WESTERN BUREAU: A subdued atmosphere hung over the Ridgemount United Church in Mandeville, Manchester, yesterday as relatives and well-wishers said farewell to businessman Ruel Alphanso Crawford, a former Master Builders Association member and a board member of the Southern Regional Health Authority. Crawford, who died on September 24 at age 74 after a lengthy battle with cancer, was also the father of Dwight Crawford, deputy mayor of Montego Bay in St James and the St James Municipal Corporation’s councillor for the Spring Garden Division.

WESTERN BUREAU: Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says the topping out of Tower One at The Pinnacle marks a major step forward for Jamaica’s tourism diversification strategy. However, he insists that luxury development must go hand-in-hand with rebuilding homes, improving public order, and ensuring workers benefit from the sector’s growth. Speaking at the ceremony for Jamaica’s new tallest building, Holness said the Government remains acutely aware of the national mood following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

Defending the decision to lend the Jamaica Public Service Company US$150 million towards its early restoration efforts following Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has shrugged off criticisms, labelling them as “misinformation and noise”. Addressing yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Vaz again defended the Government’s decision, saying he was confused by the criticism. The decision to make the multimillion US dollar loan to the privately owned JPS has been widely criticised and the subject of fiery parliamentary sittings.

Residents of Phoenix Park Village in Phase 3, Portmore, St Catherine, were left shaken yesterday after a reported police operation ended in gunfire, leaving one alleged robber dead and another on the run. The incident, which unfolded along Hellshire Drive, has ignited fresh anxiety in the gated community, where homeowners say crime has been quietly creeping in despite heavy investments in security. Residents say explosions echoed across the midday atmosphere, and The Gleaner arrived in time to see the scene littered with spent casings.

The administrative arm of the Houses of Parliament has been found wanting as the Auditor General’s Department places the spotlight on a $24-million contract to renovate the Members’ Lounge at Gordon House, as well as procurement breaches in the purchase of 16 air-conditioning units. A special audit was conducted by the Pamela Monroe Ellis-led Auditor General’s Department into the operations of Parliament following allegations of mismanagement at the seat of the nation’s legislature.

WESTERN BUREAU: A crippled man in Hertford, Westmoreland, a father and his two sons in Black River, St Elizabeth, and a woman living in the open air in Petersfield are among the first recipients of the studio homes being built under the S for Shelters project, an initiative of S Hotel Montego Bay.

At least 160 schools remain closed for teaching and learning weeks after the passage of Hurricane Melissa. These schools are expected to reopen on January 6, 2026, according to Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams. Of the 160 schools not yet reopened, 100 have been impacted by the Category 5 storm. Responding to questions during a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, Williams said 59 of the schools are serving as shelters for persons displaced by the hurricane.

Jamaicans are re-embracing Christianity to navigate the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Melissa as they seek spiritual reassurance and a source of comfort to deal with the trauma of the Category 5 storm. This is the assertion from Reverend Errol Rattray, chairman of the National Prayer Vigil, who said it was the prayer of Christians that protected Jamaica from being in an even worse state.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange has announced that the official funeral for the late Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff will take place next Wednesday, December 17, at the National Indoor Sports Centre, beginning at 10 a.m. Cliff passed away on November 24 at age 81. He is being accorded an official funeral by the Government “for his immense contribution to Jamaican culture and entertainment”, said Grange.

Medical experts are calling for stronger adherence to the global One Health mandate by Jamaican authorities, citing the outbreak of leptospirosis following Hurricane Melissa a month ago as a clear indication of why such a move is pivotal. One Health, as outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), speaks to an integrated, unifying approach that aims to balance and optimise the sustainable health of people, animals, and ecosystems. “It recognises that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, and plants is closely linked and interdependent,” states the WHO.

WESTERN BUREAU: Following calls from the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) for citizens to responsibly dispose of their garbage in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, residents of several communities across St James say they remain concerned about the availability of garbage trucks to collect their waste. The residents cite the growing pile-ups of their uncollected waste, and the risk of animals in their communities accessing the garbage, as reasons why the authorities must take swift action to rectify the issue.

State Minister for Finance and the Public Service Zavia Mayne has filed a lawsuit against the Integrity Commission (IC), asking the court to quash the ruling of the director of corruption prosecution that he should be charged for breaching Section 43(1)(6) of the Integrity Commission Act. With three senior directors and the IC named as respondents, Mayne also wants the court to rescind the July 14, 2025 investigation report tabled last week in Parliament.

Homeowners in Union Acres, St James, whose newly built properties were torn up by Hurricane Melissa in October, have served notice that they will use litigation in an effort to force the developer to pay for the catastrophic losses they sustained. The National Housing Trust (NHT) has confirmed that approximately 40 of the 144 two-bedroom houses sustained “varying degrees of damage”.

