IGT Fuels Educational Technology Growth

Young students from the IGT After School Advantage Centre at Dunrobin Primary School eagerly gather around a drone and meteorological equipment, engaging in hands-on learning about technology, weather forecasting, and environmental science at The UWI Faculty of Science and Technology’s Science Festival.

“Inever thought I could be a scientist until today,” whispered an awestruck student as she programmed a robot for the first time at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Science Festival. Her experience, alongside 49 other students from underserved communities, was made possible through International Game Technology’s (IGT) strategic investment in Caribbean educational technology (EdTech). The company strategically chose March 14 — Albert Einstein’s birthday and worldwide Science Education Day — for the students’ attendance, adding symbolic weight to an already transformative experience.

“EdTech is revolutionising education, and IGT is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. Sponsoring ASA students for The UWI Science Festival is part of our broader mission to integrate technology into learning and create sustainable pathways for success,” said Debbie Green, general manager of IGT Jamaica.

After School Advantage (ASA) is the company’s flagship community initiative, devoted to providing youth with access to technology at digital learning centres in communities where IGT operates. The programme ensures students have access to participate in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) educational opportunities while developing the knowledge and skills for the jobs of tomorrow. Since 2011, IGT and its subsidiaries have opened 40 ASA computer labs across the English-speaking Caribbean. As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting its global communities, IGT aims to continually enhance the technological awareness of students and prepare them to contribute to the social and infrastructural development of the Caribbean.

The UWI Science Festival serves as a platform for students to engage with cutting-edge technologies and scientific concepts through interactive experiences. Professor Tannecia Stephenson, deputy dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology and lead on the Science Festival, emphasised the impact of IGT’s support.“IGT’s support enables more students, particularly in underserved schools, to participate in the Science Festival’s immersive STEM experiences. Through experiments, tours, and expert talks, students gain exposure to science applications and career paths. This investment nurtures future innovators poised to create solutions for global and regional challenges,” she said.

The festival is aligned with The UWI’s strategic approach to education and innovation.“The UWI’s Triple A strategy — Access, Alignment, and Agility — guides its approach to STEM education and innovation. The festival highlights research, industry partnerships, and technologies, engaging students from Jamaica and the Caribbean. This aligns with initiatives like the BOOST Scholarship programme for science teachers in underserved schools and the ‘FiWi Science’ initiative, which celebrates Jamaica’s scientific culture and legacy,” Professor Stephenson explained.

IGT’s sponsorship enables students from diverse backgrounds to access educational experiences that might otherwise be beyond their reach. By exposing them to emerging technologies and scientific advancements, the company is playing a crucial role in shaping the future workforce of the Caribbean.

“By exposing students to emerging technologies and scientific advancements, we are nurturing a generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers who will drive the Caribbean’s technological evolution,” Green added.

Through this partnership, IGT and The UWI are not only enhancing students’ technical skills but alsofostering an entrepreneurial mindset that will be essential for success in an increasingly digital economy. The initiative exemplifies how private sector involvement in education can accelerate the adoption of EdTech solutions and create opportunities for sustainable development across the region.

International Game Technology (IGT) Jamaica General Manager Debbie Green lifts a young student from the IGT After School Advantage Centre at Dunrobin Primary School for a closer look through a powerful telescope during the festival. Surrounded by his fellow students, this hands-on experience nurtures students’ love for astronomy and inspires the next generation to explore the wonders of the universe.

CCRP’s 15th Anniversary

Jean Lowrie-Chin

On Sunday, 20th April the seniors advocacy organization CCRP (Caribbean Community of Retired Persons) will celebrate our 15th Anniversary. After the 30th Anniversary of our company, PROComm in 2009, I considered who had helped me along my journey and realized they were seniors including my Mother Maisie Lowrie who was our first investor and supported us throughout the years. In gratitude, I decided that I would start an organization to advocate for our underserved seniors.

Our initial collaborators were my husband Hubie Chin, Ambassador Aloun Assamba who donated all the legal work, registering the organization and preparing our Articles of Incorporation; J. Lester Spaulding, late Chair of the RJR Gleaner Group who set up our accounting system, Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, our Honorary Director and Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer, our Honorary Chair. We thank our Patron Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen for hosting our first media event at which the late Hon Oliver Clarke registered to be our first member – now we are over 12,000 members strong.

