A recent coordinated maritime security operation targeting illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean has yielded one of the region’s significant recent drug seizures, with authorities from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines taking more than 435 kilograms of cocaine into custody and arresting two people allegedly connected to the shipment, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has confirmed. In an official briefing on the operation, SOUTHCOM outlined that the two suspects were detained after their private yacht was intercepted when it entered the territorial waters of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines while carrying the large haul of illegal narcotics. Both detainees have already been formally charged with criminal offenses linked to the smuggling attempt, according to the command’s statement. This high-impact seizure is not an isolated action, but rather part of a years-long coordinated regional security framework centered on the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a cooperative program launched to deepen security ties between the United States and Caribbean island nations to dismantle transnational organized criminal networks operating in the region. Since 2010, SOUTHCOM has partnered with law enforcement and security agencies across the Caribbean to build local capacity to disrupt all forms of illicit trafficking, from narcotics to weapons and human smuggling, by sharing intelligence, providing training, and supporting operational coordination. The successful interception also underscores the ongoing collective work of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a broader Western Hemisphere partnership that unites nations to address shared security threats including large-scale narcotics trafficking, organized cartel activity, and cross-border criminal activity that undermines stability across the Americas. At this stage, senior officials have not disclosed additional details about the identities of the two suspects, nor have they released information about the origin of the cocaine or its intended final destination, to protect ongoing investigative work related to the case.
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PM says Sir Rodney Williams Will Remain As Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda
During his official swearing-in ceremony for a new term on Friday, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne issued a direct public clarification, rejecting widespread pre-election speculation that his incoming administration planned to remove the sitting Governor-General, Sir Rodney Williams.
Opening his address by formally recognizing Sir Rodney, Browne stated clearly: “And by the way, there’s no intention to remove him as Governor General.” This public confirmation directly counters an unconfirmed report circulated ahead of the April 30 general election by Real News Antigua, an outlet aligned with the country’s political opposition. Citing anonymous, unnamed sources, the pre-election report claimed the Browne-led administration had already shortlisted a replacement for the ceremonial role, and that the planned shake-up had sparked internal unease among government officials.
While Browne did not name the opposition-aligned publication directly in his remarks, his on-the-record dismissal of the speculation came as part of a broader critique of the misinformation and deceptive political narratives that spread across the public sphere during the recent election campaign. Just one day before the clarification, Browne’s long-governing Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) secured a landslide victory in the national polls. The party won 15 out of the 17 available parliamentary seats, granting Browne an unprecedented fourth consecutive term as the country’s head of government.
Under Antigua and Barbuda’s constitutional system, the Governor-General acts as the ceremonial representative of the British monarch, with no executive policy-making authority. Prior to Browne’s remarks, no official statement from the government had ever confirmed any plans to alter the leadership of the Government House, the official residence and office of the Governor-General. Browne’s explicit confirmation has now laid the pre-election speculation to rest, confirming that Sir Rodney Williams will remain in his post as the ceremonial vice-regal representative as the new ABLP administration begins its four-year term.
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Poet Marcia Jackson thrilled to be hosting IRAWMA
When the curtains rise on the 43rd International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA) at Florida’s Lauderhill Performing Arts Center on May 17, Jamaican-born poet Marcia Jackson will step into two high-profile roles at once: competing for an unprecedented third consecutive victory and leading the star-studded annual ceremony as host.
Jackson, who now makes her home in Florida, will face off against four other contenders — Amaziyah The Great, Majorie Walters (known professionally as Maj Da Poet), Richie Innocent, and Wise Wurdz — for the prestigious Mutabaruka Award for Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer. While landing a third straight win would be a career-defining milestone, Jackson says the opportunity to helm the entire event has left her equally overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement.
Speaking to Observer Online, Jackson described the dual honor as “surreal and humbling.” “As a poet, my core mission has always been to hold a mirror up to our shared culture and history,” she explained. “Hosting this year’s IRAWMA feels like a long-awaited coming together: poetry and reggae music, sharing the same stage and speaking the same cultural language. Winning this award twice already has proven that our spoken word art form earns the respect it deserves here. Now, as host, I get to shine a spotlight on every genre that carries our stories — from raw dub poetry to upbeat dancehall.”
