Hundreds of teachers yet to collect free laptops

More than 700 primary-level teachers who have received electronic vouchers (e-vouchers) under the ‘Laptop for Teachers’ initiative are yet to redeem their vouchers for devices.

Education Minister Fayval Williams said the latest numbers show that 8,852 e-vouchers for laptops have been issued to primary-level teachers across the island, and of that number, only 8,139 have been redeemed.

With the e-vouchers, teachers can visit an approved vendor location to purchase a laptop that meets the minimum specifications of project developers, e- Learning Jamaica Limited.

Williams said that the vouchers are valued at $90,000, and “based on the specifications as given by e-learning, teachers should be able to find a device for that price”.

Owners of vehicles that are involved in the breaches of the Road Traffic Act will be the ones ticketed once offences are detected remotely. New regulations, which were taken in the House of Representatives yesterday, allow for the remote detection of offences using cameras and other electronic devices. Some of the offences for which people will be ticketed include speeding, disobeying traffic signals, and operating vehicles not being licensed, insured, or certified as fit.

In the meantime, motorcyclists will be required to wear highvisibility vests. Every motorcycle being sold or purchased will be required to include a helmet. Motorcyclists driving with a learner’s permit will need to be accompanied by an instructor who is driving another motorcycle within six metres of the learner driver.

Additionally, motor vehicles of model year 2024 or later should be operated with daytime running lamps.