标签： Jamaica

In western Jamaica, the soothing patter of rainfall has transformed into a trigger for profound psychological trauma among schoolchildren. The memory of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating landfall on October 28, 2025, continues to haunt educational institutions, where students now respond to precipitation with screams, trembling, and paralyzing fear rather than playful excitement.

Educational leaders from multiple institutions describe heartbreaking scenes during stormy weather. Principals Garfield James (Little London High School), Venesha Brown-Gordon (Salt Marsh Primary School), and Oraine Ebanks (Green Pond High School) report that their students exhibit severe trauma responses when rains begin. These schools number among five educational institutions selected as beneficiaries of the 2026 Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, an initiative aiming to raise $150 million through a February 15th charity run to fund hurricane recovery efforts.

The psychological impact extends beyond directly affected regions according to Kirk Morris, President of the Jamaica Association of Guidance Counsellors. He notes that students in eastern parishes—many exposed to harrowing social media footage—have also required professional psychological support, demonstrating the hurricane’s far-reaching emotional consequences.

Official statistics from the Ministry of Education reveal extensive intervention efforts: over 50,000 students and 4,000 teachers in northwestern Jamaica have received psychosocial support through 2,086 counseling sessions. The ministry has additionally provided assistance to 167 regional staff members and more than 9,000 parents, creating a comprehensive support network for affected communities.

At Green Pond High School, Principal Ebanks describes implementing flexible teaching approaches that allow for spontaneous counseling moments when trauma surfaces. The school’s damaged infrastructure—leaking classrooms and missing roofs—compounds the psychological challenges during rainfall. Educators actively work to maintain normalcy through extracurricular activities while acknowledging that heavy precipitation instantly triggers traumatic memories, particularly among students from severely impacted areas like Catherine Hall and Westgreen.

Similar challenges confront Salt Marsh Primary School, where the institution’s proximity to a flood-prone gully intensifies student anxiety. Acting Principal Brown-Gordon recounts children as young as twelve trembling during storms while asking teachers whether Hurricane Melissa is returning.

The psychological toll extends beyond students to encompass educators and parents. Little London High School reports cases of depression among students that exceed the guidance department’s capacity, highlighting the need for ongoing mental health support despite limited resources.

Minister of Education Senator Dana Morris Dixon confirms the ministry operates a comprehensive psychosocial support program utilizing both virtual and in-person sessions. This effort has been bolstered by 36 private clinicians, psychiatric experts from The University Hospital of the West Indies, and support organizations including UNICEF, Children First, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

While counselors across Jamaica continue providing support, educational leaders acknowledge that normalization will require sustained time and resources, with rainfall serving as a persistent reminder of the catastrophic hurricane that forever changed their students’ relationship with weather.

A multimillion-dollar coastal protection initiative in Annotto Bay, Jamaica, designed to shield the shoreline from erosion and rising sea levels, is now facing criticism for allegedly exacerbating flooding issues during heavy rainfall events. The $244-million project, part of the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, has come under scrutiny following significant flooding at the Annotto Bay Market last month.

Local officials including Port Maria Mayor Fitzroy Wilson and Councillor Hugh Bryan have identified the placement of offshore groynes as a primary concern. These structures, intended to slow wave action and accumulate sand to prevent erosion, are believed to have disrupted natural water drainage patterns. Mayor Wilson explained that during periods of high sea activity, water pushed back through drainage systems, carrying sand that ultimately blocked critical outflow channels behind the market.

The project, managed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) with funding from a World Bank loan and implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, was designed to protect three coastal towns from climate change impacts. However, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund has stated the flooded area falls outside their project footprint.

PIOJ Director General Wayne Henry acknowledged the longstanding flooding issues in Annotto Bay while clarifying that no groyne was placed behind the market by their contractors. He detailed that project engineers had actually created an improved drainage outfall through the revetment in May 2023 to address frequent blockages. Henry emphasized that this drainage channel requires regular maintenance to prevent debris and silt accumulation, noting that the high-water intersection point necessitates ongoing cleaning by relevant authorities.

Local vendors provided firsthand accounts of the flooding, describing thigh-high water levels that transformed the market area into “a natural sea.” They advocated for drain widening and improved maintenance, expressing particular frustration given the market’s recent $19-million renovation that concluded in mid-2025. This renovation included infrastructure repairs, bathroom facilities, and commercial shop construction.

Officials have recommended coordination between engineering authorities and the ongoing coastal project team, with Mayor Wilson suggesting future phases should extend further offshore to break waves before they approach the shoreline. Councillor Bryan additionally highlighted the need for attention to the Pencar River and dredging operations to comprehensively address the area’s flooding vulnerability.

Jamaica’s higher education landscape witnessed a historic milestone last Wednesday as 22-year-old Jamaela Record became the Caribbean Maritime University’s inaugural graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science. Her journey from childhood fascination with crime investigation television shows to becoming a national pioneer exemplifies dedication and transformative educational ambition.

Introduced in 2021 to bolster Jamaica’s counter-terrorism capabilities and investigative prowess, the forensic science program employs rigorous scientific methodologies including DNA analysis, toxicology, and digital forensics within criminal investigations and legal contexts. Record discovered the program through online channels and immediately enrolled, recognizing the opportunity to convert her lifelong interest into professional practice.

The academic path proved challenging as initial cohort numbers dwindled from approximately six students to just Record persevering through the four-year curriculum. She reframed these obstacles as investigative challenges, approaching each difficulty as evidence leading toward ultimate resolution rather than reasons for abandonment.

Hailing from Clarendon, Record describes her pioneering achievement as blending pressure, pride, and profound purpose. Without upper-level students to provide guidance or existing models to follow, she developed self-reliance and disciplinary rigor while recognizing her responsibility to establish benchmarks for future candidates.

Record acknowledged faculty advisors and lecturers as crucial supporters throughout her academic journey, alongside family encouragement and spiritual strength derived from her favorite biblical passage, Philippians 4:13. Her professional formation was further enhanced through an internship with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, providing hands-on experience with evidence handling and investigative procedures that emphasized the critical importance of integrity and confidentiality.

The graduate emphasized forensic science’s unique position at the intersection of scientific inquiry, justice administration, and societal impact. She characterized the field as fundamentally concerned with uncovering truths through meticulous evidence examination, requiring both technical expertise and unwavering ethical commitment.

Looking forward, Record aims to specialize in cyber forensics while contributing to public safety, national development, and law enforcement effectiveness. She encourages prospective students to embrace the program’s challenges, noting that forensic science transcends laboratory work to represent a deeper commitment to justice, accountability, and societal service through evidentiary storytelling.