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As the global recession deepens, Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke, has recommended that more counselling facilities or services be established or begin to avail their services to caregivers, to assist them in responding to the uncertainties of this period. This, she noted, will be necessary, if caregivers are to avoid stress transference to children under their care. Mrs. Clarke said that...

Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke, has emphasised that the marked increase in reports of child abuse to the Office of the Children's Registry (OCR), does not translate to increased incidents of child abuse in Jamaica. Mrs. Clarke was responding to international media reports of an increase in the incidence of child abuse in Jamaica. Speaking with JIS News, she explained that...

Jamaica's heritage and culture was part of the celebration of cultures worldwide, at the 12th annual KALEIDOSCOPE 2009, held on January 25, at the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the United States of America (USA). More than 30,000 visitors turned out to participate in the all-day festival, which showcased cultural diversity and unity in Palm Beach County....

A number of activities have been planned by the St. Catherine Parish Council, in commemoration of the 475th anniversary of the founding of the City of Spanish Town. Spanish Town will be celebrating 475 years of existence in July and to kick off the celebrations, the Parish Council is hosting a parliamentary style debate, incorporating all high schools in the...

Jamaicans in South Florida in the United States of America,will celebrate the life and legacy of the late cultural icon, Louise Bennett-Coverley O.J., with the staging of the second annual Louise Bennett-Coverley Reading Festival on Sunday, February 1, at the South Regional Broward Community College Library in Pembroke Pines starting at 1.30 p.m. Titled "Defining Miss Lou and Her Impact...

With the impact of the financial crisis crunching down on world economies, and concerns about job losses increase, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), through its Special Youth Employment and Training (SYEAT) project, is preparing young people for opportunities that may arise during and in the aftermath of the crisis. In so doing, SYEAT has partnered with Institute...

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports, Olivia Grange, along with executives of the Jamaica Conservation Development Trust (JCDT), have signed documents to facilitate the declaration of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park as a World Heritage Site, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The signing took place during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing...

Director of Tourism and Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), John Lynch, has said that the annual Jazz and Blues festival "is very essential" to Jamaica's tourism sector, in terms of bringing visitors to the island at a time of the year, when there is usually a slowdown in arrivals. "January, traditionally, is a very challenging month for the...

The Office of the Children's Registry (OCR) is reporting a significant increase in the number of child abuse and endangerment reports made to the agency last year. Registrar of the OCR, Carla Edie told JIS News that between January and December 2008, the agency received 3,784 reports, which was 3, 359 more than the 425 complaints received over the same...

Eight young people from Montego Bay are visiting the United Kingdom as guests of the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans (BATH) in Durham, East Yorkshire, to take part in a series of cultural and social exchanges. The group, which comprises six students and two youth leaders, participated in the official opening of the Jamaica Difference 2008 Exhibition which was held yesterday...

Thousands of children are set to benefit from a playground to be constructed on a section of the lands of the National Heroes Park. This comes as the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) has successfully forged a partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ and Kids Around the World. The play equipment valued at approximately US$100,000 is being donated free of charge...

During the month of February 2009, the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports (MICYS) will once again carry out a number of activities in celebration of Reggae Month. Reggae Month which is in its second year, comes against the background of 2009 marking the 50th anniversary since the birth of the formal Jamaican Music Industry. The Minister, the Honourable...