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SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND ON DRIVE TO INCREASE ENROLMENT

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KINGSTON, Jan. 29 (JIS): BY: JUDITH A. HUNTER – The Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is on a drive to increase enrolment at the institution.

Principal, Iyeke Erharuyi, is encouraging parents with children who are visually impaired to make the effort and give them the quality education they need. “The Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the right place they can have that (quality education). We know that parents with children who are blind would want them to be part of the regular school system, but there are some curricula that we offer that these students cannot access at a regular school,” Mr. Erharuyi tells JIS News in an interview.

He cites as examples orientation in ‘Mobility’ and ‘Braille Literacy’, which “the students cannot do without.” The Principal notes that for parents who are unwilling to bring their child to be enrolled, there is an outreach programme where representatives of the school “go from community to community looking for children with this type of disability to register them into our school.”

“All parents or guardians need is the child’s birth certificate to enroll. Our admission process is open right through the year, from January to December,” he informs.

Mr. Erharuyi believes there is nothing like giving a sound education to a child and that “a child with visual impairment is no different from the regular child.”

The school, which is situated at 57 Manning Hills Road in Kingston, has been providing quality education for some of the most vulnerable Jamaicans since 1927 and students who attend are classified as having low vision or totally blind.

Mr. Erharuyi says the institution can accommodate up to 200 students, but presently has 145 students enrolled.
“The institution is a composite school. We provide education for students at the pre-primary, primary, secondary and vocational levels,” he informs.

At present, seven students are enrolled at the pre-primary level; 51 at the primary level; 63 at the secondary and nine at the vocational level. The Assessment and Remedial Department, which facilitates students with multiple disabilities and those who are at an age well above school level, has 15 students.

One of them is 21 year-old Andrew Gentles, who gives the institution high marks for the manner in which it engages students. Mr. Gentles wants to be a journalist and credits the school for its nurturing. He describes his overall experience as good, “because the school allows us to reach our goals and I am motivated by a spirit to succeed and a keen sense of ambition.”

Mr. Gentles has so far completed level one in Office Administration and Information Technology at HEART Trust/NTA and will sit three CSEC subjects – English, Office Administration and Social Studies – this year. He notes that one of the benefits of going to the school is that the teachers have more time to spend with each student. “I am able to go to a teacher and tell him or her that I did not understand a particular subject and the teachers are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that we grasp what is being taught,” he says.

Mr. Gentles is also enjoying his status as big brother on campus. “As one of the older students I feel privileged as the younger ones see me as a big brother and would come to me and we would rap together,” he tells JIS News.
The institution has 18 teachers on staff, and the school’s curriculum is similar to that in the regular school system.

“We go up to CXC and CAPE levels and we also provide vocational training through the HEART Trust/NTA vocational programme,” Mr. Erharuyi explains.

The school also has an integrated programme where some students are integrated into the regular school system after passing the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). Mr. Erharuyi notes that students at the primary level are able to get the foundation needed to enable them to function properly at the secondary level in the regular school system.

He also cites the passing of the Disabilities Act in October 2014 as a good move. “I want to praise the effort of all the persons involved. We are going in the right direction because for so long we have been lacking in this area. The inclusiveness we have been talking about is now incorporated in this Act,” he says.

The Principal points out that with the Act, some schools can no longer use the excuse of not having the proper facilities to turn down students. He also foresees better job prospects for graduates as companies will also have to make adjustments to their facilities to accommodate the disabled.

“On our part this is going to help us to improve on our own facilities, because we cannot be only talking about other organisations without us not fixing what we have, so it is really a good move for everybody,” he adds.

This year six graduates of the school have been admitted to colleges and universities and presently the Guidance Counsellor, English Teacher and Librarian are graduates of the institution.

The Salvation Army School For The Blind is a grant aided institution and benefits from regular programmes, such as the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). The Government is responsible for the employment of the staff and provides funding for the operation of the institution annually. The school also gets support from the Salvation Army and their overseas partners and private entities like the Canadian Embassy.

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Invest TCI Strengthens Regional Investment Connections at Caribbean Investment Forum 2026 in Barbados

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday, 19th October 2026: Invest Turks and Caicos Agency (Invest TCI) strengthened its regional presence at the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026, held October 5 – 7, 2026, in Bridgetown, Barbados, participating as both a sponsor of the Forum and representative of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ investment landscape.

The Caribbean Investment Forum brought together regional and international investors, government representatives, business leaders, entrepreneurs, investment promotion agencies, and development partners to explore investment opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and advance sustainable economic development throughout the Caribbean.

The Agency’s sponsorship of CIF 2026 formed part of its continued commitment to strengthening the visibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands within the regional investment community and building relationships with investors, development partners, investment promotion agencies, and businesses across the Caribbean.

The opening of the Forum was attended by the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, who emphasised the importance of scaling regional investment, strengthening economic cooperation, and transforming innovative ideas into commercially viable opportunities. Invest TCI was represented by Ms. Alexa Cooper, Domestic Investment Officer, and Mr. Hezron Henry, Marketing Support Officer. Throughout the Forum, the delegation engaged with stakeholders and promoted the Turks and Caicos Islands as a competitive investment destination while exploring opportunities for greater regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Speaking on her experience at the Forum, Ms. Alexa Cooper, Chief Domestic Investment Officer, said:

“CIF 2026 provided another valuable opportunity to engage with donor organisations, investors and Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) from across the Caribbean. A highlight for me was the introduction of an exclusive masterclass for fund managers, investors and support organisations, which offered practical insights into unlocking capital, strengthening investment ecosystems and supporting investment-ready businesses. I was equally impressed with the quality of projects pitched, which showcased the region’s innovation and investment potential. It was encouraging to see projects presented with a clearer understanding of investor expectations, reinforcing the importance of not simply developing projects, but ensuring they are well-structured, investment-ready and positioned to attract the right investment partners.”

