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KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a forceful directive, Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI) has issued a renewed mandate to all educational institutions, asserting that denying any child entry into public schools constitutes a severe breach of both international and national law. The ministry’s latest bulletin serves as an unequivocal reminder that the fundamental right to education is non-negotiable.

The ministry explicitly stated that preventing children from participating in educational activities due to pending psycho-educational assessments is an unacceptable practice. Such exclusions are identified as direct violations of Articles 28 and 29 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and Jamaica’s own Child Care and Protection Act. School administrators are warned that these actions not only deprive children of their rights but also expose them to significant social, emotional, and environmental risks, further exacerbating learning disparities and potentially fostering behavioral issues.

Emphasizing that school leaders act as agents of the state, the bulletin places the responsibility squarely on them to ensure uninterrupted access to teaching and learning for every child, including those awaiting diagnostic services. The ministry’s core mandate is reaffirmed: to prioritize enrollment and attendance above all else.

Guidance for principals facing challenges in providing necessary support is outlined, with instructions to immediately contact their assigned education officer or regional director. Furthermore, the ministry has established a protocol to treat any reported out-of-school situation as an emergency, activating immediate measures for swift student placement. This comprehensive support system includes intervention to facilitate enrollment, sensitization training for staff, and even the provision of a Special Education Needs Assistant (SENA)—also known as a shadow or caregiver—without the prerequisite of a formal assessment report.

The ministry’s stance is clear: no parent should depart from a public school feeling disregarded, unassisted, or without hope. All institutions with available capacity are obligated to assist families seeking enrollment.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s government has inaugurated a transformative flexible work program for its public sector, scheduled for phased implementation commencing February 2, 2026. The initiative introduces multiple staggered work schedules designed to modernize public service operations while enhancing efficiency and employee satisfaction.

The flexible arrangements will offer five distinct work windows: 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM; 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM; 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (traditional hours); 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM; and 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM. This structured approach aims to optimize public service delivery while accommodating diverse employee needs.

Ambassador Audrey Marks, Minister of Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, characterized the move as a strategic component of Jamaica’s comprehensive public-sector modernization agenda. “This implementation represents an important and deliberate step in Jamaica’s ongoing public-sector transformation programme,” she stated during the official launch at Jamaica House on January 29.

The minister emphasized that while participation remains voluntary, the government strongly encourages adoption across eligible departments. Approximately 32 government entities have already piloted elements of the Flexible Work Programme with positive results, providing a foundation for broader implementation.

Minister Marks clarified that traditional 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM schedules would remain universally available, ensuring no employee is compelled to adopt alternative hours. The program acknowledges that certain essential positions may not accommodate flexible arrangements due to operational requirements.

The initiative operates under the legal framework established by the 2014 Employment Flexible Work Arrangements Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which legitimizes various flexible work models including staggered hours, hybrid arrangements, telecommuting, compressed work weeks, and hour banking systems. This legislation carefully balances worker well-being with maintained service standards and organizational performance.

This systematic implementation marks the government’s transition from policy development to actionable programming, beginning with the public sector as a model for modern workforce management practices.

NEW YORK — Federal authorities have unveiled a startling jail security breach attempt involving an impersonator who allegedly tried to secure the release of Luigi Mangione, the prime suspect in the sensational murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mark Anderson, 36, now faces serious charges following his arrest at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening.

According to court documents, correctional officers grew suspicious when Anderson presented himself as a federal agent but failed to produce legitimate credentials. When pressed for identification, he could only offer his state driver’s license before making concerning claims about carrying weapons. A subsequent search of his backpack revealed unconventional items: a large barbecue fork and a circular steel blade resembling a pizza cutter, raising questions about his intentions.

The criminal complaint indicates Anderson insisted he possessed judicial documentation authorizing the release of a specific detainee. While the court filing did not name the intended inmate, judicial sources confirmed the target was Mangione, whose alleged crime had already ignited national debates about healthcare system failures.

The December 2024 shooting of Thompson, captured on surveillance footage, had previously drawn attention to public frustrations with America’s profit-oriented healthcare infrastructure. Mangione maintains his innocence against both federal and state charges, with his federal trial scheduled to commence jury selection on September 8.

This incident has prompted reviews of detention center security protocols and raised concerns about potential external efforts to interfere with high-stakes criminal proceedings.

Jamaica is confronting a severe environmental and public safety crisis as official data reveals a dramatic escalation in bushfire incidents across the island nation. According to the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), emergency responders tackled 5,710 bushfire cases throughout 2025, marking a substantial 26.2 percent increase from the 4,523 incidents recorded in the previous year.

Commissioner Stewart Beckford, addressing journalists through the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), emphasized that bushfires have consistently remained at critically high levels over the past four years. Human activities were identified as the primary ignition sources, including carelessly discarded cigarettes, mechanical sparks from vehicles and farming equipment, uncontrolled garbage burning, and traditional slash-and-burn agricultural practices.

Geographical analysis reveals stark regional disparities in fire prevalence. The St. Catherine division emerged as the most severely affected region, reporting 1,424 bushfire incidents alone in 2025. This continues a concerning trend from 2024, when the division accounted for 1,170 fires representing 25.8 percent of Jamaica’s total. Conversely, Portland documented the nation’s lowest occurrence with merely 54 incidents, constituting just one percent of the annual total.

The bushfire epidemic dominated emergency response operations, constituting the largest proportion of the over 20,000 emergency calls processed by the JFB last year. Commissioner Beckford’s breakdown of divisional emergency responses showed St. Catherine as the most active with 3,429 calls, followed by Westmoreland (2,428), Kingston and St. Andrew (2,110), and St. James (2,096). This data underscores the significant strain placed on Jamaica’s firefighting resources and infrastructure.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Muschett High School in Trelawny has secured transformative transportation support through a diplomatic partnership with Japan. The formal grant agreement, signed Tuesday at the Ministry of Education’s Caenwood Centre, will provide two new school buses under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects framework.

State Minister Rhoda Moy Crawford presided over the signing ceremony, highlighting the $151,588 grant’s strategic importance. The funding will acquire two 29-seater Toyota Coaster buses that represent what Crawford termed “infrastructure for equity.” She emphasized that beyond vehicle provision, the initiative addresses critical safety concerns, improves educational access, and creates reliable transit solutions for students.

“Every child on a secure school bus is protected from public road vulnerabilities,” Crawford stated, noting the profound peace of mind this brings parents knowing their children remain in institutional care throughout their commute. The minister further connected transportation reliability to academic performance, explaining that “reducing transportation volatility increases attendance consistency—a known precursor to improved educational outcomes.”

Crawford acknowledged Japan’s longstanding developmental partnership with Jamaica, characterizing it as “consistent, practical, and focused on human capital” rather than ceremonial. She also recognized the National Education Trust as the operational engine facilitating such public-private collaborations.

Japanese Ambassador Kohei Maruyama marked the occasion as particularly meaningful—his first grant signing since assuming office. He expressed solidarity with Jamaica following recent hurricane impacts, noting Japan’s empathy for natural disaster challenges. The ambassador reinforced his government’s commitment to human security principles, stating the project aims to “protect and empower individuals to live with dignity” while anticipating celebrated handover ceremonies with Muschett High.

School Principal Leighton Johnson described the donation as historic, revealing that transportation constitutes approximately 22% of annual institutional expenditures—a significant financial burden. The buses will dramatically reduce operational costs while expanding educational opportunities through field trips, competition travel, and co-curricular activities essential for holistic student development.