St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College is singing the praises of the Culture, Health, Arts, Science and Education (CHASE) Fund, after becoming one of the most recent beneficiaries of its Music in Schools initiative. The College received a $2-million grant in the 2021/2022 financial year, and Acting Principal, Winsome Francis, says the money was used to purchase much needed musical instruments, including...

The Social Development Commission (SDC), through its flagship initiative, Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP), has been stimulating sustainable Local Economic Initiatives (LEIs) in communities across St. Elizabeth. This is evident in the Maggotty and Retirement areas whose LEIs were recipients of grants under the programme. The Merrywood Woodcrafters’ Creations in Maggotty, owned and operated by the Merrywood Community Development...

A key component in the implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) is the creation of a new entity, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). The NIRA will assume the administration of the civil registration system in Jamaica, replacing the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), and provide enhanced services. The entity will handle the layered rollout and management of the...

“I feel like I’ve won the lottery,” said 45-year-old Zachariah Oakley after receiving a registered title to the plot of land that he has been living on since birth in Church Pen, St. Catherine. Mr. Oakley is among 128 residents of the parish who are now proud landowners, having received certificates of title for property that they have occupied for...

If you have ever visited the Spanish Town General Hospital, you may have seen her carefully tending to her patients while tactfully guiding young nurses on the job. Nurse Manager Keisha Riley-Harrow’s dedication to the job and eagerness to see others grow in the field, are admirable traits that played a huge role in her winning the 2019-2020 Lasco/Nurses’ Association...

Hundreds of students from the parishes of St. Catherine and St. Mary have been equipped with technology devices to support classroom learning. The 586 tablets were donated by New York-based Jamaican, Melvin McDonald, for needy children in his homeland. The devices, acquired at a cost of $14 million, benefited students from 85 infant, primary and secondary institutions in his native...

Eighteen-year-old Derick Bernard is fully focussed on becoming a breast prosthesis surgeon. After researching the subject, he learned of the trauma breast cancer survivors experience and has raised over $100,000 of much needed support for them. The sixth form student at Hillel Academy in St. Andrew is now an ambassador for breast cancer survivors and wants other young men to...

The Management and staff of the Spanish Town Hospital, which is the largest Type B facility in the country, are anxiously awaiting the extensive infrastructure upgrades that are to come to the 70-year-old institution. The hospital is to benefit from the largest infrastructure upgrade under the Government’s Health Systems Strengthening Programme for Public Health Facilities. The upgrade will see the...

In 1986 when young Carol Lynetta Nathan completed her job experience at the Spanish Town Hospital during her final year at the then Spanish Town Secondary School, there was no thought that the institution would become her “home” for almost 40 years. Miss Nathan who is the Billing Supervisor, is very much in love with her job and being able...