Meet Ricardo Allen. His story begins with a challenging childhood, as at the tender age of eight, he faced the emotional upheaval of his father abandoning him and his mother. This pivotal moment shaped his outlook on life and education. “I came to Kingston, and my journey was to find my own path without a biological father,” he tells JIS...

The Godfrey Stewart High School family was left beaming with pride as the institution’s performing arts society took home a nominee prize during this year’s Marcus Garvey Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts ceremony on October 1. It was the second year the Westmoreland-based institution was being nominated for the prestigious award, instituted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission...

Legal professionals from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States are reporting strides in advancing the Needham’s Point Declaration, which outlines bold, transformative actions and critical reforms aimed at improving the criminal justice systems in their respective countries. They provided an update during the recent CCJ Academy for Law regional townhall at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, St. Andrew,...

“A beautiful transition” is how Jamaica’s 2025 Rhodes Scholar, Aundrene Cameron, has described her journey from being the 2023 Miss Jamaica Festival Queen to the recipient of a most prestigious scholarship. The 22-year-old, who proudly served as a cultural ambassador during her reign, now has the privilege of waving her flag of academic excellence even higher. “I’m so humbled and...

Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis, is calling on funeral homes to take proactive steps to inform families about the availability of funeral grants for pensioners through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. During a recent community meeting in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, he expressed concern that many families are unaware of “this crucial assistance”, which can...

Jamaica’s second smallest parish, Hanover, continues to celebrate 300 years of being accorded its status. Events are being spearheaded by the Hanover Municipal Corporation’s Civic and Community Affairs Committee; its subcommittee, Hanover 300; and the Social Development Commission (SDC). The parish reached the milestone last November, and the celebrations commenced then with a church service and gala event. Hanover was...

Twenty-year-old Olivia Reid came across a video promoting the Learning and Investment for Transformation (LIFT) Programme while scrolling on TikTok. The Queen’s School graduate then contacted her Councillor and expressed an interest in applying. Olivia was seeking on-the-job experience and an opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals, both of which the LIFT Programme promised. LIFT is a $2-billion Government of...

Twelve-year-old Canadian-Jamaican philanthropist, Jazmin Headley, has been making a significant impact in several hospitals islandwide through her charity, the Jazz Me Foundation. She has been creating safe spaces, dubbed the ‘Jazmin Corner’, for young patients to relax in hospitals or a dedicated area where parents working in healthcare can safely leave their children, while they perform their vital duties. Jazmin...

‘Welcome back to your favourite police officers, Dougie and Benjy’ is how listeners of a new radio programme in St. Thomas and Portland are greeted each Wednesday, when they tune into Earth 96FM. Dubbed ‘Let’s get it right’, the programme which is aired from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. is the brainchild of officers attached to the Community Safety and...