Gleaner Na 202111

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | NOVEMBER 4 - NOVEMBER 10, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 5 [ NEWSYOU MAY HAVE MISSED ] SDA breakaway sets up commune in St Mary A BREAKAWAY from the local Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church denomination has established a com- mune in the deep bowels of St Mary, preparing for the Second Coming, with little to no plans of interfacing with the Government or the rest of the society. The journey to the Bell Hill commune, where mem- bers of Following the Blueprint (FTB) Ministries are con- structing houses, a clinic, school and other facilities in preparation for the rapture, is not for the faint of heart. Its entrance is about two miles off the Highgate main road. After a deadly ritual unfolded at the Montego Bay- based Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries of the now-deceased Pastor Kevin O. Smith, the St Mary police turned their spotlight on the group in the hills. The FTB group says the world is at end times and they are in preparation mode, responding to Ellen G. White’s call to leave the cities as they isolate themselves. Professionals from various sectors, including medical, financial and education, are said to be followers, but those T he Sunday Glean er found at the St Mary com- mune last week were carpenters – the known profession of Jesus Christ. At least one high-school teacher from the parish is a settler, our news team has confirmed. MORE THAN 45,000 students and 2,520 teachers at the primary level have been given the green light to return to face-to- face classes beginning November 8, but the institutions will have to adhere to a strict risk-based model, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said. At the same time, infant and basic schools are also being allowed to engage in face-to- face learning, while 11th- to 13th-graders at the secondary level preparing for exter- nal exams will also be allowed in-person attendance for the completion of labs and other exam-related activities. “These will be done in small groups using a rotation schedule as guided by the COVID-19 protocols,”Holness said last Tuesday evening, while announcing tweakedmeasures to con- tain the spread of COVID-19. Under the new dispensation, 376 of 759 primary schools will be allowed to resume face-to-face learning. Of the 376 schools, 191, or approximately 51 per cent, are small primary schools with fewer than 100 students enrolled. Holness also pointed out that of the 191 small schools, 171 were rural institutions in remote areas, with students living in proxim- ity to the institution and requiring minimal transportation. For 185 medium-size primary schools with enrolment of 630 or fewer, Holness said that students would benefit from face-to-face learning on a rotational basis, with some re- ceiving instruction in the classrooms, while others would continue to access online and other learning platforms. THE BOARD of Jamaica College (JC) says it is now awaiting a response from Education Minister FayvalWilliams, after approving three recommendations regardinga request for a five- year extensionof special leave toprincipal Ruel Reid, whohas beenpaidmore than $11million over the last two years while on special leave. Reid, who is now before the court on corrup- tion charges, was seconded to the education ministry in 2016 as portfolio minister, but was forced to resign in March 2019 after allega- tions linked him to reported wrongdoings at the Caribbean Maritime University. TheGleaner has learnt that theboardhas asked Williams to initiatea formal complaint to theboard, pointingout thatwithout sucha complaint, itwas powerless toact. It added that any suchcomplaint shouldsupportedby the facts,whicharenot known to the board, but only to theministry. Its second recommendation is thatWilliams ex- erciseher power towithdrawReid fromthe school. If she decides not to proceed with either of those options, the board has recommended thatWilliams negotiate a settlement with Reid. The board has asked the minister to respond by November 10, ahead of the expiration of Reid’s current special leave on November 20, 2021. Some primary schools to reopen Nov 8 Jamaica College board calls on education minister to settle Ruel Reid matter REID THE WE KLY GLEANER | NOVEMBER 4 - 3