We are blessed with excellent Board Directors: Vilma McDonald, Director Emerita Ambassador Aloun Assamba, Patricia Reid-Waugh, Marlene Street Forrest, Dr Owen James,  Dennis Jones, Sethuraman Kumaraswamy, Warren McDonald, Peter Mais and Donovan Wignal. We recently appointed Angela Patterson as our General Manager, supported by the PROComm Team.

CCRP’s voluntary regional convenors are Patricia Blackwood – Central Jamaica; Dr Norma Taylor – Western Jamaica; and Pixley Irons, Northeast Jamaica. Our Caring Committee Chair is Moveta Munroe; former chairs are Irene Walter and Verla Seymour. The Committee comprises our parish representatives, who assist in our outreach to the needy elderly. Our excursions planned by Charmaine Harrison are hugely popular – they help our members in the words of our motto to live ‘Life to the Fullest’.

We thank our over 100 discount partners and top sponsors JNGI, National Baking, BPM Financial, Juici Jamaica, Supreme Ventures, Cari-Med Group, Sandals Group, Sterling Asset Management, WIHCON, Sagicor, Gallagher Insurance Brokers, managers of CCRP health plans and Morgan White Insurance.

We congratulate Senator Floyd Morris and Senator Sherene Golding-Campbell for taking the Motion for Legislation for the Care and Protection of the Elderly to an active Special Select Committee of Parliament which has been holding hearings on the matter. CCRP has made a comprehensive submission to the Committee, and we are optimistic that this Legislation will soon become a reality.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Enthrose Campbell: A legacy of excellence

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Information Service, Enthrose Campbell, at a recent farewell ceremony held at the agency’s head offices in Kingston.

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) family bade farewell to former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Enthrose Campbell, who retired on December 31, 2024.

Team members gathered at the agency’s head office on Half-Way Tree Road in Kingston recently, to celebrate the respected journalist and dedicated civil servant, who spent almost 30 years at the Government’s news agency, serving as CEO for the last two years.

Campbell’s illustrious career stands as a testament to dedicated public service and transformative leadership in government communication.

“It was a really good 29 years,” she said, reflecting on her time at the agency.

“It was good for me because I moved from radio to TV to production to deputy CEO and then to CEO. It was a good experience.

“I am really delighted to have worked with all of you. It has been a journey and I am grateful and thankful. Thank you for your support, you made my work so easy… because you all did so well,” she added.

Campbell commenced her tenure at the JIS as a temporary editor in 1995, rising through the ranks and making impactful contributions before being ultimately appointed to head the agency in October 2023.

Among her notable appointments was as senior editor and radio manager, where she played a pivotal role in modernising broadcast operations, and as director of electronic productions, where she oversaw the agency’s multimedia content strategy. As deputy CEO, she was instrumental in driving the agency’s digital transformation.

Campbell’s exceptional leadership was exemplified by herskilful media management of critical national events, including State visits and disaster-response efforts.

Another of Campbell’s key achievements was transforming the agency’s ‘Get the Facts’ television programme into Jamaica’s premier platform for articulating Government policies and programmes, which, at its peak, directly reached more than 300,000 weekly viewers.

Notably, she spearheaded the establishment of the JIS Morant Bay Regional Office in St Thomas in 2023 to enhance community outreach.

Beyond her roles at the JIS, Campbell made significant contributions to public service, particularly through diplomatic translation.Leveraging her master’s degree in Spanish translation, she provided critical interpretation services for numerous international summits, State visits and CARICOM delegations at United Nations assemblies.

Throughout her illustrious career, Campbell pursued specialised training across five continents, honing her skills in media management, disaster communications and digital journalism.

Her impact and excellence were widely recognised through myriad accolades and awards. These include the prestigious 2019 Press Association of Jamaica Veterans Award, the 2013 Civil Servant of the Year Award, and annual commendations for crisis communications leadership from successive Cabinet Secretaries between 2005 and 2016.

Aside from her professional achievements, Campbell dedicated 25 years to volunteering as a Sunday school teacher, positively impacting more than 1,500 children through youth programmes.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the JIS, Celia Lindsay, commended Campbell for her impactful leadership.

“[You] never faltered in providing strong and visionary leadership through the celebrations as well as the challenges, ensuring that optimum levels of performance would have been maintained,” she shared.

