Flanking Pastor Claudia Ferguson, chair of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee, are Jonathan Brown (left), Manning’s School board member, and Courtney Campbell, president & CEO of the VM Group.
THE historic Manning’s School in Westmoreland, which was ravaged by the October 28, 2025 Hurricane Melissa, will get a rebuilding boost for its wellness centre from this year’s National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB).
The 46th staging of the NLPB will focus on western Jamaica, with the historic Thomas Manning Building structure, which is believed to be the oldest-surviving part of the institution that was built in the early 20th century, being the focus.
“This year the VM Group and the NLPB have identified simultaneously the charity for sponsorship as the Manning’s School, and we are focusing again on the sick bay which requires significant rehabilitation,” said secretary for the NLPB Committee Reverend Wayneford McFarlane during media briefing on Wednesday.
Past chairman of the NLPB Committee, Reverend Sam McCook, said the project, which is valued at $2.8 million, will be undertaken in collaboration with the Manning’s School Past Students Association.“The project involves spending roughly $2.5 million on a modular structure, $300,000 on some ancillary aspects which they regard as a baseline. That is in excess of what we have traditionally done as a breakfast, and we indicated to the past students that we may not be able to fully fund that, but they welcomed the support and the efforts will be made to compliment what was done,” said McCook.
In the meantime, president and CEO of VM Group Courtney Campbell said its organisation stands in support of all the objectives and the virtues promoted by the NLPB.“We believe in the power of faith, we believe in the effectiveness of prayer, we believe in the importance of unity, and we believe, like many others, righteousness exalts a nation,” Campbell said.
Underscoring Melissa’s devastation to western parishes, the NLPB Committee announced on Wednesday that the annual National Week of Prayer for this year will be launched in that section of the island, with the first service being held at the First Church of the Open Bible in Montego Bay, St James.
The week of prayer will culminate on the morning of January 15 with the NLPB, which will be held under the theme ‘Caring for our neighbour’.
Every year, Data Privacy Week gives us a good reminder about something many of us don’t think about daily: how much of our personal information is floating around online. Most people have no idea how their digital activity is tracked, stored, or shared. And honestly, it can be overwhelming. This week creates a moment for all of us to pause, reflect, and take back control of our online footprint.
Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to join the Digicel Foundation team as we visited schools across the island through our Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme to provide interactive presentations about safe internet use. Being on the ground has been eye‑opening. What our volunteers hear from students mirrors what I’ve seen firsthand: children are sharing everything online.
Photos, their location, personal updates, you name it. They jump onto platforms without thinking twice, and most aren’t even aware that privacy settings exist, much less how to use them. And the truth is, they are not being reckless on purpose. For them, the internet is just a normal part of growing up. But the consequences of what they post can last much longer than they realise.
We warn our children about so many dangers, but sometimes we forget to talk about digital ones. The reality is that once something is online, it rarely disappears. That’s why it’s so important for us as parents, guardians, teachers, and community leaders to help guide them.
This is exactly why programmes like Safer Internet Together are so important. SIT takes the conversation beyond the warnings and delivers real, practical, age-appropriate solutions. We go into classrooms not just to tell children what not to do, but to show them exactly how to protect themselves by using relatable examples from the apps and platforms they use daily. We show them how to turn on their privacy settings, how to recognise warning signs, what is safe to share, and what really should not be online at all. And the change in their attitude is almost immediate. You can see the lightbulbs go on when they realise how one small decision today can affect them for years down the road.
Here are a few of the tips we share with students that we can all use:
Think before you post. Would you be okay with your teacher, future employer, or family seeing it?
Check your privacy settings often. Apps update frequently, and defaults are not always in your favour.
Don’t share personal information publicly. This includes your school, address, location, or daily routine.
Use strong passwords and avoid using the same one for everything. Be careful with friend requests. Not everyone online is who they claim to be.
At the end of the day, our goal is to help young people enjoy the internet safely and confidently. Data Privacy Week is a great reminder that we all have a role to play. Remember to educate our children about data privacy and how to be S.M.A.R.T online.
S- Say kind things, don’t tease or send mean messages. Block or report someone who is unkind. M-Manage time online, take breaks and spend time offline playing or reading. A- Ask for help from a parent or trusted adult if you feel unsafe. R- Responsible – Think about your actions online. If you wouldn’t do it face to face, don’t do it online. T-Tell a teacher or parent if someone or something online makes you uncomfortable.
