IRIE FM

Privately owned basic schools and early childhood institutions will soon benefit from the distribution of water tanks being provided by the Water Ministry.

This is aimed at boosting the water capacity at these schools as drought conditions continue to affect the island.

Portfolio Minister Matthew Samuda said the initiative will help prevent learning loss.

Mr. Samuda reiterated that water will be trucked to schools in areas being affected by regulation of water supply.

A taxi operator was shot dead by two gunmen posing as passengers in Nain, St. Elizabeth, yesterday.

Police who were in the area responded and one of the alleged attackers was shot and wounded during a confrontation.

The identity of the deceased operator has not been released.

Police have launched a manhunt for the other alleged attacker.

Head of the Division, Superintendent Coleridge Minto said the incident took place at about 5 p.m.

Superintendent Minto urged citizens to be on the lookout for the other suspect.

A quarter of the adolescents surveyed during the 2026 Global School-Based Student Health Survey reported that they have attempted suicide.

This was disclosed at a press conference this morning by Acting Principal Director of Prevention, Public Education and Treatment at the National Council on Drug Abuse, Uki Atkinson.

The 2026 survey was conducted with 3,058 students, from grades 7 to 12, in 32 secondary schools islandwide, and is representative of the Jamaican adolescent population.

It examined several areas affecting adolescent health, including mental wellness, substance use, bullying, social media use, sleep and other health-related behaviours.

Mrs. Atkinson said three in ten of the students surveyed reported that they had seriously considered suicide and made a plan to commit it.

She noted that there is a serious issue with adolescent mental health.

Mrs. Atkinson said more female students are reporting suicidal ideation, depression and anxiety.

[cutid:

As the new academic year fast approaches, many parents are expressing frustration about the surge in prices for back-to-school supplies.

Parents have been finalising their purchases and taking on orientation activities this week, ahead of the September 7 start of the new school year.

While some parents say they are ready, some are still experiencing some challenges.

One father told IRIE FM News that he has observed a significant increase in textbook prices.

A St. Catherine parent echoed his statement, noting that she has also observed price increases even for uniforms.

Meanwhile, one Manchester mother said the impact of Hurricane Melissa on her business has affected her back-to-school preparation significantly.

A St. Elizabeth parent said she is fully ready for the start of the new academic year.

In the meantime, a St. Mary father urged parents who may be finding it difficult to take advantage of available scholarships and grants.

There is concern that children affected by the recent demolition exercise in Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny, will not be able to attend school when the new academic year commences on Monday.

Lobby group, Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) says it became deeply concerned following reports from parents that some children may not return to school before January.

This as families are facing significant uncertainty following the demolition.

FWCF’s Legal Consultant and Attorney-at-Law, Kayla Wright, says the disruption to housing and family stability cannot be allowed to become an interruption to a child’s education.

She is calling on the government to intervene.

The Board Chairman of the St. Mary High School has reportedly expressed confidence that the process to appoint a principal can stand up to scrutiny.

This is according to Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, Omar Newell.

The issue of the appointment of a principal came to the fore this week after Mr. Newell called on the Education Ministry to approve the recommendation of the board of governors.

With the start of the new school year just days away, he stressed that the institution should not enter another academic year without settled leadership.

In a response last evening, the Education Ministry indicated that TSC did not support the recommendation due to several concerns regarding the process.

The TSC is responsible for reviewing the recommendation and supporting documents, which are then reviewed by the minister.

The Ministry pledged that the TSC will work with the institution to better understand the recruitment process in accordance with established procedures.

Speaking with IRIE FM News about this latest development, MP Newell says the school is eagerly awaiting the feedback of the TSC.

Mr. Newell also sought to clarify that he is not pushing for the appointment of a specific individual.

He stressed that his aim is for his alma mater to have a principal whose permanent appointment would facilitate the long-term planning and execution necessary for St. Mary High’s continued development.

Written By Georgetta Williams and Natalie Campbell

10.3 per cent of students surveyed reported that they attend school under the influence of alcohol and cannabis.

This was disclosed by Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton at this morning’s release of the findings of the 2026 Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS).

Dr Tufton stated that the survey also indicated that another 8.6 per cent of students attend school under the influence of other substances.

The 2026 survey included 3,058 students from grades 7 to 12 and examined several areas affecting adolescent health, including mental wellness, substance use, bullying, social media use, sleep and other health-related behaviours.

The Health Minister said the data show that alcohol use and episodes of drunkenness have declined.

However, there is concern that many students are reporting use of alcohol before age 14.

The 2026 Global School-Based Student Health Survey provides important insight into the health, behaviours and experiences of Jamaican adolescents and supports the development of evidence-based policies, programmes and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of young people.

The Minister made the statement, as he toured phase three of the Munroe Wellington pipeline project, yesterday.

According to Mr Samuda, $200 million will go to members of parliament, while the rest of the money, will be shared between the municipal corporations, and the National Water Commission.

He said the initiative is to support the reopening of schools, and in anticipation of worsened drought conditions.

He said an improvement in drought conditions could mean spending less funds.

The 10th international staging of the Food Security and Sovereignty Conference will focus on developing resilient as well as sustainable solutions for driving locally produced food systems.

Such systems should be capable of withstanding environmental, economic, and social pressures.

The details were provided at the conference’s press launch held at Sandals Dunn’s River in Mammee Bay, St. Ann today.

Hosted by the Food Hygiene Bureau, the conference will take place at the same hotel from September 9 to 10.

It will be held under the theme, ‘building resilience in food systems: enhancing food security and sovereignty.’

Speaking at the press launch, Conference Chair and Managing Director of the Food Hygiene Bureau, Dr. Marva Hewitt, says the event will focus on increasing food production amid challenges such as climate change.

She notes that climate change is affecting food security, demanding new innovative ways to produce food instead of relying on imports.

Meanwhile, several stakeholders in St. Ann have endorsed the conference.

Chairman of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation and Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Michael Belnavis, said the event provides, among other things, an important platform to find tangible solutions to strengthen domestic food production.

In the meantime, President of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, Kenneth Anglin, hailed it for bringing together both local and international stakeholders in agriculture and business sectors.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been released.

The St Andrew south police have classified the incident as a freak accident.

In the meantime, Principal Yvette Foster told IRIE FM News that some teachers who were at the school at the time of the incident have been left traumatised.

Ms Foster noted that the 2 workmen were attempting to remove a column when the upper section of the structure fell on top of them.

Fire fighters and police were summoned and they extracted the trapped workman from the rubble.

She said the incident happened about 1 P.M., just after children who did assessments left the school.

Tomorrow’s assessment session has been cancelled.

Support teams from the Education Ministry are expected to visit the school tomorrow.