分类： society

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A major Caribbean banking institution has thrown its full weight behind a signature Mother’s Day charity initiative aimed at empowering vulnerable women across the island. Scotiabank, one of Jamaica’s longest-serving financial organizations, has secured the title sponsorship for the upcoming Run for Mom 5K, scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 10, and has contributed a JA$3 million donation to fund critical programs for teen mothers served by the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation.

The formal donation transfer was held earlier this week, with Scotiabank representatives handing over the ceremonial cheque to Dr. Lawrence Scott, a prominent cardiologist, director of the Heart and Vascular Centre, and the lead organizer of the annual Run for Mom 5K. Scott called the partnership a landmark milestone for the event, noting that months of collaborative discussions laid the groundwork for the agreement.

“Our conversations with Scotiabank around this initiative have been ongoing for quite some time,” Scott explained during the presentation ceremony. “Their leadership team has been deeply engaged from the start, because this cause aligns perfectly with their core mission of strengthening families, investing in local communities, and advancing national development. After completing their internal review and due diligence processes, they formally committed to serve as our title sponsor for this year’s race, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

All funds raised through entry fees and sponsorships for the 2025 Run for Mom 5K will be distributed to three local healthcare and community organizations. The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, which supports teen pregnant people and young parents across Jamaica, is the event’s primary beneficiary. Two additional local healthcare facilities — Victoria Jubilee Hospital and Charles Chin Loy Health Centre — will receive a portion of the proceeds as co-beneficiaries to expand their maternal and public health services.

Novlet Howell, executive director of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, shared her enthusiasm for the new partnership, highlighting Scotiabank’s decades-long track record of investing in gender equity and community development in Jamaica.

“Scotiabank is a globally recognized brand that has been rooted in Jamaica for generations, with a consistent record of backing women’s empowerment, girls’ education, and improved public health access across the country,” Howell said. “We are thrilled that our foundation will be the primary recipient of support from this sponsorship, alongside the contributions we’ll receive from other individual donors and community partners joining this year’s event. This investment will allow us to expand our critical services for teen moms, who often face systemic barriers to healthcare, education, and economic security.”

Organizers of the Run for Mom 5K note that the event not only raises critical funds for local maternal health and community support initiatives, but also encourages public physical activity to promote heart health, tying into Scott’s work as a leading cardiologist in the region. Registration for the May 10 race remains open to runners and walkers of all ages and ability levels across Jamaica.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — On Jamaica’s Teachers’ Day, educators at Jamaica House Basic School were met with an unexpected, heartfelt surprise, as local food brand Pork Store & More by CB Foods launched a targeted community appreciation initiative to celebrate the critical, often underrecognized work educators do in building the nation’s future.

The event centered on elevating the foundational role that early childhood teachers play in nurturing the next generation of Jamaican leaders, industry professionals and entrepreneurs. During the on-site pop-up activation, every educator at the school received a curated Caribbean Passion smoked meat bundle, loaded with local favorites including corned pork chub, streaky bacon, chorizo and jerk chicken sausages, paired with a gift voucher for future purchases at Pork Store & More.

Brand representatives explained that the initiative was crafted not only as a public tribute to the daily dedication, patience and care that teachers pour into their students, but also as a practical support gesture. The meal bundles are designed to cut down on planning time for busy educators balancing packed professional schedules with personal responsibilities, simplifying everyday home cooking.

For many teachers at the school, the unanticipated recognition left a lasting, uplifting impression. Marsha-Lee Crawford, a K2 educator who has served at Jamaica House Basic School since 2019, noted that this was the first large-scale community gesture of its kind she had experienced during her tenure. While small tokens of appreciation from parents are common, Crawford said the brand’s outreach felt uniquely meaningful.

“Teachers are the backbone of every other profession — we make all other career paths possible,” Crawford shared in a company press release. “As an early childhood educator, I see it as a blessing to help shape and mold young minds that will go on to lead our country. This gesture made all that hard work feel seen.”

Samantha Fisher, assistant brand manager at CB Foods, emphasized that the Teachers’ Day giveback is part of the company’s longstanding corporate commitment to honoring the vital contributions of local educators. “Teachers do work that shapes the entire future of Jamaica, laying the foundation for every child’s growth and development. It’s a demanding job that far too rarely gets the public recognition it deserves,” Fisher explained. “For our team, this was about finding a simple but meaningful way to give back to people who give so much of themselves to our communities every single day.”