Jackson’s path to the IRAWMA stage has been shaped by a multifaceted career rooted in Caribbean creative tradition. Born and raised in Portland, Jamaica, she got her start in the entertainment industry as a dancehall deejay performing under the stage name Copper Girl. Inspired by iconic Caribbean literary and cultural figures including poet Claude McKay and folklorist Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett Coverley, she began penning her own poetry as a teenager. Beyond her work as a performance artist, Jackson maintains a diverse professional profile: she is a registered nurse, a stage actress with credits including the production *The Real Wife*, and the organizer of the popular annual Easter Comedy Show in Jupiter, Florida.
That varied background, Jackson says, has given her a unique set of skills perfectly tailored to hosting the major awards event. “Dub poetry taught me timing, breath control, and how to command an entire room with nothing but words,” she noted. “My work in drama gave me stage presence and taught me how to hold an audience’s attention from start to finish. And organizing community events like the Unity Dance for Florida Nursing Month taught me behind-the-scenes logistics, how to manage a running order, and how to keep energy high for hours on end. All of those experiences come together when you step out to host an event this big.”
Founded by Ephraim Martin, a former photojournalist with Jamaican newspaper *The Gleaner*, the IRAWMA has a 41-year history of celebrating Caribbean and global roots music. First launched as the International Reggae Music Awards in 1982 in Chicago, the awards have honored hundreds of artists, musicians, producers, and industry leaders, with a core focus on Jamaican creative talent. This year’s ceremony features 40 competitive categories decided by public voting, plus five additional Special Honours recognitions for outstanding contributions to the genre.
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Johnson Smith to welcome India’s foreign minister to Kingston
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A landmark chapter in Jamaica-India diplomatic relations is set to open this weekend, as Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, prepares to welcome India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, for the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to the Caribbean nation.
Dr. Jaishankar is slated to touch down at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport this Saturday, kicking off a three-day itinerary focused on deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple priority sectors. Ahead of the visit, Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade released an official statement noting that the high-level trip will give both top diplomats a chance to review the current state of bilateral ties and move forward with talks to activate existing Memoranda of Understanding covering three key areas: public health, energy solarisation, and public broadcasting.
Beyond operationalizing these existing agreements, the two sides are also set to explore new and expanded collaboration in high-impact areas including agriculture, digital technology and innovation, tourism, and align on regional and multilateral issues that are of shared interest to both nations.
“This visit builds on the strong foundation between Jamaica and the Republic of India, rooted in history, shared values and a common vision for inclusive and sustainable development. I look forward to welcoming Minister Jaishankar to Kingston as we continue to strengthen the longstanding ties between our countries,” Johnson Smith said in a statement. “It presents an excellent opportunity to translate the strong political will demonstrated by our leaders into tangible outcomes that benefit our peoples.”
Johnson Smith also highlighted that the visit will serve as a key moment for Jamaica’s government and people to formally renew their sincere gratitude to India for the generous relief supplies New Delhi donated in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, and to reaffirm both countries’ shared commitment to advancing long-term economic resilience across the Global South.
Official bilateral talks between Dr. Jaishankar, Johnson Smith, and a select group of Jamaican cabinet ministers are scheduled for Monday, May 4. Following the plenary discussions, the Indian External Affairs Minister will pay a courtesy call on Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness at Jamaica House, and hold engagements with private sector leaders and other senior Jamaican government officials.
The bilateral relationship between Jamaica and India stretches back more than six decades: the two countries formally established diplomatic relations on August 12, 1962, just months after Jamaica gained its independence. The partnership has gained significant momentum in recent years, starting with Jamaica’s launch of its first resident diplomatic mission in India in September 2020. Earlier this year, the Jamaican High Commission in New Delhi was formally opened during Prime Minister Holness’ official trip to India, which marked the first official visit by a sitting Jamaican head of government to the South Asian nation.
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US airlines step up as Spirit winds down
On an early Saturday morning in Washington D.C., budget carrier Spirit Airlines—famous for its signature bright yellow aircraft—announced an immediate end to all global operations, ending last-ditch negotiations with creditors and the White House that failed to secure a financial lifeline for the struggling airline.
