标签： Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Shanika Crosdale, a former Deputy Head Girl at Edwin Allen High School in Clarendon, is calling on students to harness the power of social media for their academic and personal growth. Now a sixth-form student, Shanika emphasizes the importance of using platforms like TikTok and YouTube as educational tools rather than mere sources of entertainment. In an interview with JIS News, she highlighted the availability of online tutors, past papers, and other resources that can significantly aid in learning. Shanika, who excelled in all seven of her CSEC subjects, credits her success to the strategic use of social media. She urges students to balance their time between entertainment and education, ensuring they make the most of the opportunities available to them. Shanika also stresses the importance of honoring parental investments in education by focusing on academic achievements. Another student, Rickoy Thomas, who passed eight CSEC subjects, echoes this sentiment, advising students to remove distracting apps if they hinder their studies. The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information supports these efforts by providing online resources through its website and the e-Resources app, offering a wealth of learning materials for students, teachers, and parents. Additionally, the ministry collaborates with platforms like Google Play and BookFusion to provide approved digital reading materials and educational resources. Shanika and Rickoy’s insights underscore the potential of social media as a valuable educational tool when used responsibly.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican government has introduced a landmark initiative to formalize and expand the nation’s cultural and creative industries, garnering bipartisan approval. The Green Paper on the National Policy for Culture, Entertainment, and the Creative Economy 2025–2035 was presented in Parliament on Tuesday by Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange. This comprehensive 10-year strategy aims to bolster a sector that already contributes over five percent of Jamaica’s GDP and nearly three percent of national employment. The policy outlines plans to establish new institutions, enhance intellectual property protections, and develop sustainable funding mechanisms to support artists, entertainers, and cultural practitioners. Minister Grange emphasized that the policy is a transformative framework designed to preserve Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage while unlocking the full potential of its creative sectors. She highlighted that the document was crafted after extensive consultations with cultural experts and industry stakeholders, aiming to place people and culture at the core of economic and social development. Opposition Spokesperson Nekeisha Burchell praised the initiative as a timely and necessary step, though she stressed the importance of including voices from smaller communities and traditional practitioners in the consultation process. Opposition Leader Mark Golding also commended the policy but called for a clear implementation blueprint, including timelines and governance structures. Meanwhile, MP Damion Crawford raised practical concerns, such as the low uptake of the entertainment registry and the need for stronger protections against the international exploitation of Jamaican cultural expressions. The policy has been widely welcomed as a critical step toward fostering national pride, social cohesion, and economic growth through Jamaica’s vibrant creative industries.

In a tragic incident that has shaken the community of Kingston, Jamaica, a 44-year-old taxi operator, Damion Taylor, also known as “Fiyah,” has been formally charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 46-year-old vendor Walata Brown. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 28, at Brown’s residence on Oxford Street. Taylor faces multiple charges, including murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorized possession of ammunition, and using a firearm to commit a felony. According to reports from the Denham Town police, the events unfolded around 4:25 pm when Taylor allegedly drove a white Toyota Probox to Brown’s gate. An armed individual exited the vehicle, approached Brown, and opened fire before fleeing in the waiting car. Brown sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The investigation gained momentum after detectives reviewed footage from JamaicaEye, the island’s CCTV network, leading them to St Thomas on October 7. The vehicle believed to have been used in the attack was seized, and Taylor was apprehended. Following a caution statement and a question-and-answer session conducted in the presence of his attorney, Taylor was formally charged later that day. A court date is currently being finalized as the community awaits justice for the senseless act of violence.