Good morning from Kingston, where the World Bank has confirmed what everybody in this yard already knew: Jamaica’s economy went backward this year. Minus one percent. The Bank says we will grow 3.2 percent in 2027, which is the economic equivalent of telling someone who tripped on a kerb that they’ll probably walk fine next year.
Guyana is growing 23.5 percent in 2027, for context. Just leaving that there.
STUDENTS EXPOSED TO SEX IN SCHOOL SHELTERS
The Ministry of Education is investigating reports that students are being exposed to sexual activity by persons living in school shelters. The Jamaica Teachers’ Association called it “deeply troubling.” The Ministry is “probing.” The people using the school buildings as residential arrangements to conduct adult business in front of children are presumably continuing to do so while the probing continues.
This country builds shelters. People move in. Children see things they should not see. Ministry launches probe. Nothing changes. Repeat until JA 2030.
JDF SOLDIER CHARGED WITH GIRLFRIEND’S MURDER — COURT DATE DELAYED
A Jamaica Defence Force soldier charged with the murder of his girlfriend in Manchester had his first court appearance delayed to Friday. The case involves surveillance footage. The soldier is on bail.
We note that the same week a Guyana police officer said “I will kill you” to a civilian on video and is under investigation, a Jamaican soldier is charged with actually killing someone and is managing his schedule around court dates. Caribbean policing is a broad spectrum.
BISHOP COLIN REID ELECTED
The 155th Synod of the Anglican Church elected the Very Rev Colin Reid as the new Bishop of Montego Bay. Congratulations to the Bishop. The Synod did not go backward one percent.
NWC EASES CONSTANT SPRING WATER RESTRICTIONS
Kingston and St Andrew residents served by the Constant Spring system can now breathe. Or wash. Same thing.
HURRICANE MELISSA LIBRARIES STILL REBUILDING
Johns Hopkins Clark Scholars visited Jamaica and brought 100 books to help replace the 32,000 lost when Hurricane Melissa hit in October 2025. Jamaica Library Service needs 50,000 books to recover. They have 100. A second shipment is planned for autumn. The gap between need and response is, as always, notable.
The Yard Report. Kingston perspective. Unimpressed but still here.