According to the Ministry of Education and Youth (MoEY), approximately 35,000 children are born in Jamaica each year, with just about half of them falling within the three-month to three-year age range. With this in mind, the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is emphasising the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child's life in shaping their cognitive development. To...

The ever-rising temperatures worldwide are a result of global warming – a component of climate change. Jamaica is not spared from the impact of climate change. According to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Jamaica is prone to experience more extreme weather conditions, such as increasing temperatures, with the hottest period being mid-July to mid-August. During the summer months, the Ministry...

Regulation 158 of the new Road Traffic Act outlines the diseases and disabilities which will cause a person to be ineligible for the granting of a driver’s licence. These include: Epilepsy Insanity Aneurysm Angina pectoris Defective vision to a degree corresponding to a standard of vision of less than 6/12 with glasses Disease of the nervous system giving rise to...

Regulation 61 of the new Road Traffic Act, states that a motor vehicle which is being operated on the road shall be built and maintained to allow the driver a full and clear view of the roadway and the traffic ahead, to the right and to the left of the vehicle. Regulation 62 sets out that a motor vehicle having...

In alignment with the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022, protective measures have been put in place to safeguard motor cycle drivers, pedal cyclists and pillions. Motor Cycle Drivers/Pillions A person driving a motor cycle or who is a pillion on such motor cycle: Shall wear a protective helmet that is the correct size for the person and that has been designed...

All lamps that are fitted to the motor vehicle, pursuant to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022: Must be in good working condition Must be capable of being lit and properly secured Must be kept lit during the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light...

In the event of an accident, the Road Safety Unit (RSU) of the Ministry of Transport and Mining, has provided a set of instructions for motorists to follow. Process The first action is to stop at the scene, take photos or videos of any tyre marks on the road, positions of the vehicles, and retrieve the following information: Full name...

The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) remains committed to reducing crime and protecting its citizens. Every Jamaican can employ a greater level of responsibility for their personal safety with the help of several GOJ initiatives. Stay Alert App This mobile application (app) was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of National Security (MNS) to allow the public to contact the police....

Effective January 1, 2023, biological fathers of newborns, and newly adoptive parents, are now entitled to 20 working days’ paternity and adoption leave with pay. Paternity Leave Paid leave can only be accessed on three occasions within each government organisation Full-time male employees, 18 years or older with at least 12 months of continuous service whether contracted or in a...