An air of gratitude filled Half-Way Tree in St Andrew last week as the Universal Service Fund (USF) prepared to officially launch its Connect Ja Public Wi-Fi initiative As the hustle and bustle of Half-Way Tree carried on around them already tapping into the power of free internet access “Everything mi a do pon di Wi-Fi!” exclaimed Karene “When mi money come from Western Union mi can look it and collect it… Talk to mi daughter any little thing at all me can do with mi free Wi-Fi the new Connect Ja network is more than just convenience—it’s a lifeline who works as a janitor at HTech in the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre said the free connection makes a world of difference for her communication I don’t have any credit and sometimes my baby [can] call me and now I can talk to my baby commuter Marlon shared that “A good thing dem [the USF] a do!” He revealed how he uses the Wi-Fi to stay informed and entertained while on the move a good thing dem (USF) a do and keep it up,” said Marlon it’s about staying connected when networks fail [I] really appreciate that you guys [are] coming around and doing the free Wi-Fi Not everybody can afford data,” Shanice explained Even vendors in the area are welcoming the change understanding how much it means to their customers “I’m happy for those who (are) happy to receive it.” aims to bridge the digital divide across Jamaica by installing public internet access points in high-traffic locations Half-Way Tree is just the latest on the list with over 60 access points spanning the entire area but the energy at the launch proves how needed and appreciated it is and featured a wide range of performances —from Jesse Royal to Chi Ching Ching — as well as appearances by Parliamentary officials the Connect Ja initiative is part of a broader effort by the USF to ensure that all Jamaicans can benefit from the digital revolution fostering innovation and economic growth throughout the country The Universal Service Fund is an Agency under the Ministry of Science Telecommunications and Transport mandated to ensure access to information and communication tools to facilitate development the USF began operation as the Universal Access Fund Company Limited following a Ministerial Order which mandated that all domestic telecommunications providers are obligated to collect a universal service levy on all inbound telephone calls View the discussion thread. who travel through or do business in Half Way Tree daily following the launch of a public Wi-Fi hotspot at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre on Friday (April 25) The service was established by the Universal Service Fund (USF) under its Connect Jamaica programme which aims to establish free Wi-Fi in parks towns and heavily trafficked roadways across the country It will enable persons to stay connected as they commute to work do business and attend to their personal needs said the coverage area is the largest to date “This will be the largest public Wi-Fi roll out in the history of the USF because of the geographical area it will serve and the amount of persons who can be on the Wi-Fi at one time Up to 1,000 persons can use this public Wi-Fi at one time,” he said Noting that access to high-speed internet is a critical driver of opportunities Minister Vaz said that Connect Jamaica is a bold and strategic step to make sure that every Jamaican “Public Wi-Fi will serve as the catalyst for inclusion engagement and empowerment across the nation… We must acknowledge the trailblazing work of the USF in narrowing the digital divide Their unwavering dedication to bridging this divide is pivotal to the mission to create an inclusive digitally-literate society where every Jamaican has an equal stake in our progress,” he pointed out said that the launch of the service at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre is in keeping with the entity’s ongoing efforts to expand connectivity in public spaces which is an important move towards advancing Jamaica’s digital transformation “This is the unofficial centre of Kingston and St chances are you are going to pass through Half-Way Tree internet access to the people?” he asked rhetorically McFarlane said the Fund is working to transform the country into a knowledge-based society in keeping with the Government’s vision of repositioning the nation as a technology-enabled society “We are not just launching a Wi-Fi network we are here because we are launching opportunities because that is what Connect Jamaica is about,” he said because internet access in 2025 is a necessity… Let us continue to build a connected and empowered Jamaica for the future,” Mr The launch of the Half Way Tree Transport Centre public WI-FI involved collaboration with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Limited Send An Email Get the latest news & updates from the JIS sent to your inbox Copyright © 2025 Multimedia Jamaica Ltd The family of 20-year-old Shamar Riley joined Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) in a protest against police violence in Half-Way Tree armed with secretly recorded video footage they claim shows the moments before his fatal shooting by the police last Saturday Riley is one of 108 men reportedly killed this year during alleged confrontations with police now submitted to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) contradicts the police’s account of a shoot-out in Cockburn Gardens around 12:10 a.m “This is the footage that they said was a shoot-out and they (police) did not know camera was there You going to see the officers come in after they already shot him in the lane and he was calling his father,” a relative said “Have you ever seen a police walk down a gunman that is firing shots and he is trying to apprehend?” another relative asked another person inside the house was recording when officers entered That individual’s phone was allegedly confiscated and has not been returned The camera or you (the police)?” the relative asked calling for greater police accountability and the mandatory use of body-worn cameras during operations JFJ Executive Director Mickel Jackson described the protest as an opportunity for constructive dialogue amid national discussions on human rights and police conduct “It’s a glorious opportunity for constructive dialogue,” she said The minister of national security is making his Sectoral [Debate] presentation today I think it’s really an opportunity for us to hear from Dr Horace Chang in relation to the status of increased deployment of body-worn cameras I hope the public will join the call for clear timelines for when the data storage infrastructure will be put in place,” Jackson said She noted that although a pilot project began in 2012 Jackson also referenced Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness wearing blue – the colour