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Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke, has urged parents of children with disabilities, to be more proactive in safeguarding the welfare of the youngsters. She made this plea against the background of what she said are numerous reports of disabled children being abused, particularly by family members and relatives. Mrs. Clarke, who was speaking at a parent conference staged by the Ministry...

The Special Education Unit (SEU) in the Ministry of Education is developing a policy that will guide the activities of stakeholders involved in special education. Education Officer in the Unit, Hixwell Douglas, told JIS News that a draft document was prepared, following a series of consultations involving special education stakeholders as well as other interests. "An initial submission to the...

The Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee (JNBC) is now accepting entries for the 2007 Schools' Bicentenary Essay competition, which is part of activities to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in Africans. Open to all registered students in secondary schools in Jamaica between 14 and 18 years of age, the competition is aimed at fostering...

The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has won the Wednesday, December 5 Local Government Elections taking control of nine of the country's 13 parish councils. The party has therefore repeated its Parish Council Election victory in the 2003 local polls. The preliminary results released by the Electoral Office of Jamaica showed that the Opposition People's National Party (PNP), while winning...

Significant amendments to the Contractor General Act will be brought to Parliament to criminalize breaches of the contract award procedures, Prime Minister Bruce Golding has reiterated. Mr. Golding, who was speaking at a press freedom and corruption seminar at the University of the West Indies, said, "the most amazing thing is that we have a procurement handbook setting out copious...

Several international sports officials and personalities, including Trinidad and Tobago Olympian, Hasley Crawford, are expected to attend the official funeral service of Jamaican sports hero and legend, the Hon. Herb McKenley, on Saturday, December 8 at the National Arena. Mr. Crawford bested Jamaica's Donald Quarrie to win the 100 metre gold medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Member of...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has called on the United States to join with other developed countries to explore mechanisms that could be put in place to ease the burden of heavily indebted middle income countries, such as Jamaica. He pointed out that the imbalance in the debt to GDP ratio was crippling the capacity of Jamaica to achieve meaningful and...

The College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) is conducting research into the use of biogas as a viable alternative for generating electricity. Senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science at the college, Dr. Paul Logan, tells JIS News that the research entails the conversion of pig excrement into biogas and using it to generate power. He adds that...

Some $2 million is being spent by the St. Thomas Parish Council to refurbish and beautify the Rudolph Elder Recreational Park in Morant Bay. Secretary/Manager of the Parish Council, Clinton Gordon told JIS News that approximately $550,000 will be used to replace toilet facilities, which have been in a state of disrepair over the years. He said the remaining funds...

High Commissioner to Canada, Evadne Coye has expressed sorrow at the passing of sports giant, the Hon. Herb McKenley, OM. "The Jamaica High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, wishes to extend its deepest sympathy to Mr. McKenley's wife and family on the passing of this legendary Jamaican, whose contribution has made an indelible mark on the lives of so many. The...

The Jamaica Basic School Foundation (JBSF) has launched 'Cherish Your Parish' a new initiative to encourage Jamaicans in the United Kingdom to support basic schools in the parish of their birth. The foundation hopes to raise some

Jamaican track and field legend, Herbert Henry McKenley passed away on November 26 at the age of 85, leaving behind a rich legacy in the annals of the sport. What he left behind in terms of accomplishments on the field reads like a bestselling novel, as at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games in London and Helsinki, respectively, he won...