标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica—In a significant educational initiative, Merl Grove High School served as the host venue for the culminating event of the 2026 Mathematics Problem-Solving Competition on March 12. The finale brought together over 100 exceptional students from primary and secondary institutions across Kingston, St James, and Westmoreland parishes.

This academic competition featured participation from 37 schools strategically selected from communities within seven designated Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs)—areas identified as vulnerable and high-risk regions. Participants received extensive recognition through trophies, plaques, medals, and specialized mathematics manipulatives designed to foster active learning, enhance student engagement, and deepen conceptual mathematical understanding.

The competition operates under the Inter-Ministerial School Support Strategy, with funding provided through the Violence Prevention Programme. This collaborative effort partners with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office alongside the British High Commission to address broader social challenges.

Dianne McIntosh, Executive Director of Citizens Security at the Ministry of National Security and Peace, revealed to JIS News that since its 2020 inception, the initiative has demonstrated measurable positive impacts within targeted communities. “The approach integrates multiple agencies to address violence and crime through educational interventions,” McIntosh explained. “Strategic priorities focus on psychosocial activities that help youngsters manage emotional wellbeing, process trauma, and simultaneously address literacy and mathematical gaps.”

Dr. Lamar Edghill, Senior Education Officer in the Ministry’s Standards Development Unit, emphasized the program’s alignment with national efforts to promote STEAM/STEM disciplines. “We are in the fifth revolution requiring innovative technological approaches,” Edghill stated. “STEAM/STEM represents the optimal pathway forward, moving beyond traditional career preparation toward developing adaptable skills for uncertain futures.”

The initiative forms part of Jamaica’s broader crime reduction strategy, with educational improvement serving as a critical component. Edghill noted that enhanced academic performance, particularly in problem-solving mathematics, directly supports reduced crime rates within ZOSO communities.

This competition coincides with National Mathematics Month observances throughout March, organized under the theme: ‘Mathematics for All: Building Communities, Confidence, Competence, and Creativity.’ The Ministry of Education is coordinating numerous mathematics-focused activities across participating schools to reinforce these objectives.

Gina Tomlinson-Williams, currently Director of Organizational Development and Change at Jamaica Public Service (JPS), has charted a remarkably unconventional career trajectory that began in classroom education rather than corporate halls. Her professional journey—spanning roles as regional auditor, customer service manager, and strategic planner—demonstrates the power of adaptability and purpose-driven career evolution.

Speaking at a STEM workshop hosted by the University of the West Indies, Mona—where she once studied—Tomlinson-Williams shared insights from her nonlinear path. The event, part of a $16 million partnership between UWI and JPS Foundation, offered reduced-cost STEM preparation for Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam students, lowering fees from $5,000 to $1,500 for five years.

Addressing fifth- and sixth-form students, the executive emphasized the growing disadvantage of single-specialization careers. ‘Many organizations now seek professionals with multidimensional backgrounds,’ she advised, urging openness to diverse opportunities. ‘The world needs people willing to ask better questions, test bold ideas, and learn from failure.’

Tomlinson-Williams’ own academic journey included a first degree in General Physics and Electronics, followed by a master’s in Computer-Based Management Systems—a program she jokingly called herself a ‘guinea pig’ for. Her professional development accelerated through roles at New Horizon Computer Learning Centre and Carreras, where she gained exposure to manufacturing, IT, business processes, and HR before joining JPS in 2007.

Her path wasn’t without challenges. A major car accident forced her to relearn walking, followed by redundancy at Carreras. These experiences, she noted, profoundly shaped her perspective: ‘Having worked and returned to do that master’s was a game-changer. The maturity you bring to learning when paying from your own pocket creates stark difference.’

Now celebrating nearly 20 years at JPS, where she has held positions from business analyst to her current executive role, Tomlinson-Williams credits her Carreras experience during British American Tobacco’s acquisition for teaching her international organizational standards and processes.

The 47-year-old executive, mother of twin toddlers, shared three critical professional principles that guide her: adaptability, commitment to continuous learning, and cultivated empathy. ‘I had to learn to think from customers’ perspectives and understand their expectations,’ she reflected.

Beyond corporate responsibilities, Tomlinson-Williams finds fulfillment in mentoring through JPS Foundation’s programs and personal coaching. ‘Seeing people find their purpose and align with it is deeply fulfilling,’ she stated. ‘It feels like I’m talking to my former self, offering what I didn’t receive at that age.’

The Judicial Committee of the United Kingdom Privy Council has delivered a significant ruling in the case of Rayon Williams, a Jamaican man serving concurrent life sentences for two separate murders committed in 2009 and 2010. While dismissing Williams’ challenge to his convictions, the court has granted leave for his sentence to be reconsidered by Jamaica’s Court of Appeal.

Williams received two life sentences with stringent parole eligibility requirements: 35 years for the 2009 murder of Hugh Cover and 45 years for the 2010 killing of Geraldo Campbell. His legal journey began with initial convictions in the St Catherine Circuit Court in 2013 and 2014 respectively, followed by unsuccessful appeals in Jamaica’s appellate system that ultimately led to the Privy Council hearing.

The Council’s March 10, 2026 determination found no merit in challenging the convictions, stating that “it is not arguable that there has been a serious miscarriage of justice.” However, the sentence appeal will now return to Jamaican jurisdiction for fresh consideration.

Both convictions relied heavily on testimony from Williams’ aunt, who served as the prosecution’s primary eyewitness. In the 2009 case, she testified to witnessing Williams and accomplices brutally murder Cover with a pickaxe stick and sword before decapitating the victim and disposing of the body in Cover’s own vehicle.

