‘Drop iN THE bucket’ Describing the Government’s allocation for water trucking to schools as “a good first drop in the bucket”, Anniona Jones, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS), says more sustainable measures will be needed to cope with the ongoing drought conditions affecting the island. “Now we need a regular drip so the bucket can fill up to give the capacity required so the children can get what they deserve,” she told The Gleaner yesterday.
Probe ordered after engineer fatally crushed on MoBay Perimeter Road project WESTERN BUREAU: The Government has ordered a full investigation into the death of 58-year-old Clifton Archibald James, who was crushed by a truck while working on the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project in St James yesterday. Works Minister Robert Morgan, describing James as a supervising engineer from Hendon, St James, said the tragedy “should never occur on any of our worksites”. Preliminary information is that James was carrying out measurements when a white 2023 FAW motor truck reversed into him at approximately 10 a.m.
Water at last - Essex Valley irrigation nears finish WESTERN BUREAU: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says farmers in Essex Valley, St Elizabeth, should begin receiving irrigation water by the end of September, as the Government moves to complete a long-running project aimed at providing a reliable water supply to one of Jamaica’s major farming belts. Green said the irrigation system was now about 98 per cent complete and that, despite a problem encountered with one of five wells, the Government expects to begin supplying water to farmers before the end of the month.
Crafting a comeback - Old Fort gets $53.5m makeover WESTERN BUREAU: Vendors at the Old Fort Craft Market on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, St James, are hailing the $53.5-million rehabilitation of the facility. Their president, Marylin Falconer, has described the investment as a long-awaited opportunity to transform the craft sector and give traders a greater stake in Jamaica’s tourism industry.
Imported imitations put local artisans under siege WESTERN BUREAU: Chairman of the National Craft Council, Delano Seiveright, is warning that imported products imitating Jamaican cultural symbols and designs are putting local artisans at an unfair disadvantage and siphoning tourism dollars away from Jamaican businesses. Seiveright said the country must become more serious about protecting authentic Jamaican craft, arguing that visitors should be able to trust that products marketed as Jamaican are actually made by Jamaican hands.
Pipe after dark - Munroe Road-Wellington Drive project moving to night-time operations The pipeline upgrading works from Munroe Road to Wellington Drive are shifting to night-time operations, with the corridor closing almost entirely on Sundays to allow for up to 24-hour construction. The move is part of measures to minimise traffic congestion, particularly with the reopening of schools on Monday. “We want to assure residents that after this weekend we are moving to night work fully,” said Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda during a tour of the project on Tuesday.
NPSC revamps parenting support strategy as survey reveals growing disconnect from children A newly released national survey has revealed a troubling decline in parent-child relationships in Jamaica, prompting the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) to intensify efforts aimed at helping families reconnect through more targeted and strategic interventions. Findings from the 2026 Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) show that Jamaican parents are increasingly disconnected from their children’s lives, a trend the NPSC says confirms concerns it has been raising for years.
Drunk in class - One in 10 students report going to school inebriated or under influence of drugs, survey finds Jamaica’s classrooms are facing an unsettling challenge, with one in every 10 high-school students reporting that they have gone to school drunk, while a similar proportion say they have turned up under the influence of marijuana or other drugs. The finding is among several troubling revelations from the latest Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), which paints a concerning picture of the health and well-being of Jamaica’s adolescents, including poor dietary habits, declining physical activity, and worsening mental health indicators.
All western schools to reopen Monday, declares Morris Dixon Western Bureau: Despite claims by several principals that their schools are not ready, Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon is insisting that all schools across the ministry’s Region Four – covering Hanover, St James and Westmoreland – will reopen their doors for the start of the new school year on Monday. Morris Dixon’s comments came as several schools that were extensively damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October prepare to continue operating under temporary arrangements while repairs are being carried out.
Ferris Primary reborn Western Bureau: After months of rehabilitation work in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Ferris Primary School in Westmoreland is now all but ready to welcome students to its newly transformed campus. According to principal Tracie Campbell, the school is currently about 98 per cent ready, with final preparations under way and a water-distribution problem being addressed. “I could safely say 98 per cent and, considering today being Wednesday, I’m sure that by Sunday evening it will be perfect,” she said.