标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican officials have declared the modernization of the nation’s adoption and foster care systems, along with enhanced support for children with special needs, a critical national priority aimed at improving outcomes for vulnerable youth.

Education, Skills, Youth and Information Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon emphasized the urgent need to reform Jamaica’s adoption legislation during her address at the 14th annual educational achievement awards ceremony. The event, organized by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), took place Thursday at Kingston’s Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel.

“We persistently discuss adoption reform yet haven’t achieved substantial progress. Revising our adoption law requires immediate attention,” Senator Morris Dixon asserted. She highlighted the necessity of streamlining procedures to accelerate children’s transition into permanent, nurturing family environments, noting that current processes must become “significantly simpler and more efficient.”

Regarding foster care, the minister advocated for family-based settings as the optimal environment for child development and called for expanded national participation in foster programs. “I firmly believe that a family home provides the best foundation for a child’s growth and wellbeing,” she added.

The minister also addressed significant gaps in support systems for children with special needs, particularly during their transition to adulthood. “We’re expanding ministerial programs to better serve the substantial population of children with special needs, but additional efforts are imperative,” Senator Morris Dixon stated.

Emphasizing inclusion and opportunity, she noted that children with special needs possess significant potential to contribute to national development when provided with appropriate support structures. Minister Morris Dixon concluded by stressing the fundamental importance of developing comprehensive national frameworks that ensure every child, regardless of circumstance or ability, feels valued, supported, and fully integrated into society.

Tidy Tots Educare, an early childhood institution in Black River, St Elizabeth, has triumphantly reopened its doors following extensive damage from Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic passage three months prior. The Category 5 storm had obliterated the school’s roof, ceiling, windows, partitions, and furniture, rendering the facility completely inoperable and displacing its 100 students.

The school’s principal, Janet Clarke, described the profound emotional and physical devastation: ‘The wind destroyed everything. We had to engage parents immediately as we had no viable structure.’ The disaster forced numerous families to relocate from the community entirely, with student enrollment initially dropping by half at a temporary location provided by another institution.

Restoration became possible through an extraordinary collaboration initiated when parent Eleanor Muir documented the damage on social media. Her viral video captured the attention of JN Life Insurance executives Susan Holness and Othneil Blagrove, who personally visited the site. ‘When I saw what Hurricane Melissa left behind, I felt sad and wanted to see it first-hand,’ Holness stated. Blagrove, who has childhood connections to the area, emphasized the project’s personal significance.

JN Life Insurance partnered with NORTAS Engineering and Contracting Ltd, whose CEO Nichlous Stewart provided complimentary labor while JN Life supplied all construction materials. This joint effort enabled comprehensive refurbishment of the learning environment, allowing full resumption of educational activities.

The Early Childhood Commission reported widespread sectoral impact, with 466 of Jamaica’s 2,420 early childhood institutions affected by the hurricane. Executive Director Dr. Karlene DeGrasse-Deslandes noted that despite significant disruptions to 24,058 infants and 2,305 practitioners, recovery has progressed remarkably, with 99.1% of institutions now reopened—a testament to national resilience and dedicated restoration efforts.

The community of south Manchester, Jamaica gathered in profound sorrow on Friday, January 30, 2026, to honor the memory of Amoya Moore, a nine-year-old student whose life was tragically cut short in a December traffic incident. The funeral service at Cross Keys Church of God of Prophecy brought together grieving family members, friends, and local residents to bid their final farewells to the young Villa Road Primary student.

The emotional ceremony featured a pink casket adorned with photographs of the vibrant fourth-grader, accompanied by the poignant inscription: “rest peacefully our angel.” The tragic event occurred on the morning of December 9 at approximately 7:00 am in the Bonitto Heights area off Bonitto Crescent in Mandeville. According to reports, the young girl had just exchanged morning greetings with the sanitation crew moments before being struck by the vehicle mere meters from her family home.

The devastating incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting concerns about road safety and child protection in residential areas. The funeral program, specially designed to commemorate Amoya’s brief but meaningful life, served as a testament to the impact her passing has had on this close-knit Jamaican community. The gathering represented both a celebration of her young life and a collective mourning of a tragedy that has left permanent scars on all who knew the cheerful elementary student.

The 28th annual Sagicor Sigma Run is poised for a groundbreaking iteration in February 2026, merging technological innovation with a profound humanitarian mission. Organizers have announced a dual focus: implementing state-of-the-art race management systems and channeling all proceeds toward rebuilding schools in western Jamaica devastated by Hurricane Melissa in late October.

Under the direction of Race Director Alfred Francis of Running Events Jamaica, the event will debut a sophisticated MyLaps tracking system. This technology, renowned for its use at premier global competitions like the Winter Olympics and Chicago Marathon, will introduce live participant tracking and a novel ‘watch yourself finish’ video feature. Runners and spectators can monitor progress in real-time and access personalized finish-line footage post-race by entering their bib numbers.

Building on last year’s successful turnout of approximately 30,000 participants, organizers are targeting a 10% increase, aiming for 32,250 entrants across wheelchair, running, and walking categories. The overwhelming demand has already necessitated a reorder of race bibs. The scenic course will remain unchanged, winding through key Kingston arteries including Knutsford Boulevard, Hope Road, and Half-Way-Tree Road.

The technological enhancements and participant experience are matched by a critical fundraising goal. This year’s event seeks to raise at least $150 million Jamaican dollars, specifically earmarked for restoring normalcy to 3,000 students across five identified schools: Green Pond High, Little London High, Salt Marsh Primary, Mayfield Primary, and Hopewell High. Francis acknowledged the scale of need far exceeds available resources but expressed confidence in the generosity of the Jamaican people, citing last year’s achievement of raising $128 million against a $115 million target.

Emphasizing safety and community, the run will operate with support from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force, the Ministry of Health, and a vast network of volunteers. Francis positions the event not merely as a race but as a vital channel for national contribution, stating, ‘You’ll feel fulfilled that you are part of a wonderful experience making a significant contribution towards Jamaica’s growth and sustainability.’