associated with police support in a counterprotest on Tuesday – urging him to stand instead for accountability and victims’ rights “I hope that the blue is in solidarity with the people who are here today the victims who are here today saying that my son was killed at the hands of the police state and I hope that the prime minister in Parliament today would take this opportunity to say to the public and I am on the side of body-worn cameras and police accountability’,” Jackson said criticised the rising number of police killings despite falling crime rates “My view is that persons should be taken before the court They should not be executed by the police force Why do you need to put a mask on and refuse a camera if what you are doing is lawful The reason why you don’t want to wear a body camera and you are putting on your mask with no numbers is because you are acting like a criminal,” Samuels charged He argued that police officers’ reluctance to wear cameras suggests that they anticipate misconduct Any man who pulls a gun at a police officer his body camera will explain why he had to kill him.” The protest attracted current and former JFJ members with police intervening to separate opposing groups andre.williams@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio To get to the alleged midway point of California from downtown L.A. you'd need to hit the 5 northward and eventually connect to State Route 99 you'll see the landmark colloquially known as "The Palm and The Pine," sitting unassumingly in the median on Highway 99 Blink and you could miss them — these two trees were planted to mark the purported spot that separates the northern part of the state from they have stood at that location — the state's reputed center — like an odd hitchhiking couple as vehicles of all manners zip between the state's two halves no markers — meaning most Californians and drivers might even not know about their existence You have about a good year and some to check out this California oddity for yourself because the two trees are slated for removal to make way for the most California of things — a highway expansion The Caltrans project is slated to begin in the fall of 2025 and will widen Highway 99 from four to six lanes along a 8-mile stretch The expansion includes the addition of a concrete center divider for safety reasons — to be constructed at the very location where the Palm and the Pine are now "It just can't be in the center divide because of the way the project is going to be handled." To pay tribute to the original Palm and Pine the agency plans to devote a new area just off the freeway — "to the west side of where they are now," said Johnson — to make it all better "We're going to plant 15 new palm trees and 15 new pine trees," said Johnson "So hopefully that irrigation is going to let those trees blossom and be around for the next hundred years as well." How the Palm and Pine found themselves standing side by side in the middle of a bustling highway at the center of California is a story that befits the best of California mythologies — because nobody actually knows how it happened Johnson at Caltrans said he's read articles dating the trees back to around the 1920s — but that's about it One thing he is more certain about: Caltrans had replaced the pine after its predecessor was knocked down from what he remembered as a storm in the mid-2000s found out about the Palm and the Pine from a friend some 15 years ago He was so taken by their symbolism that he started digging deeper into their history "There are some theories that maybe a business owner put the trees in front of the business and then when the highway was expanded they just left the trees there," said Newvine Another rumor Newvine heard had it that the trees were planted by college students as some sort of project But the best testament Newvine found of the trees' stubbornly mysterious provenance is that Huell Howser himself had fallen short at cracking the puzzle One thing that has been debunked is that the trees are not "To me it represents what's possible in California You can have the warmth and the other benefits from the southern part of our state And you can drive to the open spaces and experience the seasonal weather in the north," said Newvine the writer said it's about "progress." He remembered when Highway 99 was so busy and dangerous the advice once upon a time was for drivers to stay away I got to believe that is going to be a good representation for the region I'm optimistic that it will be a positive way to showcase the communities." PEOPLE who use the lay-by on the outside of Mandela Park in Half-Way-Tree where commuters board and disembark buses and taxis are decrying the state of the drainage system in the area which has led to flooding vendors and commuters were many during a visit by the Jamaica Observer on Thursday One female vendor told the Observer that the drains are not being cleaned by the authorities which causes the space to be in a deplorable condition because all when no rain not falling a suh it stay Bus and taxi operators said they experience difficulties when picking up and letting off passengers They said in trying to avoid the water which settles in the area they end up committing traffic violations for which the police are quick to penalise them for The Government a ramp; all dem want to talk bout a tax We have to go beyond the white line and go under the traffic light to load the bus [so as] to avoid the water we will get tickets,” said a bus conductor “When the park full…with water we have to run rat race to get the passengers because everybody bundle up in that small area where there is no water under the stoplight If we go over the white line to let off and pick up passengers This has been going on for a long time and nobody is looking on it,” the conductor complained if two bus come in the park and push water on the sidewalk This can cause ringworm,” the conductor said A drink vendor told the Observer he believes the problem is caused by poor engineering “I realise that a drain is right there but it is not functional; it is either it is too small or something It is not ideal to deal with what is happening here I listen to the people’s comments when they pass and they say it is poor engineering because the road seems to have a belly and that is why the water seems to be sitting there “Why are the authorities tak[ing] so long to see this This is a big square in the capital so I think they would have jumped on it [or you can] abort that drain and raise the belly in the road so the water just runs go down the street [if the issue continues] it is going to turn out to be a feeding tree for some contractors and yu going have to be calling them back You have some mad drivers and people get splashed,” added the vendor one man who helps to load the buses with passengers