The Government of Jamaica’s National Plan of Action 2018-2021 for combatting Trafficking in Persons (TIP), has been approved by Cabinet. This is contained in a Ministry Paper on Cabinet agenda issues, which was tabled in the House of Representatives recently. According to the document, the National Action Plan provides the strategic framework for Jamaica’s response to human trafficking over a...

The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) is automating its citizenship application process for greater efficiency. “By the beginning of the next financial year, we expect to start in phases to roll out the new processes,” Chief Executive Officer of PICA, Andrew Wynter, told JIS News in a recent interview. “This will improve the turnaround time for applications, so that...

One hundred police stations are to be renovated at a cost of $2 billion under a two-year rehabilitation project being funded by the National Housing Trust (NHT). This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during his contribution to the 2019/20 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 19. He pointed out that the NHT,...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government will be taking new legislation to the House of Representatives to deal with threats posed by gangs and guns. The Prime Minister made the disclosure while making his presentation to the 2019/20 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 19. “We will shortly come to the Parliament with...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says that the Government is committed to strengthening border security as part of measures to curb the illicit flow of weapons into the country. Addressing members of the diplomatic community at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston recently, Minister Chang noted that the trafficking of illegal weapons continues to be a...

Executive Director of the Private Security Regulations Authority (PSRA), Rick Harris, is imploring members of the public to only engage the services of private security firms or security guards that are licensed and or registered with the organisation. “When you hire a person who is unregistered and that person acts outside of the (PSRA) Act and law, then you, as...

Private security companies and security guards from across the island are expected to converge in Kingston for the fifth annual Private Security Regulations Authority (PSRA) conference on Saturday, March 16. The event, under the theme ‘Securing Your Health and Well-Being’, will be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Executive Director of the PSRA, Rick...

Jamaicans, especially members of the Diaspora, are invited to participate in the first in a series of ‘Customs meets the Community-the Diaspora Online Edition’ forum on Monday, March 11 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The engagement is a Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) public education initiative designed to engage various stakeholders and clients on customs-related matters. The JCA’s Public Relations...

More than 650 Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) members and applicants have undergone polygraph testing since 2017. The tests, conducted by the Polygraph Unit, fall under the Effective Policing Pillar of the Ministry of National Security’s Five-Pillar Crime Reduction Strategy, and is aimed at enhancing the police force as the foundation of a lawful and well-ordered society. Assistant Commissioner of Police...