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JAMAICA: ST. ANN TEACHER EXTENDS HELPING HAND

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#MONTEGO BAY, May 5 (JIS):   St. Ann educator, Beverly Grant Ellis, has been extending a helping hand to needy families and elderly residents in Runaway Bay in the parish as the country continues to grapple with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

            With the support of corporate Jamaica and other donors, the grade-three teacher at the Runaway Bay All-Age School was able to deliver 115 care packages to help ease the financial hardship being faced by some residents.

            She told JIS News that the packages contained items such as rice, sugar, flour, pumpkin, eggs, bread, water, beverages, toiletries, cooking oil, canned food and snack bags for children.

            Mrs. Ellis also provided phone cards to facilitate online learning for children due to the closure of schools.

            She told JIS News that she felt compelled to assist after recognising the challenges being faced by individuals within her community, particularly parents, who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

            “Most of the hotel workers lost their jobs, so I said ‘I think there will be a need for this drive in my community since most parents work in the hotel industry’,” she noted.

            “I got up one morning and said ‘I am going to pack some stuff, especially for those in the hospitality industry’. You also have some parents, who are live-in helpers and you know most persons are home now, so there is no need for them. Therefore, I saw the need to assist them by taking food packages to their homes” she added.

            The grade-three teacher explained that following a public appeal, a number of corporate entities came forward to assist.

            “I got a busload of snacks from Excelsior Biscuit Company in Kingston. I got bags of rice and flour from C.R. Hylton & Company, an accounting firm in Kingston, and that took us a far way. The juices I got from Island Dairies Limited in St. Ann and the breakfast items like the bread I got from Spicy Nice [in Brown’s Town]. I got eggs from a small farmer, and Bravo Supermarket in St. Ann’s Bay donated some water as well,” she told JIS News.

            Mrs. Ellis pointed out that she was able to conduct three food drives, the first of which was carried out two weeks after the closure of school.

            Meanwhile, Mrs. Ellis has spent approximately $150,000 to construct a concrete bathroom as well as undertake repairs to the home of an elderly, visually impaired man in Runaway Bay.

            The educator explained to JIS News that the gentleman’s living conditions came to her attention following a visit to his home to distribute care packages.

            “I made a specific appeal to the public for immediate assistance to have the place cleaned and that was done through the assistance of some ladies,” she informed.

            Mrs. Ellis is no stranger to charitable work. Before the advent of COVID-19, she had been assisting 12 needy students in three parishes to attend school through her ‘Help the Children Stay in School’ programme.

JIS NEWS MONTEGO BAY BY NICKIETA STERLING

Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.

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PISLM and Grenada Sign Historic Host Country Agreement

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Hon. Lennox Andrews and Mr. Calvin James sign the Host Country Agreement 

ST. GEORGE’S GRENADA- JUNE 19, 2025- The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), has successfully signed a Head Quarters Agreement with the Government of Grenada. This historic signing cements the Spice Isle, as the hub for the operations of the InterGovernmental Organisation (IGO), which will lead coordinated action and implement projects that will improve sustainable land and soil management within Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS).

Minister Hon. Lennox Andrews and Hon. Adrian Forde

The agreement was signed at the PISLM’s High Level Ministerial Gala, on Tuesday 17th, June 2025, at the Radisson Resorts Grenada, by the outgoing Executive Director Mr. Calvin James and Grenada’s Minister responsible for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Minister of Economic Development and Planning, Agriculture and Lands, Forestry and Blue Economy- Hon. Lennox J. Andrews.                                                                                                                                                                                                       The signing was witnessed by Hon. Adrian Forde- Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy of Barbados (incoming Chair of the PISLM Ministerial Council), Hon Kerryne James- Minister for Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy and Hon. Vaughn P. Miller- Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources of the Bahamas; along with focal points for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and key stakeholders.

Delivering feature remarks at the Ministerial Gala, Andrews commended the organization for its work in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He described the signing as, “A demonstration of our commitment to sustainable land management.”

“It puts us in an obvious position where we can be recognized as a country that takes climate change and land degradation seriously,” he added.

Hon .Kerryne James, Hon. Vaughn Miller and Mr. Calvin James

The PISLM which officially became an Inter-Governmental Organization, one year ago, has been strengthening sustainable land and soil management across the Caribbean Small Island Developing States, through several projects including, Phase I of the CSIDS-SOILCARE Project and the Strengthening Resilience of Agricultural Lands and Forests in Dominica in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria.                                                                                                     Reflecting on the two decades spent developing the organization into the premier Inter Governmental Organization responsible for land and soil, with a mandate to help countries meet their obligations under the UNCCD and land and soil areas of the Barbados Programme of Action, outgoing Executive Director Mr. Calvin James,  expressed gratitude to the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, that served as host countries.

“Their contributions set the stage for what we call Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique phase and a new chapter for the PISLM. We hope that this phase will take us to where we ought to be in terms of positioning sustainable land and soil management in the environmental spectrum.”

Mr. Calvin James

The establishment of the PISLM Headquarters in Grenada will enhance coordination among Caribbean SIDS, provide a centralized platform for Small Island Developing Stations (SIDS) collaboration, and attract regional and international investment for sustainable land management solutions.                                                                                                                                                                       The office will become the hub for the implementation of several key projects such as the Caribbean LDN Transformative Project, which would be done in collaboration with the Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture, the Caribbean Sand & Dust storm Initiative, launch of Phase II of the CSIDS SOILCARE Project and the Caribbean Drought Initiative in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean.

