The elderly are an underserved community in Jamaica.
On my way downtown last Tuesday morning, I opened my WhatsApp messages to see photographs of an elderly woman tied to a wheelchair with a wound on her forehead. She appeared to need a bath. They were sent with an urgent appeal for help by her daughter living overseas, who had been sending funds for her care. I later found out that a social worker from the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) had visited the lady and was working with the family to ensure her safety.
Our team was heading to Gordon House to make CCRP’s presentation to the special select committee of the Senate mandated to develop legislation for the care and protection of the elderly. As the image of this poor lady flashed through my mind, my voice cracked at times. It has been a long road for CCRP, as we had activated our advocacy in 2017, writing releases and corresponding with representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Health.Let us applaud Senator Professor Floyd Morris who moved the motion to push this legislation forward. It was seconded by Senator Sherene Golding Campbell, who immediately agreed to chair the Senate committee which began hearing submissions within a few months. We are grateful for the comments and suggestions made by the members at the meeting last week — senators Golding Campbell and Morris, Senator Dr Sapphire Longmore, Senator Sophia Fraser Binns, and Senator Kavan Gayle.
We welcome the announcement by Senator Dana Morris Dixon that reading will be treated as a separate subject in primary schools beginning in September. There was wide participation for Read Across Jamaica last Tuesday, and the attention and participation of the children showed their enthusiasm for books.
This took me back to the days when our father would take us to Tom Redcam Library to borrow books every week, followed by ice cream treats. Of course, we did not have the competition of digital media in those times, so it is harder for parents to manage their children’s reading habits. This initiative will ensure that children become better readers, which will prepare them for understanding texts on all subjects and directions in their examinations. As the saying goes, ‘Readers are leaders.’
VATICAN CITY, Holy See — Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, arrives on the main central loggia balcony of St Peter’s Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, on May 8, 2025. (Photo: AFP)
We Catholics held our breath after we saw the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel where the conclave of cardinals met to elect a new Pope.
There was joyous celebration at the message, “Habemus Papam” (We have a Pope). We had been in mourning after the passing of the compassionate Pope Francis and prayed that the new pope would follow in his footsteps, calling for peace, engaging the downtrodden, and concerned about environmental endangerment.
As we read about the most popular candidates, we saw two favourites from the Philippines and Africa — Cardinals Luis Tagle and Peter Turkson of Ghana, and there were comments that this would bring hope to Catholics in the developing world. The name of Robert Prevost did not appear in the betting reports; yes, there was active betting on who would be the new pope. Even then Cardinal Prevost had said to his brother John a few days before the conclave, “Not going to happen.”
But scarcely had 24 hours of the conclave passed that there were two-thirds or more votes (we will never know the exact number) electing Prevost, Pope Leo XIV, and his life story was revealed to the world. We learned that this Chicago-born cardinal had answered his vocation to become a monk of the Order of Augustine. His degree in mathematics resulted in him being offered a place at Harvard. Instead, he opted for the priesthood and studied at the Pontifical College of St Thomas Aquinas where he received a doctorate in canon law.He was then sent by his superiors to serve in Peru, where he is reported to have become a fatherly figure to the people of the city of Chiclayo. He rode on horseback and carried bags of provisions on his back to the poorest in remote areas. He became so close to the people that he had said he would serve there for the rest of his life. Later he was named bishop of the city and became a naturalised citizen of Peru. However, his leadership qualities led to him being appointed the head of the Augustine Order, and he subsequently relocated to Rome. Most recently he was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops at the Vatican, overseeing the selection of bishops.
It is no wonder then that on the social media platform X he reposted statements criticising the current US actions against immigrants. He has also posted a comment opposing Vice-President JD Vance’s hierarchical approach to love. He expressed sorrow at the killing of George Floyd and, surprisingly, this was criticised by a functionary in the current US Government.My non-Catholic friend in Florida chuckled, “Jean, your new Pope is a browning!” Ancestral records reveal that Pope Leo’s mother was a Creole from Louisiana and her father was a Haitian born in Santo Domingo, while her husband was of French ancestry. This has also been on repeat on social media. Racists may describe him as a ‘one-drop’ man of colour.
