Paul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer

The storyboard of the history of Black River is still standing after Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

Black River: From Gravesend to ghost town to ruin

The parish of St Elizabeth was among 12 Anglican parishes established between 1655 and 1675, named after Elizabeth, Lady Modyford, wife of Governor Thomas Modyford. In 1773, Black River replaced…
Arianna Lawrence (front, third from left) at the recent Kingston Creative FAME Incubator ‘Memo Day’.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

Growth & Jobs | AriConnects people to purpose

“BIRTHED FROM a God-inspired vision in 2021 to merge administration, creativity, production, media and Kingdom purpose into one powerhouse platform, Arianna Lawrence, coined the term ASW. It began as…
Jack Sprat in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

Jack Sprat reopens in Treasure Beach

There can be no conversation about Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, without a mention of Jakes, a world-renowned hotel situated on the edge of the coastline, and Jack Sprat, the restaurant “considered…
Earl Whyte, left, shares a patty on November 11 at the field hospital in Black River operated by Samaritan’s Purse in St Elizabeth.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

Good Samaritan spirit alive in St Elizabeth

Outside the Samaritan’s Purse field hospital on the grounds of Black River High School, a small act of kindness recently unfolded, capturing the spirit of resilience following Hurricane Melissa. …
Fishermen at Border fishing village who are affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

‘Like a fish out of water’

On the St Elizabeth side of the border with Westmoreland, there once was an idyllic little fishing village. The village remains but, since Hurricane Melissa tore through, it is almost unsightly, and…
Hurricane Melissa dismantles several homes in eastern Westmoreland.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

Melissa yanks the covers

It is said that a wise man builds his house on the rock, and a foolish man builds his upon the sands. For, in the event of a storm, the house on the rock will stand, but the house on the sand will…
Cornwall College was heavily damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

Hungry, broke and home again

Sangster International Airport (SIA) was partially damaged, and so too was the Knutsford Express (KEX) depot located on its property. I waited at the depot for three hours for my pick-up driver to…
Damaged light pole in St Ann following Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

Carnage and Cashless out west

I left St Andrew on the morning of Monday, November 3, for familial and professional reasons – all because of Melissa, who had turned our lives upside down, quite literally, and for some, into a…
Burnell Morris of Cobbla, Manchester, on Wednesday, uses a tarpaulin to cover his shop along the main road after the structure was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

First quarter of 21st century ends with unspeakable destruction

IN THE first quarter of the 2000s, Jamaica was significantly affected by hurricanes, including hurricanes Ivan and Dean. Hurricane Ivan, a Category 3 system lingered on the land from September 10-12,…