The Jamaican Diaspora in the People’s Republic of China has blossomed into a vibrant and influential community, playing a pivotal role in strengthening Jamaica’s presence within one of the world’s largest nations. At the forefront of this movement is Dr. Nicoleen Johnson, a Shanghai-based academic and community liaison, who has become a leading voice and visible representative of Jamaica’s expanding...

Professor Emerita of Social History at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Verene Shepherd, is calling on Jamaicans to embrace the principles of National Hero, Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey. She noted that his teachings on mental emancipation and celebration of African identify continue to resonate in contemporary society, providing a framework to address many of the struggles people...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, is encouraging the academic community to provide feedback on the Green Paper for the National Policy on Culture, Entertainment and the Creative Economy. The Policy was tabled in the House of Representatives by the Minister. “Critique it, strengthen it, and help shape its final form,” she said in her address...

Newly crowned Miss Hanover Festival Queen 2026, Tracey-Ann Lewis, has pledged to use her reign as a platform to champion literacy and mentorship initiatives for young people across the parish. Ms. Lewis, a 27-year-old biochemist and science teacher at Rusea's High School in Lucea, was crowned during the parish coronation show held at the institution on Saturday (June 6). The...

Contestants in the 2026 Miss Hanover Festival Queen Competition paid a courtesy call at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Montego Bay Regional Office on May 21 as part of their grooming and training activities ahead of the coronation show on June 6, at the Ruseas High School quadrangle in Lucea. They are joined by JIS Acting Regional Manager, Nickieta Sterling...

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has announced the official opening of entries for the 2026 Creative Writing Competition and Exhibition, beginning June 1. Workshops covering the categories of plays, poetry, short stories, novels, essays, and screenplays commence on May 30, offering participants both face-to-face and virtual options. Speech and Literary Arts Development Specialist at the JCDC, Aisha Parker, told...

Jamaican institutions and scholars will receive a significant share of £450,000 (approximately J$91 million) in programme funding, under the PASSAGE (Partnership for Atlantic Slavery Scholarship, Archiving and Global Exchange) initiative. The scholarship falls under the PASSAGE International Research Mobility Programme, which was launched on Wednesday (May 27), at the British High Commission in Kingston. It is supported by a £1-million...