Accompanying the Invest TCI delegation was Mr. Sean Penn, Chief Executive Officer of Sky Poultry Farm Ltd., the first commercial egg and poultry production facility in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr. Penn’s participation provided an opportunity to showcase the development of domestic enterprise within the Turks and Caicos Islands while highlighting the potential of agriculture and food production as part of the country’s broader economic diversification efforts.

Through his participation at CIF 2026, Mr. Penn had the opportunity to engage with regional stakeholders, gain exposure to developments within the Caribbean agricultural sector, and explore potential partnerships and opportunities related to agricultural investment, innovation, and enterprise development.

For Invest TCI, the combination of sponsorship, investment promotion and local business representation provided a multifaceted platform to advance the Agency’s mandate. It allowed Invest TCI not only to promote the Turks and Caicos Islands to prospective investors but also to facilitate greater exposure for a local enterprise operating within an emerging sector of the economy. The Forum also provided opportunities for the Invest TCI delegation to exchange knowledge with regional counterparts, strengthen institutional relationships, and gain insight into investment trends and opportunities affecting Caribbean economies.

As the Caribbean Investment Forum continues to expand its regional reach, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was announced as the destination for the next edition of the Forum, providing another opportunity to bring together investors, policymakers, investment promotion agencies and businesses from across the Caribbean and beyond.

Invest TCI looks forward to the continued growth of the Caribbean Investment Forum and the opportunities it creates to deepen regional partnerships, promote investment, and connect Caribbean businesses with new markets and sources of capital. The Agency remains committed to attracting sustainable investment, supporting domestic enterprise, encouraging economic diversification, and developing partnerships that contribute to the long-term economic development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Bahamas News

Energy Minister Delivers Electrifying Keynote Opening Address at CAREC 2026  

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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas’ Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation, The Honourable JoBeth Coleby-Davis, delivered an electrifying address during the opening ceremony of the 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) Conference and Exhibition, being held October 18–22, 2026, at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Under the theme “Empowering Progress: Strategic Policy and Planning for the Energy Transition,” the event draws more than 200 industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, and energy professionals committed to advancing practical strategies for sustainable and reliable Caribbean power systems through renewable energy and emerging technologies.

During her address, titled “The New Energy Era: Transforming Policy into Progress,” Minister Coleby-Davis reminded attendees that The Bahamas’ national motto, “Forward, Upward, Onward, Together,” aptly describes what the region’s energy transition demands.

“Empowering Progress speaks directly to our national motto. Not waiting for progress, but creating the conditions that allow progress to happen. Meaningful progress, however, does not occur by accident. It requires vision, sound policy, strategic planning, strong institutions, and the determination to turn decisions into results,” said Minister Coleby-Davis.

Participants acknowledged that small island developing states share similar pressures, compounded by geographical challenges, small electricity markets, ageing infrastructure, geopolitical influences, and the growing threat of severe weather.

Tasked with ushering in a new energy era across the islands while addressing the challenges posed by The Bahamas’ unique archipelagic composition, Minister Coleby-Davis said, “Every island needs a different answer, but the same logic. As an archipelagic nation, we must provide electricity across many islands, each with its own demand and infrastructure needs. Our strategy, therefore, must be national in direction, but responsive to individual communities.”

Restating her Ministry’s three core messages—that energy is an economic and security priority, technology must be viewed as a tool to support strong institutional leadership, and natural gas should be considered a bridge, not a destination—Minister Coleby-Davis reiterated that “progress must now be reflected in functioning infrastructure, effective institutions, and better electricity services: from policy commitments to coordinated implementation, and from fragmented investment decisions to long-term planning.”

Organised by CARILEC and co-hosted by Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC), the annual Conference and Exhibition brings together the Caribbean energy community to advance practical solutions to the region’s most pressing energy challenges and accelerate progress towards more resilient, reliable, and sustainable power systems.

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Bahamas News

Monument Supports Hands for Hunger With Paradise Plates Debut  

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ leading wine and spirits distributor, proudly supported Paradise Plates, Hands for Hunger annual fundraiser with a flavorful offering of its newest product, Monument Beverage Co.

Monument, which launched this July and is available across six major islands, made its Paradise Plates debut. Guests enjoyed three bold flavors: Peach Passion, Ginger-Lime and Melon Fizz as they socialized throughout the evening.

Monument brand ambassadors engaged guests with knowledge on the ready-to-drink beverage’s unique taste and look. Many attendees were delighted to learn that Monument is 100% Bahamian-made and owned and enjoyed seeing the various national landmarks on the packaging.

The booth was adorned with vibrant brand colors, striped arches, tropical florals and a photo worthy backdrop featuring Monument cans filled with florals cascading down the wall.

At the end of the event, the entire Monument inventory had finished, making Monument’s Paradise Plates debut a huge success.

For more details on Caribbean Wines & Spirits, new products and specials, visit www.cwsbahamas.com today.

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