Government Denies St. Mary TCN Housing Plans in National Policy Update

The Government of Jamaica has no plans to house third country nationals in St. Mary, National Security and Peace Minister Dr. Horris Chang has stated, rejecting recent media claims and warning that misleading reports are placing residents and a private property in the parish at risk.

Dr. Chang told JIS News that no transfers will occur until the required operational procedures are finalised. Authorities are awaiting a review from the International Organization for Migration, which holds responsibility for housing arrangements involving third country nationals. Technical teams drawn from the Ministry of National Security and Peace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the IOM will assess whether local conditions are ready to receive arrivals, and the public will be informed once that process is complete.

The minister called for responsible reporting and said police have been asked to monitor the area and encourage calm. He expressed concern that coverage had unsettled residents in the Grandpen area of St. Mary and appealed against any assault on property mentioned in reports. He noted the owner is a longstanding Jamaican professional who reinvested retirement savings locally and should be allowed to live in peace.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has condemned the reported treatment of some grade six students at Ascot Primary School in St. Catherine. Allegations suggest pupils who underperformed in the 2026 Primary Exit Profile examinations were barred from wearing gowns at the school's graduation ceremony. Portfolio Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon described the reported conduct as inappropriate and inconsistent with child welfare principles, stressing that every child deserves dignity and respect regardless of examination results.

Acting Chief Education Officer Mrs. Teranne Thomas-Gale said the ministry engaged Principal Mark Johnson, who expressed regret and indicated the decision was not intended to publicly humiliate any student. The ministry noted that education regulations require school leaders to safeguard student welfare.

State Minister Rudo Crawford said approximately 108 teachers have been appointed to early childhood institutions, with recruitment continuing to fill remaining vacancies. Roughly $30.88 billion, representing about 19.5 per cent of the ministry's $196.7 billion recurrent budget, has been allocated to the early childhood sector serving children from birth to eight years old. About 81,000 children in infant schools and lower primary grades across roughly 500 infant schools and more than 766 primary schools are now taught by trained teachers, along with another 24,000 children in private early childhood institutions.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett reported during the 2026–2027 sectoral debate that the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme now holds $5.3 billion in savings, with more than 10,000 workers registered. Qualified members who meet a five-year vesting period may receive benefits from age 65. The scheme, initially funded by the Government with $1 billion, covers permanent, contract, and self-employed workers aged 18 to 59 in hotels and related tourism roles, including craft vendors, tour operators, redcap porters, contract carriage operators, and attraction workers.

The National Health Fund has increased subsidies on 18 cardiovascular drug items, including cholesterol-lowering and lipid-regulating medicines and treatments for ischaemic heart disease and hypertension. Since the start of the year, the fund has added 11 new drug labels and raised subsidies on 207 hypertension items. Heart failure was added to the NHF card programme in March, alongside new diagnostic benefits including an annual $7,500 subsidy for echocardiograms and $1,750 for ECG tests.

The Southeast Regional Health Authority has launched an electronic food handlers e-card and e-permit through the ID Pro identity management system, effective 15 June. Approved applicants in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas can access digital permits immediately without collecting physical cards at health departments. SERHA projects the system will save an estimated $16.8 million.