KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has confirmed the recovery of a man’s body from the Step River in St James, following a suspected drowning incident on Sunday, November 16. According to reports, the victim was attempting to cross the river when he was overwhelmed by strong currents and swept away. The JDF Coast Guard was promptly called in to assist with search and recovery operations. A specialized dive team from the Second District JDF Coast Guard was dispatched to the scene, where they conducted an underwater search and successfully retrieved the body. The remains were subsequently handed over to local authorities for further investigation. In a statement, the JDF Coast Guard expressed its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. They also issued a public reminder to exercise extreme caution around rivers, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall when water levels and currents can become dangerously unpredictable.
分类： society
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JPS Foundation brings light and hope to communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact on western Jamaica, the JPS Foundation has emerged as a beacon of hope, delivering essential aid to devastated communities in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland. On November 6, 2025, the Foundation’s team, in collaboration with Food For The Poor Jamaica, visited the severely affected fishing villages of Scotts Cove and Bluefields. Their mission was to provide immediate relief through care packages containing food and personal care items, ice, and water, while also setting up charging stations to help residents reconnect with their families. Volunteers offered emotional support, listening to and encouraging those who had lost homes and livelihoods. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, struck on October 28, 2025, causing widespread destruction across Cornwall County and parts of Middlesex, displacing thousands and crippling infrastructure. Sophia Lewis, Head of the JPS Foundation, emphasized the organization’s commitment to restoring not just power but also hope. She highlighted the resilience of the affected communities and the Foundation’s long-term dedication to sustainable recovery efforts. This initiative is part of a broader national relief campaign, with Food For The Poor managing logistics and community outreach to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable areas.
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Dove’s workshop uplifts the youths
Hundreds of secondary school students from 14 institutions across Trinidad recently took part in a transformative week-long initiative under Dove’s Self-Esteem Project. The program, which ran from October 13 to 17, featured the brand’s signature Confident Me motivational workshops, aimed at fostering self-worth and resilience among young people. Organized in collaboration with Unilever Caribbean Limited, the workshops were designed to address the growing issue of low body confidence, which research shows can adversely affect friendships, health, and academic performance.
The sessions, grounded in scientific research from the Centre for Appearance Research, emphasized interactive activities, group discussions, and personal reflections. Students were encouraged to identify their strengths and embrace their individuality, moving beyond societal beauty standards. Wellness experts and mental health advocates Simone Da Costa and Chelsea Cree, alongside Unilever Caribbean staff, played pivotal roles in facilitating these meaningful conversations.
Alanna Ramjattan, Marketing Manager at Unilever Caribbean Ltd, addressed the students with a powerful message: “You are enough, just as you are. In a world dominated by filters and unrealistic ideals, it’s easy to forget your true worth. Your value lies in who you are, your talents, and the positive impact you make.” Ginelle Lambie, Managing Director at Unilever Caribbean Limited, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Dove’s mission is to remind young people that beauty is diverse and that authenticity is their greatest strength.
The initiative, which included schools such as North Eastern College, Holy Faith Convent, and Naparima Girls’ High School, is set to become a long-term program across Trinidad and Tobago. Dove remains committed to empowering the next generation, equipping them with the tools to navigate societal pressures and build lasting confidence.
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Fontana Pharmacy sets $10 million goal for Hurricane Melissa fundraising campaign
In response to the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, Fontana Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Fontana Foundation and Amber FundMe, has initiated a $10 million fundraising campaign. This effort aims to support relief and recovery operations for affected Jamaicans both locally and within the diaspora. Amber FundMe, the crowdfunding platform behind the government’s official donation site, supportjamaica.gov.jm, is facilitating the campaign, which was activated shortly after the hurricane struck. Fontana Pharmacy has pledged to match every dollar donated, up to $5 million, to achieve the total fundraising goal. The Fontana Foundation, a registered charity, has already distributed over 800 care packages containing essential items such as food, water, personal care products, and clothing to families in urgent need. The relief efforts have primarily targeted the severely impacted communities of St James and Westmoreland. Anne Chang, CEO of Fontana Pharmacy, emphasized the organization’s unique ability to deliver aid swiftly and effectively, given its presence in hard-hit areas like Montego Bay and Savanna-la-Mar. Chang also highlighted the importance of collective action, stating, ‘Together, we can help communities recover and rebuild stronger. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.’ Donations can be made through the Amber FundMe campaign page: amberfundme.com/campaign/the-fontana-foundation-hurricane-melissa-relief-fund.