However, this Pope, who is fluent in five languages and who turned his back on a comfortable life to share the discomfort of the poor, has risen above such labels. He is now the leader of 1.4-billion Catholics worldwide, numbers matched only by the populations of India and China.
Here in Jamaica, Catholics are about 1.5 per cent of the other Christian denominations. However, we have a large footprint in education and service to the needy. Jessie Ripoll’s Alpha and Mercy community, Father Holung’s Missionaries of the Poor, Monsignor Ramkissoon’s Mustard Seed Communities, Food For the Poor founded by Ferdie Mahfood, Sister Benedict Chung’s Laws Street Centre, Archbishop Dufour’s Good Shepherd Foundation all testify to our emphasis on service to ‘the least of our brothers [and sisters]’. Even strong anti-Catholics boast about their children’s achievements at Catholic schools. Although these institutions may have been founded by Catholics, there is no discrimination against students or beneficiaries of other religions, as we follow Jesus’s teachings that every human being is our neighbour.
Catholics have been outstanding business leaders and indeed represent a high percentage of those in the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Hall of Fame. We have had, and still have, some strong voices in political leadership, including Alexander Bustamente, and are proud that National Hero Marcus Garvey and our famed poet Claude McKay became Catholic converts.
Last Sunday CCRP was hosted by the Bethel Baptist Church for our 15th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service. Afterwards, I thanked Reverend Rosalena Robinson for her warm welcome and told her I was a Catholic. She replied that it was the theology of the Catholic Church that she and fellow pastors had studied. The teachings of Christ and His first leaders prevail. May our new Pope Leo XIV be blessed as he preserves the legacy of our first Pope, St Peter.
The Animal Welfare Advocacy Group (AWAG), led by president and co-founder Dr Blossom O’Meally Nelson, has been in talks with several stakeholder groups to promote the humane treatment of animals. AWAG is growing in strength, having built working relationships with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mining and Fisheries and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Its recommendations for updating animal welfare legislation are being reviewed and “have made every effort to get the Ministry of Tourism to set standards for animals used in tourism”, notes Dr O’Meally Nelson. They are concerned at the proliferation of “fake vets” and are alerting the public to ensure that they use licensed practitioners for the protection of their animals. AWAG is planning a public education programme and is reaching out to media for their support.
We used a comfortable Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus for the shuttle service to the JMEA Expo at the National Arena. What a contrast to the “Jolly Joseph” buses of our school days. We acknowledge that Dr Peter Phillips has done yeoman’s service in the establishment of JUTC, but big congratulations must go to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz for the expansion of JUTC routes to rural areas and the introduction of school buses for long-suffering students.
Jaevion Nelson commented on social media: “Was having a convo with my uncle the other day about the rollout of public transportation in Clarendon. He said the impact is huge. People are saving a lot. His son gave up his place in town and travels, saving about $300 each way, and get a comfortable ride to town. All this time I thought it was just about two routes JUTC had there. I’m very happy for them. Long time public transportation should be offered to other parishes.”Thank goodness for efficient transportation initiatives, a must for social and economic development.
Jamaica ranked 26th of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index.
We used to brag that Jamaica usually placed in the top 10 for press freedom. This week we were relegated to 26th position, the lowest I can recall, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters sans frontières). However, to be 26th of 180 states is no shame; the only Caribbean country ahead of us is Trinidad and Tobago at 19th and many developed countries are behind us. Check https://rsf.org/en/index for some interesting ratings.
The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has described our slippage as “a wake-up call”. It noted: “The RSF report highlights a troubling erosion in the relationship between the media and public institutions, especially the state. It cites growing mistrust, limited transparency, and increased economic vulnerability among newsrooms. These trends threaten to undermine public interest journalism and democratic accountability.” I should declare here that I am one of three trustees of the PAJ, serving with Laura Tanna and Franklin McKnight.We used to brag that Jamaica usually placed in the top 10 for press freedom. This week we were relegated to 26th position, the lowest I can recall, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters sans frontières). However, to be 26th of 180 states is no shame; the only Caribbean country ahead of us is Trinidad and Tobago at 19th and many developed countries are behind us. Check https://rsf.org/en/index for some interesting ratings.
