The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) is reaffirming its commitment to building a strong culture of data privacy as the country observes Data Privacy Month in January. Information Commissioner, Celia Barclay, said the Month, with the theme ‘Take Control of Your Data’, is being used to intensify public education and awareness around data protection. This is in keeping with...

Jamaica’s national security landscape continues to show marked improvement, with the downward trend in murders recorded in 2025 continuing into the new year. Data for the first 12 days of 2026 reveal a significant reduction in crime, with 12 murders reported across the island. “We still want to get it lower, but think about what that trajectory would lead to...

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has indicated that all 1,010 of the island’s public schools, across the infant, primary, and secondary levels, are now operational, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. The institutions are using different operational modalities, including face-to-face classes, remote lessons and a staggered approach to reopening. “Within the seven most severely...

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has announced several changes to the administration of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), to accommodate students impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October. The Ministry has also modified the National Standards Curriculum, which is used in primary-level institutions and up to the grade-nine level. Acting Chief Education Officer, Terry-Ann Thomas-Gayle,...

Psychosocial support and targeted learning-loss interventions have served as central pillars of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information’s recovery effort in Region Five in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Regional Director, Susan Nelson Smith, told JIS News that emotional well-being was prioritised before and during the reopening of schools. She noted that the initiative was first implemented among...

Students at Stony Hill Technical High School in St. Andrew are now benefiting from enhanced access to digital training and workplace-ready skills, following the official opening of an Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM) and Customer Engagement Laboratory at the institution. The facility, valued more than $10 million, was commissioned on Friday (January 9) and represents a major investment by...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has sought to reassure Jamaicans that there is no ban on festive celebrations. The Prime Minister was responding to rumours circulating on social media that citizens were prohibited from hosting parties during the Christmas season. Dr. Holness warned that misinformation has the potential to undermine public order. “There are those people…who are...