Tickets for the highly anticipated Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026 Finals will go on general sale from Friday 7 February, available online at www.cplt20.com.
Cricket fans will have an opportunity to secure early access to tickets ahead of the general sale.
CPL mailing list subscribers will receive an exclusive early-access link on Tuesday 4 February. You can subscribe for the mailing by clicking here
Visa cardholders will be able to purchase tickets during a dedicated presale window on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 February.
All four knockout matches, including the CPL Final, will be staged at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados, promising an unforgettable climax to the 2026 tournament.
As an added incentive, fans who purchase tickets for all four knockout matches will be automatically entered into a prize draw to have their tickets for the CPL Final upgraded to a fully inclusive VIP experience.
Pete Russell, CEO of the Caribbean Premier League, said: “The CPL Finals are always a special occasion, and bringing all four knockout matches to Kensington Oval gives fans the chance to experience an incredible week of world-class cricket in one of the game’s most historic venues. We’re delighted to offer multiple early-access opportunities for supporters and to add something extra with the VIP upgrade prize draw for those attending all four games.”
Republic Bank CPL 2026 Knockout Schedule
(All matches at Kensington Oval, Barbados)
Wednesday 16 September 2026 – Eliminator
3rd place team vs 4th place team
Thursday 17 September 2026 – Qualifier 1
1st place team vs 2nd place team
Friday 18 September 2026 – Qualifier 2
Winner of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifier 1
Sunday 20 September 2026 – CPL Final
Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2
With the Caribbean’s biggest cricket festival building toward a thrilling finale, fans are encouraged to secure their seats early to avoid disappointment.
CCRP Westmoreland representative Charmaine Allen (third left), Hubie Chin (left), Faye Smith and David Spence prepare to distribute care items to the elderly in Darliston, Westmoreland
Charmaine Allen, Westmoreland representative of CCRP (Caribbean Community of Retired Persons), had a frightening experience at her house in Darliston when Hurricane Melissa caused widespread destruction in the town. She and her sister, who was visiting from abroad, tried to secure the house as much as they could, but as her roof peeled off and her house flooded they had to escape to her car, which had debris around it, but, thankfully, no direct hit.
Two days ago we took care packages donated by Food For the Poor Jamaica to elderly folks in Darliston. Allen, my husband, and I were assisted by officers David Spence and Faye Smith from the Darliston Police Station, also badly damaged by the storm. Although electricity had been restored on Friday to a section of the business area, neither Allen nor the police had power, as many lines were still down.
Despite this, Allen was more concerned about the elderly than for herself. She guided us to their homes, some difficult to access, and gave words of cheer to the elderly, two of whom were bedridden. One of the elderly women had been assaulted two years ago, and it was Allen who had organised with us and her pastor to give assistance and comfort.
A Manning’s School alumna, Allen is hoping that the distinctive spire at the front of the school will be rebuilt. On our drive through Savanna-la-Mar and Ferris, we saw new construction and heavy traffic. However, there are still many missing roofs and battered buildings. We hope that the construction plans announced will help our brave but suffering citizens.
Digicel Foundation CEO Charmaine Daniels (right) hands over $300,000 worth of hardware vouchers to Sadie Brisstell, administrative assistant at West Haven Children’s Home, during a visit to the facility in Hanover.
Throughout the Christmas season, the Digicel Foundation is bringing renewed hope to families impacted by Hurricane Melissa through the distribution of $30 million JMD in Hardware and Lumber Limited vouchers to support home repairs and rebuilding efforts, with a strong focus on western Jamaica, where communities were among the hardest hit. This initiative forms part of the Foundation’s ongoing hurricane relief and recovery programme, which has seen volunteers on the ground weekly, delivering critical assistance to vulnerable families, schools, and special needs institutions since the passage of the storm. “Christmas is a time of hope and togetherness and we wanted to ensure that families who were severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa are not forgotten,” said Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation. “These hardware vouchers represent our commitment to helping families restore dignity, safety, and stability as they move forward.” In addition to hardware vouchers, the Digicel Foundation has expanded its care packages to include essential hygiene supplies, such as soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. The care packages also include solar lights, helping families navigate ongoing power challenges. These enhanced packages continue to be distributed alongside food assistance to communities still facing disruption months after the hurricane. To date, the Foundation’s hurricane relief efforts have reached 35 communities and groups across the island, delivering over 6,000 food packages and more than 900 hygiene packages, with 1,000 hardware vouchers set to be distributed as part of this phase of recovery.
