Debate on the public sector pension reform Bills has been suspended in the Senate until it next meets in September, following a recess. This decision was made at the sitting of the Senate on Friday (July 28). The Bills are: The Pensions (Public Service) Act, 2016; and The Constitution (Amendment) (Established Fund) (Payment of Pension) Act, 2016. Leader of Opposition...

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the National Health Fund’s (NHF) Vital, Essential and Necessary (VEN) drug list is being revamped as part of cost saving measures. He said the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will assist the agency, which falls under his portfolio, to develop a benchmark that guides the purchasing of the requisite quantity of medications...

The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) has signed a cooperation agreement with Belgium’s Antwerp Maritime Academy (AMA) to develop a curriculum covering several key areas of study. Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Mike Henry, has lauded this collaboration which he said will facilitate capacity building and student and teacher exchanges between the institutions. Speaking at the recent signing ceremony at the...

Jamaicans from all walks of life are expected to converge at the Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann on Monday, July 31 for the annual Emancipation Jubilee, beginning at 8:00 p.m. The event, which has been a permanent fixture on the country’s cultural calendar for 20 years, is held to commemorate the memory and contributions of Jamaica’s African ancestors the...

Cabinet has approved the creation of 300 additional posts for nurses as part of moves to ease the personnel shortage in the public health system. This was disclosed by Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, who says at least 2,000 established positions are required to alleviate the shortage. He was speaking at a Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/Ministry of...

The Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, is to be renovated at a cost of approximately $200 million. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says this forms part of the Government’s undertaking to make the facility “fit for purpose” in its transformation into a major venue to host meetings and conventions, thereby boosting its profitability. He indicated that...

Economic Growth Council Chairman, Michel Lee-Chin, says a substantially sound macroeconomic foundation has been laid that can now propel Jamaica towards generating higher levels of growth. “The table has been set,” he said, while presenting the EGC’s third quarter report at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday, July 27. Among the indicators, he said are a stable...

The Government has met six of the 10 Economic Growth Council (EGC) policy recommendations targeted for implementation during the April to June quarter. EGC Chairman, Michael Lee-Chin, made the disclosure at the presentation of the Council’s third quarterly report at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday, July 27. The policy recommendations come under three areas of reform...

The Government is looking to implement the new framework for public sector salary negotiations during the 2017/19 contract period. The framework, which has been endorsed by Cabinet, provides more structured and clearer guidelines for salary negotiations. State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, said among the provisions is a proposal to extend the...