“Ms Campbell, your leadership of the Jamaica InformationService and your many years of dedicated contribution have been sterling and a source of inspiration to many of us. Thank you for being a remarkable leader; your legacy will continue to motivate us.”

Manager for the JIS Radio Department, Vaughn Davis, noted that Campbell was an instrumental part of his entry into radio production.

Davis joined the JIS as a research officer in the Research and Publications Department in 2009 and made the switch to radio three years later.

Despite having no prior experience in radio production, Davis seized the opportunity and, 15 years later, credits Campbell for her unwavering support in shaping his success.

“Throughout my time in Radio, Ms Campbell had always been very supportive and had words of encouragement and advice to help me grow and develop,” he said.

He noted that “she has always been a source of good professional and personal advice, and her cheerful and pleasant disposition has also been much appreciated. I wish her well in her retirement and hope she finds happiness and fulfilment in her second act.”

Managing Editor of the Editorial and Photography Department, Tracey Chin Loy, described Campbell as “both a mentor and a friend”. “I will always treasure our one-on-one sessions. Her support and guidance have made me a stronger and more confident leader,” she shared.

Chin Loy noted that the former CEO’s ability to inspire team collaboration, combined with the positive energy she brought to the workplace, “will be missed”.

“She can feel confident that she has left a legacy of outstanding achievement that will inspire everyone she worked with,” the managing editor added.

Senior audiovisual librarian, Simone Burnside, noted that “Ms Campbell has an impeccable sense of style that is commendable”.

Her legacy lives on through the JIS’s expanded regional presence and the new generation of media professionals shementored, she said.

Campbell’s unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership and profound impact on Jamaica’s communication landscape have left an indelible mark on the nation, its people and the field of public service.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

The Importance of Honouring Our Ancestors

All traditional spiritual systems include some form of ancestor veneration. It’s different from praying to ancestors—it’s about respecting and acknowledging them. Even if someone doesn’t believe ancestors actively influence our lives, the idea of respecting those who came before us is universal.

When we consider our ancestors’ presence in our DNA, their struggles and victories become a part of who we are. Honouring them empowers us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We often use phrases like, “Your grandmother would turn in her grave,” without thinking about what they really mean. It suggests that we instinctively understand that our ancestors remain connected to us in some way.

Simple Ways to Honour Our Ancestors

How can people practically venerate their ancestors?

There are so many ways! Let’s start with the simplest ones and go to some more complicated ways:

  1. Create an Ancestral Shrine: Many people may already have a kind of shrine without realizing it. A lot of our grandparents have pictures of those that died in a special place – that’s a shrine. You can set aside a small space in your home and put some flowers there, or a candle along with images of ancestors, and a glass of clean water for them. Speak Their Names: A powerful and simple practice is to say their names aloud. There’s an old saying that if we don’t speak of our dead, they die twice. Make sure your children know their names, and their stories. If you have images, show them pictures so they have ideas of who these people are and where they’ve come from. That empowers us on a different level because it tells us they went through these things. They survived. They overcame. 
  2. Remember them with Empowering Ritual Phrases: In different Ifá and Orisha traditions, we say certain phrases after an ancestor’s name to empower them. For example, in Cuban practice, we say Ibaye Baye Ontonu or Kinkamashi in Trinidad after calling an ancestor’s name. It’s like saying, “Go get ‘em, Grandma! We got you, you got us!” For example, my maternal grandmother is Alberta Cox Belgrave. We can say Alberta Cox Belgrave, Ibaye Baye Ontonu or Alberta Cox Belgrave, Kinkamashi.
  3. Leave Offerings: If your ancestor loved coffee, pour a small cup for them. If they had a favourite food, set aside a small portion before adding salt (since salt was historically used against freedom fighters). These small gestures acknowledge their presence.
  4. Pour Libations: Many Caribbean people instinctively pour a bit of alcohol on the ground before drinking, saying, “For the spirits.” That’s an ancestral tradition. Our ancestors were people too; they liked to have fun, and remembering them in our joy and in our celebration keeps them close.

What Do we lose if we don’t remember them?

To consider the inverse of why should we honour our ancestors, let me ask this—what do we lose if we don’t remember them?

That’s a sad question. We lose ourselves. We lose our future. There’s a Ghanaian symbol called Sankofa— It looks like a bird whose head is facing backwards, while it’s moving forward. And it means that we have to go back and get it. You have to know where you are coming from if you have any hope of getting to where you want to go.

