Lead Stories

Ruined remains of the St Elizabeth Parish Court on High Street in Black River, six months after Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025.
August 8, 2026

Black River hurricane command shift - Resilient STETHS named new emergency operations centre for St Elizabeth capital
WESTERN BUREAU: With Hurricane Melissa compromising Black River’s capacity to host the parish’s Emergency Operations Command Centre (EOCC), St Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz has been…
Richard Solomon, mayor of Black River.
August 8, 2026 by Albert Ferguson

Mayor fully on board for Black River reset

WESTERN BUREAU: Black River Mayor Richard Solomon is embracing the idea of rebuilding the town, which was all but wiped out by Hurricane Melissa, into a stronger, smarter and more resilient town.…
Ariel Bowen, Jamaica’s next ambassador to Japan.
August 8, 2026

Bowen bound for Japan - Career diplomat appointed Jamaica’s next ambassador in Tokyo
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has announced the appointment of Ariel Bowen as Jamaica’s next ambassador to Japan. She is expected to take up her new…
Donovan Chen See
August 8, 2026

Four Georgians to enter Hall of Fame

Four of the island’s top leaders and alumni of St George’s College are to be inducted into the 2026 St George’s College Hall of Fame during a ceremony to be held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel on…
Richard Solomon, mayor of Black River.
August 7, 2026 by Albert Ferguson

NEVER FORGET - Low turnout for Independence ceremony disappoints Black River mayor
WESTERN BUREAU: Disappointment over low public turnout overshadowed St Elizabeth’s Independence Day observance on Thursday, as civic and municipal leaders gathered with only a handful of residents to…
Marissa Dalrymple-Philibert, minister of state in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, delivering the prime minister’s Independence message.
August 7, 2026 by Derrick Scott

Trelawny celebrates Independence with call for unity, resilience

FALMOUTH, Trelawny: The historic Water Square in Falmouth provided a fitting backdrop on Thursday as the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), in partnership with the Trelawny Municipal…
Dr Evan Dale Abel, chair of the Department of Medicine, David Gaffen School of Medicine at University of Los Angeles.
August 7, 2026 by Lester Hinds

J’cans in US, Canada secure multiple nat’l awards

NEW YORK: Jamaicans across the United States and Canada have been well represented among the 140 people in this year’s list for national honours and awards list. At least 12 diasporans are set to be…
Reggae artiste Hezron Clarke (right) receives his 2026 Spirit of Independence Award from Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon during the annual Independence Day Flag Raising and Civic Ceremony in Montego Bay on Thursday.
August 7, 2026 by Christopher Thomas

‘It never dawned on me until afterward’

WESTERN BUREAU: Montego Bay-based reggae artiste Hezron Clarke never expected to be publicly honoured on Independence Day for his musical contributions to St James and the wider Jamaica.
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon (centre, seated) in a group photo with the recipients of this year’s Spirit of Independence Awards and Mayor’s Special Awards from within St James, during the annual Independence and Flag Raising Ceremony at Sam Sharpe
August 7, 2026 by Christopher Thomas

Vernon: Jamaica’s roots remain intertwined with Africa

WESTERN BUREAU: As Jamaica celebrates its 64th year of independence this year, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says that the nation’s growth over the decades is connected to the history of the…