Prime Minister of Jamaica Dr Andrew Holness (left) being greeted by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola at the start of the G20 Summit recently.
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness commanded international attention as he spoke at session one of the Group of 20 (G20) Leadership Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday. He described our country’s economic progress over recent years, then soberly declared: “Yet one external shock can undo years of progress. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, has devastated seven parishes, its impact will negatively affect our debt trajectory and the road ahead will be challenging. This is our reality today. But it is also the recurring story of vulnerability told by small island developing states across Caricom”.
“Global partnerships will be essential to our recovery,” he said. “The G20 commitment in 2021 to recycle SDR [special drawing rights] allocations led to the creation of the IMF [International Monetary Fund] Resilience and Sustainability Trust. This facility provides developing countries with relatively low-cost financing and longer maturities. We urge the G20 to preserve and strengthen this mechanism.”
The rage of Hurricane Melissa was brought on by the warming of our oceans, producing steady 185mph winds and a 252mph wind gust, the highest ever recorded on Earth. Even as our little island is controlling the use of single-use plastics and promoting climate responsibility, we are at the mercy of developed countries whose priorities differ.
Therefore, our prime minister has rightfully appealed for “innovative, flexible financing solutions” and called on the G20 “to advance a rules-based, equitable global trading framework that enhances predictability, flexibility, and resilience for small economies.” The sight of our devastated parishes and suffering people calls for a more compassionate and practical solution for the challenges facing small island developing states like Jamaica.
(L–R) Dr. Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills Youth and Information; Principal of The Mico University College, Dr. Asburn Pinnock; CEO of the Digicel Foundation, Charmaine Daniels; and Digicel Foundation Chair, Joy Clark, cut the ribbon to officially open a Smart Lab at The Mico University College. The lab is the second of five being installed at teachers’ colleges across the island.
The Digicel Foundation has officially handed over two state-of-the-art Smart Labs to St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College and The Mico University College, marking another milestone in its mission to advance education through technology and innovation.
The Smart Labs, each outfitted with 24 laptops and a Mimio-compatible smart board, are part of the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that teacher training institutions are equipped with modern tools to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. Speaking at the handover ceremony of the Smart Lab at St. Joseph’s Teachers College on Thursday, October 09, 2025, Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, said the investment reflects the Foundation’s dedication to building a more inclusive and technology-driven education system.
“Teachers are the backbone of our society. Every doctor, engineer or scientist begins with a teacher who believed in them. And today, in this digital age, we want to give our teachers the tools that will make their work more impactful and more efficient,” Daniels said. “This Smart Lab has been fully retrofitted and outfitted with advanced technology, including 24 laptops and an interactive Smart Board powered by Mimio Studio Educational software.”
At St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College, the newly installed Smart Lab has already been embraced by faculty and students. Winsome Francis, Principal of St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College, expressed her gratitude for the initiative, noting its alignment with the college’s mission to prepare 21st-century educators.
“This Smart Lab is a game-changer for our students,” said Francis. “It allows us to expose future teachers to the technology they will use in the classroom, helping them to innovate and connect with learners in new and exciting ways. We are thankful to the Digicel Foundation for making this possible.”
Meanwhile, at The Mico University College, the second of the two Smart Labs was officially handed over earlier this week. Dr. Asburn Pinnock, President of The Mico University College, said the lab will enhance teaching practice. “This Smart Lab embodies the intersection of education and technology that will now serve as a powerful hub of creativity, collaboration and digital literacy,” Dr. Pinnock stated. “The Lab will provide a dynamic space for teachers to explore innovative teaching methods and a training ground for lecturers to model technology integration and instruction.”
Representing the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary, commended the Foundation for its continued partnership and support of national education priorities. “We applaud the Digicel Foundation for understanding the mission and vision of transformation in education,” said Dr. Troupe. “This investment means that our teachers will be equipped with the skillset to prepare our young people for the global digital economy. As this lab comes available, I encourage our teachers to embrace the new learning opportunity.” The Smart Labs at St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College and The Mico University College are the first two of five labs in teacher training colleges the Digicel Foundation will roll out this financial year as part of its STEM and digital literacy programme.