said there is too much dirt and garbage in drains “Right here where the water settles is unbalanced and di drain can’t hold the pressure of the garbage pile-up in it Dirt from up the road helps to block up the drain,” he reasoned Investigators from the Major Investigation Division and the Police High Command are now at the scene of a double killing at Half Way Tree Police Station in St A detective sergeant and a well-known businessman were killed in the incident Preliminary information suggests that sometime Monday afternoon a tussle developed between the detective sergeant and the businessman The businessman then shot the detective sergeant before turning the gun on himself Both men were pronounced dead at the scene a groundbreaking initiative is transforming the traditional classroom into a futuristic hub of innovation and empowerment Half-Way-Tree Primary School has officially become the first institution in Jamaica to debut a self-driving hypercar prototype and an interactive 3D humanoid AI teaching assistant – ushering in a new era of hands-on learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) education This bold leap into the future is part of a larger vision spearheaded by Principal Carol O’Connor Clarke through the school’s newly conceptualised Technology & Next-gen Manufacturing (TITAN) Centre is expected to generate an astounding $80 trillion in market value project the loss of 800 million jobs due to automation Half-Way-Tree Primary’s TITAN Centre’s core mission is not just to teach AI usage but to cultivate the next generation of AI creators and innovators Studies have shown that junior developers are beginning to lose critical thinking and troubleshooting skills due to overreliance on AI tools TITAN promotes AI building over passive AI use ensuring that Jamaican students are not left behind in this global transformation at Half-Way-Tree Primary’s Career Day the nation witnessed the historic debut of Aura – Jamaica’s first-ever AI-powered 3D humanoid teaching assistant Developed by Cosmos Bennett and presented in collaboration with Carol O’Connor Clarke and Heather Quest Bennett Aura represents the first pillar of TITAN’s educational framework: AI Software Usage and Assistance Aura lives on the desktop and interacts with students conversationally making subjects like mathematics and data analysis more engaging and accessible This AI assistant is not only a tool but a bridge between traditional teaching and digital innovation giving students real-time help while exposing them to the technology driving tomorrow’s workforce Perhaps even more jaw-dropping than the AI assistant is the arrival of Lucciola – a full-scale self-driving fiberglass hypercar prototype Conceived and built by Cosmos Bennett and supported by Heather and Principal Clarke Lucciola is not just a showpiece; it is a functional It offers students the opportunity to delve into hardware-based AI – an immersive experience where they can touch modular chassis and outfitted with a Jetson Nano computer Lucciola utilises machine learning libraries (often used in RC cars) to provide basic self-driving functionality Its Afro-Caribbean and Italian-inspired aesthetic was entirely designed using Rhino3D and Blender3D Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to art and culture Students can explore Lucciola’s origins where the fully interactive 3D model is hosted alongside videos of the prototype’s evolution Lucciola’s interior concept also includes an AI conversational assistant for real-world application – originally developed for a 10th generation Honda Civic and released as open-source software by Cosmos Bennett This teaches students how to imbue everyday objects – cars promoting the development of viable Jamaican-made tech products The initiative promotes what experts call ‘embodied AI’ – a hands-on approach that helps bridge software development with physical product design a philosophy endorsed by global AI leaders and adopted here with local flair One of TITAN’s most ambitious components is its push toward full 3D design and manufacturing education but also learn to use tools like Blender3D and Rhino3D to create their own vehicle designs from scratch the programme encourages building their own low-cost supercar prototypes blending digital design with physical engineering in a deeply rewarding learning cycle The long-term goal of TITAN and its initiatives is the formal inclusion of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as examinable subjects in Jamaica’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) curricula By combining theoretical learning with engaging Half-Way-Tree Primary hopes to deter classroom misbehaviour and increase focus this push aligns with Jamaica’s national agenda to stimulate local technology manufacturing offering a pathway for students to become creators of exportable Jamaican tech This initiative would not be possible without the shared vision of three key individuals: the trailblazing Principal of Half-Way-Tree Primary whose leadership has enabled the school to become a national model of futuristic learning an accomplished Grade 6 Mathematics and Data Analysis teacher with an MBA who is bridging pedagogy and technology in profound ways a software engineer with AI work featured by NVIDIA – a $3.28 trillion AI leader His technical contributions to both software and hardware are helping lay the foundation for a new Jamaican innovation ecosystem Half-Way-Tree Primary’s TITAN Center is more than just an educational milestone – it’s a symbol of what’s possible when visionary educators and technologists come together with a clear goal: to prepare students not just to live in the future As AI redefines economies and labour markets around the world initiatives like these ensure that Jamaica isn’t just keeping pace – but setting the tone To see Aura in action or explore the Lucciola hypercar prototype visit the iCosmos Neuroverse channel on YouTube or explore the digital showcase at icognium.github.io editorial@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. Jamaica – The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) has announced the introduction of the new route 52B which runs from Castleton Gardens said it will operate four daily trips on the new route in each direction The scheduled departure times are as follows: From Castleton Gardens – 5:00 am children and persons with disabilities will pay $20.00 using the SmartFare card and $100.00 when cash is used Seniors will pay $25.00 with the SmartFare card and $100.00 if cash is used while adults are charged $50.00 with the SmartFare card and $100.00 cash JUTC said it recognises the financial challenges faced by many commuters particularly students and individuals with disabilities “We are committed to making daily commuting more budget-friendly especially for students and persons with disabilities who depend on our services they can travel at a fraction of the cash fare making their journeys more convenient and economical,” Palomino added Shantole Thompson highlighted the bus company’s broader commitment to accessibility “We recognise the vital role public transportation plays in the lives of many particularly students and individuals with special mobility needs This new route reflects our ongoing efforts to ensure that transportation remains affordable and efficient for all Jamaicans,” she said JUTC is urging all commuters to obtain their SmartFare cards to enjoy lower fares JUTC will be officially launching its “Ride Right with SmartFare” campaign on March 4 to push the sign-up for the new cards but also to share JUTC’s plans to make commuting easy and safe for everyone View the discussion thread. 