Brand Jamaica Safe, Says JAMPRO. The agency in charge of marketing the nation’s image to the world is urging Jamaicans to rest assured that the country’s brand will stand firm in the face of the negative publicity it has been receiving…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – July 16, 2013
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – February 19, 2014
Are You A Gangster? Anti-Gang Bill Passed In House. The political divide in Gordon House yesterday coalesced as parliamentarians signalled their unanimous support for The Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act 2014 (anti-gang bill), which the Government has crafted to…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – February 24, 2014
Weed Time – Paulwell Hints At Clearer Days For Ganja This Year. Marijuana advocates in Jamaica are on a high after Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives Phillip Paulwell signalled to stake-holders that the use of marijuana in…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – February 27, 2014
Gangs Crave Peace: West Kgn Factions Want End To Violence. After nearly two years of bloodletting in sections of western Kingston that claimed scores of lives, law-abiding residents are keeping their fingers crossed for better days as alleged gang members are…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – March 19, 2014
Hylton Walks: Attorney Withdraws From Tivoli Commission Amid Heat Over Appointment. Weeks of wrangling over the appointment of Velma Hylton to the commission of enquiry into the May 2010 police-military operation in Tivoli Gardens have ended with the attorney-at-law recusing herself……
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – April 16, 2014
‘Freeness Mentality’ Blamed For CSEC Exam Absenteeism. Educators have blamed a mentality of ‘freeness’ for the large percentage of students who are refusing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations that the Government pays for each year… Read more…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – June 26, 2014
Child-Care Breach: CDA Report Blasts Gomes In Sex-Ed Saga. The six privately run children’s homes that gave approval for Jamai-cans for Justice (JFJ) to introduce an unauthorised sex- education programme in their institutions have been accused of breaching child-care regulations and…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – August 12, 2014
Human Rights Push – Holness Wants Commission Established To Proactively Protect Citizens. With Jamaica under the microscope of international rights organisations for alleged human-rights violations, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness is calling for the establishment of a Commission of Human Rights to…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – January 30, 2015
Wheelchair-Bound Man Killed By JUTC Bus. People’s National Party councillor for the Papine Division, Venesha Phillips, is expressing sadness over the death of Marlon King, a physically challenged man who was killed in an incident involving a Jamaica Urban Transit Company…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – April 7, 2015
Heroes Circle Crab Vendors’ Stalls Demolished As The City Continues Its Spruce-Up For Obama. As preparation heightens for the arrival of United States President Barack Obama tomorrow, crab vendors who had become a fixture at the southern section of National Heroes…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – May 7, 2015
Two Children Disappear, One Said Abducted. For more than a day, Phaedra Martin, the six-year-old who was reportedly abducted in Tuesday’s brazen midday attack on Ransford Avenue in St Andrew, remains missing… Read more at Jamaica-Gleaner.com Hanna: Our Society Has Lost…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – September 8, 2015
NSWMA To Purchase New Trucks To Ease Strain On Waste Collection Operations. The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is set to purchase 17 new Renault trucks to complement its ageing fleet, even as it seeks to tighten its grip on…
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#JaVotes2016 – Know Your Constituencies: Kingston
Kingston Central Kingston Central was among the 32 constituencies fixed in the Constitution granted to Jamaica in 1944. It is bounded by a point on the seacoast opposite to East Street, northerly along the eastern side of East Street to its end…
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#JaVotes2016 – Meet Your MPs: Kingston
Kingston Central – Rev Ronald Thwaites Education Minister Rev Ronald Thwaites is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Kingston Central. Here are some facts about him: He was born on February 12, 1945, in St Andrew, the son of…
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Election 2016 – Meet The MPs
The preliminary results are in, and a winner has been declared. Based on preliminary results, the JLP will form the new government as decided by the February 25, 2016 election. Below is a list of the winners in all 63…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – May 11, 2016
Royal Mess – Probe Launched Into Collapse At Hotel Construction Site In Negril. Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to yesterday’s collapse of decking at the Blue Diamond Royalton…
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6 Things You Need To Know Today – August 3, 2016
Storm Relief – Jamaicans Rejoice At Escaping Earl. Jamaicans, surprised by the suddenness of warnings to prepare for a major weather system, are breathing a sigh of relief after the country escaped the worst of an “unusually” fast-moving tropical wave which…
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CSEC & CAPE Study Tips
The exam period can be a nerve wracking time for Jamaican students, as everyone aims to do their best in their CSEC and CAPE exams. Too often students aren’t even sure where or how to begin studying, and the experience can be a nightmare.
