One-Minute Reads ... News from across Jamaica

RADA encourages farmers to plan for drought

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is urging farmers to maximise on periods of rainfall as part of drought management efforts.

Livestock Specialist with RADA, Maxine Brown, said that drought planning is ideal during periods of rainfall.

"So, when possible, catch the extra water, cut the extra forages and try to see if you can use it to make silage or use it to make hay," she told JIS News. She added that at that time, deworming animals and preparing them to be able to manage heat stress, are critical activities.

"With regards to heat, look at your infrastructure. Is it well ventilated? Take a look at your pastures, is there shade for the animals? Ensure you have things in place to prepare for the drought," she said. Where possible, persons are also being encouraged to cut up forages, store extra water and improve their conservation practices.

CHASE Fund awards nearly 5,000 scholarships

Since its inception in 2003, the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, has awarded 4,909 scholarships, valued at $829 million.

More than 2,000 early-childhood-education practitioners and leaders pursuing undergraduate and graduate degree programmes have benefited. Focus areas include early-childhood education, special education, educational leadership and educational administration, at tertiary institutions locally and overseas.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams, made the disclosure as she opened the 2025/26 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Williams noted that the Government has listened to practitioners who have shared the many challenges they face in securing guarantors that affect their take-up of these scholarships and grants.

"Moving forward, we have decided to remove the need for guarantors for recipients of government scholarships and grants up to $2 million cumulatively," she stated.

St Thomas hospital making strides in surgery

The surgical team at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) in St Thomas, successfully conducted its second laparoscopic surgery on Tuesday, marking a major achievement in the hospital's surgical capabilities.

The procedure was facilitated by the recent acquisition of a state-of-the-art laparoscopic unit and essential disposables. Dr Shaun Smith, consultant general surgeon at PMH, explained that laparoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery, involves small incisions and specialised instruments to treat conditions in the abdomen or pelvis. The benefits of this surgery include reduced postoperative pain, faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and better aesthetic outcomes. Smith emphasised that laparoscopic surgery is considered the standard of care for many procedures due to these significant advantages.

Jamaicans urged to buy shares in highway company

Jamaicans are being encouraged to take up the 20 per cent shares owned by Government in TransJamaican Highway Limited (TJH).

The shares are held through the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC), which has launched a public offering to divest its remaining 20 per cent stake. Priced at $3.60 per share, the public offer opened on March 4 and will close on March 18. It is the next phase of divestment following the initial public offering (IPO) in 2020, during which NROCC sold 80 per cent of its shares in the toll operator.

Addressing a 'Own di Road' town hall at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St James last week, Finance Minister Fayval Williams noted that the Government previously owned 100 per cent of TJH, but took the company to market and offered 80 per cent of the shares. Williams explained that the Government's divestment of its 20 per cent stake in the company is to create space to invest in other assets to benefit the people of Jamaica.