The 2010 conviction involved testimony that Williams shot Campbell in a Spanish Town shop. The case took dramatic turns when the aunt later submitted a 2018 affidavit recanting her testimony, claiming police coercion, only to subsequently file a 2021 repudiation affidavit alleging that Williams and his associates had forced her to retract her original statements.

The legal proceedings have involved multiple layers of contradictory evidence, including disputed letters and allegations of police misconduct versus witness intimidation. Williams’ defense team argued numerous procedural issues, including alleged failures in jury direction and character assessment, but these arguments failed to persuade the Privy Council to overturn the convictions.

In Jamaica’s competitive real estate market, where residential properties now command prices ranging from $18 million to over $150 million, couples face critical decisions regarding joint property ownership that could have lasting financial implications. The distinction between joint tenancy and tenancy in common represents a fundamental choice that many partners overlook during the initial excitement of property acquisition, yet this legal distinction determines inheritance rights and property division outcomes should relationships deteriorate.

Joint tenancy arrangements provide automatic survivorship rights, meaning the surviving partner inherits the entire property upon their partner’s death. Conversely, tenancy in common establishes defined ownership percentages that can be willed to other heirs, creating different succession planning considerations. With mortgage commitments typically spanning 20-30 years, these decisions effectively bind couples financially for decades, regardless of how their personal relationships evolve.

The Property (Rights of Spouses) Act frequently surprises Jamaican couples by establishing presumptive equal entitlement to the family home, regardless of individual financial contributions. This legal framework often contradicts common assumptions about property control based on financial investment, leading to complex disputes during separations. Common conflict points include disagreements about selling preferences, financial contribution assessments, renovation investments, and child custody considerations that affect housing arrangements.

Legal resolution processes for property disputes frequently become protracted affairs, requiring both signatures for property sales and potentially escalating into costly court proceedings. During these periods, properties often remain in limbo while mortgage payments and maintenance costs continue accumulating. The presence of children further complicates these situations, as courts prioritize household stability, potentially extending the financial and emotional impact of property disputes beyond the immediate couple.

Real estate experts emphasize the importance of pre-purchase discussions about long-term values, parenting expectations, and contingency planning for changing circumstances. While potentially uncomfortable initially, these conversations prove significantly more manageable than resolving disputes after relationships deteriorate and substantial assets are at stake.

FALMOUTH, Jamaica – Municipal authorities in Trelawny are escalating enforcement actions against unauthorized construction projects and delinquent commercial taxes, emphasizing public safety and regulatory compliance. Mayor Collen Gager issued a firm directive to developers during the Trelawny Municipal Corporation’s March 12 monthly assembly at Falmouth’s Artisan Village, demanding immediate regularization of all unpermitted structures.

Mayor Gager revealed that formal notices have been dispatched to multiple property owners operating without construction approvals. He warned that the Corporation would intensify monitoring efforts, with site inspections led by the CEO and Commercial Services Department personnel already underway. ‘Our Council is determined to bring every non-compliant structure into full regulatory adherence,’ Gager stated.

The urgency of building code compliance was highlighted through recent meteorological events. ‘Hurricane Melissa reminded us that climate resilience cannot be compromised,’ Gager emphasized. ‘Future storms will come, and we must construct buildings that are not only safer but fundamentally stronger.’

Parallel to building regulation efforts, the Mayor addressed outstanding tax obligations for commercial signage and billboards. He cautioned businesses against last-minute removals of long-established advertisements, urging proactive settlement of arrears. Notably, Gager adopted a conciliatory approach toward financially strained operators, affirming, ‘The Corporation welcomes dialogue with all business owners. We are ready to negotiate feasible payment arrangements—no one will be turned away.’

Concurrently, the Municipal Corporation announced a parish-wide outreach initiative to improve property tax collection. Field teams will visit Rio Bueno (March 18), Albert Town (March 19), and Duncans (March 20) to facilitate compliance and address resident inquiries.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating path through Jamaica in October 2025, Macs Foods Supermarket and Wholesale owner Carl Bailey faced a dual catastrophe: catastrophic structural damage followed by widespread looting of his establishment. Yet four months later, his business stands operational in Black River, St. Elizabeth, representing both resilience and radical compassion.

Bailey’s supermarket suffered complete destruction of its ground floor and storeroom from six feet of floodwater, followed by the systematic removal of surviving inventory and equipment from upper levels by desperate residents. The total losses reached hundreds of millions of dollars, including specialized hurricane-preparedness stock Bailey had credited in anticipation of post-disaster demand.

Rather than condemning those who emptied his store, Bailey contextualized their actions as survival necessities. ‘When I looked at everything, I said it was just survival mode,’ he explained. ‘In their mind, they were just trying to get something for tomorrow.’ His perspective transformed the incident from criminal looting to community sustenance during unprecedented crisis.

The business owner’s response exemplifies extraordinary empathy amid personal devastation. Bailey consciously chose not to intervene as residents gathered supplies, recognizing that many had lost homes entirely—including members of his own staff whose houses were completely destroyed.

Now navigating significant debt through payment plan negotiations with suppliers, Bailey remains committed to both his business and community. Since reopening on December 17, 2025, the supermarket has experienced strong support from grateful residents who return as paying customers, many expressing appreciation for his compassion during their most desperate hours.

Bailey’s philosophical approach extends beyond business continuity. He draws inspiration from nature’s resilience, noting that ‘the plants around are already green again’ despite the hurricane’s destruction. His outlook emphasizes daily progress, forward thinking, and finding gratitude amidst adversity—a mindset he encourages fellow business owners and residents to adopt as Black River continues rebuilding.