Jamaica became the seventh Caribbean country to enhance access to published works for persons with disabilities by acceding to the Marrakesh Treaty, recently. This landmark international agreement, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), facilitates the production and exchange of copyrighted materials, such as books, in accessible formats like braille, large print, and audiobooks. By joining St. Vincent and...

Jamaica has taken a significant step towards inclusivity with the recent amendment to the Copyright Act, prior to the country's accession to the Marrakesh Treaty on August 28, 2024. The treaty, designed to facilitate access to published works for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled, marks a critical advancement in addressing the long-standing issue of the...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will host a four-day workshop titled ‘The Perfect Finish: Metal Meets Wood’, at its Incubator & Resource Centre every Saturday in October. Each session will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., offering participants a unique opportunity to acquire advanced jewellery-making techniques, with a special emphasis on merging metal and wood. The workshop is...

Jamaica marked a momentous occasion on Wednesday, August 28, when the nation officially acceded to the Marrakesh Treaty. The Treaty, which was adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2013, is a pivotal international agreement designed to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. Speaking during a Jamaica Information...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is encouraging persons to use its price enquiry tool as a resource to obtain valuable information to assist in textbook purchases, in their back-to-school preparation. Persons can access the price enquiry tool on the Commission’s website, cac.gov.jm. Between July 29 and August 2024, the Commission visited 64 bookstores across the island and received results from...

Private-sector stakeholders are being encouraged to seize growth opportunities in Jamaica. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, made the call while addressing the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Partners’ Circle Meeting at the entity’s head office in Kingston on Friday (August 23). He emphasised the potential for economic growth through strategic partnerships and innovative...

A coordinated multi-agency operation was conducted in downtown Kingston between August 14 and 16, aimed at ensuring businesses in that area adhere to the country’s laws. The exercise, which included a thorough walk-through of the area, was led by the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) and involved several government entities, including the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA)....

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, is encouraging students to seize the academic opportunities available to them, emphasising the importance of education in shaping their future. “Apply for a scholarship… access education. The institutions are there [and] there are opportunities [for] young people,” Councillor Vernon said. He was speaking during the Howard Ward Benefit Foundation Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon...

A total of 130 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) recently benefited from training to bolster their capacity to compete for public-sector contracts. The four-part Public Procurement Readiness Project workshops were organised by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, and facilitated by the Office of Public Procurement Policy (OPPP) within the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MOFPS),...