标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Water Commission (NWC) has enacted stringent service restrictions for communities dependent on the Constant Spring System, implementing an alternating 12-hour water supply schedule effective immediately. This emergency measure responds to critically declining water levels at the Hermitage Dam, which continue to diminish despite recent rainfall and now approach the dangerous threshold of 65 percent capacity.

The NWC’s regulatory division has strategically segmented the Constant Spring network into two distinct operational zones. Upper Constant Spring encompasses areas situated above the Ministry of Justice, while Lower Constant Spring covers regions below this geographical marker.

According to the published timetable, upper sector communities including Duhaney Park, Patrick City, Pembroke Hall, and sections of Havendale and Meadowbrook will receive water provision from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am daily. Conversely, lower sector areas such as Half Way Tree, Hagley Park Road, Maxfield Avenue, and Cockburn Gardens will have access from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Commission officials revealed that approximately 133 water supply systems across Jamaica currently demonstrate vulnerability to arid conditions, with potential for additional restrictions if hydrological conditions deteriorate further. Monitoring data indicates several systems are experiencing lower inflow rates compared to the same period last year, necessitating proactive conservation measures.

The Mona Reservoir system remains stable at approximately 85 percent capacity, allowing normal operations to continue for its service areas. The NWC urges affected residents to diligently observe the regulation schedule, implement water conservation practices, and store adequate supplies during their allocated service windows.

Recommended conservation measures include promptly repairing household leaks, installing water-saving devices, reusing grey water for non-potable purposes, and practicing continuous water preservation. The Commission maintains its commitment to ongoing system surveillance and will provide public updates as hydrological conditions evolve.

A coalition of humanitarian organizations led by KW Cares Jamaica has intensified its post-hurricane recovery operations, delivering critical assistance to vulnerable communities across Jamaica’s western region. Under the strategic direction of co-directors Brittany Ffrench and Keisha Whittingham, the initiative has mobilized significant resources to address the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

On March 20, the collaborative effort saw distribution teams including Community Organised Relief Effort (CORE), Aubyn Foundation, and Treasure Bay Estates providing essential care packages at Fullerswood Primary School in St. Elizabeth. The operation supplied food staples, clothing, and sanitary products to approximately 1,000 households, with additional support extended to the Arlington community in Vineyard.

Ffrench emphasized the organization’s long-standing commitment to national development through community-focused programs. “In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, we recognized the imperative to expand our outreach and intensify support for those most severely impacted,” she stated. The disaster has highlighted the critical need for unified response mechanisms and strengthened community resilience.

Since the hurricane’s passage, KW Cares Jamaica has maintained continuous support operations, facilitating home reconstruction and repair projects while coordinating consistent delivery of relief supplies through partner networks. The organization is now planning additional fundraising initiatives, including a benefit play, to sustain recovery efforts.

Key contributors to the initiative included Nevin Nish (Keller Williams Jamaica Qualifying Director), Shelly James (Local Consultant and Project Manager), and team members Andrea Stultz-Rhône, Sharon Reynolds, Denise Lewis-Bridge, Romeo Farquahson, Jade Richardson, Amanda Saddler, Shelieka Dehaney, and Samantha Mortgage.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A significant leadership transition is underway at Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) as former Assistant Commissioner Hamish Campbell has publicly endorsed his successor, Yanique Taylor Wellington, who has broken gender barriers by becoming both the first woman and the first Jamaican to hold the position of Deputy Commissioner and head of operations.

Campbell, who previously served with London’s Metropolitan Police, expressed strong confidence in Wellington’s capabilities, emphasizing her commitment to fair treatment of staff and her recognition that organizational strength depends on supporting its workforce. “She possesses a robust comprehension of Jamaican law and international best practices, coupled with the moral fortitude to persist in raising accountability issues without being deterred,” Campbell stated in an official release.

Reflecting on his own tenure, Campbell described the immense challenges INDECOM faced during one of Jamaica’s most violent periods, when fatal shootings reached unprecedented levels. He acknowledged that the commission initially operated in a constant state of reaction, overwhelmed by caseload and public scrutiny. This reactive approach eventually gave way to a more systematic strategy focused on identifying patterns and implementing structured investigative processes.

Under Campbell’s leadership, INDECOM underwent significant operational modernization, including the development of its first case-tracking database and enhanced review platforms. These tools brought greater consistency and depth to investigations, particularly in high-profile cases such as the Clarendon shootings, which tested the commission’s ability to hold state agents accountable and strengthened its role within civil society.

Campbell emphasized that his vision for INDECOM’s future centers on continuity, technological investment, staff development, and long-term capacity building—elements he believes are critical for the organization’s sustained effectiveness. He steps away with the conviction that real change in oversight work requires remembering the human impact at every level of decision-making.

In a significant development for educational recovery, Park Mountain Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth has received a substantial $7 million donation from the iPrint Group of Companies. This contribution, facilitated through the National Education Trust (NET), represents a major step forward in restoring the institution’s hurricane-damaged infrastructure and learning environments.

