ONE-MINUTE READS ... News from across Jamaica

Foreign national dies in St Ann crash

Thirty-two-year-old Jarelle Donato, a foreign national of Dallas, Texas, in the United States of America, died as a result of injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle collision on Queen's Road, Discovery Bay, in St Ann on Tuesday.

Reports from the Discovery Bay police are that about 5:15 p.m., Donato was driving a Mazda Demio motor car from the direction of Montego Bay, St James. On reaching a section of the roadway; he collided with an ambulance that was travelling in the opposite direction.

The police were alerted and both drivers were transported to hospital where Donato was pronounced dead.

Data from the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport indicate that as at yesterday, 254 persons have died in crashes on the nation's roads. A record 488 road fatalities occurred last year.

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Jamaica gets new film commissioner

Jackie Jacqueline Jackson is Jamaica's new film commissioner. She will be responsible for promoting the export of, and investment in, the film, animation and music sectors, while fostering a thriving local creative landscape that embraces innovation, diversity, and cultural richness.

"I am honoured and thrilled to assume the role of film commissioner for Jamaica," said Jackson.

"The vast potential for growth and collaboration within the film, animation, and music sectors fills me with great excitement. I look forward to working closely with industry stakeholders, film-makers, government agencies, and local communities to chart a prosperous path for our creative ecosystem," she added.

Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) said it is delighted to welcome Jackson to the position.

"With her strong credentials and unwavering passion for the creative arts, we have full confidence that she will lead the film, animation and music sectors to new levels of success and global recognition, aligning perfectly with JAMPRO's mission of fostering increased exports, investments and business opportunities for Jamaica," said Shullette Cox, president of JAMPRO.

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Unemployment at all-time low

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica's record-low 4.5 per cent unemployment rate means that "we are now close to full employment... [and] that our economy continues to expand".

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica reported on Tuesday that the out-turn, based on the April 2023 Labour Force Survey, is 1.5 percentage points lower than the figure for the corresponding period in 2022.

Holness, who described the announcement as "great news", said, "What it really means is that more Jamaicans have income. It means that more Jamaican families can do much better than they were doing before".

The prime minister said that that there has been steady growth in the economy, and that its effect will soon be replicated even more within the society.

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All set for the start of the new school year -- Williams

Education Minister Fayval Williams said maintenance work continues on school plants ahead of the start of the new school year, which begins on September 4.

"During the pandemic, our schools were closed, locked up, and so when we went back to face-to-face mode, there was a lot of work needed to be done," she pointed out.

"Termites had eaten down lots of things at our schools, and we have been taking the time to ensure that systematically we upgrade the schools, and we are doing that. It's an ongoing process, to ensure that there is adequate maintenance in our schools," Williams said.

Additionally, Williams said work is being done to complete the distribution of textbooks, as well as the provision of furniture to primary and high schools.

"In terms of textbook distribution, many of the books are in the system already. In terms of students' desks and chairs, those are going out as well, but I suspect we will still have distribution going out into September for desks and chairs, because maintenance was needed on many desks and chairs, in addition to new ones," she noted.

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