On entering the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as a young constable in 1995, Detective Inspector Pilmar Powell was entreated by her mother to use her role to make a positive impact on the lives of young people. She tells JIS News that she used every opportunity while carrying out her daily duties to fulfil that promise. From her work in...

In a nation consistently plagued by water scarcity that can cripple farming, one player in the agricultural sector is urging more Jamaicans to get on board with hydroponics. The relatively new company, Fresca Farm, is championing the soil-less means of cultivating crops, which it points out offers numerous benefits. Fresca Farm’s Director, Miguel Garnett, explains that hydroponic farming is “farming...

In the small rural community of Giddy Hall, St. Elizabeth, Alandor Barrett and his wife, Doris Clarke-Barrett, cultivate the land that sustains them and feeds the nation. As Jamaica celebrates Farmers' Month in April under the theme 'Celebrating our Food Heroes’, the husband and wife represent the dedication, resilience and passion that farmers exhibit to keep the nation nourished. Their...

As Farmers’ Month activities wind down for April, the spirits of those optimistic about the future of farming in Jamaica remain high. Twenty-eight-year-old Kimaal Barrett-Prehay is one of them and she is determined to use farming to secure early retirement from her nine-to-five job and to create generational wealth for her family. In a joint conversation with JIS News with...

The safe use of radiation sources has become increasingly essential amid global advancements in medicine, energy, and technology. At the forefront of Jamaica’s safety initiatives is the Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA). The agency has evolved from a fledgling entity into a beacon of regulatory excellence serving not just Jamaica but the wider Caribbean. Central to this transformation are three...

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Karina Powell-Hood, who is the highest-ranked female officer in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), wants more young women to view the police force as a viable career choice. Speaking with JIS News, she notes that while the JCF is male-dominated, it provides the opportunity for women with the right aptitude and qualifications to have a...

The book, ‘Wild Flavours’, written by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has been described as a “unique publication, and a real-life insider experience of managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica”. Professor of Public Health and Ageing, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Dr. Denise Eldemire-Shearer, gave the description at the recent launch, held at...

A new era in public procurement is taking shape with implementation of the Contractor and Consultant Performance Evaluation Programme (CCPEP). The CCPEP is the operational arm of the Contractor and Consultant Performance Evaluation (CPE) Policy that was approved by Cabinet in 2023 and officially launched on November 15, 2023. Designed to evaluate the delivery of government contracts by contractors and...

Members of the public can now view the works of 17 of western Jamaica’s talented artists, which are on display in the Due West Exhibition in Montego Bay, St. James. The pieces, showcased at National Gallery West, include ceramics, paintings, photography, printmaking, and fibre arts, among others. They were created using a diverse range of materials. The themes largely centre...