ONE-MINUTE READS .... News from across Jamaica

Persons with disabilities urged to register with JCPD

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr, is urging persons with disabilities and their families to register with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), to access critical services, benefits and support available from the Government.

Speaking at the first JCPD town hall meeting, held at Colonel Cove in Morant Bay, St Thomas, on Tuesday, Charles emphasised that there are several benefits that flow through the JCPD  for those who are registered.

“Registration allows us (the Government) to better understand you and to connect with you and to connect with your needs and to provide better access to the available programmes, services, grants and support that are needed, importantly, during times of disaster or national emergencies,” he added.

Additionally, registration helps individuals access information and support services, including the Disabilities Rights Tribunal, which provides recourse for persons who experience discrimination because of a disability. Approved concessions and potential tax and customs duty relief may also be available to registered members. 

Westmoreland school excels in PEP 

Petersfield Primary and Infant School in Westmoreland is celebrating a strong showing in this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, even as it continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Melissa, which severely damaged the institution and has disrupted teaching and learning for months.

The school's top-performing girl, Kaliyah Hall, attained a score of 374.1 out of 400, while top-performing boy, Anjardo Munroe, earned 350.8. Both students scored 94 in the Ability Test. Several other students achieved scores above the 300 mark, with nearly all securing placement at one of their preferred secondary schools. Principal, Dr Susan Rattray-Hammond, told JIS News that the results reflect the determination of students, the commitment of teachers and the support provided by parents throughout a particularly difficult academic year.

“We are quite pleased with the performance of our students because, as everyone knows, Petersfield being in Westmoreland and the western part of the region that was hardest hit with the passing of Hurricane Melissa, our students had a number of challenges,” she said.

The principal noted that many students continue to face difficulties in their home environments, including limited access to electricity and Internet connectivity.

Tourism sector rebounding after Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica welcomed just more than one million stopover visitors along with 664,000 cruise passengers up to May 2026, according to Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett.

Speaking during the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Bartlett noted that these out-turns were achieved with only 70 per cent of the tourism inventory available following Hurricane Melissa. He noted that, in the wake of the hurricane, the Jamaica Tourist Board responded swiftly to recalibrate its strategy for the sector.

He noted that in 2025, Jamaica’s two major international airports accommodated 3.9 million air seats, resulting in 3.1 million passenger arrivals and achieving an overall load factor of 80.6 per cent. 

“That piece of statistic is important… because even though the airlines were not coming in the profusion that was before the hurricane, they were all coming full, which meant they were leaving passengers behind. So while capacity constraints remain real, the recovery is moving with purpose,” he stated.

As of mid-April 2026, Jamaica’s hotel sector was projected to rebound strongly, with capacity expected to recover to more than 80 per cent by the summer.

“Meaning… more hotels are now going to be open starting in July, in August, September, October… and by December, we’ll be somewhere about 95 per cent.”

Sanitation workers lauded

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has commended the country’s sanitation workers for their contribution to nation-building.

He noted that their work in collecting waste and keeping public spaces clean ensures healthy and hygienic communities, which makes Jamaica a better place. He urged them to take pride in the vital service that they provide and to never feel that they are less than any other professional.

McKenzie was addressing SPM Waste Management Limited’s Long Service Awards held recently at the Garden Hotel in Mandeville, Manchester. Under the theme ‘Honouring Dedication, Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Future’, the function recognised 134 workers for dedicated service between 15 and 30 years. McKenzie noted the Government’s commitment to sanitation workers by transitioning thousands of staff from contract to permanent employment, providing them with job security, improved compensation, and comprehensive benefits like life insurance, health plans, and a pension scheme.

“Already, some 2,000 are employed on a permanent basis. Employment status was made secure, we provided training for workers and put in uniforms,’’ he pointed out.