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Volunteers (at left) register children during the Sandals back-to-school outreach initiative, held at Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Monday (August 4).

Children Benefit from Free Medical and Dental Services in Ocho Rios

About 400 children have received free medical and dental services through a back-to-school outreach initiative hosted by Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, in St. Ann. This was done in partnership with the Sandals Foundation, the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA),...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (standing, centre) and Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for St. James North West, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (standing, right) share in the signing of documents for the transfer of lands in Albion, St. James to the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society (RCGBS) during a ceremony held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston on Monday (Aug. 4). Signing the documents are Commissioner of Lands, Cheriese Walcott (seated second left); and RCGBS Treasurer, Lewis Brown (seated second right). Waiting to affix their signatures are Legal Officer, Janet Blackwood (seated left); and RCGBS Chair, Gregory Taylor (seated right). Observing (standing from left) are the Culture Ministry’s liaison officer for Rastafari affairs, Barbara Blake-Hannah; RCGBS Secretary, Pamela Williams; and RCGBS Public Relations Officer, Donovan Murdoch.

Gov`t Transfers Lands to Rastafari Community

A school bus departs the Lyndhurst Road bus depot for Rock Hall, St. Andrew, as part of the Rural School Bus Route Tour on Monday (August 4). The route tour is aimed at ensuring that the 122 routes selected for the Rural School Bus Programme can safely accommodate the sizes of the school buses ahead of the new academic year. Buses were also deployed in Manchester, St. James, and Hanover on Monday, with plans to test out the school bus routes in Westmoreland, St. Mary and Clarendon on Tuesday (August 5). The Rural School Bus Route Tour will continue until the end of this week.

PHOTOS: Rural School Bus Programme

Senior Director of the Veterinary Services Division, Dr. Ikolyn Ricketts.

Owners of Animals Urged to Get Them Tagged

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (fourth right) and Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister, Hon. Floyd Green (third right) with the 2025 winners in the National Champion Farmers Competition, at the 71st Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show closing ceremony, on Sunday, August 3. Also with the winners are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dermon Spence (fourth left) and Vice President of Hi-Pro, Colonel Jaimie Ogilvie (fifth left).

PM Invites Investors to Capitalise on the Many Opportunities in Agriculture

Deputy Chairman of the National Health Fund (NHF), Michael Stern, addresses the official handover ceremony for the refurbished Darlow Health Centre, in Clarendon, recently.

8 months ago Health & Wellness

NHF Approves $624 Million to Upgrade Health Centres

The National Health Fund (NHF) Board has approved $624 million for continuous upgrading and refurbishing of health centres across the island, says Deputy Chairman of the agency, Michael Stern. In a recent interview with JIS News, he said the projects will be done under the Government’s Operation Refresh initiative, to ensure that the primary healthcare facilities are in the best...

Acting Parish Manager for the St. Catherine Office of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Shana-Lee Archibald, speaks with JIS News, recently.

8 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Community Members in St. Catherine Benefit from Interventions by SDC

Several community members across St. Catherine are benefitting from social interventions by the parish’s Social Development Commission (SDC). Through the agency’s social service fairs, persons are receiving their Tax Registration Number (TRN), birth certificates, National Insurance Scheme (NIS), grants through the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), according to Acting Parish Manager of the SDC, Shana-Lee Archibald. She...

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon.

8 months ago EducationYouth

Education Minister Urges Innovation in School Leadership

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, is urging school leaders to embrace innovation and bold ideas to improve educational outcomes. Addressing principals and other senior educators at a recent School Leadership Conference in St. Ann, the Minister underscored the importance of educators being creative in their teaching methods. “If there’s anything you...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, addresses the ribbon cutting ceremony for the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s (NSWMA) Waste Separation Bin initiative in Sam Sharpe Square on July 31.

8 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal GovernmentTransport

Smart Bus Stop for Mount Salem in Montego Bay

Work is underway to establish a smart bus stop in Mount Salem, Montego Bay, as part of efforts to modernise transportation and enhance public safety in the second city. “The cordoning off of the area has started so the project is now being implemented,” said Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon. He was addressing the unveiling of the National...

8 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

NSWMA Launches Waste Separation Bin Initiative in Montego Bay

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) launched its first-ever Waste Separation Bin initiative in Montego Bay on Thursday (July 31), marking a major step towards promoting a cleaner environment and a more sustainable Jamaica. The project involves the placement of bins at strategic points throughout the city to encourage members of the public to separate plastics from general waste....

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (right), presents 2025 Gospel Star winner, Raheim Betty, with his $1 million cheque and trophy at the Jamaica Gospel Star Competition, held on Sunday (August 3), at the National Indoor Sports Centre, in St. Andrew.

8 months ago CultureEmancipationIndependence

Jamaica Gospel Star Crowned

Raheim Betty was crowned the 2025 Jamaica Gospel Star, following a powerful night of worship, inspiration, and musical excellence at the National Indoor Sports Centre, in St. Andrew, on Sunday (August 3). Mr. Betty emerged the winner from a group of four finalists, delivering a moving performance of ‘I Must Tell Jesus’, that moved the audience to worship and praise....

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (right) looks at a product on offer at the Fruit Blossoms booth, while entrepreneur Kadeen Harvey looks on. Minister Green went on a tour of booths at the 71st staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show at the Denbigh Showground in May Pen, Clarendon on Saturday (Aug. 2).

8 months ago Agriculture

New Scholarships for Agriculture Students

Starting this year, the top boy and girl in agricultural science in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination in each parish will receive a full scholarship to pursue tertiary-level agricultural studies in Jamaica. The scholarship programme is among youth initiatives announced by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, while delivering the main address on day 2...