Education Minister Fayval Williams exudes confidence that any issues related to natural hairstyles will be effectively addressed in schools by September.
Minister Williams conveyed her assurance during a media conference held at the education ministry’s office in Kingston on Friday, July 19, 2024.
In a landmark ruling, the Court of Appeal stated that Kensington Primary School violated a child’s constitutional rights by denying her access due to her dreadlocks. This decision partially overturned the 2020 ruling which had caused public outcry. Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Patrick Brooks, emphasized that the school’s policy against dreadlocks violated the child’s rights to freedom of expression and equitable treatment by a public authority.
Minister Williams highlighted that numerous students in Jamaica have attended school with dreadlocks without encountering any issues. She expressed her belief that concerns regarding natural hairstyles in schools will not be prominent at the beginning of the next school year.
Furthermore, the education minister emphasized that her ministry consistently reviews school policies to ensure that no rules are discriminatory to students. While encouraging parental involvement in ensuring students’ compliance with simplified hairstyles, Minister Williams remains optimistic about the upcoming school year.
Exciting News for Trelawny as Restoration of Troy Bridge Set to Begin
The National Works Agency (NWA) has announced that the long-awaited restoration of the collapsed Troy Bridge in Trelawny is finally set to commence.
This vital bridge, which connects several Trelawny, Manchester, and St Elizabeth communities, suffered a collapse in August 2021 during the passage of Tropical Storm Grace.
Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan, has revealed that the Cabinet has approved the $231 million contract for the restoration work, marking the green light for the project to get underway.
Following the receipt of the contractor’s bond and insurance, the NWA has cleared the path for the work to kick off, making progress towards addressing the impact of the bridge’s collapse.
It is anticipated that the project will span over 12 months and will involve the demolition of the old structure, the construction of a new triple-cell box culvert on piles, and activities to reinforce the riverbed.
In a considerate move, a temporary detour will also be set up to accommodate the many pedestrians, including students from the nearby Troy High School, who rely on the bridge for access.
With the project site now in the hands of the contractor, Minister Morgan has assured the community that he will closely oversee the progress on behalf of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the children and farmers of Southern Trelawny and Northwest Manchester through this significant infrastructure initiative.