Jamaica advises against travel to DR Congo, Uganda amid Ebola emergency

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has pushed back against mounting criticism over more than $1 billion in hurricane donations that remained largely unspent months after Hurricane Melissa, accusing critics of promoting what he described as “common nonsense” while ignoring the broader scale of the Government’s recovery effort.
“Sometimes you have things that are common sense and sometimes you have things that are common nonsense,” he said on Monday at the Lewis Town Early Childhood Institution in St Elizabeth, as one of two Labour Day national projects unfolded.

On Sunday, Rodolph Austin led Portmore to their eighth Jamaica Premier League (JPL) title after a 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory over two-time defending champions Cavalier, after the game ended 2-2 in regulation and extra-time.
Although it was Austin's first domestic trophy, in the process, he followed in the footsteps of highly rated local coach Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde to win the coveted title as a player and a coach, although only a young player at the time (2005).

Macka B, widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s most respected reggae voices, was asked to sing a song on the iconic Real Rock riddim, and he delivered a song that shows the depth of his understanding of the assignment.
 The artiste recently linked up with one of reggae’s most enduring and respected rhythm sections, the Firehouse Crew, at Gusse Clarke’s Anchor Recording Studio in Kingston for the production of the song titled Di Real Rock. From the opening bars of the track, he rides the riddim with trademark precision and cultural depth. 

Jamaica's state standards body has put forward a comprehensive road construction specification for public comment, a move that comes as billions of dollars in government road repair programmes face persistent criticism over the quality and durability of their work. 
The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) is inviting public comment until July 4 on a draft standard that sets technical requirements for every layer of road construction, from the earthworks beneath a road's surface to the asphalt wearing course that vehicles drive on. The scope of the standard is broad. 

Sprinkling pops of pink and florals across the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel last Thursday, the Credit Unions of Jamaica staged its inaugural Brunch and Bloom: A Co-operative Leadership Experience, celebrating leadership, empowerment, wellness and connection among women across the co-operative movement and wider society. Led by President of the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League (JCCUL), Andrea Messam, the experience– sponsored by In Bloom Floral Studio– welcomed guests to don ‘corporate chic’ attire, channelling their most confident selves. Complementing the shades of pink affair, a portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to the Women’s Centre Foundation of Jamaica. Something Extra has the social highlights.

By most public accounts, the pilot in Jamaica – before the full rollout next year – of the Caribbean Examinations Council’s (CXC) modular or bite-sized exam in mathematics went more than reasonably well.
While it wishes for the best, The Gleaner’s Editorial Board defers on the applause, awaiting clear evidence that this is not a case of the necessary hard work to fix a deep and systemic problem being side-stepped for the numbing effect of a palliative.