Stories about Jamaica
A sweeping spate of murders rivals COVID-19's ‘third wave’ in Jamaica
A sudden surge in murders—24 in one week, and 18 over a 48-hour period—has Jamaicans feeling that crime has surpassed COVID-19 as the country's top problem.
Jamaican activist filmmaker takes on extractive industries in the Caribbean
"In 2020, there was a very popular narrative that the COVID-19 pandemic was saving Planet Earth [...] I created GEFF 2021 to counter this narrative, because it is simply untrue."
Eccentric reggae pioneer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry dies at 85
"Jamaica has lost the rhythm and soul of a prolific music icon who has inspired many. Perry was one of the most important creative figures to come out of Jamaica."
After weeks of hesitancy and soaring COVID numbers, Jamaicans crowd vaccination centres
With the presence of the Delta variant confirmed, soaring rates of new COVID-19 infections, and the availability of the Pfizer vaccine, Jamaicans finally seem ready to get over vaccine hesitancy.
“One, Two, Three!” Jamaicans thrilled by their women sprinters’ Olympic run
The race ended with Elaine Thompson-Herah breaking American sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner's 1988 Olympic record with a time of 10.61 seconds, making her the second-fastest woman ever.
Caribbean Tree Planting Week: A region-wide coalition gets serious about climate change action
"The Caribbean contributes less than one per cent to global greenhouse emissions, but we are increasingly bearing the burden of the environmental devastation that climate change events bring."
Roland Watson-Grant, Caribbean regional winner of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, tells a tale of rural Jamaica
"I think the collective Jamaican experience can be summed up in the words of Paulo Coelho: ‘We all have one foot in a fairytale, and the other in the abyss.’"
Vaccine hesitancy in smaller Caribbean islands benefits larger neighbours with high COVID-19 rates
Rather than have vaccine doses expire, regional governments have been donating part of their allocations to larger Caribbean Community (CARICOM) neighbours who need them.
World Oceans Day: The Caribbean Sea faces dual threat of climate change and overfishing
It is clear the Caribbean is on the frontline of climate change, and its creeping impact on the marine environment is showing itself in various ways.
Jamaica’s ‘Mommy Rocket’, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, is the fastest woman alive
On June 5, Jamaica's two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the second fastest woman in history to win the 100 metres with a blazing 10.63-second run.
Global Voices’ top stories on the climate crisis, as the planet observes World Environment Day
On World Environment Day, a look at the Global Voices stories on climate change that have most captured our attention so far this year.
Global Voices’ top stories on biodiversity, as the planet observes World Environment Day
A selection of our best recent stories highlighting the importance of biodiversity and the achievements and challenges associated with these efforts around the world.
As tourists party, citizens under COVID lockdown ask: Are there ‘two Jamaicas'?
When video of an event at a popular entertainment spot emerged, the images of hundreds of maskless revelers partying in close quarters prompted a wave of anger across Jamaica's blogosphere.
Jamaican literacy activist puts more books into the hands of children isolated by COVID-19 restrictions
"For children who were reading before and continue to have access to books, the pages have been a safe place from the pandemic. For others, the situation has worsened."
Jamaican bees are beautiful—and their survival is crucial
Beekeeping has been steadily catching on in Jamaica for some years now, enriching livelihoods, helping the environment, and providing lots of photographic opportunities.
‘Support your local beekeeper': Caribbean concerns on World Bee Day
This year's event aims to increase awareness of the threat to bees in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and food insecurity, and find ways to protect these vital pollinators.
Amid Eid ul-Fitr celebrations, a look at the Muslim presence in the Caribbean
New generations of Caribbean Muslims are being born and raised in the diaspora, creating a type of religious hybrid that sometimes puts traditional approaches under strain.
Destruction of coastal forest for a major tourism project raises questions about Jamaica’s climate change posture
"A development of this nature is inappropriate for an area which has been afforded several levels of environmental protections, and is well recognised for its diverse and healthy coastal ecosystems."
Attack on a woman in a parking lot has Jamaicans furious and a parliamentarian in limbo
Anger and cynicism have characterised online discussion about the incident, which fed into the bigger issue of gender-based violence.