PISLM extends its appreciation to the Government of Grenada, for their unwavering support in making this historic achievement a reality.

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Power Play: Beaches TCI Supervisor Named Top Scorer in Caribbean Cricket Championship

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TCI Cricket team

Members of the BTC team who represented the TCI on its recent cricket tour

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Beaches Turks and Caicos (BTC) is celebrating a proud moment after Maintenance and Engineering Supervisor, Jerome Daley, emerged as top scorer in the 10th Central American and Caribbean Cricket Championship, recently held in Panama. Daley represented the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket (TCIC) team in its debut appearance at the regional tournament, which featured teams from Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The TCIC team, composed of standout players from the recently concluded Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T20 League, brought together a dynamic mix of youth, experience and professionals from both the private and public sectors.

BTC’s Elite Butler and TCIC team Captain, Sidue Hunter, reflected on the experience, “being called on to lead this team was a challenge I felt prepared for. The unity and camaraderie made a big difference. This team sets a solid foundation for the future of TCI cricket.”

While the team did not take home the championship title, Daley’s individual performance stood out. He led the tournament in runs and credited his teammates for their support.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Playing in unfamiliar conditions is always tough,” Daley admitted. “The pitches weren’t quite like what we’re used to at home but I trusted my game. With encouragement from my teammates, I was able to adjust and stay consistent.”                                                                                                                                                                                        BTC Managing Director James McAnally praised the team’s contribution to both sports and national development, “we are proud to support our team members who represented not just the resort but the Turks and Caicos Islands on a regional stage. This is what true corporate citizenship looks like—empowering people through teamwork, sports and community spirit.”

TCI Cricket Team captain Sidue Hunter (left) and Jerome Daley

McAnally also acknowledged the impressive BTC representation within the team:

  • Jerome Daley – top scorer, maintenance and engineering supervisor
  • Sidue Hunter – captain, elite butler
  • Maxine Salmon – scorer, kids camp department
  • Earl Henry – evening duty manager
  • Anthony “Moses” McKnight – elite butler

Vice President of TCICA, Ancell Williams, described the championship as a pivotal learning experience and outlined the organization’s ambitious vision, “we aim to integrate more youth into our national teams over the next two seasons. Long-term, we hope to field U15 and U19 teams in the West Indies youth championships. It’s a bold dream, but youth development is our future.”

This inaugural appearance at the championship signals a promising future for cricket in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with a growing commitment to nurturing talent from the grassroots to the regional stage.

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Sandals Foundation and CDEMA Celebrate Success of 3-Year Leadership Development Programme

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MEDIA RELEASE

 

REGIONAL, JUNE 11, 2025 – Forty-five (45) Senior Officers from three cohorts at the National Disaster Organisations (NDOs) and National Emergency Sectors in seventeen (17) Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Participating States have benefited from a Strategic Leadership Development training programme that is in its third year, building their capacity and advancing disaster preparedness and response across the Caribbean.

As we enter the Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1 – November 30), Senior Officers from Anguilla, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, , Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia , Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands have been equipped with strategic leadership skills to enhance their ability to develop and implement disaster preparedness plans, coordinate and manage emergency responses, and support recovery efforts to strengthen their coordination, communication, and leadership in times of emergency.

Taking a holistic approach to Disaster Risk Management, the intensive programme enhances leadership skills through six (6) courses over a six-month period with modules in Leadership, Strategic Management, Project Management, Financial Management, Proposal Writing, and Crisis Communication and Incident Management.

In partnership with Sandals Foundation and the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business (ALJGSB) at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), the carefully curated curriculum successfully used interactive lectures, one-on-one coaching, and psychometric assessment to enhance officers’ approach to community wellbeing before, during and after a natural hazard.

Gayle Drakes, Education and Training Specialist at CDEMA, said, “The preventative approach to Disaster Risk Management at CDEMA is risk-reduction centred, emphasising an understanding of hazard exposure, vulnerabilities and capacities, and styling appropriate interventions for building more resilient communities.”

“By completing this three year programme with the Sandals Foundation, our region’s Senior Officers now have enhanced knowledge in advanced level competencies, all aimed at promoting our Comprehensive Disaster Management agenda [an integrated approach to risk management],” Drakes added.

“CDEMA is proud to have collaborated with the Sandals Foundation and the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business on this initiative to strengthen the foundation of national and regional resilience. As we enter the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, we are confident that this cadre of professionals is better equipped to lead preparedness, response, and recovery efforts that result in safeguarding lives and livelihoods throughout the Caribbean.” said Executive Director of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley.

Sandals Foundation, for its part, provided necessary funding to implement the programme for its three-year duration, valued at some US $150,000. Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at Sandals Foundation, says she is optimistic about the future for both NDO Officers and the citizens of the Caribbean.

“Improved Disaster Risk Management starts with our leaders. A holistic approach starts with education and training. When we equip our leaders with the resources they need, we feel confident in their ability to guide us toward a culture of preparedness and awareness, especially in the face of natural hazards,” said Clarke.

The Sandals Foundation has routinely partnered with organisations that promote disaster preparedness and building resilience across the Caribbean – training NDO Officers and small business operators, and educating youth and community members in safety protocols and disaster mitigation and prevention. Some of its partners to date have included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica, and the Youth Emergency Action Committee (YEAC) in Grenada.

 

Header: In partnership with Sandals Foundation and the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, 45 Senior Officers in 17 Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Participating States have benefited from a Strategic Leadership Development training programme, building their capacity and advancing disaster preparedness and response across the Caribbean.

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