Farmers across Jamaica are being encouraged to test soil pH as a critical step in improving crop productivity and getting better value from fertiliser use. Testing determines if soil is too acidic or alkaline, which directly impacts nutrient availability and prevents over fertilisation. Soil Fertility Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Dennis Joosse, tells JIS News that understanding soil...

For months, the Infant Department of Lethe Primary and Infant School in Hanover remained silent, its chairs caked in dried mud, books, equipment and damaged or destroyed, and floors buried under silt after the Great River overflowed its banks during Hurricane Melissa last October. Floodwaters rose nearly to the top of the building, leaving behind a thick layer of mud...

With campuses at Lyssons and Pear Tree River, the Ena Barclay Academy of Excellence is revolutionising special needs education in St. Thomas. The first and only secondary-level special needs school in the parish, catering to students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, the institution is built on a foundation of care and compassion, and the unshakeable belief that every child can thrive....

On World Cancer Day 2026 (February 4), the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) brought together survivors, healthcare professionals, and members of the public at its Kingston headquarters under the global theme: ‘United in Unique’. The gathering highlighted that while every cancer journey is deeply personal, collective action is vital in advancing the fight against the disease. This engagement formed part of...

Users of the Hope Road Transportation Centre in Morant Bay are enjoying improved cover from the sun and rain following the construction of a shed by the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation. The busy centre, which accommodates buses and taxis, is mainly used by persons travelling to the eastern parts of the parish such as Lyssons, Retreat, Prospect, Leith Hall, Port...

For 17-year-old Abigail Dixon, renewable energy represents both a pathway to Jamaica’s sustainable future and a personal calling – one rooted in curiosity, strengthened by training and now propelling her onto the international stage. A native of Highgate, St. Mary, Abigail is a sixth form student at St. Mary Technical High School and one of Jamaica’s most promising young talents...

When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025, Project STAR (Social Transformation and Renewal) teams were actively implementing social and economic transformation initiatives across several under-resourced communities in the western region. Like many other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Project STAR’s initiatives were disrupted by the large-scale devastation of the Category 5 hurricane. Yet, while other entities withdrew from the affected communities,...

One hundred and seventy-five Jamaicans have benefited from $140.6 million disbursed through the HEART/NSTA Trust Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Tertiary Scholarship Programme. The scholarship programme responds to HEART’s triple access strategy to provide financial access and reduce the cost-related barriers that limit participation in skills training and TVET-related studies. It was launched in 2022 to mark the...