The sudden collapse came on the heels of a dramatic spike in jet fuel prices triggered by regional tensions in the Middle East. In a formal statement, Spirit confirmed all flights were canceled effective immediately, that customer service operations would cease, and that the company had begun the process of winding down its entire business. The low-cost carrier emphasized that it would honor its commitment to issuing refunds to passengers with unused tickets.
Founded in 1992 as one of the first budget airlines in the United States, Spirit had carried 28 million domestic and international passengers between February 2025 and January 2026, according to federal transportation data. But the company had teetered on the edge of insolvency for years, entering bankruptcy protection first in November 2024 and again in August 2025. As recently as late February, leadership announced a tentative debt restructuring agreement that raised hopes it would exit bankruptcy by early summer.
Those hopes quickly unraveled just days later, when military conflict between the U.S.-Israel coalition and Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for oil shipments. The disruption sent jet fuel prices skyrocketing, worsening Spirit’s already precarious financial position. Last-minute talks between company representatives, major creditors, and the Trump administration broke down in the overnight hours before the shutdown announcement, after creditors rejected the terms of a proposed government-backed bailout that would have given the White House an ownership stake in the reorganized company.
In the wake of the shutdown announcement, major U.S. air carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways moved quickly to launch emergency assistance for thousands of passengers who woke Saturday to find their booked Spirit flights had been canceled. The competing carriers introduced deeply discounted “rescue fares” for stranded travelers, and announced plans to add extra flights or swap in larger aircraft on routes where Spirit held a large market share.
Beyond supporting stranded passengers, major airlines also moved quickly to offer employment to Spirit’s roughly 7,500 workers, who were left jobless by the sudden shutdown. Union leaders representing Spirit pilots and ground staff harshly criticized the collapse of the rescue deal, noting that the brunt of the fallout would fall on frontline workers and their local communities, not corporate boardrooms.
“ The pain of this decision will not be felt in boardrooms. It will be felt by pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, and ground crews, and by the families and communities that depend on them,” the Air Line Pilots Association said in a statement responding to the shutdown.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the Trump administration’s handling of the crisis during a Saturday press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport, insisting that President Trump had pushed aggressively to find a path to keep Spirit operating. Duffy pinned ultimate responsibility for the collapse on creditors, who refused to accept the administration’s bailout terms, and added that the federal government did not have unallocated funds available for a half-billion dollar industry bailout. He also blamed the prior Biden administration for blocking a proposed merger between Spirit and JetBlue in March 2024, a move Duffy said left Spirit weakened and unable to absorb subsequent market shocks.
For many passengers, the shutdown has already upended long-planned travel. Sixty-year-old Florida resident Ramon, who had been scheduled to fly to Honduras this week to visit family, told AFP he and his son saw early reports of Spirit’s financial trouble but declined an earlier refund offer because replacement tickets on other carriers cost $1,000 per passenger, far more than they could afford. The pair now plans to wait for their Spirit refund before rebooking travel for early June.
Industry analysts say Spirit’s shutdown will have long-lasting impacts on U.S. air travel. Bradley Akubuiro, a crisis management expert at Bully Pulpit International, noted that while the sudden spike in fuel prices was the immediate trigger for Spirit’s collapse, the carrier had been in a fragile financial position for years. More importantly, Akubuiro said, the loss of Spirit removes one of the most powerful sources of downward pressure on airfares across the U.S. market, a shift that could lead to higher average ticket prices for all travelers in coming months.
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Arsenal peaking at the right time says Arteta
LONDON – In a commanding display that has shifted the momentum of the 2024-25 Premier League title race, Arsenal crushed Fulham 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, opening up a six-point gap over defending champions Manchester City and sending a clear warning that Mikel Arteta’s side is still hungry to end their 22-year top-flight title drought.
Two first-half goals from Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, split by a clinical finish from winger Bukayo Saka, wrapped up all three points for the Gunners before the halftime whistle, capping a dominant opening 45 minutes that left Fulham unable to mount a meaningful comeback. The result gives Arsenal a crucial cushion ahead of Manchester City’s first of two games in hand, which sees Pep Guardiola’s side travel to face Everton on Monday night.