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The Jamaica National Group brought the warmth of the season straight to the heart of Half-Way Tree in St Andrew recently with pop-up performances by the National Chorale of Jamaica Immaculate Conception High School’s praise ensemble and a few select performances from talented employees They delivered their performances from the steps at the entrance of the JN Bank Half-Way Tree branch in the middle of the busy urban centre Yuletide melodies delighted passers-by in what is becoming a welcome tradition of the season and onlookers of all ages were swept up in the holiday cheer with expressions of togetherness and merriment befitting of what is deemed “the most wonderful time of the year” Uplifting and familiar tunes echoed throughout the crowd was extremely moved by the musical display “You know it’s a great feeling seeing everybody together celebrating the birth of Christ People are taking their time to shop as well so we are able to make a little extra dollars It was a full concert performance as people gathered close to the steps of the bank to take in the harmonious sounds the National Chorale of Jamaica and the KC Chapel Choir regaled the crowd with hymns and Christmas classics while the Immaculate Conception High School praise ensemble and JN employees Davell ‘D’Suave’ Thompson and Clara ‘CK’ Kahwa engaged in a lively call-and-response wishing everyone a “Merry JN Christmas” with a catchy hook that had everybody singing along and moving their feet “I’m here as a parent from the KC group and even just seeing the girls from Immaculate it was a true joy I’m just happy to see the youth being given a chance to display their raw talent – at the end of the day this is Jamaican culture I’m feeling the vibe to dance in the streets!” he said with a smile He continued: “This brings me back to the unity of what I knew Jamaica to be Having performances like this reminds us all to love one another and to treat each other with respect because that’s what this season is about.” View the discussion thread. 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Ash Wednesday midterm break and sports day activities resulted in a number of Corporate Area schools missing out on the annual Peace Day observation Tuesday Not so at Dunrobin and Half-Way-Tree primary schools in St Andrew Dunrobin Primary Principal Sacheel Grant-Henry argued that observing Peace Day is important for the school to help improve Jamaica’s efforts to reduce crime and violence “It cannot be solely just academics that you want to teach children; we want to teach them to be rounded individuals We live in an environment that is riddled with crime and if we start by introducing the children to peace especially being a primary-level institution then of course we are setting a foundation for what they may become as adults,” Grant-Henry told the Jamaica Observer which were headed by the Guidance Department with students delivering performances and expressing the importance of promoting peace The governor general’s peace message was read by the head boy and head girl while different items were on display to promote the message students from each grade level were selected and sashed as the school’s peacemakers after teachers were asked beforehand to observe their behaviours and select a few students from each class who showed the qualities of an ideal peacemaker was important as it provided an opportunity to further promote student leadership which is an important aspect of the school’s foundation “For everything that we do at Dunrobin we believe that student leadership is important on Peace Day we want to have student leaders as well so the peacemaker becomes the replica of the class and the school’s embodiment of peace,” Grant-Henry said She also pointed out that Peace Day is not just a one-day activity for the school “We have what we call the Character Traits Awards What happens is that the Guidance Department issues a responsibility or a particular theme each month and the teachers look out for students who embody them and they are presented with certificates every month for upper and lower school,” the principal explained The school also planned conflict resolution sessions between students and guidance counsellors throughout the month as a way to show students various tools to solve issues that may arise without turning to violence “One of the things that we realise is that many students do not know how to talk out their problems or how to even acknowledge that they are having a problem so we try to teach that conflict is not bad it is how we handle conflicts and we give them some strategies they can use to handle conflicts,” Brown said She expressed concern about the country’s crime problem and emphasised the need for change to begin with the youth “For a country that is not at war we are very violent and aggressive and our children are going to be tomorrow’s adults and it’s already not looking good from this vantage point So whatever we want for the future we have to start teaching it here and if we want to see a more peaceful Jamaica we have to start building peaceful relationships now,” she said A former firefighter who mounted the Half Way Tree Transport Centre on Monday was transported by mental health personnel from the Half Way Tree Police Station to the Kingston Public Hospital for assessment Gentles climbed the St Andrew landmark sometime after 3 pm amid threats to commit suicide but seemingly had a change of heart following the intervention of former colleagues at the Jamaica Fire Brigade READ: Ex-firefighter mounts HWT Transport Centre, threatens suicide General Manager of the Half Way Tree Transport Centre stating: “This afternoon we saw the gentleman up there and we alerted the police; subsequent to that and they came up and recognised that it is one of their past members They got in touch with his father and his wife and another one went up again and coerced him to come down; eventually he did Thank God no life