The Government will continue to upgrade health facilities to reduce neonatal deaths with a $759-million allocation in the 2018/2019 Budget, now before the House of Representatives. Under the Programme for Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), designs will be completed for 11 High Dependency Units (HDUs) at six hospitals, as well as procurement of equipment for the HDUs. Details...

The National Parenting Support Commission’s (NPSC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Miss Kaysia Kerr commits to educating and supporting the parents of the nation’s children as written in their mandate. The mandate of the NPSC as stated by Kerr is to offer proactive and reactive parenting education and support. Proactive education speaks to the reception of knowledge prior to the consideration...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness revealed that he has asked the Ministry of Science Technology and Energy to fast-track a planned program aimed at replacing open flame light sources in homes with solar lights in vulnerable rural and inner-city communities. The Prime Minister's revelation comes after a deadly fire in his constituency last night which claimed the lives of three toddlers. “I am deeply saddened and...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is to put measures in place to increase the speed at which information is disseminated to the public during periods of emergency. Speaking with JIS News, Director General of the ODPEM, Major Clive Davis said a meeting was held on January 25, with relevant stakeholders to discuss the matter. “We had very...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has given full support of plans by Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) in the creation of a safe and orderly port community. “The Government supports and endorses your idea, mission and vision… and we will support you with the regulations and legislation necessary to ensure that it happens,” he assured.  The Prime Minister was...

Acting Senior Director of Policy and Research at the Bureau of Gender Affairs, Sharon Robinson, says the sexual harassment Bill has been modified to reflect current realities.  “We have had an opportunity... to look at whether or not the coverage was adequate or was there anything that we missed. There are some other things that we did not have in the first...

The more than 700 justices of the peace (JPs) in St. James have a key role to play in ensuring that the rights of citizens are upheld, as required by law, during the State of Public Emergency currently under way in the parish. “Generally speaking, a justice of the peace is there to maintain and to keep the peace,” JP...