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The Managing Director of the London-based Caribbean Council, David Jessop, has been awarded an honorary Order of Distinction (Commander Class) by the Government of Jamaica for service to Jamaica and the Jamaican Diaspora. Mr. Jessop told JIS News that he was flattered to be among those who will receive their honours and awards in Kingston on National Heroes Day (October...

The Vere Technical High School and the Lionel Town Hospital in Clarendon have benefitted from much needed upgrading and repairs, which were carried out by Jamalco as part of its 2009 Month of Service. On Friday (Oct. 9) employees renovated the gymnasium at Vere Technical, transforming it into a dormitory for male athletes, while the maternity ward and main link...

A contract valued at $27 million was signed on Thursday (October 8) between the Hounslow/Bigwoods Basic School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), in St. Elizabeth, and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), for the construction of a basic school in the community. At the ceremony at the Epiphany Anglican Church, Bigwoods, PTA Chairman, Donovan Williamson, told the gathering that, despite many setbacks...

Eleven-year-old Renae McLeod is the last of 10 children in her family but, with an unemployed, single parent mother challenged with schooling all of her children, she had to turn to selling guineps to give her mother support. During the summer holidays, while other children jetted off for their vacation or stayed home and participated in other fun activities, Renae...

John Austin All-Age School, North Central Clarendon, received a donation of posters, books, flags, DVDs and other educational materials from the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Monday (October 12). Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the JIS, Mrs. Donna-Marie Rowe, presented the items which are valued at just under $6,000 dollars, to the school's Principal, Mrs. Direna Lewis. "This is the...

Government Senator, Hyacinth Bennett, has called for the removal of "non-performing" teachers, who fail to effectively contribute to the academic development of Jamaica's youth. Making her contribution in the State of the Nation Debate in Gordon House on Friday (October 9), Senator Bennett noted that while the majority of the island's teachers and principals "do their utmost best" to educate...

The Ministry of Education is moving to improve sanitation in primary schools, after four cases of hand, foot and mouth disease was confirmed at a Corporate Area preparatory school. In an interview with JIS News, Director of Communications in the Ministry, Mr. Colin Blair, said all regional offices have been notified and steps have been taken to identify all schools...

Grace Kennedy Foundation Director, Caroline Mahfood, has said that providing scholarships for inner city residents is one of the best ways of improving their communities. "A nation's development and success is directly related to the capabilities of its human resources, consequently, scholarships benefit not only the individuals who receive them, but their families, their communities and the nation," Mrs. Mahfood...

The St. Ann's Bay Primary School expects to increase its numeracy and literacy levels, with the addition of an Enrichment Room equipped with information communication technologies. The Enrichment Room, which was officially opened on Monday (October 5) courtesy of Digicel Foundation and the Ministry of Education, is equipped with computers, as well as literacy and numeracy software such as Hooked...

The Ministry of Health has confirmed four cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) at Stella Maris Preparatory School in Kingston, after a team of health officials visited the institution and carried out their investigations. 'Due to the highly contagious nature of the disease, the school was ordered closed Thursday (October 8) by the Kingston and St. Andrew Health...

The Canadian-based charity Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF) is to build a basic school in Seaforth, St. Thomas, in honour of outgoing Consul General Anne-Marie Bonner. Chairperson of the HHJF, Karl Hale, made the announcement at the foundation's annual Jamaica Charity Ball held recently at the Donalda Club in Toronto. Ms. Bonner will demit office in October after serving as...

Government is seeking to create a trust to make more funds available to the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB). Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, said that the move will enable students to borrow more, match the repayment schedules to expected salaries, and have the loans spread over longer periods. The Prime Minister was speaking with students of the University of the...