Approximately 240 students from three communities in the Corporate Area and St. Catherine are being taught the basics of investing and money management through a series of gamified financial literacy workshops dubbed ‘Math and Money Challenge’. The initiative is being undertaken by Natty Platforms Limited through funding from the United States Embassy in Kingston and aligns with the Government’s objective...

Commercial banana and plantain farmers can benefit from the $38-million Catastrophe Fund established by the Banana Board, if they register before March 31. The Catastrophe Fund supports the recovery of farmers in the industry affected by natural disasters. General Manager of the Banana Board, Mrs. Janet Conie, tells JIS News that the Board has been visiting communities to encourage registration....

The Security Forces have advised that plans are in place to respond immediately should the country experience a major earthquake. Representatives from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM); the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); Jamaica Defence Force (JDF); Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Earthquake Unit, University of the West Indies gave the assurance, today (March 21),...

Hundreds of Jamaicans were splashed with a variety of brightly-coloured dye as they gathered to celebrate Holi – the Indian festival of colours. The event was held at the India-Jamaica Friendship Garden, Hope Royal Botanical Gardens, on March 12. Festivalgoers, some dressed in white, covered each other in hues of red, green, blue and yellow in an explosion of colour,...

High-school students across the island are being taught safe and responsible driving before getting behind the wheel, through a Learner Driver Education Programme being undertaken by the Road Safety Unit and the Island Traffic Authority (ITA). Education/Information Officer at the RSU, Dontae Matthews, tells JIS News that the programme seeks to introduce road and vehicular safety information to students, particularly...

Though loved by many, Jonkonnu in Jamaica is only practised by a few bands that still get fired up at the thought of costumed characters parading through the streets, scaring or entertaining onlookers. But this is about to change. The Institute of Creative Training and Development (ICTD), with assistance from the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, is...

As the St. Thomas segment of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) moves into the final stages, residents are excited about the prospects it will bring for the long-awaited transformation of the parish. They are hopeful that the road project will create opportunities for new business and new jobs, and open up areas for development. JIS News toured sections...

Imagine hurriedly responding to an emergency call, with a focus on getting to the location as quickly and safely as possible and, upon arrival, there is no emergency. The men and women of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) know all too well about such situations. In fact, in 2022 the JFB responded to 1,220 malicious false alarms, an increase of...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will be developing a sports complex in Norwood, St. James, as part of the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) now in place in the community. JSIF’s Managing Director, Omar Sweeney, tells JIS News that the undertaking will form part of upcoming youth engagement activities in Norwood. The complex, which will be developed under the...