标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Housing Trust (NHT) has disclosed concerningly low application rates for its hurricane relief initiatives, with only 667 grant requests and a mere 7 loan applications processed thus far for victims of Hurricane Melissa. Managing Director Martin Miller presented these figures during Wednesday’s parliamentary session of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).

The disaster relief program, designed to provide financial support to contributors and other affected groups who sustained property damage, offers grants of up to $500,000 per property. Miller expressed concern over the sluggish application rate, revealing that the Trust has deployed multiple field teams into communities to accelerate registrations. ‘Grant applications are slow coming in. We have split into several teams working directly in communities, and we anticipate a significant increase over the coming week,’ Miller stated.

Regarding the minimal interest in loans, Miller explained that most affected residents explicitly prefer grants over debt-based assistance. During eligibility assessments, the Trust identified only 11 grant applicants whose financial circumstances might enable them to service loans instead.

In a significant expansion of eligibility criteria, the NHT has extended loan access beyond direct contributors to include immediate family members applying on behalf of relatives. This flexible approach aims to broaden the program’s reach amid recovery efforts.

Separately, the Trust has received 1,567 notifications of intent to file insurance claims, with 357 completed submissions including damage evidence and repair estimates. These claims represent approximately $823 million in preliminary assessed damages. Miller detailed the collaborative assessment process involving external assessors and NHT project officers working alongside insurance brokers.

The managing director confirmed that initial insurance payments have already commenced, noting that the Trust’s partial self-insurance model would accelerate settlements for a portion of claims. Miller projected that ‘within the next two weeks, we will see a large portion of the 357 claims moving through the payment process.’

Authorities in Jamaica have initiated a comprehensive investigation into a disturbing incident involving a teenage student who was reportedly ejected from a moving school bus operated by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). The event, which occurred on December 1, 2025, has raised serious concerns about student transportation safety protocols.

According to official reports from JUTC, the incident took place approximately at 12:10 PM on the Buff Bay to Highgate route in St. Mary. Preliminary findings indicate that the 14-year-old Marymount High School student sustained significant injuries to her knees and face, resulting in nearly two weeks of impaired mobility. Witness accounts suggest the victim was pushed from the vehicle while in motion.

The state-operated transportation company confirmed that bus personnel responded promptly to the emergency. The driver immediately halted the vehicle upon being alerted by fellow passengers and ensured the injured student received urgent medical attention. A JUTC dispatcher subsequently transported the adolescent to Annotto Bay Hospital for treatment and maintained communication with the student’s family throughout the process.

JUTC officials emphasized their commitment to passenger safety, noting that the matter was immediately reported to the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Island Traffic Authority. Technical examinations confirmed no mechanical defects in the bus door mechanism. Both law enforcement agencies and JUTC’s internal security team are conducting parallel investigations to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

The situation has drawn political attention, with People’s National Party Caretaker for Portland Western Doreen Campbell characterizing the event as ‘near-tragic’ and demanding transparency in the investigation process. Campbell alleged that overcrowding conditions may have contributed to the incident, with students reportedly standing on the vehicle’s steps. Unverified claims suggest another passenger may have activated the emergency door release mechanism, resulting in the student’s fall.

JUTC maintains that it continues to cooperate fully with investigative authorities while reinforcing its commitment to maintaining safe transportation services through collaboration with educational institutions, parents, and law enforcement agencies.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida—A transformative leadership platform named WHISTLE made its debut on December 9 in South Florida, assembling over sixty distinguished Caribbean diaspora leaders. This groundbreaking initiative seeks to forge stronger connections among Caribbean-rooted professionals, focusing on collective purpose, economic empowerment, and sustainable regional impact.

The launch occurs amid ongoing challenges faced by Jamaica and neighboring islands, including climate change vulnerabilities and economic instability. These pressing issues highlight the critical need for coordinated diaspora engagement and strategic regional cooperation.

Co-founded by Trinidadian-born visionaries Denise Williams and Stacey Luces, WHISTLE establishes structured frameworks for leadership development, collaborative influence, and purposeful action across the Caribbean diaspora network.

Dr. Keith Levy, Chairman of JN Bank and Managing Partner at Visionario Venture Capital, emphasized the importance of trust in economic rebuilding: “Capital moves at the speed of trust. We must cultivate mutual confidence and act courageously to advance shared Caribbean priorities.”