was lost,” he added The incident attracted scores of onlookers who clapped for joy when Gentles made it to safety Sources claim that the incident was linked to domestic disputes suspended firefighter Sergeant Leo Bennett also climbed atop the Half Way Tree Transport Centre to stage a one-man protest for improved working conditions for firefighters WATCH: Militant firefighter lists demands amid protest atop HWT Transport Centre View the discussion thread. We use cookies to personalize content and ads and to analyze our traffic and improve our service Although I read Marcia Douglas’s first book when it came out in 1999 our literary friendship was born six years ago in the backseat of a taxicab as we talked with two other Caribbean women writers while moving through the Jamaican countryside on our journey from the Calabash Festival in Treasure Beach to the Montego Bay airport we had another opportunity to spend time together when she visited Puerto Rico where Marcia lives and teaches; it included messages from her students about my first book We later collaborated with Jamaican writer Alecia McKenzie on a presentation about how we each use art and creative writing to educate and empower our daughters A bizarre series of events at the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St Andrew on Monday ended in the shooting deaths of a well-known businessman and a respected police sergeant It was pandemonium at the St Andrew Central Divisional Headquarters on Monday after Deon Singh reportedly disarmed a policeman and shot dead Detective Sergeant Kevin Mayne before turning the gun on himself as he was being fired on by other police personnel While The Gleaner understands Singh shot himself in the mouth it was not immediately clear whether he was killed by the self-inflicted wound or bullets fired by the other lawmen had reportedly been before the court on Monday to answer to fraud-related charges The matter was before Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell and the accused were represented by attorney CJ Mitchell The Gleaner understands monies owed to complainants for motor vehicle transactions were paid over before the court hearing and it was stood down to give police time to verify whether they had further interest in the accused After spending quite some time in the courtroom the Singhs left for the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) office some time after 1 p.m Mayne was reportedly the investigating officer in a case against the car dealers He was escorting Singh to the lockup some time after 5 p.m. when he saw that the businessman was in possession of a cell phone The policeman was attempting to take the phone from Singh when they got into a tussle and another policeman went to assist Mayne Singh reportedly pulled the service pistol from the second policeman and shot Mayne multiple times before turning the weapon on himself as the lawman’s colleagues opened fire at the businessman Both men were taken to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) where they were pronounced dead on arrival The Half-Way Tree CIB is probing the incident Mayne is said to have worked with Campus Police at The University of the West Indies in St Andrew during Keith ‘Trinity’ Gardner’s tenure as director of security They used to call him ‘Superman’,” a colleague of the now-deceased policeman told The Gleaner The Independent Commission of Investigations was notified of the incident and a team of investigators arrived at the scene just after 8 o’clock last night and began their probe Singh’s Motors has been the subject of several complaints in recent years with disgruntled clients raising concerns in articles published by The Gleaner about issues they faced while attempting to purchase motor vehicles from the company The Half-Way Tree CIB has confirmed that the car dealership was being investigated in relation to multiple allegations of fraud Several members of the Police High Command visited the crime scene yesterday It is the second time in two months that a detainee has fired a policeman’s weapon at a police station a 35-year-old inmate reportedly snatched a policeman’s gun from under a desk near the cell block at the Montego Bay Police Station in Freeport and shot a fellow detainee He reportedly continued to fire more shots in the cell area An armed female cop who was in the vicinity reportedly went to assist her distressed colleagues but was reportedly frightened and was “unable to respond” Another cop took her weapon and fired at the prisoner with the gun hitting him in the upper body and left foot The prisoner then reportedly threw the gun on the floor the rogue prisoner and the man he shot were taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital for treatment View the discussion thread. Check out the delicious looking menu here The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Limited has unveiled its new SmartFare system which seeks to improve operational efficiency and eliminate the need for cash transactions The JUTC has outfitted all its buses with SmartFare systems Launched on Tuesday (March 4) at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in Kingston the system uses state-of-the-art technology to enable passengers to utilise a cashless system to pay their fares The launch also introduced the JUTC’s Ride Right with SmartFare public education campaign aimed at encouraging responsible commuting habits and creating a better commuting culture that benefits passengers and the wider transport system said it (SmartFare) is one of several initiatives being employed by the company to usher in a new and convenient service for the thousands of commuters who rely on the JUTC daily “Ride Right with SmartFare is more than a technological upgrade It is a forward step in our commitment to better serve the commuters of Jamaica the JUTC has operated on a fare-run system it has now reached the end of its life cycle with service parts for ticket machines no longer available This has left us with a critical decision to continue struggling with an outdated system or to invest in a solution that will bring lasting benefits Minister Vaz said SmartFare represents a leap forward in the public transportation system “SmartFare is cloud-based and accessible by any web browser This means that vendors can access the system through PCs expanding availability and making transactions more seamless,” he noted Minister Vaz said another improvement is the transition from a card-based transaction system to an account-based transaction system This eliminates the need for specialised equipment to process cards and top-ups making it easier for commuters to add funds and check their balances “With multiple top-up options at the JUTC ticket offices and even through third-party payment systems commuters now have greater flexibility,” the