THE EDITOR, Madam: Hurricane Melissa must serve as a clarion call: our island cannot afford to treat disasters as rare, isolated tragedies. That ring of catastrophe must move from shock-and-respond to readiness and resilience. In Cuba, disaster...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, our landscape is marked by devastation and our hearts are heavy with loss. It is in these challenging times, however, amid the rubble and the recovery, that I wish to extend a profound and...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The recent hurricane has left a devastating impact across western Jamaica – particularly in Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny, and Hanover. Thousands of homes have been destroyed or severely damaged, displacing...
THE EDITOR, Madam: No one today can prevent the storm from coming, or make it obey them by simply saying ‘hush’, as to an unruly pet (Mark 4:39). No one can be too prepared for these unforeseeable monsters that break from swirling cages this...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Hurricane Melissa has passed but her impact remains etched into our lives (and will be for eons to come) – in the broken homes, the grieving hearts, and the quiet resilience of communities trying to rebuild. The winds may have...
THE EDITOR, Madam: As the relief supplies come into the island from the many sources of concern and assistance, both those directly connected to Jamaica and others simply wanting to help, it is important that we as a country express the deepest...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In a remarkable act of solidarity and national unity, the Premier of the Cayman Islands, André Ebanks, and Opposition Leader, Joey Hew, jointly arrived in Jamaica on the first relief flight into Kingston, bringing with them US...
THE EDITOR, Madam: We, representatives of 43 civil society groups and concerned individuals from across Jamaica, issue this statement in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that made landfall on Jamaica’s southwest coast on...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I must express my disappointment with how the Government of Jamaica has been handling the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. From the earliest forecasts issued by the Meteorological Service of Jamaica and repeated by our own news...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I read with great interest Corey Robinson’s account in The Sunday Gleaner of things in Black River two days after the passing of the hurricane. Corey’s account of the utter devastation and ensuing mayhem was still accurate on...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The Sunday Gleaner story of November 2, of church buildings battered by Melissa reminded me of the verse from 1 Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In light of the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa and the likelihood of stronger hurricanes, building modular houses for people living in flood-prone areas should be considered. Since Hurricane Katrina, several...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Hurricane Melissa didn’t just topple trees and flood communities, it has also washed away days of hard-earned pay for thousands of workers who depend on a weekly income to survive. For minimum wage earners, many of whom already...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I am writing to bring attention to a troubling and unfair situation happening in western Jamaica, particularly along the Montego Bay to Lucea route. Since Hurricane Melissa devastated Hanover, a number of bus and taxi operators...
THE EDITOR, Madam: A recent lecture by Dr Richard Amenyah, director of the UNAIDS Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, as part of the Department of Government’s UN @ 80 series, was enlightening and urgent. Dr Amenyah emphasised that UNAIDS is...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I read an article in the Observer, ‘Fish farming and food safety’, with interest and respect for the efforts being made to strengthen Jamaica’s food systems – especially in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. However, I believe it’s...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Hurricane Melissa has once again revealed both Jamaica’s vulnerability and our strength. In every corner of the island and across the diaspora, Jamaicans are asking how they can help – not just by giving money or goods, but by...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Hurricane Melissa has tested Jamaica, across the island, families and businesses are doing their best to rebuild and recover. The Government’s swift decision to allow duty-free and GCT-free importation of specific items for 30...
THE EDITOR, Madam: As Jamaica recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, I first thank the leaders, first responders, soldiers, nurses, teachers, utility crews, church groups, and neighbours who stood in the line of fire. Their work has...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I am writing as a concerned citizen and advocate for the welfare of our teachers, students, and families. While I understand and appreciate the Government’s efforts to restore normality and resume education as quickly as...
THE EDITOR, Madam: As Jamaicans prepared earnestly for Hurricane Melissa, many were faced with a painful choice. Some had to place hurricane preparations above paying their bills, a decision that weighed heavily on the heart while others...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The Caribbean has been repeatedly rocked by incidents of mass killing without progress by society in dealing with the root causes. No government reviews, budget allocations or serious strategy implementation to reverse a...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Many years ago I spent ten days with my young daughters in Negril, a town in the Hanover and Westmoreland Parishes at the western extremity of Jamaica. The people were welcoming and – as we stayed in a village community, we got...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, our beloved Jamaica mourns. The wind’s roar has subsided, but in its silence, the cries of families who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and, heartbreakingly, loved ones still echo....
THE EDITOR, Madam: Hurricane MelisSa’s devastation in St Elizabeth and nearby parishes revealed more than damaged homes – it exposed a troubling mindset. As the storm approached, many Jamaicans turned to prayer, convinced that faith alone would...
