The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is urging fishers to avoid the use of lead-acid batteries as weights for their fishing lines. Facilitator in the NFA’s Safety at Sea Training Programme and Head of the Caribbean Maritime University’s (CMU) Department of Professional Training and Certification in the Faculty of Marine and Nautical Studies, Kyle Shaw, said the use of cheap and...

The Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) has announced plans to diversify its loan products to meet the needs of Jamaicans seeking new and flexible learning opportunities outside of traditional degree programmes. The new product offerings are expected to expand financing options for Jamaicans, enabling access to a broader spectrum of studies—including professional certifications and emerging skill areas vital to national development....

The Jamaica Food and Drink Festival 2025, scheduled for November 13–16, is set to showcase culinary innovations designed to delight the palates of discerning patrons. The event promises a vibrant fusion of spices and flavours, complemented by rhythmic music and artisanal beverages. The media launch for the festival, which has been endorsed by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon....

The Blue Economy remains one of Jamaica’s most valuable resources, presenting opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable fisheries, tourism, shipping, logistics and marine technology. Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said these opportunities can only be unlocked through collaboration. “The future of our ocean depends on partnership. Governments, industry leaders, maritime professionals, and indeed every citizen, must play...

The National Museum Jamaica (NMJ), a division of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), will host its inaugural Heritage Debate on October 3, in partnership with the Jamaican Association for Debate and Empowerment Limited (JADE). The moot for the debate is: “Should Jamaican Patois Be Considered an Official Language?” The debates replace the annual Heritage Lecture traditionally hosted by the NMJ...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has outlined a holistic plan to weave tourism more deeply into Jamaica’s broader economy. Speaking at a briefing with reporters at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on September 26, Mr. Bartlett said the country must move beyond siloed thinking and create seamless connections between tourism and other key sectors to unlock new opportunities, spur...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), Kaysia Kerr, is appealing to parents to pay close attention to changes in their children's behaviour and never ignore the signs, in response to the rise in student suicides. In an interview with JIS News, Ms. Kerr noted that behavioural shifts, whether subtle or extreme, can be early indicators...