The win comes as a major confidence boost for Arsenal, who stumbled through rocky patches in April with damaging losses to both Manchester City and Bournemouth, leading to widespread speculation that the club was once again set to collapse under the pressure of a late title push. But Arteta’s side has bounced back in clinical fashion, shifting all pressure back onto the reigning champions, who can draw level on points with Arsenal with wins in both their outstanding fixtures. Even if City do pick up six points from these games, Arsenal currently hold a superior goal difference that could still prove decisive when the season concludes.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, Arteta reflected on his side’s position, noting: “Game two done. Another three to go. We won the most games in the history of this club in a whole season and it’s not finished. It was a critical game because we knew the importance of the win and the goal difference in the Premier League. It was a great team performance. We started in the game as we wanted. Very lively. Really intense in the high press. We got the crowd going and when this stadium creates that kind of atmosphere, it can be difficult for the opposition.”
A standout talking point from the match was the performance of Saka, who made his first start since recovering from an Achilles injury that kept him sidelined for five matches. The England international was a constant threat on the right flank, and Arteta hailed his impact at the most critical stage of the campaign. “We know what he is capable of. He comes back at the most important part of the season. His mind is fresh, he has the hunger,” Arteta added. “We are ramping up his minutes. We need to be careful because we need him on the pitch.”
After a string of anxious, tight performances in recent weeks, Saturday’s game saw Arsenal return to the free-flowing, aggressive attacking style that carried them to the top of the table in the first half of the season. Arteta says the performance reflects the unshakable belief in the dressing room that this is the year the club ends their wait for a league title, having finished as runners-up in each of the last three seasons.
“It says to us and our dressing room that we keep the dream alive. What our guys have done in these circumstances, without so many injured players at different times, it is incredible,” he said. “This is going to carry the energy into the next game.”
That next game is far from a gentle test: just three days after the Fulham win, Arsenal host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, with the tie tied at 1-1. A win on Tuesday will book Arsenal a place in the Champions League final for only the second time in the club’s history, and the first since 2006. Arteta says his side has managed to avoid distraction from the huge European fixture, and carried the same intensity into the Fulham match that they will need to progress.
“We talk about hunger and we had that today. Understanding that you don’t want to be distracted by a huge game here on Tuesday, we played with authority and desire,” Arteta said. “We have a lot of rhythm. We are used to playing every three days and we will play one of the biggest games in the history of this stadium.”
Before turning his focus to the Champions League, however, Arteta says he will be settling down to watch Manchester City’s trip to Everton on Monday, with the outcome of the match set to shape the rest of Arsenal’s season. When asked if he would be tuning in, he replied: “Yes because I love football and there is so much at stake.”
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Gov’t developing master plan to restore world famous Hellshire beach, says Samuda
One of Jamaica’s most beloved coastal destinations, Hellshire Beach in St Catherine, is set to undergo a landmark restoration effort, as the government advances a comprehensive master plan to reverse decades of climate-driven damage, with a final draft slated for completion by the end of the current fiscal year. The announcement was made by Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda on April 28, during his address to the Sectoral Debate held at Gordon House, Jamaica’s seat of parliament. For over a decade, the iconic beach – which once drew thousands of local and international visitors annually – has been grappling with severe coastal erosion, a crisis amplified by the shifting impacts of a changing global climate. The natural degradation has already forced dozens of the beach’s famous shoreline food vendors out of business, with many of their small wooden shops tumbling into the encroaching sea as the shoreline retreats. These vendors are integral to Hellshire’s cultural identity, best known for serving the island’s iconic fried fish and festival meal that draws foodies from across the country. To reverse this damage and secure the beach’s future, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is leading the development of a holistic master plan that balances competing priorities: supporting the coastal community’s livelihoods while protecting the fragile local ecosystem. Speaking to parliament, Samuda emphasized that the project is rooted in the principle that Hellshire must serve both people and the planet, rather than prioritizing one over the other. The plan outlines three core pillars of action. First, it calls for a full overhaul of the beach’s outdated sanitation and waste management infrastructure, putting an end to the dangerous practice of direct waste discharge into coastal waters and cutting down on pervasive littering that harms marine life. Second, it will formalize the shoreline vending sector through regulation, establishing clear environmental responsibilities for all operators to ensure commercial activity does not undermine conservation goals. Third, the initiative prioritizes the protection of adjacent mangrove forests and seagrass beds, critical natural habitats that support local fisheries and act as natural barriers to reduce coastal erosion and boost the shoreline’s resilience to storm surges and sea level rise. According to Samuda, the ultimate goal of the multi-year restoration project is to reimagine Hellshire as a global model for sustainable coastal development: a clean, welcoming space that retains its cultural and economic vibrancy while safeguarding the natural environment that sustains it. Preliminary technical and environmental studies are currently in their final stages, and the full detailed master plan will be released for public consultation with Jamaican citizens before the end of the year, kicking off what will be a years-long effort to restore the iconic beach for future generations.
