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Social Development Commission (SDC) Executive Director, Omar Frith (right), looks at a finished bouquet, while Parish Manager for SDC Portmore, Ishiwawa Hope (centre), speaks to the designer and one of the workshop instructors, Lataliah McFarlane (left), during the agency’s second annual Youth Entrepreneurship Skills Symposium (YESS!) in St. Catherine,

SDC to Implement Programmes to Strengthen Local Economy in 2026/27

The Social Development Commission (SDC) will continue to implement programmes and initiatives, aimed at strengthening the local economy for the 2026/27 fiscal year. Executive Director of the SDC, Omar Frith, made the disclosure on the JIS television programme ‘Get the...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), hands over a new guitar to musician and regular visitor to the St. Ann Drop-in Centre, Allmond Belnavis (left), during a visit to the facility in Ocho Rios, on Tuesday (April 7). Looking on are St. Ann's Bay Mayor, Michael Belnavis and Secretary of the Board of Supervision, Treka Lewis.

Drop-In Centre Visitor Receives Guitar from Minister

Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Hon. Tova Hamilton (third right, front row), poses with students from Mulgrave Primary School in St. Elizabeth, which is among the beneficiaries of 20 dual‑fuel 15,000‑watt portable generators donated for distribution to educational institutions most affected by Hurricane Melissa. The generators were handed over during a ceremony held on Tuesday (April 7) at the National Education Trust (NET) Building, Caenwood Centre, Kingston. The donation was made possible through a collaboration involving Jamaica Vacations Limited (JamVac) and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, with support from its local affiliate, MSC Jamaica Limited. Other participating stakeholders include (from left, back row) Senior Education Officer, Region Four, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Everette Riley; NET Executive Director, Latoya Harris-Ghartey; MSC Jamaica Limited Managing Director, Roger Hinds; JamVac Executive Director, Joy Roberts; Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Executive Director, Dr. Carey Wallace; Assistant Chief Education Officer in the Education Ministry's Guidance and Counselling Unit, Kennecy Haynes-Davidson, and Mulgrave Primary School Principal, Ryan Stone.

20 Generators Donated to Aid Recovery in Hurricane-Affected Schools

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (second left), interacts with (from left) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; Half Moon Chairman, Guy Steuart; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Delano Seiveright at the reopening of Eclipse at Half Moon in Rose Hall, St. James, on April 2.

Tourism Sector Experiencing Strong Rebound Following Hurricane Melissa

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Deanroy Bernard (seated left) and Regional Director and Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Regional Office for the Caribbean, Eric Falt (seated right) sign the Declaration of Intent for the Establishment of a Culture and Creative Industries Fund on Thursday (April 2), at the Ministry's New Kingston offices. Observing the moment are Portfolio Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange (standing center); Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe (standing left) and UNESCO Director General, Khaled El-Enany.

Declaration of Intent Signed for the Establishment of a Culture and Creative Industries Fund

Caption: Chief Operating Officer of Seminole Gaming, David Hoenemeyer (left) recently presented a cheque valued at US$400,000 to Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (second left) at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Sharing in the moment were Consul-General of Jamaica to Miami, Oliver Mair (second right), and Jamaica

5 days ago CultureEntertainmentGender AffairsHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoverySport

‘I Love Jamaica’ Initiative Raises US$1 Million

A total of US$1million has been raised through the ‘I Love Jamaica’ concert series, in support of recovery efforts, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. The concert series include events held in Jamaica and at venues overseas, supported by international artistes and the country’s reggae and dancehall music fraternity. The initiative was recently bolstered through a US$400,000...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addresses the official reopening ceremony for Bahia Principe Runaway Bay in St. Ann on Wednesday (April 1).

5 days ago Hurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryIndustryTourism

Tourism Sector Nears Full Recovery After Hurricane Melissa

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the sector is rapidly approaching full recovery from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, with arrivals now nearing pre-disaster levels. He indicated that continued room restoration across the island, coupled with sustained demand for Destination Jamaica, is positioning the sector for a strong rebound in the months ahead. Mr. Bartlett was speaking during the reopening...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), cuts the ribbon to officially reopen the Bahia Principe Runaway Bay in St. Ann on Wednesday (April 1). Joining Mr. Bartlett are (from left) Managing Director of Bahia Principe, Jonay Guerra, and Tourism Director, Donovan White.

5 days ago Hurricane MelissaIndustryTourism

Bahia Principe Reopening Signals Strong Tourism Rebound After Hurricane Melissa

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the local sector continues its strong rebound from the effects of Hurricane Melissa with the reopening of the Bahia Principe Runaway Bay property in St. Ann, marking another major step in the country’s recovery. He was speaking at the official reopening ceremony for the resort on Wednesday (April 1), where more than 660 rooms...

Managing Director of the Karing Hearts Foundation, Kayann Wallace (fourth right); her daughter, Ebony Johnson (right); Principal of Bath Primary School, Devmarie Blake-Brown (fourth left); Bath Primary School student, D

5 days ago CommunityDisaster ReliefEducationHealth & WellnessHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryInformationScienceSkillsYouth

Karing Hearts Foundation Brings Easter Cheer to Bath Children

The St. Thomas-based Karing Hearts Foundation has helped to make Easter a little brighter for children of Bath, through the donation of care packages containing food, clothing and other essential items. The presentation was made on Wednesday (April 1) at the Bath Primary School and benefited students from the institution as well as Bath Basic School. Speaking with JIS News,...

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon.

6 days ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Jamaicans Urged to Adopt Responsible Disposal Practices

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, is urging Jamaicans to adopt responsible disposal practices for bulky waste as the agency intensifies efforts to manage large-scale refuse, and curb illegal dumping across communities. Mr. Gordon was speaking to journalists during a coastal clean-up activity at the South Gully in Montego Bay, St. James, on Tuesday...

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, addresses a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’.

6 days ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

NSWMA Improving Garbage Collection in Western Jamaica

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, says the agency is strengthening its fleet management to improve garbage collection across western Jamaica. He noted that trucks and crews from other areas have been deployed to support operations in the region. “We don’t sit on our hands… . We bring in, from time-to-time, extra trucks from...

Senior Strategist, Consultant and Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Michael Pryce, addressing a recent JIS Think Tank.

1 week ago AgricultureDisaster ReliefFisheriesHurricane Melissa

Farmers Urged to Boost Production to Ensure Food Security

Senior Strategist in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Michael Pryce, is calling on farmers to boost production to safeguard the country’s food security, particularly as another hurricane season approaches. “Do what you do best – produce. The Ministry will support you. We will not always be perfect, and we may not be as timely all the time as...