Children’s rights group takes issue with Holness’ ‘learning closer to nature’ remark

At least one organisation representing the interests of children has taken issue with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ comment about students “learning closer to nature” under trees as the new academic year began, less than a year after Hurricane Melissa devastated sections of the island.

Speaking at Tuesday’s launch of the Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee, Holness cited media reports of children attending classes under trees because their school in western Jamaica had not yet been repaired.

More than 600 schools were damaged by the Category Five hurricane in October last year, including over 300 that suffered severe damage and require extensive rehabilitation or reconstruction.