When 21-year-old Peter Haynes, a two-time National Reading Competition champion isn’t diving into a good book, he enjoys holding a good conversation in one of the seven languages he speaks. “Apart from English, I am proficient in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian (and) Japanese,” Peter, who hails from Portland, tells JIS News. In August, he was awarded the 15-20 National...

The Road Safety Education in Schools Programme aims to promote and foster safe use of Jamaica’s roadways by the nation’s children. Undertaken by the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Mining, the programme targets youngsters at the primary and secondary levels. In 2021, some 24 children were lost through accidents on the roads, and one of the...

The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund continues to provide strong financial support for many cultural projects and events to highlight the nation’s heritage. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CHASE Fund, W. Billy Heaven, said the Fund has already provided approximately $49.5 million toward expenses for Jamaica’s 60th Independence celebratory events and legacy projects, and continues to...

Jamaica’s top girl for the 2022 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, Leah-Simone Powell, says her drive for academic success will continue to fuel her efforts throughout high school and beyond. The self-motivated 12-year-old student, who was also President at her former school, Reach Academy in St. Andrew, topped the list of over 17,000 girls who took the PEP examinations this...

Twenty-three-year-old Portmore resident, Tiffani Barrett, got together a group of her family members and friends to clean the Boardwalk Beach in the St. Catherine community on Saturday (September 17). The group of 12 volunteers, most of whom live in Portmore and regularly enjoy the use of the recreational space, removed plastic and glass bottles, Styrofoam containers, empty snack bags, used...

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a negative impact on many businesses, has, in several instances, spurred entrepreneurs to act quickly and decisively in order to keep their operations up and running. One such, is owner of Neasha’s Island Vibz, Reneisha Wilson, who manufactures fruit flavoured pepper sauces, non-preservative fruit wines, and a personal care product line. Ms. Wilson embarked...

Health facilities in St. Catherine are to be expanded and rehabilitated, says Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton. “If there was neglect in the past, we’re changing the sails. This parish requires high levels of health infrastructure… the population require it,” he states. The Minister was speaking during an Open House & Exhibition ceremony for the...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Chukka Caribbean Adventures continued foray into other Caribbean territories is a signal that the Jamaican tourism product is on a path of “complete” regional dominance. Mr. Bartlett, in an interview with JIS News, on September 10, says the Jamaican company’s latest investment in Antigua and Barbuda is “just another indication” that “our product”...

A new partnership on restorative justice between the Justice Ministry and the country’s faith-based community, is being hailed by church leaders as a step in the right direction to restore peace and goodwill among Jamaicans. Through an agreement signed on September 6, church leaders and members will be trained in restorative justice practices, to effectively deal with disputes and disagreements...