strengthening.

Hines further highlighted the company’s unique position as the sole Caribbean-based remittance provider, noting that ‘maintaining connections is absolutely vital for supporting long-term recovery and facilitating Jamaica’s ‘build back better’ objectives. Our organization was fundamentally established to connect families within the homeland and across the diaspora through compassionate solutions that address both emotional and practical needs.’

Practical implementations of the initiative include direct assistance to Belmont Academy in Westmoreland’s Bluefields region—an educational institution severely affected by Melissa—where JN Money will distribute Christmas meals, care packages, and essential supplies to students and educators. Additionally, the company will surprise shoppers at selected agent locations in heavily impacted parishes by covering expenses for groceries, food items, and hardware supplies.

The comprehensive program also features customer benefits including complimentary transactions for loyal clients sending transfers during the holiday period, bonus payments for certain recipients, rate enhancements, and weekly online discount days across all operational markets.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a heartening development for Jamaica’s healthcare education sector, Sheena Thorpe, a final-year nursing student at the University of Technology’s Caribbean School of Nursing (CSON) Western Campus, has been honored with a US$1,000 scholarship from the Jamaica Nurses Association of Florida (JNAF). The award ceremony took place on December 15, recognizing Thorpe’s academic dedication and financial need.

The prestigious scholarship, traditionally granted to registered nursing students maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 while demonstrating economic hardship, arrives at a pivotal moment for Thorpe. Her studies have coincided with significant challenges, including the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa and persistent resource constraints that have tested the resilience of nursing students across the Western Campus.

Professor Adella Campbell, Dean of the College of Health Sciences, praised Thorpe’s achievement, underscoring the extraordinary perseverance exhibited by nursing students. She reflected on the cohort’s ability to excel in national examinations despite facing natural disasters and limited institutional resources, calling it a testament to their commitment.

University President Dr. Kevin Brown commended the JNAF for its sustained investment in Jamaica’s developmental future through education. He highlighted the crucial role such financial support plays for students from low-income backgrounds, noting, ‘Where we can get scholarships to offset those costs, it is truly appreciated.’

An elated Thorpe expressed profound gratitude for the timely assistance. ‘I’m super happy and I’m very grateful,’ she stated, revealing the award would alleviate burdens exacerbated by hurricane-related expenses in her decisive final year. Her motivation for entering the profession stems from a deep-seated passion: ‘I love to care for people, especially when they’re sick. I have a passion for it.’