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Jamaica’s spend on imports far outpaces export earnings in 2025, says STATIN
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Fresh trade data published by Jamaica’s official statistics agency has painted a stark picture of the country’s widening merchandise trade imbalance for the full calendar year 2025, revealing export earnings that fell far short of the value of goods brought into the country.
Released Friday by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, widely known as STATIN, the agency’s latest International Merchandise Trade briefing laid out the full scope of the 2025 trade position: Jamaica’s total import spending reached US$7.52 billion, while total export revenue hit just US$1.65 billion — a gap that leaves the island nation with one of its most lopsided trade balances in recent years.
When broken down, the data shows that for every dollar Jamaica spent importing goods in 2025, just 22 cents was generated through export sales. That marks a noticeable drop from 2024, when the ratio stood at 26 cents of export earnings for every dollar of imports, also called the export-to-import coverage ratio.
A closer look at year-over-year changes shows the imbalance is growing: total 2025 exports fell 13.4% compared to the US$1.91 billion recorded in 2024. STATIN attributes most of this decline to a steep 20.4% drop in the export value of crude materials excluding energy products.
On the import side, meanwhile, the total value of goods brought into Jamaica rose 3.2% year-over-year, climbing from US$7.29 billion in 2024 to the 2025 total. According to STATIN’s analysis, this uptick was driven by higher incoming shipments of two key categories: raw materials and intermediate goods, which rose 10.5%, and consumer goods, which saw a 6.2% annual increase.
The report also outlined Jamaica’s top trade relationships for 2025. The United States, China, Brazil, Japan, and Trinidad & Tobago remained the island’s five largest sources of imported goods. Combined, Jamaica spent US$4.68 billion on imports from these five markets in 2025, a 5% increase from the US$4.45 billion spent on imports from the same group in 2024.
For exports, the top five destination markets in 2025 were the United States, the Russian Federation, Iceland, Canada, and the Netherlands. However, total export revenue from these key markets dropped sharply by 20% year-over-year, falling to US$1.43 billion in 2025.
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From participation to pursuit – Ja seeks dominance in 10X10 draughts
The 23rd Pan-American International 10×10 Draughts Championship wrapped up recently in Paramaribo, Suriname, and its closing ceremony delivered far more than just a traditional celebration of top competitors. The event exposed a growing shift in the competitive landscape of regional draughts, combining established dominance from traditional powerhouses with promising breakthroughs from up-and-coming national programs.
In one iconic moment that summed up the tournament’s shifting narrative, Brazil’s newly crowned Women’s Classic champion Carla Assunção Calasans stood side-by-side with Jamaica Draughts Association (JDA) president Jermaine Delattibudiere, who took home silver. The photo, taken on stage at Paramaribo’s Mind Sport Centre during the official award ceremony, carried quiet symbolism: one country reaffirming its long-held position at the top of the regional rankings, while another marked its intentional, steady climb up the competitive ladder.
Brazil’s reign over the 100-square 10×10 draughts format was reinforced in emphatic fashion at this year’s championship. Calasans put on a masterclass of technical precision and calm under high-stakes pressure to claim the women’s top prize, solidifying her status as the sport’s regional standard-bearer.