Minister said The SmartFare mobile app will allow commuters to check their ride history and even pay fares directly from their mobile devices Vaz underscored that one of the long-standing challenges within the JUTC has been revenue leakage emphasising that the SmartFare system will significantly reduce cash handling thereby closing loopholes that allow for revenue loss “This ensures that every dollar spent by commuters goes towards improving the service and expanding the JUTC work,” he added the JUTC has activated 39,305 cards catering to various categories of commuters – adults Minister Vaz encouraged commuters to share their feedback and work with the JUTC to refine the system for the benefit of all and to improve public transportation for generations to come View the discussion thread. Thirteen livestock officers with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) have received training to use the Langston Interactive Nutrient Calculator developed by Oklahoma-based Langston University aids in the analysis and comparison of forage and feed formulations to increase the efficiency of how livestock are fed while minimising costs said the software is free to access on the Langston University website; however the RADA officers were specially trained to navigate the website should farmers need assistance Brown informed that training was done in batches with the eastern and western zones in March of 2024 and January of 2025 “The calculator would allow farmers to do a least cost analysis and putting some dollar figure to what it cost us to say if we had to do a ton of king grass or we had a ton of king grass what would it cost if a farmer had to purchase that Once you plug all of that in then it will – with a nutritional breakdown of the different forages – tell you the different combinations that you can utilise to get,” she stated “Say you’re trying to formulate a 14 per cent protein meal for the animal it would tell you which forages and quantities that you would need to combine to get that sort of output,” she added Brown told JIS News that though the impact of the calculator is promising it highlights some of the challenges faced in Jamaica “One of the big ones was that we do not have a lab to do the analysis We have to be sending the samples overseas to be analysed and that can be costly in itself which I think it’s something for us to now look at our situation and to start to put measures in place now to ensure that we can have this for ourselves,” she stated “Because it is not just for small ruminants it’s for the cattle industry as well and for any animal that is going to feed on forages or for farmers to do proper feed formulation so how can we now make Jamaica resourceful in terms of doing that?” she added Brown also highlighted one possible approach to overcoming the challenge “Work is now being done to refurbish the station and expand its services they’re actually trying to build out their nutrition lab which will be able to do some of these tests they’ve been able to do some minor tests,” she said the collaboration between Langston University and RADA continues to be strengthened with consistent support in other areas from the team overseas support has come by way of sharing critical equipment and expertise “They have also gifted RADA with laptops for the livestock officers to utilise because they will be using software to collect data we need to be using different technologies and software to provide them with more precise information There was also another gift in the form of an ultrasound machine that they gave to a farmer This can detect pregnancy in goats,” she said The University has also provided support in the form of security cameras to some farmers to assist with efforts at protecting their farms For more information on how RADA supports farmers islandwide persons can visit rada.gov.jm and to access the nutrient calculator Expansion of routes outside the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) reflects the commitment of the Government to provide safe reliable and affordable transportation to new and expanding communities at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in Kingston The Minister said the JUTC is seeking to expand services to new and premium routes and Montego Bay to Lucea and Negril (from the Montego Bay Depot) “These expansions are important to meeting the growing demand for public transportation and improving connectivity across the island especially with the infrastructure that this government is putting in place in terms of road networks,” he said Since the inception of the newest service routes the JUTC has recorded a total of 115,742 passengers transported averaging 2,561 passengers daily across the 14 new routes Among the premium routes are Silver Sun Estate (routes 135 and 137) which have collectively transported 7,751 passengers while Phoenix Park Village one and two (routes 309 and 310) have transported 5,938 passengers The regular service routes have shown significant usage with Old Harbour to May Pen (route 501) leading the count with 23,346 passengers Other notable routes include Yallahs to downtown Kingston (route 701) and Morant Bay to downtown Kingston (route 702) with 16,280 passengers routes such as Chapelton to May Pen (route 504) 3,556 passengers; and Lionel Town to May Pen (route 502) and Toll Gate to May Pen (route 503) have each surpassed 8,000 passengers highlighting strong commuter demand on these corridors Other notable contributions are Linstead to Spanish Town (route 605) 5,496 passengers; May Pen to Spanish Town (route 511) 5,170 passengers; and Castleton/Grande Hole to Half-Way Tree (route 52B) “These numbers reflect a growing reliance on public transportation in these areas and the importance of continued expansion and service enhancements to meet commuter needs effectively,” the Minister said The first phase of the JUTC’s route expansion was introduced in November 2024 to the new housing developments in the Greater Bernard Lodge area of St Vaz emphasised that it is not the intention of the JUTC to compete with PPV operators and urged private operators to continue to retool and improve on the quality of service they deliver to commuters “The expansion of the service is not intended to displace private operators in the public transport sector a standard by which public transportation will be defined,” the Minister said HALF-WAY TREE Square has always been a confluence of people from all over Jamaica It is a storied place where people gather for a multiplicity of reasons It is said to have got its name from a big tree under which people would rest on their journeys between downtown Kingston and Upper St Andrew and for some it is where life has become a full stop When the city parish of Kingston outgrew itself Half-Way Tree naturally absorbed the extra traffic businesses