PATH reforms, early childhood spending and market updates lead May 20 news

The Government is moving to overhaul the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education, with Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. telling Parliament during the 2026-2027 Sectoral Debate that approved applicants should get help faster. He said persons provisionally cleared through the Beneficiary Management Information System will be shifted at once to temporary payable status, while verification and orientation procedures are to get clearer deadlines, stronger standards and tighter accountability.

Charles said the review also found that household changes were not being reflected quickly enough, causing payment delays, interruptions and stalled recertification. The ministry will now work through delayed cases while improving the system for updates such as children moving from primary to secondary school. PATH distributed more than $9.1 billion in direct grants to over 240,000 Jamaicans in the last financial year.

Education State Minister Rhoda Moy-Crawford said nearly $31 billion has been set aside for early childhood education this fiscal year, representing close to 20 per cent of the ministry’s recurrent budget. Speaking in Montego Bay, she said 108 early childhood teachers have been approved, scholarships continue for untrained practitioners, and Hurricane Melissa rebuilding will allow infant departments to be added at primary schools with space.

The Jamaica Civil Service Association said about 78 National Works Agency employees may withdraw service over unresolved restructuring, reclassification, salary, allowance and leave concerns. In St. Thomas, the Morant Bay Courthouse is being prepared for restoration as a national museum, with design, architectural, engineering and approval stages to precede construction.

In business, the Bank of Jamaica offered $27 billion in 30-day certificates of deposit at 5.75 per cent. Seprod reported first-quarter profit after tax of $1.65 billion, up 94 per cent, while Caribbean Producers Jamaica recorded a US$1.1 million loss and Sterling Investments posted $16.08 million in net profit, down about 65.7 per cent.

Regionally, China-CARICOM trade reached US$9.63 billion in 2025, nearly 50 per cent higher year on year, according to Yang Han of China’s embassy in Trinidad and Tobago. In sports, Professional Football Jamaica said VAR will not be used for the rest of the Jamaica Premier League season, and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force ended day three of the West Indies Championship final on 265 for eight against Guyana Harpy Eagles.