作者： admin

KINGSTON, Jamaica — After closing its three-month signage regularisation initiative on March 31, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has officially moved into the aggressive enforcement stage of its plan to crack down on unauthorised public signage across the region.

Launched in January 2026, the amnesty-style campaign was crafted to give every individual, business and organisation that maintains publicly visible signage a clear, grace-period window to bring their approvals up to date and resolve any unpaid outstanding fees. Before the corporation ramped up enforcement, stakeholders were given full advance notice and multiple opportunities to come into compliance voluntarily, avoiding potential penalties and removal actions.

Now that the grace period has expired, the KSAMC is gearing up to target all illegally erected and non-compliant signage distributed throughout Kingston and St Andrew. Robert Hill, chief executive officer of the municipal corporation, confirmed that all necessary personnel, logistics and equipment have already been mobilised to support widespread, organised enforcement operations.

“Starting immediately, we will begin removing illegally placed and non-compliant signs across both Kingston and St Andrew,” Hill confirmed in a recent statement.

Over the past three months throughout the regularisation campaign, Hill explained that KSAMC’s dedicated compliance teams have been proactively reaching out to local businesses, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and compiling detailed location data to map out the scope of unregulated signage. This groundwork will allow the corporation to carry out focused, efficient enforcement rather than random sweeps.

“We are currently waiting on finalised data from our compliance teams, which will direct our targeted enforcement operations and guide the removal of signage from all non-compliant entities,” Hill added.

To carry out the removal work safely and efficiently, the KSAMC has deployed heavy-duty trucks and specialised removal equipment purpose-built to extract unauthorised signage from both public and private locations without unnecessary damage to surrounding property.

In a public briefing, the municipal corporation stressed that signage regulation is a binding legal requirement that applies universally to all publicly visible signage. This mandate holds regardless of whether a sign is located on public or private land, and regardless of the type of entity that owns it—covering commercial operations, non-profit groups, and public institutions equally.

The KSAMC repeated that the three-month regularisation campaign was structured to deliver a fair, transparent path to compliance for all stakeholders. Beyond public outreach and one-on-one engagement with business owners, the campaign also included a temporary fee concession for entities settling long-outstanding signage approval fees.

For entities that failed to take advantage of the amnesty campaign, the KSAMC is issuing a final warning to contact the corporation immediately to resolve their status before enforcement teams begin on-the-ground removal work. Hill confirmed that all enforcement actions will proceed strictly in line with local signage laws.

This enforcement push forms a core part of the KSAMC’s broader urban improvement initiative, which aims to boost public safety by eliminating hazards that block pedestrian and driver sightlines, cut down on visual pollution across the city, and maintain a cleaner, more organised urban environment for residents and visitors alike.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — On a historic Tuesday morning marking six decades of bilateral collaboration between Jamaica and Canada, Jamaican Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr officially introduced the GOJ/Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) Scholarship at the ministry’s East Street headquarters. This new initiative is designed to open doors to higher education for the children of Jamaican seasonal agricultural workers who take part in the long-standing labour program in Canada.

Six decades after the SAWP partnership was first established, this scholarship represents a meaningful recognition of the outsized contribution Jamaican migrant workers have made to both Canadian agriculture and Jamaica’s domestic economy over the years. “This scholarship is a public acknowledgment of everything our workers have given, and a clear promise from this government that their children’s futures are a priority,” Charles Jr stated during the launch ceremony. “We are building a tangible bridge that connects migrant work, educational opportunity, and long-term national growth for Jamaica.”

For the 2026 academic year, 60 full scholarships will be distributed to eligible students. To qualify, applicants must be children of SAWP workers who have completed at least five consecutive years of participation in the program and remain actively employed under SAWP. The funding supports learners across both secondary and post-secondary education levels, including students in sixth form, undergraduate programs at universities, vocational courses at community colleges, and skills training programs offered through Jamaica’s HEART/NSTA Trust.

Award amounts are structured to meet the specific costs of different education levels: sixth form students will receive JMD $75,000, while tertiary-level students will be granted JMD $200,000. The funds can be used to cover tuition fees, textbooks, classroom supplies, and other mandatory education-related expenses. To align with Jamaica’s national policy goals for boosting domestic food security and building a skilled competitive workforce, extra preference will be given to applicants pursuing degrees or training in agriculture, agribusiness, agro-processing, and other technical vocational fields.

Charles emphasized that the new scholarship is far more than a one-off financial aid program: it reflects a deliberate national policy shift to turn temporary labour mobility into sustained domestic capacity building. “Our workers have spent decades gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge Canadian agricultural systems,” he explained. “This scholarship ensures that the benefits of that global exposure don’t just stay with the individual worker — they pass down to the next generation, creating ripple effects that will strengthen Jamaica for years to come. We are investing in the skills that will grow our domestic productive capacity and drive inclusive long-term growth.”