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Freemasons mark best blood drive in three years
Jamaica’s Freemasons celebrated a remarkable milestone during their third annual National Blood Drive last Saturday, collecting over 65 pints of blood from more than 90 donors. The event, deemed the most successful in its history, also saw the fraternal organization contribute $140,000 to the National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank). This generous donation will fund the purchase of an air conditioning unit and standing fans to enhance the facility’s operations. Despite the overwhelming turnout, logistical challenges, including staff shortages, prevented over 15 latecomers from donating after 2:00 pm. Organizers explained that processing these additional donors would have extended the event beyond its scheduled 3:00 pm closure. Workers remained fully engaged from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm without breaks, ensuring the smooth execution of the drive. Those who qualified but were unable to donate were encouraged to return on November 17, 2025, to complete their contributions.
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VCB Foundation launches hurricane relief initiative, commits to educational recovery effort for girls
The Veronica Campbell Brown Foundation has launched an urgent initiative to aid communities ravaged by Hurricane Melissa, with a special emphasis on enabling Jamaican high school girls to resume their education amidst the nation’s recovery. The Foundation, in collaboration with Food For The Poor and other corporate partners, is actively raising funds to provide immediate relief and deliver essential supplies to affected families.
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SEWA TT to send over 1,000 food buckets to Jamaica
In a remarkable display of solidarity and compassion, approximately 150 volunteers from SEWA TT, a non-governmental organization, dedicated their Sunday to packing essential relief items for hurricane-stricken Jamaica. The event took place at the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas, where volunteers meticulously filled plastic buckets with food staples, hygiene products, and other necessities. These buckets, designed to be sealable, pest-proof, and reusable, are set to be shipped to Jamaica later this week, aiming to reach those in dire need by early December.
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St Ann-based medical ganja farmer wants CLA’s help to boost production
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, licensed medical marijuana farmer Errol Whyte is grappling with significant losses, estimating damages in the millions of dollars. His one-acre ganja farm in Claremont, St Ann, was severely impacted by the storm. Despite the setback, Whyte, who has operated Mellow Bud Ganja Farms for five years, remains hopeful. He sees an opportunity for licensed ganja farmers in the northern and eastern regions of Jamaica to ramp up production and compensate for the losses suffered by their counterparts in the storm-ravaged southwestern areas. Whyte emphasizes the urgent need for the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) and the government to provide relief and support to affected farmers. ‘This isn’t just about me or a few farmers; it’s about the entire industry,’ he stated. Whyte believes that with adequate support, northern and eastern farmers can meet the rising demand for medical marijuana. He calls for a more proactive approach from the CLA to ensure the industry’s sustainability, highlighting the role of farmers as entrepreneurs and job creators. ‘We are committed to this industry, and we need the CLA to be committed to us,’ he asserted.
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Black River High charting a path for safe return of students
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s destructive impact on Jamaica’s southwestern coast, Black River High School is spearheading efforts to restore normalcy for its 1,500 students. The Category 5 storm, which struck on October 28, caused extensive damage to the school’s infrastructure, including classrooms, the auditorium, and the computer-aided design (CAD) laboratory. Principal Christopher Romans emphasized the urgency of resuming classes, particularly for upper-school students preparing for exams, to minimize learning loss.
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Rig worker widow’s cry: ‘If not his body, at least bring back Pete’s clothes’
After nearly 11 months of uncertainty, Candacy Phillip and her family are finally seeing a glimmer of closure as efforts to retrieve the remains of her husband, Pete Phillip, have commenced. Pete, an employee of Well Services Petroleum Co Ltd, went missing after the Heritage East Soldado Field rig partially collapsed on December 22, 2022. Presumed dead by the company four days later, his body has remained unrecovered due to the unstable structure of the rig. Candacy, who gave birth to their son Javon months after the tragedy, expressed that even if only his clothing is found, it would provide the family with the closure they desperately need. ‘I’m hoping they find at least the clothes he wore during his last hours,’ she said tearfully. The recovery operation, led by a US-based marine salvage contractor, is now underway, focusing first on stabilizing the rig to ensure safety and environmental protection. Pete’s sister, Paula Baxam, remains hopeful that enough of his remains will be found to hold a proper funeral. The family has endured months of delays, including bureaucratic hurdles and safety concerns, but now awaits the outcome of this critical operation. Meanwhile, the Phillip family’s plight echoes that of others, such as Coast Guard Able Seaman Kieron Simon, whose body remains lost at sea after a counter-narcotics operation in February.