The Social Development Commission (SDC) is committed to fostering community engagement and development by effectively leveraging sports and community-driven initiatives to achieve its mission. Through its Sports for Community Development Programme (SCDP) initiative, which engages residents through sports while promoting life skills, unity and economic opportunities, the SDC has been positively impacting communities islandwide. During fiscal year 2024/25, the agency...

The Abilities Foundation of Jamaica provides training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, which enables them to function as productive citizens. Managing Director, Suzanne Hamilton, tells JIS News that the institution is uniquely positioned as the sole entity in the Caribbean dedicated to supporting individuals across all types of disabilities. The Foundation operates through a collaborative partnership involving the...

Plans of becoming a pilot were quickly replaced when Shane Lyn-Cook tried his hand at farming and planted his first crop of carrots in 2022. He was so taken with the whole experience – from planting to reaping – that he has since committed to a career in the farming industry. His 1.5-acre farm in Aboukir, St. Ann, is now...

For more than two decades, the Scientific Research Council (SRC) has been leading the charge in wastewater treatment innovation in Jamaica. Through the development of anaerobic wastewater treatment technology, the SRC is providing a sustainable and energy-efficient solution to address the island’s water management challenges. The SRC’s Process Development Manager, Arlando Dunkley, says this technology stands out from conventional systems,...

Little Bay Primary and Infant School in Westmoreland has received a new school bus, thanks to the National Education Trust (NET) and the Embassy of Japan in Jamaica. The 29-seater 2024 Toyota Coaster bus was purchased at a cost of $11 million and was acquired through grant funding under the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects of the government...

The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) is on a mission to bolster stakeholder relations and attract more investors islandwide. To this end, Senior Director of Business Partner and Support Services, Licia Grant, told JIS News that the Authority is set to establish an office in western Jamaica during fiscal year 2025/26. “What it means is that we will have...

The Coconut Industry Board (CIB) is working with farmers to safeguard the coconut sector, which is facing challenges such as praedial larceny, climate change and access to affordable lands. These issues have caused a drop in production, affecting the availability of byproducts such as coconut oil, which can cause price increases. Speaking in a recent JIS Get the Facts interview,...

Director and Curator of the Jamaica Music Museum (JaMM), Herbie Miller, is of the view that this year’s staging of the Grounation series “lived up to the expectations”. The annual series showcases cultural and educational lectures, panel discussions and performances organised by JaMM, a division of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), which is an agency of the Ministry of Culture,...

Navigating the various tax obligations can sometimes be a complex process for both individuals and businesses alike. Those with grievances have an opportunity to have their disputes resolved through the Revenue Appeals Division (RAD), which was established as an independent appellate to hear the appeals of taxpayers against decisions of the revenue authorities. Speaking on the Ministry of Finance and...