The Management Institute for National Development (MIND) will host its first Policy Forum for 2019 on Friday, January 18, under the theme ‘Remove, Reduce, Recycle: An Imperative for Sustaining a Healthy Natural Environment’, at its Kingston Campus, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Director, Business Development and Communication at MIND, Marlene Campbell, said the forum is in support of the...

The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) is to launch its paramilitary uniformed group for high-school students, called the Caribbean Merchant Marine Cadet Corps (CMMC), early in 2019. In an interview with JIS News, President of the CMU, Professor Fritz Pinnock, explained that the group (which is an outreach of the university), was formed to have a positive impact on the behaviour...

The National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), in partnership with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), will host a leadership development webinar focusing on the Blue Ocean Strategy. The webinar will be held on Monday, January 7 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters, under the theme ‘Achieving Sustained Organisational Success: the Blue Ocean Perspective’. Addressing a JIS...

The Government has ordered that, effective immediately, all stocks of single-use plastic bags of dimensions 24” x 24” and thickness of 1.2 mils or less, and disposable plastic straws be embargoed by manufacturers, importers and distributors. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with responsibility for the Environment, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says this is to...

The Government will partner with the private sector to significantly increase the availability of environmentally friendly bags. Speaking at a press conference at Jamaica House on Monday (December 31), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said the Government is looking to provide about 250,000 bags “in the immediate short-term to assist...

I wish to start by thanking members of the media who have made themselves available this morning. We appreciate your interest in this issue and thank you for partnering with us to give the public important information on this matter. January 1st, 2019 represents an important date in Jamaica’s fight against environmental degradation, and against the scourge of plastic pollution...

The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), through its Global Affairs at the Caribbean Department, will implement several activities in 2019 to support the Government of Jamaica Blue Economy Initiatives. The Blue Economy is an emerging concept which relates to protecting, conserving and using sustainably marine resources. Vice President of the Department at CMU, Ambassador Joachim Schmillen, said the unit, which was...

Government Senator, Matthew Samuda, is assuring that there will be no unfair advantages for manufacturers and distributors under the impending January 1, 2019, single-use plastic ban. He was speaking at a ‘Consumer Talk’ on the ban, hosted by the National Consumers’ League, in association with the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA), at the Bureau of Standards, recently. “The plastic ban...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is urging the public to help in the conservation of the American Crocodile species in Jamaica. The American Crocodile, the largest native reptile in the country, has come under increasing population threat from habitat loss and poaching. To help stem the problem, NEPA has embarked on a ‘Croc-Wise’ educational outreach targeting communities and...