The year 2013 was a watershed year for Jamaica. The Government made significant strides in taking the country forward in 2013, in the face of the many challenges it faced. All Jamaicans, from all walks of life, answered the call to unite to propel the country towards its economic and social goals. This was the year the Government made significant...

While most teenagers were busy hanging out with friends or shopping for the perfect outfits for the various parties over the holiday season, 16-year-old Vanina Morrison was in the inner-city feeding 150 children at the Denham Town Basic School. The teenager, who is now attending the United World College in Montezuma, New Mexico on a scholarship, has been doing this...

‘What makes our Jamaican heritage special?’ This is the question that the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) asked young Jamaicans from all walks of life, as it officially kicks off its 2013 Heritage Essay Competition. As part of the agency’s celebration of its golden jubilee milestone as the information arm of the government, the agency invited students between 9 and 12...

WHAT DOES "AIDS" MEAN? AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: Acquired means you can catch it; Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the body's system that fights diseases. Syndrome means a group of health problems that make up a disease. AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus. If you get infected with HIV, your body...

Michel Joseph Martelly was born in Port-au-Prince on February 12, 1961, to Gérard and Madeleine Martelly, the latter born de Pradines, her father, Augustede Pradines known as Candio, was one of the most renowned troubadours in the history of Haitian music. Joseph Martelly came from family lines that not only influenced Haitian music but also played a major role in...

Heritage Week Activities Calendar of Activities The 2013 National Heritage Activities is being celebrated under the theme “Our History…Our Strength” from Monday, October 7 to Friday, October 26, 2013. Two of the main national events organized by the JCDC are: National Heritage Week Thanksgiving Church Service, Sunday, October 13 at the Power of Faith Deliverance Ministries, 3 Mercliffe Place, May...

Are you a female who smokes and has a waist measuring more than 35 inches, a non-active lifestyle, and suffer from a combination of health threatening conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and bad cholesterol? It is highly likely that you are at risk of heart disease. In fact, smoking alone makes you twice more prone to diseases of the...

The St. Elizabeth Care Committee has been providing valuable support in the care of the homeless and mentally ill persons in the parish since 2004. The committee operates from three locations. Under the leadership of then Mayor of Black River, Daphne Holmes, and first chairman, the late Joyce Francis, the first care centre was set up on the premises of...

What is the National Debt Exchange Offer (NDX)? On February 12, 2013 the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) announced the launch of the National Debt Exchange Offer (NDX), which is an exchange of debt instruments between the government and creditors on the local market. This transaction is a critical part of the Government’s economic programme and is an essential step in finalizing...