Persons with disabilities (PwDs) often have difficulty integrating into society to contribute to the economy, while providing for themselves. The Social Development Commission (SDC), through its Local Economic Development Support Programme, is helping to change that reality for PwDs in Linstead and surrounding communities in St. Catherine, through the Linstead Disabled Group Ltd. Rehabilitation Officer with Community-Based Rehabilitation Jamaica (CBRJ)...

The decision to be separated from his heavily pregnant girlfriend for eight months is not an easy task for first-time farmworker, Jermaine Wilson. This is further compounded by the fact that he will not be present for the birth of his first child later this month. Despite the apprehension, Mr. Wilson is reassured by the fact that his absence means...

Over twelve hundred cub scouts and their leaders will be attending the 15th Caribbean Cuboree in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, from July 30 to August 5. The event will be held at the Ocho Rios High School, Ocho Rios Primary School, and St. John’s Preparatory School, where 600 locals, aged seven to 11, will be joined by 600 youngsters from...

As local retailers prepare to restock their inventories in compliance with the Government’s ban on single-use plastic bags and straws, and polystyrene (Styrofoam), several enterprises are exploring wide-ranging packaging alternatives. These include: cardboard boxes, paper bags, and reusable shopping/tote bags made from canvas, cotton, nylon and other durable material. On January 1, the Government imposed a ban on plastic bags...

Recipient of the Jamaica Diaspora Agriculture Taskforce’s (JDAT) initial Investor Circle micro grants, Patricia Parchment, plans to venture into commercial bee farming. Ms. Parchment, who is currently involved in the harvesting and bottling of honey as well as the manufacturing of lotions and hair oils, is looking to get into large-scale Queen Bee rearing and beeswax production. She tells JIS...

Representatives of sports associations in Jamaica benefiting from 60 days of specialised training and competition in the People’s Republic of China, have welcomed the initiative which is being facilitated under a technical cooperation agreement between the countries. More than 400 local athletes will travel to China for training over three years, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in...

Members of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church are to assist the Health Ministry to improve the infrastructure of some 100 health centres across the island, and to spread its healthy lifestyle message to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs). President of the Jamaica Union of the SDA Conference, Pastor Everett Brown, says the church decided to support the Ministry of Health...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie, is encouraging public support for the Ministry’s vector control programme, aimed at containing and reducing dengue fever. She notes that while the Ministry heightens interventions such as fogging, clean-up activities and citizen sensitisation to reduce the prevalence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the disease, public participation...

The Mico University College Optimist Club brought Christmas cheer to the children and staff of the Olga Mendez Basic School on December 7. Established just two months earlier, on October 4, the club hit the ground running in delivering on its mandate to serve the youth, adopting the institution and making generous donations of stationery, books, appliances, toiletries and food...