SCHOOLS CONTINUING TO OPEN, FOOD PRICES SKYROCKET
DIARY 2
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; Nov 23, 2025
Concern continues to grow in St Ann over the pace of electricity restoration and internet availability.
Work crews, some in unmarked vehicles, have been seen in parts of the main roads in St Ann, including Runway Bay, one of the areas where JPS infrastructure, including poles, was worst affected. On Sunday, Nov. 23, at least 12 of the JPS (affiliated) work trucks carrying heavy equipment were seen at points between Runaway Bay Cross Roads and Salem, where the worst polce damage had taken place See also Diary One THE ST ANN DIARY (1)
Speaking about electricity at mid-week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the Government is working with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to bring in additional resources, including 300 linemen, to return electricity to the island at a quicker pace.“On the general trajectory, it could be as long as six months before electricity is returned to every community in Jamaica,” Dr. Holness said, during a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery at Jamaica House on Wednesday (November 19).
(At Salem Sunday)
HOTELS
Although much of the hotels’ structures remained undamaged in St. Ann, many workers were affected by damage to their homes and communities. Most hotels have provided care packages, counselling, and some have made generous grants to staff, even where the hotels are under refurbishment.
(An outline of what’s open up to Nov. 222. Staff at Sandals Dunn’s River applaud speech by Tourism Minister, Thursday)
Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett toured several hotels and the Dunns River attraction and craft market on Thursday, Nov. 20. His repeated message the winter tourism season starting on December 15, will not be the same as was planned or Jamaicans might have expected before the hurricane.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
More schools are opening, though not all conditions are favourable.
(Brown’s Town Comm C team — Opening still delayed)
Members of Region 3 in the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information were out on the road putting their hands .or chainsaws to the wheel so to speak, as several schools reopened. They helped cut away trees on the grounds of St Christopher School for the Deaf, Brown’s Town. Staff at Brown’s Town Comm C were also out, but the college is not ready. The Moneague College will begin counselling students on Monday and have online instructions after that as lack of water and electricity remain major challenges. Even so, the college with the Canadian-funded SAGE opened a state-of-the-art communication centre for the community on the main campus, Thursday.
(The Moneague Hub opened)
Twenty-one primary and nine secondary schools were opened the week of November 17 to 21, 2025, in Region 3 (across St Ann and Trelawny)
FOOD SUPPLY & PRICES
A visit to the food markets in Brown’s Town, Ocho Rios and St Ann’s Bay indicates how rough things may be in the coming weeks for householders. Supplies are down for most crops, particularly vegetables. Here are some per-pound prices (Yellow) Yam $500; Sweet pepper $800-$1,600; Pak choy $400-500; Carrot $350-$500. Hot peppers are hard to come by, and two vendors in Ochi and Brown’s Town were ‘marrying’ the product.
BANK LINES
ATM lines at the banks are not as long as before, but in peak hours expect one hour waits at banking halls where machines are installed.
REMINDER:
Take all the precautions against leptospirosis. Your health centre is ready to provide information. Be careful not to use the generator in an enclosed room. Keep the exhaust outside it can be deadly.
Karlene Segre, regional director (Region 3) makes a good start but Conrad Valentine from the Technical and Vocational Services Unit had to rescue her. Watch
