FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Regional director at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Odette Dyer is urging Jamaican children to spend less time on tablets and rediscover the joy of reading, describing books as one of the greatest investments that can be made in a child’s future.

“Please put away the tablets a little bit. That’s not your only avenue for learning and understanding the world. Open your minds to reading a book because when you read, it prepares you for learning, achieving and doing your schoolwork that much better,” Dyer urged students attending a ceremony where 1,000 children’s books were among items donated to 15 schools across Trelawny, St James, and St Elizabeth.

School supplies were also presented to the institutions through a partnership involving Blue World Travel — one of America’s leading travel companies for African American travellers — JTB, and local charity Sarah’s Children. The handover was done at the historic Falmouth Port during the arrival of Celebrity Cruise Lines’ Reflection, which was carrying a delegation from Blue World Travel’s annual Festival at Sea.