Don’t fret. To reduce the stress and anxiety caused by exams, here are 6 study tips to help get you through the exam season:
Past Papers Are Your Best Friend
Sometimes, students know all the information but are not sure how to go about applying
it. The best way to master this is through using past papers. Doing previously written
exam questions can help you familiarize yourself with the structure of the exam and can
give insight into what the examiner is looking for.
Start Early
“Procrastination is the thief of time.”
One of the most common mistakes made by students is starting (to study) too late.
Almost every student has had the experience of not starting studying on time, and
the later realizing that they’ve missed an entire topic, having waited until it’s too close to
the exam date. Combat this by starting to study as early as possible. This way it is easier to break the work into sections and take it step by step, and if you haven’t started studying, START NOW.
Figure Out How YOU Study
When asking other persons for study tips, students often hear ideas like “work in groups”
or “rewrite your notes”. Studying styles vary, and are unique to the student; it is therefore
a student’s responsibility to figure out their studying style reading, writing, listening,
viewing) in order to retain information and to maximize their marks.
Use Every Resource At Your Disposal
During exam season, it’s very easy for students to get frazzled when they are unsure of
where to look for information. One way to combat this is to use every resource that you
have. We live in a world where information is always accessible: – thanks to the internet –
Students can find online reports, watch YouTube videos and use a myriad of other of
online resources. Offline resources can include teachers, textbooks and even attending
subject marathons.
Ask For Help
Being unsure of a concept can be frustrating and disheartening. This is why it is
important to ask for help when you need it. If you’re having trouble grasping a concept,
do not be afraid to ask your teachers, classmates, or even family members to help you
understand it.
Relax / Take A Break
While your grades are important, your health takes priority. During the exam period, students can become extremely stressed, and go to great lengths to achieve high marks, often to the detriment of their own physical and mental health. It is perfectly acceptable to relax and take a break from studying if the work becomes too overwhelming. In addition to this, Psychology Today notes that taking breaks from long periods of work, can increase a person’s levels of productivity, and therefore, can directly contribute to the effectiveness of a study session.
Make sure to use these tips to ensure that your study sessions are successful. Good Luck!
Check out our CSEC and CAPE resources on diG.
Written by Morgan-Leigh Miller, student of Campion College. Edited by Kaeonna Walters. This post appears courtesy of the Do Good Jamaica Professional Pathways high school internship program.
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Jamaican Folklore
Folklore is the traditional stories and beliefs that are passed down in a society from generation to generation, mostly through word of mouth. Jamaican folklore involves many spirits or mythical creatures that haunt people for various reasons.
Folklore is extremely important to our society, because of the diverse functions that these tales serve. Folk tales offer an exciting escape from reality and allow new generations to learn and adapt to the beliefs and culture of those before them. Another function of some Jamaican folklore, is to discipline children, and the secret enjoyment that is gained from scaring them with exciting creatures.
Folklore like the Anansi stories, originated in Ghana, West Africa, and were brought to Jamaica by the Ashanti slaves. From these early beginnings, various stories have been passed down from generation to generation and have established themselves as an integral part of Jamaican culture. Children learn about them in schools and families continue to pass them down through oral traditions.
Believe it or not however, Jamaican folktales are slowly becoming forgotten in today’s society. This is as a result of the rise in multitudes of new entertainment, including television and the internet. In the past, folktales were used by our ancestors for entertainment and a leader or “storyteller”, often the eldest in the village, would describe these interesting legends to his listeners.
Jamaica has a culture rich with folktales that you might or might not know about. Very prominent figures include:
- The Rolling Calf – A story about a menacing bull haunting the countryside at nights.
