diaspora direction debate The continuing oversight of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) by the Government has sparked fierce pushback from some members of the Jamaican diaspora in the United States, with a former Diaspora Advisory Board member calling for change. At the same time, an outgoing GJDC council member for the Southern region is publicly questioning why the Government retains control over the body. Former Diaspora Advisory Board member Patrick Beckford is calling for the Jamaican Government to divest itself from serving as chair of the diaspora governance structure.
‘We need to find the students’ Jamaica Prefects’ Association (JPA) President Nashá Patterson is calling for urgent, coordinated action to locate and re-engage students who have stopped attending school following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Patterson warned that absenteeism is deepening learning loss and contributing to growing demotivation among teachers. Reports coming out from Regions 4 (Hanover, Westmoreland and St James) and 5 (St Elizabeth and Manchester) have raised red flags for the student leadership body, with classrooms now operating at less than half their usual capacity.
Twenty ‘Melissa’ victims still in Hanover shelters Western Bureau: It has been more than three months since Hurricane Melissa devastated western Jamaica, but the impact is still being felt in the region with some families in Hanover, whose homes were destroyed, still being housed in shelters. Speaking at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), Lucea Deputy Mayor Andria Dehaney-Grant said approximately 20 persons were still occupying shelters across the parish as they have no homes to return to because of the impact of the hurricane.
StJMC passes resolution for a Jimmy Cliff statue and museum WESTERN BUREAU: The St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) on Thursday passed a resolution during its monthly meeting to erect a statue of the late reggae icon James ‘Jimmy Cliff’ Chambers at the entrance to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in downtown Montego Bay. The resolution, which will be sent to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport for review, was presented and unanimously approved by the councillors in attendance.
St James councillors urged to engage their constituents in crime reduction WESTERN BUREAU: Deputy Superintendent of Police Roderick Reid, the acting operations officer for the St James Police Division, is urging the councillors at the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) to play their part in engaging the residents of their divisions in a bid to reduce the parish’s crime rate, particularly murders. Reid made the appeal while addressing Thursday’s monthly meeting of the StJMC, where he reported that St James has recorded nine murders since the start of 2026. He also noted that eight illegal firearms had been seized in the division to date.
Fire Brigade’s Hanover branch appeals for end to crank calls Western Bureau: Citing the strain on its limited resources, the Hanover branch of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is urging individuals making crank calls to its emergency number to end the practice that could potentially cost persons their lives. “It’s not only a Hanover divisional problem, but also a national problem as those false alarms can have several implications and cause the loss of life and property when real needs arise simultaneously,” acting Superintendent Oniel Henry, the divisional head of JFB Lucea branch, told The Gleaner in a recent interview.
Prefects fight hurricane trauma in schools Over the past year, the Jamaica Prefects’ Association (JPA) has intensified its national outreach given the lingering impact of Hurricane Melissa on students’ mental health. While last academic year initially commenced with courtesy calls targeting previously inactive schools, such visits have taken on an added sense of importance given the ongoing challenges students face.
Nearly $43 billion set aside for new rates, retro for public sector workers The Government has allocated nearly $42.8 billion in the 2026-2027 Estimates of Expenditure as contingencies to cover new rates, retroactive salaries and adjustments in allowances that may result from public sector wage settlements during the fiscal year. Unions representing public sector workers have been pressing the Government to return to the table to conclude wage talks, which started last year. The negotiating groups are poles apart in terms of the offer made by the Government compared with the percentage increases the unions have requested.
Sweet sin tax The Budget will lean on eight revenue measures that blend classic ‘sin taxes’, modernisation of the tax base, and the continuation of extraordinary flows from the National Housing Trust (NHT)
Billions in damage spur calls for drainage overhaul in Montego Bay Business leaders in Montego Bay are pressing the Government to commission a comprehensive study of the city’s rivers and drainage system after Hurricane Melissa left billions of dollars in damage last October. Countless businesses and homes in Westgreen and Catherine Hall were inundated, forcing costly clean-up efforts and disrupting jobs. Barnett Tech Park, a 48-acre hub for global services firms, was among the hardest hit, alongside retailers such as MegaMart and National Supply Limited.