Digicel Foundation Board Director, Wayne Smith, engages with St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College Student Union President, Sariek Edwards (left), and Vice President, Alex Hepburn, inside the newly opened Smart Lab. The lab is the first of five being installed at teachers’ colleges across the island.
Trench Town youngsters Steve Lawrence (left) and Everton Levy enjoy their introduction to drone technology with Andrew Thomas (centre), senior telecom engineer at Brightstar, Debbie Green (second right), general manager Brightstar, and Luke Buchanan, executive director Mona GeoInformatics Institute.
A new chapter of technological innovation was unveiled in south St Andrew community of Trench Town on Tuesday as Brightstar Lottery Jamaica (BLJ) commissioned an after-school advantage centre, equipped to facilitate drone technology training for the youth in the area.
The handover ceremony, which was held at the Trench Town Community Development Committee (CDC), marked the company’s 15th donation of an after-school advantage centre and the beginning of its third annual drone technology workshop, an initiative aimed at equipping young people with hands-on experience in drone operations.
In the keynote address, general manager at BLJ Debbie Green pointed out how drone technology has been transforming the world and argued that this innovation was necessary to ensure that Jamaica’s youth are not left behind in the ever-changing nature of the technological world.
“Drone technology isn’t just some distant future. It is real, it is present, and it’s shaping industries right now. Drones are rewriting what is possible. The global drone market is projected to exceed US$100 billion within the next few years. The question is now: whether our young people will participate in this economy,” said Green.According to Green, she has high hopes for the possibilities of the centre and urged the youth in the community to make the most out of the opportunity they have been given.
“It’s not just about access to computers, it’s about access to emerging technologies while they’re still emerging. It’s about ensuring that our Caribbean youth aren’t merely consumers of innovation, but creators of it. To the students here today, you are part of a community that has always punched above its weight — that has always reached higher,” she said, as she underlined the Trench Town’s cultural significance as the hometown of musical legends Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and several others.“That same creative audacity that placed Trench Town on the world map through music now positions you to put it on the map through technology. The opportunities before you are boundless. You are a part of a community that speaks boldness. Your actions here today require curiosity, courage, and commitment. This centre is your launch pad. These drones are your tools, but the altitude you reach, that’s for you to determine,” added Green.
In the meantime, Lascelles Page, who delivered the vote of thanks, said he was invigorated by Green’s words of inspiration.
Page told the Jamaica Observer he was excited to see innovation that can impact the youth in his community.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for youth to come and learn. The training is great especially with the computers being here too. So I’m really grateful for that, I love to see this because this is my hometown, I grew up here, you know? So seeing this is just… I really appreciate it,” said Page.
He added that his introduction to drone technology has now broadened his horizons and has given him new passions and dreams in terms of possible career routes.
With opportunity now at his fingertips, Page declared that he is determined to make the most of it.
“I feel like learning how to use and fly one of these drones will open up new career paths for me because, as I said, technology is the future. So there will be jobs, like at Grand Gala where they use the drones to do the lights, I think that’s great.
“Somebody has to be the one who controls all of those drones. So I feel like doing this will help me unlock that door to get into this field. It’s not something that I thought about before, so that’s why I think it’s a great opportunity for me,” said Page.
Lascelles Page delivering the vote of thanks as Brightstar Lottery Jamaica (BLJ) commissioned an after-school advantage centre, equipped to facilitate drone technology training for the youth in Trench Town.Debbie Green (left), general manger Brightstar Lottery Jamaica, and Zann Locke acting president, Trench Town Community Development Committee, share the moment following the ribbon cutting to signal the opening of an after-school advantage centre, equipped to facilitate drone technology training for the youth in Trench Town on Tuesday.
Managing director, Caribbean operations and chief operating officer of Marubeni Power International Mo Majeed (third left) shakes hands with Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) Principal Teri-Ann Bernard during the recent handover of items to the institution. Sharing the moment are (from left) Takuya Kokawa, associate, Marubeni Power International; Keisuke Harada, senior manager, Marubeni Power International; Trudy Powell, campus manager, CCCD Knockpatrick campus; and Owen-Rand Dowdie, campus manager, CCCD Kingston campus.
