Commentary

This photo shows a house damaged by Hurricane Melissa in New Works, Westmoreland.
December 9, 2025

Audrey Hinchcliffe | Cleaning and sanitisation critical after Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa’s disastrous effects on people, homes, businesses and communities heighten our awareness of the need for cleaning and sanitisation as an integral part of recovery. Foremost on our…
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December 9, 2025

Garth Rattray | Mental-health challenges after Hurricane Melissa

Although Hurricane Melissa tore a destructive path through the west of Jamaica and caused disruption across most of the island, every Jamaican - here and in the diaspora - was badly affected by its…
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December 9, 2025

Orville Taylor | Protecting the protectors

Just imagine that your mother is a doctor, on the frontline in the middle of a pandemic or national emergency, while her family is left wanting. Worse, while fighting to save the lives of many,…
Houses and vehicles are seen submerged at Gibson Close, off Ward Avenue in Mandeville, following Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025

Editorial | Housing Melissa’s victims

Letter writer, Pastor Daniel Singh’s, suggestion that Jamaica lean on cruise shippers to use their vessels to temporarily accommodate people displaced by Hurricane Melissa is unlikely to gain…
Food For The Poor Jamaica team members arrange packages and emergency supplies to assist those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025

Peter Espeut | Doing the little we can

Last Wednesday, the same happy crew as last week (with two additions) journeyed to the west with relief supplies for some of those affected by the winds and rain of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. This…
Residents of Beeston Spring, Westmoreland waiting to get food from World Central Kitchen location.
December 9, 2025

Kristen Gyles | Not doing anything?

Over the weekend, I visited a hospital in Kingston and happened to have a discussion with a doctor who was on duty. The doctor was fully dressed in army gear and was clearly an employee of the JDF.…
Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby.
December 9, 2025

Editorial | Bolstering local government

Kingston’s mayor, Andrew Swaby, advanced a truism with his call this week for an update of Jamaica’s small building code in the wake of Hurricane Melissa that caused widespread devastation in the…
United Nations Development Resident Representative to Jamaica, Dr Kishan Khoday surveys the damage done in Black River, St Elizabeth in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025

Basil Jarrett | The UN during Melissa: Behind the scenes but at the heart of the response

WE ARE now in Week Three since Hurricane Melissa tore through the left end of Jamaica, leaving the island quite literally a tale of two halves. At one end, mosquitoes, tarpaulins, dark nights and dry…
Hurricane Melissa’s violent winds tore through this house.
December 9, 2025

SSP Diaries | Protecting our lifeline in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa

I HAVE seen death and destruction throughout my life but what has been experienced in Western Jamaica because of Hurricane Melissa cannot be described in mere words. The loss of life, the greatest of…