Jamaica is actively prioritising inclusivity within public-sector agencies, moving beyond mere physical accessibility, such as ramps and elevators, to comprehensive, people-centred approaches. “We have to challenge each other to now move beyond the visible markers of accessibility to confronting the deeper truth, which is that inclusion is not merely about the concrete or the walls, or the equipment; it is...

Innovator Jovan Evans, through his company, AquaFlow Products and Services Limited, is providing solutions for persons who do not have consistent access to running water, particularly in western parishes that have been severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa. His Pump-N-Spray product, for which he won a National Innovation Award in 2014, allows users to carry out water-dependent tasks in the absence...

As Jamaica’s coconut industry works to recover from the effects of Hurricane Melissa and other longstanding challenges, the Coconut Industry Board (CIB) is placing renewed emphasis on research and innovation as a key pillar of the sector’s recovery and long-term sustainability. Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Shaun Cameron, says scientific research remains central to efforts to rebuild the industry,...

As a cornerstone of the nation’s security framework, the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) is purposefully advancing on a transformative journey—elevating its operations from best-in-class to truly world-class. Through its core functions—border management, immigration control, passport services, and citizen administration—PICA plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Jamaica’s national security architecture. The agency’s key services include issuing passports and other...

For the organisers of the St. Mary Maths Expo, the event was designed not only to sharpen children’s understanding and appreciation of mathematics, but also to strengthen the bond between schools and their surrounding communities. The expo, held on March 27 at Galina Primary and Infant School, formed part of Maths Month activities observed throughout March. Staged under the theme...

For many medical students, the image of a doctor’s work begins and ends within hospital walls, wards, clinics, emergency rooms, and operating theatres. Across Jamaica, however, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Medicine’s Community Health Junior Clerkship is challenging that perception by placing doctors-in-training at the centre of the systems that safeguard the nation’s health, long before...

A new study has highlighted the urgent need for robust digital literacy to better enable teens to navigate the rapidly evolving technological environment, including responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). Digital literacy is the ability to appropriately use information and communications technology (ICT) to utilise digital resources and communicate with others. The research, titled ‘Teens and Technology Report 2025: Digital...

Emerging young music creators are urged to maximise the long-term value of their craft through publishing. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, in making the call, said that publishing ensures that creators are compensated not once, but continuously, for their intellectual property. “This is how wealth is created in the modern music industry, and it is...