and all the challenges that urban expansion brings Kingston was amalgamated with St Andrew as the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (the Corporate Area) making downtown Kingston the hub for Kingston and Half-Way Tree the main business and transportation hub of St Andrew And what a chaotic place Half-Way Tree Square has become the physical layout is an urban architectural disaster; it was not made for ease of pedestrian movement And whosoever decided to make it a bus stop over the years were not thoughtful either Those who allow it to continue to be are just as clueless for decades it has been the bane of their existence great South African freedom-fighter/president is not a jewel in Half-Way Tree’s crown nothing to write home about or make a social media profile pic It is sandwiched by two public transport laybys it is an everlasting helter-skelter as drivers compete aggressively for passengers people try as hard as possible to avoid them but the moment one of them jumps into a passerby’s path Town!” is as jolting as the sight of those red metal vendors’ booths that have been defacing the historic square for several years now Whose ideas was it to establish them there and why do they still exist in the ‘miggle’ of Half-Way Tree Research on the ground revealed that no great business abounds From others sheets of plastic and ‘trapaulin’ blow in the wind to blow away all the ‘bangarangs’ at the back of them Half-Way Tree Square is unsightly and chaotic and is the shame of Kingston and St Andrew And the clock tower is a timeless sentinel not only because it has been there long before ‘Whappy kill Phillip’ and its four faces tell poignant narratives about a place sizzling bustling and festering under the Jamaican sun Jamaica is perhaps the best-known small island state in the world But one thing we cannot be proud of is the mess that Half-Way Tree Square is The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. led a team of councillors and technical officers from both the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) on a tour of several sections of Half-Way Tree on Tuesday where he engaged vendors who shed light on a range of issues they face The tour formed part of Swaby’s mandate to bolster stakeholder consultations and collaborations where he gave a commitment to convene a series of meetings with various sector leaders over the next three months I gave my commitment to engage all stakeholder groups which includes vendors across the length and breadth of Kingston and St Andrew and today’s tour is borne out of that commitment to partnership and consultation,” Swaby said executive director at the NSWMA to share best practices as part of this inclusive approach He believed that it was therefore necessary to coordinate this observatory tour to assess the state of cleanliness in Half-Way Tree and to foster dialogue with vendors to implement strategies for sustainable solutions The vendors raised concerns regarding inadequate sanitary conveniences and garbage receptacles as well as insufficient street lights within the space The vendors also agreed with the mayor’s charge for them to exercise personal responsibility regarding storing their refuse for collection and determining peak collection days based on garbage accumulation patterns Mayor Swaby will meet with all vendors in the coming weeks to continue consultations on the way forward which includes selection of a new president for the Jamaica Vendors View the discussion thread. There is now a safer and more affordable way to travel from Grande Hole in St The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has introduced the 52B bus service which has ignited a wave of excitement among commuters traversing that route the bus can be seen loading with passengers heading into the Corporate Area and it continues to make trips throughout the day “it was a good experience; it was reasonable [and] it was comfortable.” She says on learning that the JUTC would be introducing the 52B service the [Coaster] buses travelling from Annotto Bay or Buff Bay are already full” we have to take the taxis to go to Temple Hall and then another to Half-Way Tree we can put it down and by the end of the year we can the JUTC also established two routes to St bringing their service to that parish for the very first time Prehay welcomes this continued improvement of these rural parishes through access to transportation in this form “Persons in rural areas always feel left out because they always feel like the Government only caters for persons living in urban areas we can say at least the Government is trying to make improvements for us,” she tells JIS News is also over the moon about the 52B service “it’s a cheaper and safer way [to travel]” She is optimistic that the service will continue to improve and will become consistently reliable over time similarly shares that other forms of public transportation sometimes get him to school late pointing out that he is banking on the 52B to solve that challenge This positive feedback from commuters comes as no surprise to Member of Parliament (MP) for St Mary South Eastern and Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security “You can see when something really makes sense [through] the response from the persons who are benefiting and the response is just tremendous,” he tells JIS News The MP points out that the new route has long been advocated for and that a feasibility study was done given the constituency’s closeness to the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) Dunn says he was confident the route would have been deemed feasible “I know it would have been an impactful route because there are so many persons who travel between that point especially between Grande Hole and Kingston We knew that it would have been a very good move for our residents and for JUTC in particular,” he adds the JUTC advertised that the 52B would depart from Castleton Gardens This was later changed to Grande Hole on February 7 some commuters expressed security challenges in getting to Castleton Grande Hole also serves almost as… a meeting spot So there would have been a better terminus rather than Castleton and his team at the JUTC acceded to that wish and are now going to Grande Hole,” Dr With the expected arrival of 100 new JUTC buses in June the MP is optimistic that the State entity’s service could be extended deeper into the constituency and other parts of rural Jamaica “Rural people believe that they are now benefiting from something they have always advocated for Public transport in this form was mainly to the KMA But persons in rural Jamaica always feel left out and this is a wonderful move by the Government,” Dr nervous parents began descending on the grounds of the Half-Way Tree Primary School eager to learn how their children performed