The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has described our slippage as “a wake-up call”. It noted: “The RSF report highlights a troubling erosion in the relationship between the media and public institutions, especially the state. It cites growing mistrust, limited transparency, and increased economic vulnerability among newsrooms. These trends threaten to undermine public interest journalism and democratic accountability.” I should declare here that I am one of three trustees of the PAJ, serving with Laura Tanna and Franklin McKnight. We used to brag that Jamaica usually placed in the top 10 for press freedom. This week we were relegated to 26th position, the lowest I can recall, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters sans frontières). However, to be 26th of 180 states is no shame; the only Caribbean country ahead of us is Trinidad and Tobago at 19th and many developed countries are behind us. Check https://rsf.org/en/index for some interesting ratings.
The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has described our slippage as “a wake-up call”. It noted: “The RSF report highlights a troubling erosion in the relationship between the media and public institutions, especially the state. It cites growing mistrust, limited transparency, and increased economic vulnerability among newsrooms. These trends threaten to undermine public interest journalism and democratic accountability.” I should declare here that I am one of three trustees of the PAJ, serving with Laura Tanna and Franklin McKnight We used to brag that Jamaica usually placed in the top 10 for press freedom. This week we were relegated to 26th position, the lowest I can recall, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters sans frontières). However, to be 26th of 180 states is no shame; the only Caribbean country ahead of us is Trinidad and Tobago at 19th and many developed countries are behind us. Check https://rsf.org/en/index for some interesting ratings.
The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has described our slippage as “a wake-up call”. It noted: “The RSF report highlights a troubling erosion in the relationship between the media and public institutions, especially the state. It cites growing mistrust, limited transparency, and increased economic vulnerability among newsrooms. These trends threaten to undermine public interest journalism and democratic accountability.” I should declare here that I am one of three trustees of the PAJ, serving with Laura Tanna and Franklin McKnight
We used to brag that Jamaica usually placed in the top 10 for press freedom. This week we were relegated to 26th position, the lowest I can recall, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters sans frontières). However, to be 26th of 180 states is no shame; the only Caribbean country ahead of us is Trinidad and Tobago at 19th and many developed countries are behind us. Check https://rsf.org/en/index for some interesting ratings.
The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has described our slippage as “a wake-up call”. It noted: “The RSF report highlights a troubling erosion in the relationship between the media and public institutions, especially the state. It cites growing mistrust, limited transparency, and increased economic vulnerability among newsrooms. These trends threaten to undermine public interest journalism and democratic accountability.” I should declare here that I am one of three trustees of the PAJ, serving with Laura Tanna and Franklin McKnight.
They are concerned about the delays in revisions to the Access to Information Act (ATI) and are recommending:
• Expedite the tabling and debate of the revised ATI legislation Commit to reducing turnaround times on ATI requests
• Equip all public authorities with the training and resources to comply
• Introduce sanctions for unjustified refusals or delays.
The Press Association’s motto is “A Free Press – the Oxygen of Democracy”. It is a strong reminder of the importance of this, our Fourth Estate.
Chairman of the Digicel Foundation, Joy Clarke (left), cuts the ribbon to hand over a state-of-the-art smart room to the Black River Primary and Infant School in St Elizabeth, on March 27. Sharing the moment are (from left, foreground) head girl of the school, Melissa Campbell and head boy, Levaunghn Brown. In the back row (from left) are Vice Chairman of the Black River Primary and Infant School Board, Jennifer Mullings; Senior Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills, and Information – Region Five, Nevadeene Gallimore-miller, and principal of the school, Sharon Whyte.
Digicel is celebrating 24 incredible years of connecting and empowering people across the Caribbean as it looks to the future with confidence.
With Saturday 19th April marking the anniversary of its launch in Jamaica and the start of its remarkable expansion across the region, Digicel’s legacy of challenging the status quo, reshaping the telecoms landscape, making powerful social impact investments and creating a brand that is known and loved across the region, is built on passion, innovation and an unwavering commitment to keeping people connected.
With a new Group senior leadership team in place, the last 12 months have seen a focus on empowering the 25 Digicel markets across the region with a strong focus on customers and service delivery translating into EBITDA growth of approximately 6% and growth of cash balances by 50%.