Fisher added that Jamaica House Basic School was selected for the initiative due to CB Foods’ years-long community partnership with the campus, which has included joint participation in national Labour Day service projects and ongoing product donation initiatives. The school’s location, just steps from CB Foods’ head office and the flagship Pork Store & More retail location, also made it a natural fit for the brand’s focus on supporting the neighborhoods where it operates.

Moiya Chin-Lyn, channel manager of retail experience at CB Foods, shared that the brand’s core goal was to ensure every teacher felt seen and valued, beyond the symbolic nature of a traditional Teachers’ Day celebration. “We wanted to highlight the lasting impact that teachers have not just on students, but on entire families and communities. Gifting these practical, locally made products and vouchers was a way to create a genuine moment of encouragement and gratitude,” Chin-Lyn said.

She noted that the warm, enthusiastic response from the Jamaica House Basic School team reinforced the value of community-centered outreach that honors local unsung heroes. “The teachers didn’t just appreciate the gifts — they appreciated that someone had taken the time to recognize their work. That reaction really speaks to how much these gestures mean,” Chin-Lyn added.

The event was captured with a photo of CB Foods representatives Moiya Chin-Lyn and Alexandra McNamee alongside Jamaica House Basic School principal Veronica Burnett, as Burnett accepted the school’s collective gift on behalf of the faculty. The Teachers’ Day initiative is part of a series of ongoing community engagement efforts by Pork Store & More by CB Foods, which aims to deepen ties with local neighborhoods and celebrate residents whose consistent dedication builds stronger Jamaican communities every day.

MANDEVILLE, JAMAICA – A fatal police operation in central Jamaica left two men dead and a handgun recovered Friday evening, following an alleged armed exchange between law enforcement and the individuals in the Mandeville neighborhood of Willowgate.

According to initial official accounts, the incident unfolded shortly after 8 p.m. local time, when a team of officers began tracking a silver Toyota Axio traveling along Manchester Road. When police moved to intercept the vehicle, a shootout broke out between the occupants of the car and the law enforcement team.

The sound of repeated gunfire sent dozens of area residents and bystanders fleeing for safety, with many scrambling to take cover behind nearby structures and parked vehicles to avoid stray rounds. Multiple law enforcement units responded to the scene, including operatives from the Area Three Fugitive Apprehension Team, a specialized unit tasked with capturing wanted suspects across the region.

In the aftermath of the exchange, the two men inside the intercepted vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene, and a single illegal firearm was recovered by investigators. The entire stretch of Manchester Road near the Willowgate intersection was cordoned off by police immediately after the shooting to allow crime scene technicians to process evidence, with a photo of the closed-off area captured by photojournalist Kasey Williams.

Local authorities have not yet released the identities of the two deceased men, nor have they confirmed whether the pair were wanted on outstanding criminal charges ahead of the Friday operation. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, per standard protocol for police-involved shootings in Jamaica.

A wave of growing student indiscipline that has shaken Jamaica’s education system in recent weeks has reached St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), triggering an immediate campus closure for most students on Thursday and leaving families uncertain about when regular classes will resume.

The shutdown came after a day of escalating violent incidents at the Santa Cruz-based institution on Wednesday, according to unofficial sources familiar with the situation. Multiple physical altercations broke out across the campus, one of which reportedly involved a bladed weapon, leaving one student injured. The escalating chaos forced school administrators to call on local law enforcement to intervene to restore order mid-morning.

Following the initial confrontation, additional fights flared up across the school grounds—some even unfolding directly in front of senior school leaders, sources confirmed to the Jamaica Observer. In a formal advisory sent to parents and guardians Wednesday, STETHS Principal Keith Wellington announced the suspension of classes, noting the move was implemented to safeguard the well-being of every student and staff member on campus, and to give administrators time to restore order and implement new disciplinary measures. When reached for comment by the Observer Thursday evening, Wellington declined to share further details, stating he would not address the situation publicly until his internal handling of the crisis was complete.

Only students scheduled to sit external examinations were permitted to access the campus after the shutdown. Deputy Superintendent Owen Brown, operations head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s St Elizabeth Division, confirmed that police worked alongside school leaders and responding parents to bring the unrest under control. No students were taken into custody following the incident, Brown confirmed, adding that the situation was resolved through on-site coordination between law enforcement, school officials, and family members.

Brown emphasized that STETHS is one of many local institutions participating in the police’s School Resources Officer (SRO) Programme, which places dedicated law enforcement officers on campus to prevent violence and mediate student conflicts. “One core goal of the SRO initiative is to teach students to work through their disagreements through dialogue rather than physical confrontation,” Brown explained. “We help them understand how to resolve conflicts amicably, instead of turning to violence.”