- Ol’ Higue – The story of an old witch that feeds on the blood of children.
- Duppies – Restless spirits that were once alive like you and me.
- The River Mumma – A female spirit lurking at the source of Jamaican rivers.
- The Golden Table – The mesmerizing golden table that lures innocent victims to the bottom of the river.
- Anansi stories – Stories surrounding Jamaica’s resident man or rather spider of mischief.
- Annie Palmer (The White Witch of Rose Hall) – The woman haunting the Rose Hall Great house – that can still be visited to this day – she was accused of murdering her black slave lovers among many other heinous crimes.
There are many Jamaican writers that use their craft and talent to preserve these Jamaican legends including:
- Martha Warren Beckwith – Who wrote a book entitled “Jamaica Anansi Stories”.
- Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley affectionately known as ‘Miss Lou’ – A Jamaican folklorist, writer, and educator who was also Jamaica’s Cultural Ambassador. She appeared in the pantomime production of “The Witch” surrounding the legend Annie Palmer and wrote “Anancy & Pandora” in 1949.
- Joan Andrea Hutchinson – Also wrote Anancy stories like ‘Anancy and Aunty Joan (Anancy stories)’
Now that you have a background knowledge on Jamaica and its folklore, there will be more articles with specific focus on each folktale listed above. The next article in fact, will be featuring the raging, roaming, Rolling Calf.
Written by Nyameche Jones, student of Campion College. Edited by Kaeonna Walters. This post appears courtesy of the Do Good Jamaica Professional Pathways high school internship program.
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6 Things To Know About The Jamaica Social Stock Exchange
In early 2019, the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) launched an initiative called the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE). We’ve got the basics about what it is, why it was launched, who is it for, how to participate and more.
What is the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE)?
The Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) is a special exchange of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) It is for entities that operate to provide a benefit to society. These include non-profit organizations and businesses operating as social enterprises.
Why is there a Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE)?
The Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) was set up to leverage the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) record of global excellence to help mobilize social capital.
The objective is to efficiently connect entities engaged in executing economic, socio-cultural and/or environmentally responsible projects and programs, to parties interested in participating in economic, socio-cultural and/or environmentally responsible activities in the start -up, implementation, maintenance and expansion of social projects and programs.
Does a person donate or invest via the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE)?
Both.
In the current phase of Phase 1, the JSSE is a platform for donations.
In the future phase of Phase 2, the JSSE will provide a platform for impact investing.
- CURRENT: Phase 1 – Donation – is augmented crowd-funding. You can donate as you would to any other site, except for a key benefit – the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) carefully selects the organizations and projects that can seek funding via its platform and then the JSSE will monitor, evaluate and report on the projects once successfully funded, i.e. “listed”. In Phase 1, organizations and projects are seeking donations by donors who contribute to a social benefit. There are no stock prices to follow nor will a financial return provided to the donor.
- FUTURE: Phase 2 – Impact Investing – will function more like the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Main and Junior Markets but will be limited to companies that operate for social benefit. In Phase 2, the entities are seeking investment by social investors who not only contribute to a social benefit but are also expected receive a financial benefit through increase in stock value and/or dividend.
Which organizations are now raising funds through the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE)?
At present, five (5) organizations and their projects have been selected by the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) for funding via the platform.
The selected organizations provide significant social benefits through education, empowerment and employment for a wide cross-section of Jamaicans – across the island and for varying age groups and abilities – through their projects.
The organizations are:
- Agency for Inner City Renewal (AIR) (the JaMIN Tours division)
- Alpha Institute
- Choose Life International
- Deaf Can!
- Spring Praise Jamaica
How can a person or entity donate to these organizations?
Here are the ways that you can donate to these organizations via the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE):
- Online here at the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange website
- Cheque
- Cash
Can my organization raise funds through the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE)?
When this pilot phase has been successfully completed, any social enterprise or locally registered entity in civil society – with a technically and financially viable project/program with a social mission that will solve a social or environmental need – can apply.
For more information, visit this link on the Jamaica Stock Exchange website
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