Over its 60-year history, the SAWP has created mutual benefits for both nations. Jamaican seasonal workers have filled critical labour gaps in Canada’s agricultural sector, while the workers have supported their families back home through regular remittances and stimulated local economic activity across Jamaican communities. The new scholarship builds on this existing legacy by creating new pathways for intergenerational upward mobility through education.

The application window for the 2026 scholarship will open on April 15, 2026, and close at the end of June 30, 2026. Successful applicants will receive their awards in time to register for the September 2026 start of the new academic year. Application forms will be accessible to eligible candidates both digitally via the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s official website and in-person at designated ministry locations across the country. All applicants will need to meet set academic and eligibility requirements and submit required supporting documentation as part of the selection process.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will oversee the entire application and selection process, using a structured multi-step review framework designed to guarantee fairness, full transparency, and alignment with the program’s core objectives.

The launch of the GOJ/SAWP Scholarship reaffirms the Jamaican government’s commitment to tying overseas employment opportunities directly to national development, ensuring the advantages of the decades-old SAWP partnership extend beyond individual workers to their families and the nation’s future generations.

For additional information about eligibility or the application process, interested parties can contact the MLSS Family Services Unit located at 1 F North Street, Kingston, Jamaica, via telephone at 876 676 5557 or 876 676 5659. SAWP workers currently based in Canada can reach the Jamaican Liaison Service directly at 416 733 4358-9.

Against the backdrop of Jamaica’s robust tourism sector, a landmark education initiative from Sandals Resorts is bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world professional experience for hundreds of secondary school students across the island. The company’s two properties, Sandals Dunn’s River and Sandals Royal Plantation, recently opened their doors to student groups from seven Jamaican high schools, giving young learners an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale luxury resorts operate every day.

The immersive tours are the core of the brand’s long-running Tourism in Schools programme, an initiative designed specifically to introduce secondary students to the breadth of career paths available in hospitality while supporting them to complete their required School-Based Assessment (SBA) capstone projects. Unlike traditional classroom learning, the on-site visits put students directly in contact with working departments and frontline resort teams, turning textbook concepts into tangible, practical knowledge.

During their visits, students traveled through every core division of the resorts, from housekeeping and guest room operations to food and beverage service. A key focus of the tour was the companies’ industry-leading sustainability work, which gave students a first-hand look at how modern tourism balances guest experience with environmental stewardship. They got an up-close view of the resorts’ recycled water treatment systems, energy-saving conservation practices, and learned about the rigorous process of earning and maintaining EarthCheck certification — the global gold standard for scientific verification of sustainable travel and tourism operations.

Kevin Clarke, General Manager of Sandals Dunn’s River, emphasized that the program fills a critical gap in tourism education for Jamaican youth. “Most students have only ever learned about hospitality through textbooks and lectures,” Clarke explained. “Seeing daily operations unfold in person, talking directly to our team members who work in these roles every day, that’s what gives them real insight into how dynamic and rewarding a career in this industry can be.” He added that the excitement and curiosity the students bring to the visits reinforces his confidence in the future of Jamaica’s tourism sector. “Their energy reminds us every time that the future of Jamaican tourism is in excellent hands,” he said.

Roxanne Brown, the property’s Learning and Development Manager, noted that the program is structured to connect academic curricula directly to on-the-ground professional realities. “A lot of students don’t realize just how many different roles make a resort run,” Brown explained. “From entry-level housekeeping and culinary positions to senior management and specialized sustainability roles, there is a career path for every interest and skill set here. Beyond that, these visits help students understand just how central tourism is to Jamaica’s national economy, and how much opportunity the growing sector holds for them.”

Seven schools from across the country have participated in the program in the most recent cycle: Clarendon College, Foga Road High School, Central High School, Jamaica College, Iona High School, Muschett High School and Cornwall College. Participating teachers have praised the initiative for shifting students’ perspectives on the hospitality industry, saying the on-site experience cements classroom lessons in a way that lectures never can.

Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with young learners staying engaged throughout the tours and asking thoughtful questions about career pathways, daily operational challenges, and the core skills needed to build a successful career in tourism. Many students shared that seeing their textbook lessons come to life in a working resort was deeply inspiring, and the chance to gather on-the-ground data and experience for their SBA projects in an authentic setting is an opportunity they could not get in the classroom alone.

Today, the Tourism in Schools programme continues to grow in popularity and impact, leaving participating students more informed, motivated, and excited about the wide range of professional opportunities waiting for them in Jamaica’s ever-expanding tourism industry.