Digicel Group CEO, Marcelo Cataldo, comments; “The legacy of Digicel is a proud one – as inspirational as it is impressive. When we launched in Jamaica 24 years ago, democratising telecommunications and connecting the unconnected was our mission. I’m honoured to be stewarding the company in our next era under our new mission of Connecting and Empowering as we build on our past and position ourselves powerfully for our future.”
He continues; “I would like to thank our customers for putting their trust in us and allowing us to serve them and of course our amazing team who show up and step up every day, going the extra mile and living our DIGI values of diversity, integrity, growth and innovation.”
Jamaica has been wisely restrained during the recent news from the US regarding closures, deportations and tariffs. We welcomed Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness’s message to prospective returnees to Jamaica – they have a home here, as citizens of our country. Our collaboration with the USAID had been focused on development and education, projects that we understand can still attract assistance from the US State Department. In response to the recent announcement of tariffs, our Government response to concerned exporters was that they would initiate talks with the US Government.
We hope for a positive outcome, having enjoyed cordial relations with the US, thanks to Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith, former US Ambassador Audrey Marks and the brilliant team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade led by Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith.
The recent American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) Hummingbird Gala reflected the supportive relationship which endures between our two countries. In the presence of PM Holness, the AFJ recognized Elias “Lee” Issa with their International Achievement Award and Paul Issa with their International Humanitarian Award, described as ‘two Jamaican born iconic leaders; one a stalwart in Tourism and the other a trailblazing Humanitarian’.
The AFJ, comprising current and former US Ambassadors and friends announced grants totalling US$740,000 which were awarded to 54 grantees to support several initiatives here. These include education, music, sports, homeless, health, skills training, gender-based violence, arts, coding, veterinary care, environmental protection, school-feeding and peace-building programmes, among others.
Grant Certificates were presented last Tuesday at the US Embassy here in Kingston. In the JIS report, writer Judana Murphy quoted Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, who addressed the event: “For over four decades, the American Friends of Jamaica have remained a pillar of support for our country. Their legacy is etched into the walls of our hospitals, the classrooms of our schools and the hearts of our people. Whether responding to hurricanes, expanding educational opportunities or modernising public health infrastructure, the AFJ has consistently shown up for us.”
Charge d’Affaires, Amy Tachco, also remarked on the ‘generosity and dedication’ of the AFJ. which has been supporting Jamaica’s non-governmental organizations with millions of US Dollars since 1982.
Whether or not we agree with the current political situation in the US, let us remember that we are intrinsically joined through family and friends and applaud our diplomatic ties.
JAAA President Garth Gayle recently announced that Jamaica’s young athletes can now benefit from the elite services offered at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre (APC), both overseas and locally, through a partnership between the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and Red Bull.
This collaboration marks the company’s investment in the development of Jamaica’s Under-18 and Under-20 national teams, giving them access to world-class resources including physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, performance assessments, medical services, and rehabilitation.
“Red Bull is proud to be working with the JAAA, our first Athletics Federation partner globally” said Marc-Oliver Kochan, Managing Director, Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre. “Jamaica’s track and field legacy is world-renowned, and we are looking forward to supporting the next generation of young athletes on their journey. We are really excited to help them realize their dreams and provide them with the tools, services, and support they need—not just to succeed in sport, but also in life.”
Gayle noted, “This sponsorship will allow the JAAA to provide a holistic programme, stay on track with the important components for their wellbeing and consistent performance. This is one of the objectives of the JAAA, and this level of support will ensure that no young athlete will be left behind.”
Eatmon noted that this is the first time that Red Bull is partnering with an athletics organization globally, and that they are proud that they chose the JAAA. “It means that they believe in what we’re doing, they believe in our programme, and they believe in the potential of our athletes,” he said.
Red Bull Athlete Performance Programme representatives Dr, Helge Ripenot Medical Doctor; Peter Muller, Head of Therapy; and Fionn MacPartlin, Head of Strength Training also attended the Boys and Girls High School Championships. It must have made them happy that our amazing young athletes will receive the expert assistance of their APC.
Jamaica Highlights 