The senior police official reaffirmed the force’s commitment to tackling school violence across the parish, extending beyond Wednesday’s incident at STETHS. “We have promised to work with every school in St Elizabeth, not just STETHS, to help foster orderly, safe learning environments for all students,” he said.

Brown also called on parents to take a leading role in teaching conflict resolution skills to young people, noting that family socialization lays the foundation for how children behave in public spaces. “The home is the first and most important place children learn how to interact with others. We are urging parents to be more intentional about teaching basic social skills, especially how to handle disagreement,” he said. “A difference of opinion doesn’t have to end in a fight. If adults model healthy conflict resolution for children, they will carry those skills into their school and community interactions.”

Wednesday’s shutdown is just the latest in a string of deadly and disruptive violent incidents at Jamaican schools since the start of 2024. At least two students have been killed in conflicts with peers this year, with multiple other assaults, fights, and bullying cases reported across the island. In March, 16-year-old Devonie Shearer was fatally killed during a dispute at Ocho Rios High School in St Ann; a 17-year-old classmate has been arrested and charged in connection with his death. Just last month, 13-year-old Seaforth High School student Kland Doyle was fatally stabbed during a confrontation with a peer in Morant Bay, St Thomas, resulting in the arrest of three other schoolboys. Also last month, Jamaica College drew widespread public criticism after a video showing one student being beaten by two classmates went viral on social media—the second high-profile incident of violence at the institution in as many months.

On the annual observation of Read Across Jamaica Day, the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) brought its corporate social responsibility commitment to life by sending a team of trained volunteers to two local educational institutions: St Jude’s Primary School and Mona High School. The initiative was rooted in a clear mission: to ignite a lifelong passion for reading among young Jamaicans, open young minds to new ideas, and help students understand how continuous learning can unlock personal and professional opportunities long into the future.

During their time on both campuses, DBJ volunteers stepped out of their usual professional roles to join students directly in classroom-based literacy activities. Rather than sticking to passive reading, they led dynamic, interactive sessions that encouraged students to ask questions, participate in discussions about story themes, and connect the texts they explored to their own lives. Volunteers read aloud to groups of students, modeling expressive reading and helping younger learners build fluency, while also facilitating peer-to-peer reading activities that boosted student confidence.

Beyond interactive engagement with the student body, DBJ made tangible contributions to support long-term literacy development at both schools. The institution donated new reading materials and learning resources to the schools’ existing library hubs, expanding the collections available to students and strengthening the capacity of the schools’ resource centers to support teaching and independent reading.

Charlene Wong, DBJ’s Manager of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, framed the event as a core investment in Jamaica’s future, noting that “Today’s readers are tomorrow’s business owners, innovators, and leaders.” She expanded on this perspective, explaining that literacy development extends far beyond basic reading and writing skills. Reading fosters creativity, builds self-assurance, sharpens critical reasoning abilities, and hones strong communication skills—all foundational competencies that will empower the next generation to build successful careers and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Wong reaffirmed DBJ’s long-standing dedication to supporting community initiatives that invest in Jamaican human capital, aligning this literacy outreach with the bank’s broader mission of driving inclusive, long-term economic growth across the island. By investing in young people’s literacy today, the bank is laying the groundwork for a more skilled, innovative, and prosperous Jamaica tomorrow.

As Jamaica observes Child Month 2026, which centers the critical importance of children’s mental and emotional well-being, KFC Jamaica has turned the annual Read Across Jamaica Day into a heartfelt, community-focused initiative that reaches vulnerable young people in two very different settings: hospital paediatric wards and local primary schools.

Far from a standard promotional event or one-off reading activity, the fast-food chain’s programme was designed around a core goal: to build safe, welcoming spaces where children can set aside stress, participate freely in shared activities, and develop positive associations with reading and connection. This year’s outreach brought the joy of storytelling and small acts of kindness to two groups of children: young patients receiving care at St Ann’s Bay Hospital, and Grade 2 and 3 students at Tarrant Primary School in St Andrew.

At St Ann’s Bay Hospital, KFC Jamaica Marketing Officer Kandine West led a team of staff to host an interactive reading session in the ward’s dedicated playroom, specifically tailored to meet the needs of children who did not choose to be in a healthcare setting. The team prioritized creating a low-pressure, relaxed atmosphere that allowed young patients to go at their own pace, open up about their thoughts, and engage with stories on their own terms. Beyond the interactive reading experience, the KFC team also left lasting donations for the ward: a new collection of children’s books, plus food vouchers for the young patients, their attending nurses, and accompanying parents.

