On World Cancer Day 2026 (February 4), the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) brought together survivors, healthcare professionals, and members of the public at its Kingston headquarters under the global theme: ‘United in Unique’. The gathering highlighted that while every cancer journey is deeply personal, collective action is vital in advancing the fight against the disease. This engagement formed part of...

Users of the Hope Road Transportation Centre in Morant Bay are enjoying improved cover from the sun and rain following the construction of a shed by the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation. The busy centre, which accommodates buses and taxis, is mainly used by persons travelling to the eastern parts of the parish such as Lyssons, Retreat, Prospect, Leith Hall, Port...

For 17-year-old Abigail Dixon, renewable energy represents both a pathway to Jamaica’s sustainable future and a personal calling – one rooted in curiosity, strengthened by training and now propelling her onto the international stage. A native of Highgate, St. Mary, Abigail is a sixth form student at St. Mary Technical High School and one of Jamaica’s most promising young talents...

When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025, Project STAR (Social Transformation and Renewal) teams were actively implementing social and economic transformation initiatives across several under-resourced communities in the western region. Like many other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Project STAR’s initiatives were disrupted by the large-scale devastation of the Category 5 hurricane. Yet, while other entities withdrew from the affected communities,...

One hundred and seventy-five Jamaicans have benefited from $140.6 million disbursed through the HEART/NSTA Trust Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Tertiary Scholarship Programme. The scholarship programme responds to HEART’s triple access strategy to provide financial access and reduce the cost-related barriers that limit participation in skills training and TVET-related studies. It was launched in 2022 to mark the...

While Sergeant Albert Simpson was on the front line in Black River during Hurricane Melissa, safeguarding lives and property, his parents were losing the roof of their house hundreds of kilometres away. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) sub-officer in charge of traffic for St. Elizabeth, tells JIS News that he was stationed at the Black River Police Station, during and...

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is employing a hybrid approach, utilising both traditional as well as satellite and solar technology solutions, to restore community and public Wi-Fi sites that were damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Melissa. Chief Executive Officer of the USF, Charlton McFarlane, tells JIS News that the objective is to make the USF’s Wi-Fi infrastructure more resilient to...

When 42-year-old Kayanne Cole decided to go into farming, she did not know how to properly use a machete. She had never cleared land, never planted a crop and never imagined herself operating a farm. “I knew absolutely nothing about farming,” Miss Cole tells JIS News. Just over two years later, the financial advisor and mother of two is cultivating...

The Restorative Justice (RJ) Programme under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has maintained a minimum 80 per cent success rate in resolving conflicts, reflecting growing national confidence in the programme. Through thousands of conferences annually, the programme has successfully repaired relationships, with agreements signed in the majority of cases accepted, Acting Director of the RJ Branch, Sheron Betancourt,...