Philip Rose, Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas, highlighted tourism’s vital role in regional recovery, noting that visiting Caribbean nations remains one of the most significant contributions to communities rebuilding after natural disasters.

The launch event incorporated philanthropic efforts through the Breaking Healthcare Barriers initiative, collecting donations to provide accessible healthcare for Jamaican communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. This charitable component operates under WHISTLE’s humanitarian arm, “We WHISTLE With Love.”

Stacey Luces, WHISTLE’s Chief Purpose Officer, stated: “Our leaders arrived not merely to network, but to construct meaningful change. WHISTLE emerges from our collective refusal to progress in isolation.” Luces brings decades of experience in public systems, executive leadership, and philanthropy across Caribbean and American contexts.

WHISTLE’s founders announced plans to activate membership models, expand leadership programs, and strengthen partnerships ahead of its global launch in January 2026. The organization will also introduce WHISTLE Next Gen, dedicated to nurturing emerging Caribbean-descended leaders through mentorship and networking opportunities.

Denise Williams, WHISTLE’s Chief Impact Officer, remarked: “Our community deserves a platform that harmonizes influence, generates prosperity, and accelerates collective impact.” Williams brings extensive expertise in growth strategy from major corporations across banking, telecommunications, and finance sectors throughout the Caribbean diaspora.

Jamaican authorities are mobilizing a comprehensive $1-billion safety initiative to address a hidden danger lurking in thousands of hurricane-damaged homes: compromised electrical systems that could trigger fires or short circuits when power restoration begins. This emergency response targets households where floodwaters, structural damage, and prolonged moisture have created potentially lethal electrical hazards following Hurricane Melissa’s October 28, 2025, landfall.

The National Energy Poverty Reduction Project has been strategically repurposed as an emergency safety lifeline, with engineers and contractors from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) initiating door-to-door inspections in the most severely affected parishes. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz emphasized the urgency during a Jamaica Observer Press Club session, noting that entire communities like Catherine Hall—submerged under six feet of water—require complete electrical recertification before safe reconnection can occur.

JSIF Managing Director Omar Sweeney explained the program prioritizes homes with evident structural and electrical compromise, particularly those experiencing flooding or severe roof damage. The initiative aims to prevent residents from attempting dangerous self-reconnections once power returns to their communities. “What we want to ensure is that any compromise in the integrity of their system doesn’t cause short circuitry or fire,” Sweeney stated.

Over the next four months, the program will deliver: 3,500 minor building repairs to enable safe electrification; 1,800 complete house-wiring interventions; 5,300 Government Electrical Regulator certifications mandatory for legal reconnection; solar solutions for grid-inaccessible families; and social-service support for approximately 3,000 residents through electrification fairs.

The effort concentrates on seven hardest-hit parishes—Manchester, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St James, Trelawny, St Ann, and Hanover—with specific high-priority communities already identified. Affected residents can access services through multiple channels including direct JSIF contact, local Social Development Commission offices, or political representatives, ensuring streamlined accessibility for those in need.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A wave of economic relief has swept through Kingston’s Coronation Market this week as consumers witness a notable downturn in previously soaring food prices. The market, a vital hub for the city’s shoppers, is experiencing its first significant price reduction following weeks of steep inflationary pressures on agricultural products.

The most dramatic reversal appears in the scotch bonnet pepper market, where prices have plummeted from a record high of $5,000 per pound to a more manageable $4,000. This development comes as welcome news to both household consumers and local food vendors who rely heavily on the iconic Jamaican pepper.

Tomato prices have similarly trended downward, now available at approximately $700 per pound compared to last week’s $800 price point. Cabbage has also joined the deflationary trend, dropping from $350 to $300 per pound, providing marginal but meaningful savings for budget-conscious shoppers.

Market stability remains evident in other produce categories, with escallion, yam, and sweet potato maintaining consistent pricing despite the overall market fluctuations. This mixed pricing landscape suggests a complex interplay of supply chain factors affecting different agricultural products uniquely.

The improved market conditions coincide with the latest episode of ‘Market Bag,’ a popular market analysis program hosted by Brittania Witter featuring special guest Carlysia Ramdeen. The show typically provides expert insights into market trends and consumer guidance during periods of economic volatility.