In an interview after the session, West explained that bringing the Read Across Jamaica Day initiative to a hospital was a fully intentional choice. “This is not a place children choose to be, so it was important for us to create a moment where they could feel relaxed, engaged and simply enjoy themselves,” West said. “Even if just for a little while, if we can bring a sense of comfort and a few smiles that means a lot. Especially during Child Month, when the focus is on mental and emotional well-being, these small interactions can make a meaningful difference.”

Debbie Ann Henry, operations manager at St Ann’s Bay Hospital, praised the initiative for its genuine care and positive impact on young patients. “Moments like these make a meaningful difference for our children. The team created an environment where they could relax, participate and simply enjoy the experience. We truly appreciate the time and care that went into this visit,” Henry said.

The outreach continued at Tarrant Primary School in St Andrew, where KFC Jamaica Marketing Manager Andrei Roper led interactive reading and discussion sessions for second and third-grade students. Designed to nurture public confidence and a lifelong love of reading, the sessions encouraged active participation and open dialogue, aligning with the Child Month focus on holistic well-being.

Roper emphasized that supporting children goes far beyond just encouraging reading skills. “Reading is an important part of that, but so is creating an environment where our children feel seen, heard and confident enough to participate. Especially during Child Month, those small moments of encouragement and connection can have a lasting impact,” Roper said.

This year’s Read Across Jamaica Day engagement is just one part of KFC Jamaica’s broader commitment to 2026 Child Month activities. Roper confirmed the chain has invested JMD $1 million into the National Child Month Committee’s nationwide annual programme of child-focused initiatives. Beyond this financial contribution, KFC Jamaica maintains a long-standing, on-the-ground commitment to youth development across Jamaica, with ongoing programming spanning education support, mentorship opportunities, and direct community outreach that prioritizes meaningful connection with the communities the chain serves.

On the annual observance of Read Across Jamaica Day, a Jamaican basic school received a special visit that left young learners grinning from ear to ear. Mark Berman, Canada’s sitting High Commissioner to Jamaica, traveled to Jamaica House Basic School to take part in a community-focused reading session aimed at boosting early literacy engagement across the island.

During the interactive event, Berman did not simply lead a silent reading activity—instead, he read stories aloud to the gathered students, stopping regularly to ask questions, invite discussion, and draw shy learners into the fun. Throughout the session, he repeatedly emphasized the transformative power of building strong reading skills during early childhood, noting that a solid literacy foundation opens doors to lifelong academic and professional opportunity. Beyond encouraging participation, Berman also worked to nurture a lasting, personal love of books among the students, framing reading not as a mandatory school task but as an exciting lifelong adventure.

The visit was not limited to group activities and discussion. To leave a tangible, long-lasting impact on the school’s literacy programs, Berman presented a donation of hundreds of new storybooks covering a range of topics and reading levels, alongside essential classroom school supplies that will support daily learning for students and teachers alike. School administrators noted that the donation will fill critical gaps in the school’s library collection, giving students more options to explore new interests and practice their reading skills outside of structured lessons.

The event aligns with ongoing literacy promotion efforts across Jamaica, which aim to reduce early childhood literacy gaps and ensure all young learners have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. For the students of Jamaica House Basic School, the day offered both a memorable interactive experience and a lasting boost to their learning environment, wrapping up with groups of happy students posing with their new books and the visiting commissioner.

In the hurricane-battered parish of St Elizabeth, Jamaica, a faith-centered pre-Mother’s Day celebration called Fun in the Son is set to bring warmth and encouragement to local residents this weekend, as the community continues its slow rebuilding process after last year’s devastating storm.

The event will be hosted on Saturday at Black River Independent Baptist Church in the New Town neighborhood, with entry gates opening to attendees at 5:00 pm. Organized by Glory Music, a local group with deep roots in the parish, the gathering is designed to lift community morale and reinforce a message of resilience through faith, even amid ongoing recovery challenges.

Tommy Cowan, a representative of Glory Music who was born in Newmarket, St Elizabeth, shared that the celebration is part of a sustained outreach effort to inspire local residents to trust in their own strength and choose faith over uncertainty. Drawing on decades of memory of the parish’s history of overcoming hardship, Cowan noted that St Elizabeth, an agriculturally rich region, has repeatedly bounced back from severe flood damage in the past, and he voiced confidence that the community will rise again this time, guided by faith.

St Elizabeth was one of the parishes hardest hit when Hurricane Melissa swept through Jamaica in late October 2025, leaving widespread damage to homes, businesses, and agricultural land across the region. This is not the first community outreach event Glory Music has held in the area since the storm: the group hosted a Fun in the Son Christmas treat at Nightingale Grove Baptist Church last December, and Cowan said the progress organizers have seen in the months since has been deeply encouraging.

