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The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) held consultations with the St. Catherine Social Development Commission (SDC) on their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of Vision 2030, on Thursday (October 8), at the SDC's parish office, Spanish Town. Social Sector Specialist at the PIOJ, Charles Clayton, said that the SDC will assist in strengthening the community based approach to mental...

The Manchester Health Department and the Devon Community Development Committee have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a health centre in the community. The facility will be housed at the Devon Community Centre, which was spruced up from a $50,000 grant the community received for placing third in the Best Community Competition about two years ago....

Social Sector Development Specialist at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Charles Clayton, has said that a mindset change is essential if Jamaica is to solve its social problems. Mr. Clayton made the statement at a recent JIS Think Tank session, where he highlighted the social aspects of Jamaica's Vision 2030 national development plan. "A mindset change is necessary, if...

About 28 local communities are being targeted for assistance in developing disaster mitigation plans over the next three years, under the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-funded Building Disaster Resilient Communities (BDRC) project. Project Co-ordinator, Joanna Oglvie, said that the initiative, funded in the sum of J$63 million, aims to establish partnerships among key Government and community stakeholders, in order to...

The Portmore Social Development Commission (SDC) is working to develop a community safety initiative for Newlands in Portmore, which will address gang warfare and high crime levels in the area. Governance co-ordinator with the Portmore SDC office, Lloyd Erskine, told JIS News that the organisation is collaborating with the police on the initiative. He said that a community work plan...

The back-to-school problems for three students from Jericho, Eastern Hanover, have been eased with bursaries from a community organisation. A second year Bio-Chemistry student at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Sean Forbes; a second year nursing student at Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Olivia Blagrove; and a tenth grader at Rusea's High School in Lucea, Charlton Bucknor, have received...

Twenty-seven year Andre Hylton has faced a number of challenges in life. The young man, who hails from Jones Town in Kingston, tells a familiar story of inner city struggles. From growing up in a poor, dysfunctional family, where he was often left alone to fend for himself, not attending school regularly, and finally, being placed in state care after...

Playing sports on any surface that is not designed for that purpose can be a very tedious task and can result in aches and pains, which ultimately leads to many discomforts. Many communities have been doing this for years, to ensure that Jamaica produces the best athletes for world competitions. To give communities proper facilities to engage in sporting activities,...

In an effort to combat crime and violence in Cedar Grove, Manchester, members of the community, in collaboration with the Mandeville Ministers Fraternal and Northern Caribbean University (NCU), staged a stakeholders forum on April 16, at the Cedar Grove Seventh Day Adventist Church. Residents identified several areas for intervention, which could result in the reduction of crime and violence and...

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Arthur Williams, has said that the Government will be placing increased emphasis on community policing as an important strategy in creating a modernised security force and addressing crime and violence. "Everyone in the police services in Jamaica is going to have to buy-in to the concept of community policing, as that...

The community of Bucknor in Central Clarendon is to benefit from two major projects valued at $100.5 million, which will entail the rehabilitation of the road and water network in the community and the construction of a multipurpose centre. The projects, which are being funded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), through its Inner City Basic Services Project (ICBSP),...

Residents of Lionel Town and surrounding communities in Clarendon are slated to benefit from a workshop, which will provide them with information on income generation through small business development and opportunities for training. The event, which will be held on the grounds of the Bethel United Church of Jesus in Lionel Town, is being organised by the Jamaica Information Service...