Jamaica’s commitment to strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection and supporting its creative industries was underscored during a visit by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General, Daren Tang, to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. The visit highlighted ongoing efforts to boost awareness of copyright and expand access to IP protection for local creators. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Olivia...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jamaica Household Workers Union to support collaboration in training, occupational safety, health awareness, and public education. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., announced the undertaking during his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on May 19. He noted, too,...

Deputy Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica, Mohammad Mohiuddin, says the organisation remains committed to supporting long-term improvements in Jamaica’s early-childhood systems and services. Mr. Mohiuddin gave the commitment during the opening ceremony of the seventh annual Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Professional Development Institute (PDI), at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James, on Monday (May...

A 26 member committee has been appointed to evaluate Jamaica’s early-childhood policies, programmes, and implementation levels using the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Early Childhood Care and Education–Progress Assessment Tool for Transformation (ECCE PATT). Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Chair, Trisha Williams-Singh, told JIS News that the diagnostic tool was launched on April 28, and the committee convened...

The Government has revamped the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) to speed up the delivery of social protection benefits to vulnerable families. Making his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 19, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said that the changes undertaken have reduced the excessive...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will deploy two additional mobile therapy units to bring care directly to children with special needs in deep rural communities. The move falls under the Access Jamaica initiative, which is an expansion of the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) and forms part of the Ministry’s response to the growing demand for early intervention services....

The Government is moving to implement Phase II of the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme, representing its transformation into a more accountable, technology-enabled and community-supported recovery system, focused on delivering better outcomes for Jamaicans. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., reported that more than 115,000 persons have been assessed, of which 43,000...