Cabinet has agreed to the establishment of a National Craft Council, says Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid. Addressing a recent post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, the Minister said this follows a submission from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) and a concept paper presented by the Ministry of Tourism to...

Members of the House of Representatives approved the Senate amendments to the Child Diversion Bill when they met on July 17. The Bill was passed in the Upper House on Friday (July 13) with 13 amendments. The legislation will enable the implementation of child-diversion measures in dealing with children who come into conflict with the law. Child diversion is a...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says strategies will be identified to improve how information is shared across the public and private healthcare system. The objective, he said, is to strengthen the delivery of health services to Jamaicans. “It is quite clear to me that there needs to be some mainstreaming of information… because if you have incomplete,...

The Ministries of Justice and National Security now have joint portfolio responsibility for the handling of human trafficking. This was noted by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, at the recent sitting of the post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. “Cabinet gave approval for joint portfolio responsibility with regard to the handling of human trafficking,...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says that plant health is a fundamental pillar to achieving the region’s food security and economic growth. In this regard, he has called on regional Plant Health Directors to identify new strategies aimed at safeguarding the region’s agriculture and plant health. The Minister was speaking at the opening of the...

The St. James Public Health Services is urging members of the public to take the necessary precaution to protect themselves from the potential harmful effects of the smoke emanating from the Retirement Landfill in the parish. In an interview with JIS News, Regional Technical Director (RTD) for the Western Regional Health Authority, Dr. Diane Campbell-Stennett, said persons are being asked...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says any State agency in charge of administering public resources must meet the highest standard of accountability and responsiveness. Mr. Holness, who was speaking at the inaugural Local Governance Conference at the Jewel Grande Resort and Spa in Rose Hall, St. James, on July 17, said the conference’s theme, ‘Strengthening Responsiveness and Accountability...

The Government will be spending $5,234,800 (US$40,000) to provide additional tablets to equip teachers involved in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme. Science and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, made the announcement while addressing the opening ceremony of the Excellence in STEM Experimental Education (EXSEED) workshop at the Excelsior Community College in Kingston on Tuesday (July...

The Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) in Mount Salem, St James; and Denham Town in West Kingston will be extended by a further 60 days. The House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 17), approved two Resolutions for the extensions, which were moved by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. This will be the sixth extension for the Mount Salem...