Her compatriot, International Grandmaster Allan Igor Moreno Silva, extended his already legendary regional legacy by capturing his sixth Pan-American Men’s Classic title – a rare and remarkable feat that spans more than a decade of elite championship competition. Silva’s dominance did not end there: he also delivered a commanding performance in the Blitz competition to take home a second gold medal, highlighting Brazil’s unmatched depth and consistent excellence at the highest regional level.
The men’s division’s top finishers showcased the high calibre of competition drawing athletes from across the Americas. International Master Angel Rafael Mejía of the Dominican Republic claimed the runner-up spot, while International Master Yevgeniy Sklyarov of the United States took third. Suriname’s own Federation Master Arief Salarbaks and Trinidad and Tobago’s Federation Master Dickson Maughn rounded out the competitive top five.
In the women’s division, two American representatives – Candidate Master for Women Galina Petukhova and International Master for Women Lublyana Turiy – secured second and third place respectively. Calasans claimed the top spot, with Suriname’s Shreya Ragho taking fourth to complete the top tier, a result that underscores both the high level of play and the geographic diversity of this year’s competitor field.
Beyond regional bragging rights, the championship served as a critical qualifying event for the 2027 World Draughts Federation World Championships set to take place in the Netherlands. The top two finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions have already secured their spots at the global tournament, cementing the Pan-American Championship’s role as more than just a regional contest – it is a key gateway to elite global draughts competition.
Against this backdrop of established excellence, Jamaica’s solid performance at the tournament carries broader strategic significance for the future of the sport in the region, according to Delattibudiere, who also serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Jamaica. He explained that Jamaica’s 10×10 draughts program is still in its early formative stages, with the nation’s first official entry into the Pan-American Championships coming only in 2022 at the event hosted in Santo Domingo.
At that 2022 tournament, Delattibudiere shared, Jamaican competitor Jermaine ‘Wasp’ Hutchinson turned heads with a standout 13th-place finish, while International Grandmaster Wayne ‘Shines’ Reid claimed 24th place. “Both players set an early benchmark for Jamaican competitive participation that we have built on here,” he added.
Delattibudiere noted that his own silver-medal finish at this year’s championship represents consistent progress for the Jamaican program, while also reflecting the steep learning curve that comes with transitioning from the smaller 8×8 draughts format, more commonly played in Jamaica, to the far more complex 10×10 version used in elite international competition.
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Education Ministry targets mental health for Child Month 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOESYI) has officially launched the 2026 edition of Child Month, placing youth mental wellness and holistic development at the center of this year’s national campaign.
Framed around the theme “Prioritise Our Children’s Mental Health: Strong Minds, Safer Future,” the month-long initiative is designed to foster emotional resilience, boost self-awareness among young people, and cultivate safe, supportive spaces for children across every region of the island nation.
The official launch kicked off last Friday at MOESYI’s Kingston headquarters with a “Prayer and Praise: Child Month Blast-off” event, which drew education stakeholders, community leaders, and student representatives. Attendees gathered to affirm a shared, cross-sector commitment to advancing children’s overall well-being, according to an official statement from the ministry.
Over the course of May, MOESYI and its partner agencies will roll out a full slate of programming tailored to engage children, caregivers, educators, and community partners. The schedule includes interactive skill-building workshops, public recognition programs celebrating young people’s achievements, and targeted community outreach efforts. Beyond raising awareness, the activities are structured to uplift children’s rights, reinforce support systems, and nurture healthy mental, emotional, and social growth.
Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, issued a public call for nationwide participation in the campaign. “Jamaica’s future depends on how we invest in our children today. This year, we are prioritising mental health because strong minds build safer communities. I urge all Jamaicans to help create environments where children feel supported and empowered,” Dixon said during the launch.
To expand the reach of child protection and wellness efforts, the ministry is also advancing inclusive policies and deepening cross-sector partnerships with public health agencies, education institutions, and local community organizations. Dr Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary at MOESYI, reaffirmed the government’s long-term commitment to whole-child development in her remarks.
“We are committed to holistic child development – supporting both achievement and well-being – so every child can grow, succeed and reach their full potential,” Troupe said.
MOESYI is encouraging all schools, household caregivers, and community groups to take active part in Child Month activities, emphasizing that coordinated collective action is the foundation for nurturing a generation of resilient, confident, and capable young Jamaicans.