The Heart Foundation of Jamaica is encouraging healthy living among Jamaicans through its “Are you drinking yourself sick?” campaign. The campaign is supported by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and seeks to educate Jamaicans about the harmful effects of excessive sugar consumption. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to obesity and related illnesses such as diabetes; heart, kidney, and liver diseases,...

Recycling is the process by which used materials are converted into new, usable products. According to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Jamaica produces an average of 8,657 tonnes of solid waste per day. Improper waste disposal leads to pollution of air and water, and damages the ozone layer. Recycling is one way to help minimise these problems. Recycling...

As of February 15, 2018, the one, ten and twenty-five cent coins will be demonetised and no longer be legal tender. This action will be applicable to cash transactions only. Therefore, where the total amount of a transaction is not a whole number, this total should be rounded up or down according to the following guidelines: • A cash transaction...

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation; the Ministry of Health; and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information have opened Teen Hub at the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre. The centre offers homework help, research facilities, counselling and clinical services as well as mental health support. The centre is manned by certified counsellors and peer educators. The competent staff will provide guidance, healthcare information,...

December 9 is International Anti-Corruption Day. The aim of the observance is to raise awareness about corruption and of the role of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in combating and preventing it. The observance also presents an opportunity to highlight the steps taken by the Government to fight corruption in Jamaica. Initiatives such as the passage of the Law...

The Ministry of National Security has launched a mobile application known as ‘Stay Alert’. The application allows citizens to contact the police for assistance. All information sent through the “Stay Alert” app is anonymous. The application has four main sections: ‘Panic Mode’, ‘Alerts’, ‘Report’ and ‘The Law’. • Panic Mode allows persons in distress to alert the security services directly...

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, observed on 2nd December, is an opportunity to highlight the Government’s significant efforts to eradicate modern slavery. ‘Modern slavery’ is used to describe practices, such as forced labour, forced marriage, and trafficking in persons (TIP). Persons in such situations are unable to refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or...