Without the historical contextualization, we really don’t understand why we are, where we are, who we are, how we are, so that we can make decisions about who we become, to avoid the errors of the past.

Without ancestor veneration, as the old people would say, we are ‘spinning top in mud’. We are going nowhere and getting dirty doing it–busy and tired but going absolutely nowhere. So many of our ancestors fought for our survival. If we ignore them, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past and losing the wisdom they left behind. 

Without ancestor veneration, we have lost one of our main paths to connect with the spiritual world and to be guided and protected by the spiritual realm. Who’s going to pray for you harder than your grandparents? Who’s going to intercede for you more than your blood? We’d lose a lot of strength, a lot of power, a lot of safety, a lot of wisdom. But it’s there in our DNA to tap into.

The Loss of Ancestral Lineage

One of the great losses of the Middle Passage and the enslavement of our people is the erasure of our ancestral lineage. Very few of us can trace our roots back across the Atlantic. If we can name even three or four generations, we are lucky. First names, the surnames, origins, professions, ages, of birth, dates of death… we’ve lost that.

Records of enslaved people offer little help, as the destruction of our names was central to stripping us of our personhood. So, we have to build our ancestral lineage with whatever we can gather now and pass that on to our children so that they can continue to build as well. Because the longer the lineage, the more powerful your veneration and the impact.

Venerating Ancestors by Seeking Reparations

How does the act of honouring and remembering our ancestors connect to the present-day call for reparation and repair?

The fight for justice didn’t start with us. Our ancestors resisted, fought, and died for our freedom. The sacrifices that were made, the fights that were fought by the Egun, whose names we may never be able to recollect, demand that they are honoured. We have to honour their fight by demanding and receiving justice in their names for their children. We have a responsibility to them. Our blood is going to continue to call out until justice is served and received.

Digicel Foundation impacts thousands of students with SIT programme

Kavelle Hylton, Digicel Foundation SIT programme partner and CEO of STEM Builders Learning Hub, engages students at the Jessie Ripoll Primary School in interactive discussions on online safety.

The Digicel Foundation’s Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme has already impacted more than 5,000 students across Jamaica, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Launched on Safer Internet Day in February, the programme is now in its fifth week and has visited 20 primary and high schools, with a goal of reaching 150 schools by year-end. Kavelle Hylton, CEO of STEM Builders Learning Hub, who partners with Digicel Foundation to deliver the interactive lessons, highlighted the programme’s impact: “Technology is a powerful tool, but it must be used responsibly. Through the SIT programme, we are empowering not just students, but also parents, teachers, and community members with the skills they need to stay safe online.”

A dedicated volunteer team of nearly 200 Digicel employees, known as the SIT Squad, has been mobilised to support the initiative.Mona Heights Primary School Principal Alex Hepburn is among those commending Digicel Foundation for the initiative.

“The SIT programme has been invaluable in helping our students understand online safety. We want them to understand that there are certain nuisances in the online space and therefore it is very important to teach them how to navigate it responsibly,” said Hepburn.In the meantime St Jude’s Primary School Principal Susanna Ainsworth also expressed support for the programme.

“This initiative has empowered our students and staff to promote online safety, digital responsibility, and cyber awareness. We are thankful for the Digicel Foundation for its dedication to creating a safer online environment for our school community,” said Ainsworth.

The SIT programme is a holistic awareness and educational campaign that goes beyond the classroom.

In addition to engaging students, the initiative includes sessions for parents and teachers, helping them understand online risks and how to guide children in safe internet usage.

It also extends to business owners, service group members and the elderly, ensuring that digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness reach all generations.

The success of the SIT programme to date can be attributed in large part to the support of its partners, including Jamaica Public Service Company, Sunshine Snacks, Kool 97FM, and Macmillan Education.

EXPO Memories

Jean Lowrie-Chin

The JMEA Expo, which ended yesterday, brought back memories of its early days and the dedicated volunteers from the then JMA (Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association) and JEA (Jamaica Exporters’ Association).

There was Gloria Millwood, with her impeccable knowledge of protocol, who hosted the Hospitality Suite and Horace Abrahams, both gone to their rest. The longest-serving member of the Expo Committee, Deryck Rose, is still there, though now playing a less active role. Paulette Wong Rhoden of blessed memory was a dynamo, quickly completing her Crimson Dawn display and then running from booth to booth to help them make the deadline for the opening.

