Antoine Lodge/ Gleaner Writer

Joan Crooks (centre) celebrates with her granddaughters Ana‑Paige Henry (left) and Marianna Crooks (right), who both graduated from The University of the West Indies, Mona.
January 21, 2026 by Antoine Lodge

Two graduations, one triumph

For 72-year-old Joan Crooks, the realisation came quietly but powerfully. Within the space of a single week, two of her granddaughters would walk across separate graduation stages, marking the end of…
Treating residents of Parottee, St Elizabeth, on Christmas Day, Dr Bridgette Barrett says she couldn’t celebrate at home without sharing the day with a community that has now become like family.
December 27, 2025 by Antoine Lodge

GoodHeart | Dr Bridgette Barrett’s passion for service

For Dr Bridgette Barrett, service is not seasonal, and Christmas in Parottee, St Elizabeth is a continuation of work that began long before the decorations went up. Since the passage of Hurricane…