PATH reforms, education spending and regional trade lead May 20 Jamaica news

The Government is preparing further changes to the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education, or PATH, to reduce delays in support for vulnerable Jamaicans. Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. told Parliament during the 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate on Tuesday that applicants given provisional approval through the Beneficiary Management Information System will be moved at once to temporary payable status.

Charles said verification and orientation stages had sometimes held up applicants for months after preliminary approval. He said those steps will be updated with clearer deadlines, tighter standards and stronger accountability. The ministry is also revising PATH recertification so household changes, including a child moving from primary to secondary school, can be reflected more quickly. PATH paid more than $9.1 billion in direct cash 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, close to 20 per cent of the ministry's recurrent budget. Speaking at the Early Childhood Commission's four-day professional development institute in Montego Bay, she said 108 trained teachers have been approved, about 81,000 learners are benefiting, and $10 million a year continues to support scholarships for untrained practitioners. Rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa is also expected to allow more infant departments at primary schools with space.

The Jamaica Civil Service Association says about 78 National Works Agency employees are threatening to withdraw their labour unless staffing and compensation concerns are addressed. The issues include reclassification, salary anomalies, allowances, vacation leave and management engagement.

In St. Thomas, the Morant Bay courthouse is being assessed for phased restoration as a national museum. The building is linked to the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion led by National Hero Paul Bogle and is expected to support heritage tourism.

Business updates included the Bank of Jamaica offering $27 billion in 30-day certificates of deposit at 5.75 per cent. Seprod reported first-quarter after-tax profit of $1.65 billion, Caribbean Producers Jamaica posted a net loss just above US$1.1 million, and Sterling Investments recorded profit of $16.08 million.

Regionally, China-CARICOM trade reached US$9.63 billion in 2025, while Barbados said it is trying to cushion residents from energy-price shocks tied to Middle East conflict. In sport, Professional Football Jamaica said VAR will not be used for the rest of the Premier League season, and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force ended day three of the West Indies Championship final on 265 for eight.