Plans are under way to develop a HEART/NSTA Trust-certified facility on the grounds of the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home in Walderston, Manchester, where persons will benefit from skills training in woodwork and welding. Director of the home, Patrick Newman, tells JIS News that the work will start as soon as the boys are relocated to the new state-of-the-art building being...

The National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), an agency of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, is currently accepting applications for the next cohort of its Aspiring Principals Programme (APP) in April 2021. The training is designed to adequately prepare individuals for the role of principalship prior to being appointed to the post. Principal/Director of NCEL, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton,...

With road fatalities exceeding 400 so far this year, Education/Information Officer, Road Safety Unit, Cameal Brooks, is calling on Jamaicans to adhere to the road safety rules to protect themselves and other road users. In an interview with JIS News, Ms. Brooks reminds Jamaicans that the safety messages have been implemented to save the lives of motorists and pedestrians alike....

The third time’s a charm for actor and educator, Akeem Mignott, who took home the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence in arts and culture this year after two previous nominations. He was first nominated in 2013 and again in 2017. The 27-year-old, who spoke to JIS News shortly after the made-for-television awards ceremony on December 13, says he...

Sub-Officer in charge of the Above Rocks Police Station in St. Catherine, Sergeant Garfield Wallace, was not surprised that his team walked away with the coveted Top Station award for Area 5 in the recently held Transforming Our Police Service (TOPS) Competition. He tells JIS News that the lawmen have set a high standard for themselves in terms of customer...

There has been a significant increase in the use of information technology (IT) as persons work, study and conduct business from home due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. IT Manager at the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), Andrew Evelyn, tells JIS News, that with more persons going online using their phone, laptop or tablet, they are being exposed...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), in collaboration with its partners, successfully staged a month of activities on diabetes awareness, during November. Director of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) at the Ministry, Dr. Nicola Skyers, tells JIS News that the global theme for World Diabetes Day, which focused on nurses, was adopted for the local observation. She explains that the theme...

In 2016, Certified Public Accountant Serika Sterling decided to take the leap to start a business that would assist micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) in becoming tax compliant. Mrs. Sterling tells JIS News that she had recognised at the time that entrepreneurs were not able to take advantage of opportunities due to lack of tax compliance and improper records....

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is employing the use of technology to effectively carry out its mandate, which is focused on trade facilitation, revenue collection and border protection, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Chief Executive Officer/Commissioner of the JCA, Velma Ricketts Walker, tells JIS News that several business processes have been fast-tracked to enable the entity to safely and efficiently...