Jamaica Information Service

The government of Jamaica says it was not involved in the planning of the funeral for eight-year-old Danielle Rowe, who was murdered in June. In a release from the Ministry of Education and Youth to the media yesterday (July 23), the ministry said Minister of Education and Youth, the Honourable Fayval Williams, attended the funeral in her official capacity as Minister, and gave remarks.

Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, is imploring Jamaicans to move beyond anger, outrage, frustration and fear, and take action to stamp out crime in the country. “Let us make use of the opportunities available through Crime Stop and other channels to report what we see and know to be wrong, even as we exercise caution in protecting ourselves and our families.

The Government is providing $3 million per constituency to support back-to-school initiatives. The funds will be made available through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). “That $3 million for back-to-school initiatives, per constituency, can only be used for book vouchers and tuition support,” said Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke. He was speaking during the sitting of the House of Representatives on July 19.

Parents and guardians are being encouraged to be extra vigilant in safeguarding their children who are now out of school for the summer. ​During the long summer months, children spend a lot of time at home and engage in various social activities such as going to parties or to the beach. As such, it is important to ensure that they are safe and properly supervised, whether at home or in public spaces.

Fifty-eight certificates of title have been handed over to homeowners in the subdivision of Blenheim in Manchester. The titles, which were facilitated under aluminum company Jamalco’s Resettlement Initiative, were presented to the recipients during a ceremony on Wednesday (July 19) at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Clarendon. Other residents of the subdivision are also slated to receive titles for the properties they occupy.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) capacity to respond to incidents of domestic violence has been bolstered following the successful training of 24 police personnel under the Domestic Violence Train-the-Trainer Course.

Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, is making significant strides toward becoming an internationally certified Baby Friendly Hospital (BFH). The announcement was made by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon Christopher Tufton, who toured the Type C facility on Thursday (July 20) with a team of senior medical officials from the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA).

More than US$200,000 has been spent to provide additional beds for patients at two hospitals managed by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA). These are the Spanish Town Hospital and the Bustamante Hospital for Children. This was disclosed by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during the recent post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in St. Andrew. Dr. Tufton added that routine maintenance for the beds is also included in the procurement.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has made good on a promise to provide a female farmer from Cornwall district in St. Elizabeth, Dionne Blake, with a donkey to transport her goods.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is monitoring the uptick in COVID-19 cases and continues to urge persons, particularly the most vulnerable, to take the necessary precautions. “Our message continues to be if you are vulnerable, if you are in doubt, if you are concerned, to see your doctor,” said portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, says no application for asylum was made by the group of Haitians who entered the island illegally recently. A total of 37 Haitian nationals arrived in the island by boat last week.

Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison, says there are benefits to be gained if Jamaica’s age of consent is increased to 18 years. This revision would bring it on par with the Child Care and Protection Act, which defines a child as any person under the age of 18, one’s eligibility to vote and obtain a driver’s license, among other things.