“Crops are growing back, the market in Lewisville is vibrant, people are fixing and rebuilding their homes and businesses – it is just encouraging,” Cowan told Jamaica Observer in comments ahead of the upcoming celebration. Beyond supporting broader community recovery, the event also carries a special tribute to local mothers, ahead of the official Mother’s Day holiday. “With the Mother’s Day Celebration, we wish to remind the mothers that we love them and God loves them, unconditionally, and the values that mothers bring to our communities will never be forgotten,” Cowan added.

The pre-Mother’s Day gathering will feature ministry leadership from Carlene Davis, alongside musical performances from the Brown Trio, Orville Sutherland, The Right Band, and Rushing Wind Band. Zeal Music will lead the event’s praise and worship segment, while the service will be hosted by co-pastors Rev Dr Audley Black and Donna Black. Organizers say they hope the event will not only honor local mothers but also reinforce the collective spirit that has carried the community through its hardest days in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Last Friday, the sprawling green lawns of Devon House became a vibrant, story-filled gathering space as the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) hosted its much-anticipated second annual Reading Picnic, a signature community event marking Jamaica’s Reading Week. For the second consecutive year, this initiative brought 120 seven to nine-year-old Grade 3 students from across Kingston and St Catherine together for a full day of immersive learning, literary exploration, and child-centered fun.

Participating students came from four local institutions: Waterford Primary School, Bridgeport Primary School, Melrose Primary & Junior High School, and John Mills Primary & Junior High School, all arriving ready to dive into a curated lineup of activities designed to reframe reading as an adventure rather than a chore. With experienced media personality Krystal Tomlinson at the helm as host, the entire event was built around a single core mission: nurturing a lifelong, lasting passion for reading among Jamaica’s younger generation.

The day’s schedule packed a diverse range of literacy-focused activities to suit every young learner’s interests. Traditional oral storytelling sessions drew quiet, focused groups of wide-eyed children, while interactive reading competitions brought out friendly excitement and energetic engagement. The most beloved session for many attendees was the dynamic ‘Act-it-Out’ segment, where children got to step into the roles of their favorite story characters and bring narratives to life through movement and performance.

The cultural highlight of the afternoon came from the acclaimed Ashe Company, which delivered a vibrant, dynamic reimagining of beloved traditional Anancy Stories, weaving Jamaican cultural heritage into the day’s literary programming. Chloleen Daley-Muschett, assistant vice-president for public relations and corporate affairs at Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), shared that the children’s unscripted reactions to the day’s activities reinforced the value of this experiential approach to literacy promotion.

“The children’s reactions today were absolutely priceless,” Daley-Muschett noted. “Watching their eyes light up during the Anancy storytelling sessions, and seeing the sheer joy they brought to Act-it-Out, was a powerful reminder of what happens when you make reading an experience rather than an exercise.”

Beyond the planned activities, the event leaned on personal connection to inspire young readers, with more than a dozen members of the SVL leadership team stepping forward as volunteer guest readers to work directly with small groups of students. Senior leadership joining the effort included Heather Goldson, SVF director and SVL chief marketing officer; Stefan Miller, chief executive officer of SV Gaming; and Omar Dattadeen, assistant vice-president of marketing at SVL.

To add extra excitement for the young attendees, a lineup of prominent Jamaican public figures and SVL brand ambassadors also joined the literacy drive. Professional race car driver and JustBet Ambassador Fraser McConnell, Tishauna Mullings of NexxStepp Educational Services (named SVF 2025 Community Hero), and national team netballer Adean Thomas all spent time reading one-on-one with students and joining in the day’s interactive games, making the experience feel even more special for the children in attendance.

Goldson emphasized that the SVF Reading Picnic fills a critical role in supporting Jamaican children’s long-term success. “Literacy is the foundation upon which every Jamaican child’s future is built, and at Supreme Ventures Foundation, we believe that when a child falls in love with reading, we unlock a door to possibility that can never be closed,” she explained. “The SVF Reading Picnic was designed not just to promote literacy, but to show these children that reading can be an incredibly fun and interactive experience.”

By the time the event wrapped up, every student carried home more than just new favorite stories and warm memories of a day outdoors. Full from picnic refreshments and gifted custom goodie bags full of reading-related treats, the children departed after a day that successfully merged literary education with playful, interactive community engagement. The event once again demonstrated how experiential, community-led programming can deliver the critical message of literacy empowerment in a supportive, fun, and unforgettable environment that resonates with young learners.