One of the most dramatic scenes was of a business owner who arrived the night before opening and was so disappointed with the appearance of his display that he destroyed it single-handedly! The contractors worked all night to get it right, and they did. The best booth competitions were filled with drama and intrigue, with rumours of expensive gifting.

The most amazing displays were sponsored by Butch Hendrickson’s Bold One of Manufacturing programme. They showcased an avenue of displays of upcoming manufacturers, with all the reusable promotional materials created for their ongoing marketing programmes. Visitors were introduced to Lacey-Ann Bartley’s All in Wood, Michelle Smith’s Chocolate Dreams, and Devon and Nayana William’s Lifespan Water.

As we were enjoying our locally grown breakfast, including the best coffee in the world, we heard a call for an Eat Jamaican campaign from a JMEA representative at Expo 2025. Our shop had run an Eat Jamaican campaign about 10 years ago and the logo we created continues to be used. It features “Doctor Bird” complete with stethoscope, a mascot we created, which featured in our cross-island road show with Ity and Fancy Cat. A highlight was a visit to the culinary arts final of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) with a young Shelly-Ann Fraser. The fact that our home-grown athletes are world leaders should tell us something about the great nutrition offered by our produce.Sure, we saved a few dollars running abroad to shop, but we need to save our economy by supporting the top-class Jamaican-made products which were on display at the JMEA Expo. The business of manufacturing creates employment and the most delicious and enjoyable products. They say the closer to home that you source your food, the healthier it is. Paulette Rhoden used to emphasise also the ready markets in the Caribbean and Central America. The US tariff may focus us more wonderfully on the opportunities that exist outside of the USA.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Digicel Foundation, Phoenix Tower International open $11.8m smart lab at Falmouth All-Age School

Thumbs up for Success! (L-R) Charmaine Daniels, Digicel Foundation CEO; Twitty-Ann Farquharson, Director of Sales, at Phoenix Tower International; Joy Clark, Digicel Foundation Chairperson; Kirk Spencer, Principal at Falmouth All-Age; and Carlyle Roberts, General Manager at Phoenix Tower International school stand with students to give an approving thumbs up to mark the opening of the Smart Lab at Falmouth All-Age.

Eight Clarendon families receive houses from Food for the Poor and Kind Hearts Foundation

On March 20, Food For The Poor (FFP), in partnership with The Kind Hearts Foundation, handed over eight houses to eight families in Clarendon. The handovers were done in Rocky Point, Mitchell Town and Portland Cottage. This donation forms a part of FFP’S campaign to rebuild the homes of those who were severely affected by Hurricane Beryl. Here, recipient Neisha Roye (fifth left) stands proudly with the team from Kind Hearts Foundation (from left): Timothy Stewart, Amanda Issa, Christina Hudson, Jacqueline Stewart Lechler and Stephanie Stewart; along with councillor for the Rocky Point division, Winston Maragh; and Marketing and Development Manager of FFP, Marsha Burrell Rose.

Food For The Poor Jamaica, in partnership with Kind Hearts Foundation conducted a handover of eight houses in Clarendon on Thursday, March 20, 2025 to needy families who were severely affected by Hurricane Beryl across the three major fishing districts of Rocky Point, Mitchell Town and Portland Cottage.

In July 2024, Food For The Poor launched a campaign to rebuild homes and repair
roofs of those affected by the devastating hurricane. Moved by this mission, the Kind
Hearts Foundation joined forces with the charity organization with a financial
commitment to build these eight houses in Clarendon. They are donating two more
houses to families in St. Elizabeth.

Reflecting on the impact of their contribution, Chairperson of the Kind Hearts
Foundation Christina Hudson stated, “Our foundation usually focuses on education and
the construction of infant schools, however, when we saw the absolute devastation
caused by Hurricane Beryl, we knew we had to pivot to help as many families as
possible. It was very moving to meet the families and see how they have made each
house their own home [and] we are grateful to Food for the Poor Jamaica for all the
work they do to make these dreams a reality.”

Marsha Burrell Rose, Development and Marketing Manager, Food For The Poor
Jamaica shared, “These families will now be given a second chance at life with these
much-needed houses. A house is more than a structure – it is a place of hope, rest and
refuge in their lives.”

