On This Day : Reggae Singer Marcia Aitken was Born in Hannah Town, West Kingston
Marcia Aitken, born on 5th September 1956 in Hannah Town, West Kingston, Jamaica, was a student at Excelsior High School in Kingston when her talent was discovered at a school concert. Shortly after, she joined Lloyd Parks & We the People Band and began recording with sound engineer Errol Thompson and producer Joe Gibbs, collectively […]
Meet Michael Rowe, the Jamaican-Born Photographer Behind Iconic Celebrity Portraits
Celebrity photographer, Michael Rowe has immortalised the likenesses of numerous high-profile figures—from stars of the Hollywood Blockbuster movie Black Panther to actors from The Color Purple. His keen eye for detail and unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects have made him a sought-after photographer in the world of entertainment and beyond. Born […]
A Teenage Dream: My Encounter with Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 in Kingston
It was 1975; I was 13 years old and in third form at St. Andrew High School for Girls when I heard the news that Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 were coming to Kingston to perform. My mother, a strict Pentecostal Christian, forbade my sisters and me from playing secular music or dancing. Yet, […]
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL: Reflections from 35,000 Feet
The plane, filled with passengers, rumbled along the runway as the pilot got it in position for takeoff. After a brief stop, the engines roared, and soon we were headed down the runway, speed increasing, then we were in the air. One could feel the plane going up as it gained altitude, a smooth but […]
On This Day: Hugh Beresford Hammond “King of Lovers Rock” is Born in Annotto Bay, St. Mary
On August 28, 1955, reggae singer and songwriter Hugh Beresford Hammond, OJ, a.k.a. Beres Hammond, was born in Annotto Bay, St. Mary, the ninth of ten children. Beres grew up listening to American soul and jazz recordings collected by his father, including Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, and was also influenced by ska and rocksteady, […]
On this day in Jamaican history: Air Jamaica A.K.A “The Love Bird” is Born
On August 27, 1963, the Jamaica Air Service was founded, formed by an agreement between Jamaica’s government and the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which has since become British Airways. The Jamaica Air Service was the first incarnation of the company that was to become Air Jamaica. The operations of Air Jamaica began in 1966 […]
2024 WorldSkills Competition : “We Have What it Requires to Compete at the International Level”
As Heart NSTA continues to prepare its students for the future, the 2024 WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, marks a significant milestone. According to Dwayne Bent, Director of Institutional Infrastructure Development, Team Jamaica is ready to show the world that they have what is required to compete at an international level, and is encouraging Jamaicans […]
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL: “I have prayed especially for you”
In a 1789 letter to French scientist Jean-Baptist Le Roy, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, writes, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Generally speaking, few would argue […]
On This Day : Jamaican Sprint Legend Usain Bolt St. Leo Bolt was Born in Trelawny Jamaica
Usain St. Leo Bolt was born on August 26th, 1986, in Sherwood Content in the parish of Trelawny, Jamaica, to parents Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt, who operated a grocery store in the rural neighbourhood. Bolt has two siblings: a brother, Sadiki, and a sister, Sherine. During his childhood, Usain Bolt played cricket and football and […]
Jamaican American Lawyer Wins Big in Race for Municipal Judge Seat in Brooklyn
Jamaican American attorney Janice Robinson won a seat on the municipal court in Brooklyn’s 6th District in a landslide on June 25, 2024. She defeated Kenneth Gayle, also a Jamaican American lawyer, in the Democratic primary race for one of two Civil Court positions in the district with over 72 percent of the vote. A […]