BREAKING BARRIERS - Women’s Centre helping 139 teen moms to head back to school on Monday Nearly 140 adolescent mothers will return to school on Monday, a move executive director of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF), Novlette Howell, said reflects a shifting attitude towards the reintegration of teenage mothers into the classroom. “The notion where our girls are not getting into institutions, it’s a thing of the past,” she told The Gleaner.
Bartlett appeals for authentic Jamaican souvenirs WESTERN BUREAU: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is challenging Jamaica’s craft vendors and artisans to move away from imported souvenirs and seek to create authentic Jamaican products that showcase the island’s culture and creativity in their interactions with visitors. According to Bartlett, the planned physical transformation of the Old Fort Craft Market in Montego Bay, through a $53.5-million rehabilitation project, would mean little if vendors did not also seek to modernise what they produce and how they market it.
St James MC to activate funding for water trucking WESTERN BUREAU: Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says that the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) will soon activate funding to have water trucked to the parish’s drought-hit communities. In an interview with The Gleaner on Friday, Vernon said that the emergency measures are part of this year’s disaster-mitigation plans.
Chang wants major craft centre on the north coast WESTERN BUREAU: Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang is calling for the development of a major craft centre along Jamaica’s north coast as the country seeks to expand its craft industry and create greater opportunities for small businesses. Chang said Jamaica needs a facility of a much larger scale than existing craft markets if the sector is to keep pace with the growth of tourism.
Two rifles seized in St James WESTERN BUREAU: The St James police seized two illegal high-powered rifles on Thursday, the third in recent weeks. The make and model of the two rifles, which were seized alongside a quantity of assorted ammunition in Birch Hill, were not disclosed. The area has had a long history of gang-related violence and has spawned many of the murders committed in St James over recent years.
JPS provides $22m in back-to-school support Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) says it has invested about $22 million to help students, families and schools across Jamaica prepare for the 2026-2027 academic year. Through the JPS Foundation and partnerships with community organisations, the company has provided book vouchers, school supplies, uniform material, scholarships and grants, direct assistance to schools, and support for community back-to-school initiatives.
Mobility tests can tell docs how you’re ageing Hand grip strength. Balance tests. Standing up from a seated position on the floor. These physical challenges are often touted as measurements of healthy ageing and even predictors of longevity. They can provide valuable indications of your stamina and strength. They can estimate the risk of falls, which increase older adults’ risk of death. And they’re useful to doctors who work to address ageing or people with injuries. But they’re no crystal ball.
Top US docs offer updated flu, COVID vax recommendations Leading US medical groups are urging people to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, banding together Wednesday to issue shot guidelines – and highlight the science behind them – saying they hope to ease confusion caused by the Trump administration’s changing advice. Flu vaccinations are beginning and COVID-19 shots are starting to arrive after the US Food and Drug Administration approved this year’s updated versions last week. Winter also brings another vaccine-preventable risk called RSV. Exactly who should get one or all of these vaccines, and when?
‘Drop iN THE bucket’ Describing the Government’s allocation for water trucking to schools as “a good first drop in the bucket”, Anniona Jones, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS), says more sustainable measures will be needed to cope with the ongoing drought conditions affecting the island. “Now we need a regular drip so the bucket can fill up to give the capacity required so the children can get what they deserve,” she told The Gleaner yesterday.
Probe ordered after engineer fatally crushed on MoBay Perimeter Road project WESTERN BUREAU: The Government has ordered a full investigation into the death of 58-year-old Clifton Archibald James, who was crushed by a truck while working on the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project in St James yesterday. Works Minister Robert Morgan, describing James as a supervising engineer from Hendon, St James, said the tragedy “should never occur on any of our worksites”. Preliminary information is that James was carrying out measurements when a white 2023 FAW motor truck reversed into him at approximately 10 a.m.