Principal of Kingston Technical High School Maulton Campbell has been suspended from the institution following an audit report, concerns over a hiring decision, and a formal complaint submitted by a board member. Campbell was suspended effective immediately on November 26, pending the outcome of further investigations.

The Supreme Court has thrown out an application brought by the People’s National Party’s Paul Buchanan to overturn the results of the St Andrew West Central general election which he lost to Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. Buchanan, who was the Opposition Party’s candidate, filed an application for permission to seek judicial review of the decision of the Constituted Authority not to apply to the Election Court to void the results of the September 3 poll.

(AP) — A fire ripped through an office building in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday, killing at least 22 people, including a pregnant woman, police said. Flames engulfed the seven-story building, sending thick black smoke billowing into...

WHEN THE monthly budget refuses to balance and money seems to disappear before it even has a chance to settle in the wallets or accounts, many households find themselves facing tough decisions. According to Rose Miller, financial education...

PRIME MINISTER Dr Andrew Holness has welcomed a US$50-million investment by Tropical Sugar Company Limited (TSCL)to re-establish commercial-scale sugar production in Clarendon. The new state-of-the-art, vertically integrated facility, with an...

AS JAMAICA begins the road to recovery from the emotional, economic and infrastructural fallout caused by Hurricane Melissa, two education psychologists are calling for an urgent overhaul of Jamaica’s education system, starting at the early...

More than 1,000 fruit and vegetable farmers in Flagaman, St Elizabeth and surrounding areas now have access to modern cold storage facilities worth US$57,000 ($9 million). The facilities are expected to reduce spoilage, increase productivity and...

TOKYO (AP) — A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, injuring 23 people and triggering a tsunami in Pacific coast communities, officials said. Authorities warned of possible aftershocks and an increased risk of...

Banana and plantain farmers islandwide are being encouraged to register with the Banana Board’s Catastrophe Fund in preparation for the 2026 hurricane season. The fund is a disaster recovery insurance scheme created to support Jamaica’s banana...

Portmore, St Catherine truck driver Roddayne Allison has been charged for allegedly murdering businessman Khalil Jerome Martin. Allison, 35, was charged while in custody for the Tuesday, November 4 murder of Martin. He was also slapped with...

The Jamaica Labour Party’s longest-serving member on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), Tom Tavares-Finson, King’s Counsel, is to retire from the post, The Gleaner has learnt. According to an informed source, Tavares-Finson is expected to...

The Supreme Court has dismissed Paul Buchanan's latest attempt to overturn the election result for the St Andrew West Central constituency, which was won by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness in September's general election. Buchanan, of the...

NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount on Monday launched a hostile takeover offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, initiating a potentially bruising battle with rival bidder Netflix to buy the company behind HBO, CNN and DC Studios, and the right to reshape much...

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the application filed by the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Paul Buchanan, who sought to overturn the election result for the St Andrew West Central...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness says only 100 patients will be seen daily, on a first-come, first-served basis aboard the Chinese medical vessel, Silk Road Ark. The advisory covers today and tomorrow. The ministry said spaces are limited and apologised for any inconvenience caused. The vessel, staffed by more than 100 Chinese clinicians and support personnel, arrived in Montego Bay last week to assist Jamaica’s healthcare system, which continues to recover from damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in October.

There is an outbreak of the chicken pox disease at the Hunts Bay Police Station in St Andrew, the country’s top prosecutor disclosed on Monday. Claudette Thompson, director of public prosecutions, did not disclose details about the outbreak. She made the disclosure in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston when the murder case against Lennox Williams was called up. Williams is in custody at the Hunts Bay Police Station and was not taken to court because of the chicken pox outbreak. Williams case has been postponed to April 13 next year.

The Supreme Court has dismissed Paul Buchanan's latest attempt to overturn the election result for the St Andrew West Central constituency, which was won by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness in September's general election. Buhanan, of the Opposition People's National Party filed an application for permission to seek judicial review of the decision of the Constituted Authority not to apply to the Election Court to void the results of the September 3 poll.

The long-awaited appeal hearing for entertainer Desmond 'Ninja Man' Ballentyne and his two co-convicts has been postponed as legal representation for one of the men is sorted. The case is now provisionally set to be heard during the week of March 23 next year. Oral arguments were scheduled to run for a week, starting today.

Defence lawyers on Monday signalled they will seek to have the murder case against policeman Noel Maitland dismissed after prosecutors closed their case in the high-profile trial over the disappearance of influencer Donna-Lee Donaldson. A total of 36 witnesses were called to give evidence for the prosecution in the trial of Constable Noel Maitland in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston. The trial started in May.

Danielle Archer has resigned as principal director of National Integrity Action (NIA), one of the country’s leading anti-corruption and transparency watchdogs. The announcement was made Monday by the organisation, the local chapter of...

(AP) — A total of 100 of the schoolchildren abducted from a Nigerian Catholic school last month have been released, the Christian Association of Nigeria said Monday, adding that more than 100 students remain in captivity. At least 303...