News

Flagaman Community Centre in St Elizabeth, which is expected to be used as a shelter for residents in preparation for Tropical Storm Melissa which is expected to hit Jamaica over the weekend.
December 9, 2025 by Albert Ferguson

‘We’re not ready’

WESTERN BUREAU: As dark clouds gather once again over Jamaica’s southern plains, a sense of dread hangs heavy over the farming community of Flagaman, in St Elizabeth, as many residents who barely…
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness addresses a special Jamaica House press briefing, looking at preparations for Tropical Storm Melissa, in St Andrew yesterday.
December 9, 2025

Holness declares ‘zero tolerance’ for price gouging

With Jamaicans continuing to shop for emergency items in preparation for Tropical Storm Melissa, which forecasters expect to develop into a hurricane and could sit over Jamaica for several days, Prime…
NOAA’s 7 p.m. update on October 25 for Tropical Storm Melissa.
December 9, 2025

Melissa watchers eye landfall Tuesday

Tropical Storm Melissa is now expected to make landfall in Jamaica next Tuesday as a major hurricane, with the system expected to bring heavy rains and flooding across the island. Speaking with The…
Micah Williams, tomato farmer from Flagaman in St Elizabeth, shows items used to shield him at his home during Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
December 9, 2025 by Adrian Frater

Toxic encounters

Western Bureau: Memories of last year’s devastating blow by Hurricane Beryl are still fresh, especially the major infrastructural damage, the multimillion-dollar hit on the farming section, and…
A section of a yard in Parottee, St Elizabeth, belonging to residents who have been still struggling to rebuild after last year’s onslaught from Hurricane Beryl.
December 9, 2025 by Albert Ferguson

Storm-weary St Bess faces Melissa still reeling from Beryl

WESTERN BUREAU: More than a year after Hurricane Beryl ravaged Jamaica’s southern corridor, the residents of St Elizabeth remain locked in a prolonged struggle for recovery. Now, with Tropical Storm…
Ian Hayles, the member of parliament for Westmoreland Western.
December 9, 2025 by Mickalia Kington

Anxiety abounds in Retreat, Red Ground, Red Road

WESTERN BUREAU: For residents of Retreat, Red Ground, and Red Road in Westmoreland Western , last week’s torrential downpours brought a familiar misery – flooded roads, stranded motorists, and yet…
Different styles, different fashion, but these two are a standout.
December 9, 2025

Food, fashion and fun galore at Kingston Creative Artwalk Festival

The theme for the September 28 Kingston Creative Artwalk Festival was ‘Food and Fashion’. And there was indeed a lot of food and ‘free’ beverages. The samples at the Colombian Embassy were to die for.…
Jamaica Urban Solutions for the Environment Project Manager Joni Jackson addresses the initiative’s launch at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday.
December 9, 2025

Five-year initiative launched to integrate nature-based solutions into urban development

A FIVE-YEAR initiative has been launched to address Jamaica’s urban climate and societal challenges by integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) into urban planning and community development. Dubbed…
This NOAA graphic shows the projected path of Tropical Storm Melissa in the Central Caribbean Sea.
December 9, 2025

Almost stationary Melissa to pass south of Jamaica early next week - Met Service

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has reported that Tropical Storm Melissa remains nearly stationary to the southeast over the Caribbean Sea and is expected just south of Jamaica early next week. …