He may hold a prestigious position with Marubeni Power International, but Mo Majeed said occasions like his recent visit to the Cassia Park Avenue Campus of the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD), were his favourites. Majeed and his colleagues Damian Obiglio, Keisuke Harada and Takuya Kokawa have collaborated with various organisations including Food For the Poor, packing and distributing care packages and building a home for the needy in previous years.
Ajeed congratulated CCCD Principal Teri-Ann Bernard and staff for their significant contribution to the education of Jamaica’s deaf community. He said that his company is committed to supporting Jamaica’s most vulnerable learners and promoting accessible education. They donated $3.2 million for the purchase of computers, deep freezers, and wall fans to enhance learning opportunities and improve facilities for students who depend on specialised educational resources.
Students at the 2025 Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp examine robotics components and reference materials under the guidance of staff volunteers and Centre Supervisors, developing technical skills through collaborative learning.
Brightstar Lottery (“Brightstar”), successfully completed its fifth annual Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp with 100 Caribbean students graduating from the programme. Comprised of students from five Caribbean territories – Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands – the Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp proved that geography cannot limit Caribbean youth’s technological potential.
From July 14-25, students from Brightstar’s After School Advantage Centres immersed themselves in a cutting-edge curriculum developed with the Mona Geoinformatics Institute (“MGI”) at The University of the West Indies. Under the theme “Coding Opens Doors”, participants didn’t just learn technology – they became creators, innovators, and digital architects of the Caribbean’s technological future.
“The digital literacy gap isn’t merely a technological challenge; it’s a matter of economic sovereignty for Caribbean nations,” said Shelly Ann Hee Chung, Brightstar’s Director, Antilles. “Through our Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp, we cultivated a generation of innovative thinkers who transformed from technology consumers to creators, establishing a foundation for sustainable digital economies across our islands.”
The Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp featured two distinct learning tracks. Level 1 students mastered web development fundamentals, learning HTML for content creation, CSS for design, and JavaScript for interactivity. Their capstone projects included personalised websites featuring Home and About Me pages, Coding Careers pages exploring technology opportunities, Coding Tools pages highlighting development resources, and Contact Us pages – all inspired by the camp’s “Coding Opens Doors” theme.
Level 2 participants advanced into artificial intelligence (“AI”) and robotics, exploring AI applications, creating machine learning models using Google Teachable Machines, and building functional robots using VEX robotics platforms. Students engaged with cutting-edge technologies, including Robotic Process Automation and participated in VR.VEX virtual reality activities.
“In the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, early exposure to computational thinking proves as fundamental as traditional literacy,” said Debbie Green, General Manager, Brightstar Jamaica. “Our multi-island approach to the Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp demonstrates our commitment to democratizing access to these critical skills, ensuring that geographical constraints don’t limit any child’s opportunity to participate in the digital future.”
The programme’s success was measured not only in technical skills acquired but in the transformation of student perspectives on technology careers. Participants discovered how coding opens doors to industries ranging from healthcare and finance to entertainment and environmental conservation, directly addressing the Caribbean’s need for homegrown technology talent.
Throughout the camp, students worked in virtual breakout rooms, fostering collaboration across territories while building individual expertise. The programme’s hands-on approach yielded extraordinary results. Students created working web calculators, interactive image carousels, and AI models addressing everything from hurricane preparedness to sustainable tourism. Their final presentations demonstrated not just technical proficiency but creative problem-solving that directly addressed Caribbean realities.
“By designing content that’s accessible to students regardless of their technical background, we are helping to cultivate the next generation of innovators who can use mapping, software engineering, data analysis, and geospatial thinking to solve real-world problems in their communities,” said Luke Buchanan, Executive Director, MGI.
The 2025 Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp’s success arrives at a crucial moment. As Caribbean governments prioritise digital transformation and seek homegrown technology talent, Brightstar’s investment in youth development provides exactly the skilled workforce these ambitions require.
This fifth annual achievement positions Brightstar as more than a technology company – it’s a catalyst for Caribbean excellence, proving that strategic investment in youth education yields transformational results that can benefit entire regions for generations to come.
Students collaborate on coding projects during the 2025 Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock!, developing essential digital skills via interactive technology education.
Jamaica Highlights 