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In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has unveiled a comprehensive $630 million national clean-up initiative. During a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Holness announced that each of Jamaica’s 63 constituencies will receive $10 million to spearhead the recovery efforts. Additionally, $150,000 will be allocated to each councillor within these constituencies to support local coordination.

A pivotal regional colloquium is set to take place on November 27-28 at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Regional Headquarters in St Andrew, Jamaica. Organized by the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation in partnership with the Early Childhood Commission, The UWI School of Education, and the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre, the event seeks to address critical gaps in Jamaica’s early childhood education sector. The initiative comes in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, which exacerbated existing challenges in the sector, highlighting the urgent need for systemic improvements. Claudine Allen, General Manager of JN Foundation, emphasized the long-term nature of this endeavor, stating, ‘It is not a sprint, it is a marathon.’ She expressed concern over the damage reported by the National Education Trust and stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to mitigate learning losses and ensure equitable access to quality education. The colloquium aims to bring together regional experts to share successes, challenges, and actionable solutions. Topics on the agenda include inclusion, technology’s role in education, teacher training, and policy effectiveness. Over 20 speakers from across the Caribbean will participate, fostering a collaborative environment to develop strategies for sustainable progress. The event, themed ‘Building Strong Foundations: Advancing Early Childhood Education through Policy, Practice and Partnership,’ underscores the commitment of stakeholders to create a robust framework for early childhood education. Interested participants are encouraged to register via the JN Foundation website at www.jnfoundation.com.

Jamaica has reached a significant milestone in its fight against poverty, with the national poverty rate dropping to a historic low of 7.8% in 2024, down from 8.2% in 2023. Additionally, extreme poverty, also known as food poverty, has fallen to 2.7%, the lowest level since 1989. These findings were disclosed by Dr. Wayne Henry, Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), during the institute’s quarterly media briefing on Tuesday. The data, sourced from the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, highlights the nation’s progress in addressing economic disparities. Dr. Henry emphasized that the 2024 poverty rate is statistically similar to the previous year’s figure, considering the margin of error. He explained that food poverty, which refers to households’ inability to afford the minimum daily caloric intake for good health, has seen a gradual decline since 2013 when it stood at 10.3%. Key factors contributing to this improvement include targeted social protection programs, record-low unemployment rates, and enhanced macroeconomic stability, including moderate inflation. Despite economic challenges such as weather-related shocks that reduced agricultural output and rural earnings, government interventions, inflation moderation, and increased employment have helped maintain household consumption levels. Dr. Henry also noted that poverty rates have shown relative stability across all regions, with the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area recording the lowest rate at 2.5%. Rural areas, historically the most affected, saw a slight reduction to 11% in 2024. Furthermore, mean per capita consumption expenditure grew by 5.5% nominally and 1.1% after adjusting for inflation. The PIOJ is also developing a multidimensional poverty index to capture broader forms of deprivation, such as limited access to education, healthcare, and housing, complementing traditional monetary measures.

Despite the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in West Green and Catherine Hall, including sections of the Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project, the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC) has confirmed that the project remains on schedule for its May 2026 completion. NROCC Managing Director Stephen Edwards assured the public that the construction timeline is being adjusted to accommodate the challenges posed by the hurricane. Edwards emphasized that while some minor work is required on the road connecting West Green to Howard Cooke Boulevard, the overall project is progressing as planned. The hurricane, a Category 5 storm, caused significant damage, including the emergence of a spring in one section of the bypass road, raising concerns about potential long-term impacts. The US$374-million project, funded by the Jamaican government and executed by China Harbour Engineering Company, includes several phases, such as the Montego Bay Bypass, Barnett Street/West Green Avenue Road Rehabilitation, and a comprehensive drainage study. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Montego Bay by diverting vehicles from heavily congested streets and will feature open-road tolling, eliminating the need for toll booths. Despite the ongoing construction, some motorists have been using the road, prompting NROCC to issue warnings about the dangers of accessing the site before its official opening. Edwards urged the public to refrain from using the bypass road until it is fully completed and declared safe for regular traffic.