The philanthropic initiative comes as a direct response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which severely disrupted educational activities across Jamaica. The funding will specifically target the rehabilitation of critical facilities, ensuring the school can reestablish safe and effective teaching conditions for both students and staff.

Stephen Steele, Chairman of iPrint Group, articulated the company’s philosophical approach to corporate social responsibility during the presentation ceremony. “Recognizing the hurricane’s disruptive impact on education, we determined that supporting recovery efforts represented both an ethical imperative and strategic investment in national development,” Steele stated. He further praised Principal Carlene Williams-Heath’s resilient leadership throughout the crisis period.

The iPrint executive additionally issued a compelling call to action for broader private sector involvement, emphasizing that contributions could extend beyond financial support to include expertise, resources, or volunteer time.

Official remarks from NET’s Director of Donor and Partnership Management, delivered by Projects Coordinator Danielle Drummond, contextualized the donation within Jamaica’s larger educational landscape. The statement highlighted the “significant damage” sustained by multiple institutions and stressed the necessity of collaborative recovery approaches involving government, private entities, and diaspora communities.

Principal Williams-Heath characterized the donation as both timely and transformative for the institution’s restoration timeline. “This support arrives at our most critical juncture and will substantially accelerate our rebuilding initiatives,” she noted. The educational leader emphasized the direct correlation between physical infrastructure and learning outcomes, confirming the funds would help maintain environments where students can continue their academic development without disruption.

In a significant move to revitalize Jamaica’s hurricane-battered fishing industry, four fishermen from coastal communities have received fully equipped boats and engines through the government’s Fisheries Production Incentive Programme. The recipients, hailing from Oracabessa and Annotto Bay in St. Mary, along with Bryan’s Bay and Hope Bay in Portland, represent the latest beneficiaries of this comprehensive recovery initiative.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister Floyd Green presided over the official handover ceremony at Pagee Fishing Beach in Port Maria on March 18, marking a crucial step in restoring livelihoods devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The catastrophic storm damaged over 3,000 fishing vessels across the island, with many rendered completely inoperable.

The five-year development program specifically targets young fishers under age 35 as part of a broader strategy to modernize Jamaica’s fisheries sector. Beyond equipment provision, the initiative includes advanced training components such as the post-harvest certification program sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which awarded completion certificates during the same event.

Minister Green revealed expansion plans, noting that arrangements are underway to procure an additional 20 boats beyond the original target of 100 vessels over five years. This enhanced commitment will enable more affected fishers to return to sustainable fishing operations.

Dr. Gavin Bellamy, CEO of the National Fisheries Authority, emphasized the program’s comprehensive approach, stating that it combines equipment modernization with knowledge transfer through contemporary techniques and best practices. This dual strategy not only enhances immediate productivity but also builds long-term resilience within fishing communities, ensuring they can compete effectively in evolving market conditions while promoting sustainable fishing practices.

A Canadian mother’s relocation to Jamaica has unveiled disturbing allegations of systematic corporal punishment and financial extortion within the island’s educational institutions, triggering nationwide scrutiny of child protection policies. The anonymous parent reported both her sons—grades one and six—endured physical abuse from teachers including hitting with objects, pinching, slapping, and coercive monetary fines for minor classroom infractions.

The younger child developed severe anxiety requiring multiple school transfers within a year, each new environment replicating the same patterns of violence. Despite formal complaints to administrators, the mother observed diminishing responses, with teachers merely switching from objects to hands for physical discipline. One traumatic incident involved her son soiling himself after being denied bathroom access as retaliation for reporting abuse.

Jamaica’s Ministry of Education withheld comment pending verification, while the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) confirmed an ongoing investigation. The mother rejected cultural relativism arguments, emphasizing: “Schools should be safe havens for children who already face hardships at home.”

This case highlights Jamaica’s conflicted legal stance. While the 2004 Child Care and Protection Act prohibits cruelty, it doesn’t fully ban corporal punishment, particularly in homes. Though restricted in early childhood institutions and discouraged in public schools, no comprehensive legal prohibition exists. Prime Minister Andrew Holness first proposed amending the Education Act in 2017, with renewed commitments in 2024 through the National Violence Prevention Commission.

Statistical context reveals alarming trends: 698 physical abuse reports occurred in 2024’s first two months, continuing an upward trajectory from 3,405 incidents in 2023 to 3,792 in 2025.

UNICEF Jamaica reports 80% of children aged 1-14 experience violent discipline. Representative Olga Isaza recently emphasized: “Corporal punishment violates dignity and protection rights. Reducing national violence begins in homes and classrooms.” The National Parent-Teacher Association president Stewart Jacobs joined calls for immediate legislative action, stating: “Teachers should never lay hands on children. This cat must be belled.”

Both CPFSA and UNICEF advocate for positive parenting programs and non-violent disciplinary alternatives, underscoring Jamaica’s obligation under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to protect children from degrading treatment.