Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has charged students to make discipline their hallmark as they pursue success in their academic and personal lives. He noted that while natural talent can be a helpful starting point for achieving success, consistent discipline is crucial for sustained achievement and reaching one's full potential. “If you cannot develop good...

Seventy-four students with diverse disabilities have successfully completed the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP), gaining the skills and support needed to transition confidently into primary-level education. Of the 74 graduates, 56 will transition to primary-level special education institutions, while 18 have been successfully integrated into the mainstream school system. Addressing the annual graduation ceremony on Wednesday (July 9) at the Apostolic...

Jamaica National (JN) Money Services has launched a $500,000 scholarship programme for children of farm workers on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) in Canada. Six scholarships – two at each educational level – will be awarded: $50,000 for primary, $75,000 for secondary and $125,000 for tertiary. The JN Fields of Opportunity Scholarships was launched on Wednesday (July 9) at...

The National Children’s Registry (NCR) received 13,918 reports in 2024 relating to 25,005 incidents of abuse and other care and protection concerns. This reflects a decrease of 212 reports compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, as outlined in the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ) 2024. The document explained that the total...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that the Jamaican System of National Accounts has been updated to reflect international best practices, enhancing comparability and analytic relevance. The revisions to the Jamaican System of National Accounts include aligning the national accounts with the United Nations System of National Accounts 2008 (SNA 2008), adoption of the 2016 revision of the...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the $1-billion Solidarity Programme reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to social justice, equity and the advancement of inclusive development for all Jamaicans. “The Solidarity Programme is not just about the cash grant. It is about dignity, visibility and access,” he said in a statement to the House of Representatives...

Nearly 400 grassroots businesses are receiving vital support annually to grow, formalise and thrive through the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP). Director, Local Economic Development at SDC, Avril Ranger told a recent JIS Think Tank that the programme began in May 2015 and has since become a vital source of technical assistance and capacity-building for...