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The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is seeking to capitalise on the successful staging of activities during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the country’s Independence. According to JCDC Director of Field Services, Marjorie Leyden-Vernon, the Commission will be maintaining the Jamaica 50 parish committees which had been formed to assist in the design and implementation of the parish...

On National Heroes Day, Monday, October 15, some 157 Jamaicans will be presented with national honors and awards, for outstanding contribution to the country's development through their service in various fields. The annual ceremony, held on the lawns of King's House, takes on even greater significance this year, as it is being held at a time when the country is...

All is in place for the staging of this year’s Heritage Essay Competition by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS). The competition is being hosted by the agency for the second time, and the topic for this year’s essay is: ‘Fifty years later...Do we still need National Heroes?’ “We recognise the need to engage our children’s interest in nationally relevant issues,”...

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, said that eradicating the scourge of child abuse remains a top priority for action by the Government. She noted however that "this is not a job alone for the Government," and other stakeholders, such as the church, will be engaged. "We are currently leading a series of community forums and I would...

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, has reiterated the Government’s strong commitment to addressing the problems affecting the youth cohort. She said the focus must be on creating economic opportunities for young people; fashioning lasting solutions to the social phenomena that affect them; ensuring the protection of children  and at-risk youth; and to culturally reverse the mindset that...

The Ministry of Youth and Culture, through the Child Development Agency (CDA), took its message of personal responsibility for child care and protection to Westmoreland, where over 180 cases of child abuse has been reported between January and May this year. The third in a series of island-wide community forum and expo was held at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall,...

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, says government will be spending some $1.5 Billion on programmes for children through the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the Office of the Children's Registry (OCR), this fiscal year (2012/13). Addressing a CDA community forum and expo at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall, Savanna-La-Mar, on Thursday (September 13), Minister Hanna said, this...

The Friendship Infant School, located in Strawberry, Westmoreland, was officially opened on Wednesday (Sept. 12), by Minister of Education, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites. The 100-student capacity school, constructed through $21 million in funding from the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, boasts modern facilities, furniture and equipment. It is the first of 10 early childhood institutions being...

More than 7,000 young people in communities across the island are set to benefit from an expansion of the services under the Citizen Security and Justice Programme II (CSJP II). This will be made possible through an additional injection of grant funding, totalling some $1.04 billion (£7.25 million), from the Government of the United Kingdom. The funds, to be channelled...

Several activities are slated to be held island wide during September to commemorate the life and work of one of Jamaica's renowned cultural exponents, the Hon. Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley, fondly known as “Miss Lou”. The activities, being organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), include: Ring Ding in the Park; tribute concerts; Miss Lou debates; story telling; library exhibitions;...

Childhood obesity continues to be a serious problem in Jamaica, with more than 11 per cent of children, 10 to 15 years old, and 35 per cent of teenagers, between 15 to 18 years, being classified as overweight or obese. The Government is moving to address the issue and other lifestyle diseases, through the recently established National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)...

Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Representative to Jamaica, Margareta Skold, says there is need for an increase in preventive and promotional actions to discourage young people from engaging in dangerous lifestyle behaviours. "Adolescence is a time of experimentation. Many of today’s and tomorrow's leading causes of death, disease and disability can be significantly reduced by preventing risk behaviour initiated...