Food For The Poor will be receiving another donation for a house from Canadian
Fashion Model Winnie Harlow which will be gifted to a family in St. Elizabeth. The
organization continues to forge strong relationships with donors locally and
internationally for the benefit of the Jamaican people, highlighting their motto “United in God’s Work”.

Good news but productivity issues remain

Jean Lowrie- Chin

Andrew Holness Photo: Naphtali Junior

Jamaicans welcomed Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’s announcement of his Government’s plans to address the challenges of homeownership, efficiency, transportation, and our struggling poor. These include the Solidarity Programme which will award $20,000 to 50,000 needy Jamaicans who are not benefiting from other government programmes.

His New Social Housing Programme has been transforming the lives of the destitute, though he made it clear that there were still thousands of such people who need assistance. The increased National Housing Trust (NHT) loan limit to $9 million will enable low-income workers to make homeownership a reality, especially if they partner with a relative to double their investment.We can imagine the joy of parents at the news that 60 school buses will be provided for rural schoolchildren beginning in September. Transportation Minister Daryl Vaz later said that taxi and minibus drivers would still play a role as they would be shuttling children from various districts to the main roads being traversed by the school buses.

Motor vehicle owners are breathing a sigh of relief that their Certificates of Fitness will be extended and seniors are looking forward to the AmAlive app instead of having life certificates signed every quarter.The productivity issue The points made by both Prime Minister Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding in their budget presentations took me back to the final press release issued by the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) as they wound down last December, with the establishment of the independent Financial Commission.

The following were among the highlights:

• Revenue and grants for April to October 2024 were marginally ahead of budget, while total expenditure was within budget in the first supplementary estimates (FSE)

• Tax revenue forecasted for financial year (FY) 2024/25 was revised upward from $899.23 billion in the original budget to $905 billion in the FSE.

• Non-tax revenue was increased in the month of October by $33.2 billion, due primarily to the overperformance of the securitisation transaction, which exceeded the target of $45 billion by $25 billion.

• Total expenditure forecast for FY 2024/25 were revised upward by $40.3 billion to $1,064,083 billion in the FSE.

• Inflation out-turn was 4.9 per cent for October 2024. Bank of Jamaica projects it to remain in the target range of 4.0 per cent-6.0 per cent

There was an air of optimism around these points, but Chairman Keith Duncan called for a cap on expenditure for wages and salaries. The release noted that, “With wages and salaries being already high and consuming approximately 45 per cent of tax revenues and 40 per cent of total revenues for the fiscal year, Jamaica could continue to see this ratio moving higher, as economic activity slows along with growth in tax revenues. Projections currently indicate that wage levels could rise to 13.4 per cent of GDP [gross domestic] product by 2027/28, consuming 46 per cent of tax revenues and 43 per cent of total revenues.”

For hard-working, productive government employees, the salary increases are well deserved. At least two high-paying private sector organisations have noted to me that they have lost staff to government agencies offering higher salaries.

However, as the prime minister pointed out in his budget presentation, Jamaica’s productivity rate is not keeping pace with our Caribbean neighbours. While Opposition Leader Golding criticised the Government for what he termed a “take-it-or-leave-it” approach to salary revisions, the dilemma facing the Government is justifying the multi-billion increases with higher performance. If I had my way, nurses and police would be some of the topmost earners — their sacrifices and dedication make them leaders in productivity.

There have been myriad complaints about the time it takes to deal with personnel at certain government agencies, yet there have been abundant commendations for the operations of the National Health Fund. This proves that it can be done, and with current international challenges, it must be done.

Kind Hearts Foundation joined force with Food For the Poor

Jean Lowrie-Chin

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s destruction of houses in Clarendon, the Kind Hearts Foundation joined force with Food For the Poor to finance the building of eight houses. Six houses were handed over to grateful citizens last Thursday in Rocky Point, Portland Cottage, and Mitchell Town.

Marsha Burrell Rose, development and marketing manager, Food For the Poor Jamaica, said two additional houses will be donated in the neighbouring parish of St Elizabeth by the foundation. Additionally, through their influence and example, Canadian fashion model Winnie Harlow will be sponsoring a house as well.

According to the foundation’s website, “In 2009, inspired by their grandparents, Richard and Diana Stewart’s six grandchildren founded Kind Hearts Foundation in order to combat the devastating poverty they witnessed in their beloved Jamaica. Their focus is mainly on community housing andeducation needs for underprivileged families.” Kudos to these caring young people.