in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) their fears gradually turned to jubilation after the results were passed on to students and parents Principal Carol O’Connor Clarke took some time to thoroughly go through the results of the 165 students who sat the exams before she addressed parents and staff the results looked a little bit confusing because we have to deal with so many numbers and we had to look carefully with keen eyes to really analyse the results and then we found it quite easy to understand Maybe it’s because we are used to the percentage score with GSAT,” she said comparing the new scaled score system with that of PEP’s predecessor “The students have done well because when we look at it most of our students fall between proficient and highly proficient So we give praises to our grade six teachers we think that our school did well,” she added The education ministry said that 1,116 students recorded highly proficient scores in all subject areas Ten of them were from Half-Way Tree Primary who achieved the highest overall score of 349.3 With the results being read class by class the euphoria was contagious as minute by minute happy students erupted in jubilation at their placements Latoya Burford could not contain herself when she found out that her daughter had passed for Wolmer’s Girls’ School I know she could do it,” she told The Gleaner Howard Malcolm was also ecstatic on learning that his daughter He held her high in his arms and spun with her and told her how proud he was a few children had to be consoled by their peers seemingly in disapproval of the schools at which they were placed View the discussion thread. 1 / 15DAN GLEITERHalfway Tree Jamaican restaurant in HarrisburgHalfway Tree Jamaican restaurant is located at 145 S Halfway Tree Jamaican restaurant is located at 145 S cooks an order of jerk chicken rasta pasta © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. Emergency responders coaxed firefighter Leo Bennett to descend the top of Half Way Tree Transport Centre Eleven taxi routes within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) have been approved for conversion from hackney carriage to route taxi licences said the decision was taken following an appeal by transport operators to the Public Transport Operators Steering Committee (PTOSC) The routes are held exclusively for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) “The Steering Committee considered the request It was supported by the Transport Authority (TA) and the JUTC has provided its non-objection… We do not want to hold these routes and not be able to service them It is better to release them so that other persons can benefit and spread the service wider,” Minister Vaz said He was addressing a press conference on Tuesday (March 4) at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in Kingston Minister Vaz noted that an additional 12 routes have been ratified for similar conversion by the TA through its Steering Committee “While [the JUTC] expands to serve other new routes we are releasing some of those routes because we want to level the playing field and still give public transport vehicle (PPV) operators an opportunity to earn and be profitable,” Minister Vaz noted Jamaica- The staff and students of Half-Way-Tree Primary are mourning the loss of physical education teacher Jermaine Jones who died Friday evening after he reportedly suffered a stroke a few days earlier a vice principal of Wolmer’s Boys’ School suffered a stroke while heading to work on Monday last week He was admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies on Monday morning and then died on Friday evening but we are being supported by friends and family Jermaine had a pre-existing condition as he had open heart surgery in 2017 but he had been fine,” Jones said Jermaine is survived by his wife and three children called Jones’ death a “terrible loss” as he had worked as a physical education teacher for 25 years at the institution “He was loved by parents and students He always arrived at school early that says a lot about his dedication He was a very loyal worker who took his job seriously and his interest in his job was remarkable a wonderful colleague and friend,” Clarke said he organised and hosted the school’s first ever track meet just last week Saturday (March 16) at the school with over eight schools competing He read the scripture at the school’s 100th anniversary service We were just on the field together last Saturday so all this is a big shock to us,” the primary school principal added There has been mushrooming concern about the number of educators dying suddenly pushing the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) to commission a study to determine if there is a corollary between the stress levels that educators face in the classroom and their mental and physical state of being St George’s College and Kingston College have expressed concern and sadness over a brawl involving students from these schools which occurred in the Half-Way Tree bus park in St Andrew on Wednesday the principals condemned the behaviour of the students while adding that it “goes against the values of respect civility and cooperation” they aim to instill in their pupils “It is important to emphasise that this kind of behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated We are committed to creating a safe and nurturing learning environment where all students can thrive academically Acts of violence or aggression have no place in our educational institutions or public spaces Our students must recognise and understand that they are ambassadors for the school both on and off the school premises,” the release said The principals in the statement also urged parents and guardians to have conversations with their children about the importance of respectful behaviour and conflict resolution while asking students to report incidents and concerns of violence to school authorities so prompt action can be taken the principals said that an investigation has been launched and the students involved in the fight will be punished in accordance with each school’s disciplinary measures and the public that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the facts surrounding the incidents The students involved will be dealt with in accordance with the disciplinary measures outlined in our respective school rules and policies we are collaborating with the police to ensure that appropriate legal actions are taken,” the release said the Mona High School has been closed for the rest of this week A school official said the decision was taken following several incidents of violence at the institution READ: Mona High closed for the week after several incidents of violence It has not been revealed what immediate measures the other schools have taken since the public altercation