Jamaica is exploring the development of local capacity for the safe destruction of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), a step that could significantly enhance the nation’s environmental management framework while positioning it as a regional leader in hazardous waste disposal. This update was shared by stakeholders during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on refrigerant recovery and recycling. The session...

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Government is moving to establish a pension scheme for farmers as part of a broader push to ensure they receive full social protection comparable to other professions. Speaking at the Ministry’s ‘Thank-A-Farmer’ Wellness Fair, held at Harmony Beach Park in St. James on April 30, the Minister said the...

The critical link between health systems and the country’s tourism sector has been highlighted by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. Mr. Bartlett described it as a broad alignment between medicine and national development. Delivering the featured address at the launch of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) Research Support Fund at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus,...

The Westmoreland Public Health Department has deployed more than 1,500 bait stations in several communities as part of its ongoing rodent control programme across the parish. Chief Public Health Inspector for Westmoreland, Steve Morris, said the initiative has already yielded measurable results, with a significant level of bait uptake recorded in targeted areas. “At the end of February, we had...

With the increase in severe weather events impacting the island, utility providers are being urged to incorporate disaster preparedness into their operational and financial models. The call comes from Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, who says this should include mechanisms such as insurance coverage for critical infrastructure; investment in catastrophe or resilience bonds; emergency contingency; strengthened infrastructure;...

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Jamaica’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through their partnership with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) in developing an online learning platform. The platform, branded ‘Biz Wiz’, was officially launched on March 5 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. It...

Chief Executive Officer of e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited (e-LJam), Andrew Lee, says the organisation remains steadfast in its mission to integrate technology in public schools across Jamaica. The CEO told JIS News that primary schools will continue to be the organisation’s main focus. “[We are] committed to ensuring that our education system continues to benefit from technology integration, so that...