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Sub-Sea Fibre-Optic Cable Project to Cost Up to US$55 Million

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says the Government’s investment in sub-sea fibre-optic cable will reduce connectivity costs and facilitate business to boost economic growth. The Government recently signed a letter of intent with Trans Americas...

Students show off prizes won for best outfits at the Lawrence Tavern Primary School's Career Day event held on the school grounds in St. Andrew on Thursday (February 5), under the theme 'Big Dreams, Bright Futures: Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow’.

Lawrence Tavern Primary Students Encouraged to “Dream Big”

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill (left), applauds as the first shipment of pharmaceutical items from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in Jamaica, destined for Guyana and Trinidad, is being lifted for loading on a truck. Occasion was a tour of the Dr. Reddy’s warehouse at 109 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston, on Thursday (February 5). The Minister is joined by (from left) Caribbean Head, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Preet Darshi Patnaik; First Attaché (Administration and Commerce) from the High Commission of India, Hansraj Chhilwar; and General Manager, T. Geddes Grant, Christopher Curtis.

Dr. Reddy’s Labs to Commence Pharmaceutical Shipments to Guyana and Trinidad

Regional Priority Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)/Family Health Coordinator at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell.

Strong Support System Important for Cancer Patients

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States (US), His Excellency Major General (Ret'd) Antony Anderson (right), and Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, engage in discussion while enjoying a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Occasion was a coffee break during Wednesday’s (February 4) meeting of the OAS Permanent Council in Washington DC. The initiative was organised by Ambassador Anderson, who is Jamaica's Permanent Representative to the OAS. The coffee break was supplied by Atlanta-based Aroma Ridge Coffee Roasters, whose owners are Jamaican.

PHOTOS: Jamaica’s World-Famous Blue Mountain Coffee the Toast of Coffee Break at Hemispheric OAS Meeting in Washington

4 months ago Health & Wellness

Importance of Early Cancer Screenings and Detection Highlighted

Cancer is increasingly affecting younger Jamaicans, a trend that health officials say underscores the urgency of early detection, public awareness and strengthened healthcare systems. Regional Priority Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)/Family Health Coordinator at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell, told JIS News that the perception that cancer is primarily a disease of older people, is a thing of...

Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Managing Director, Omar Sweeney (second right), affixes his signature to the contract to rehabilitate Bath Botanical Gardens in St. Thomas, during Thursday’s (February 5) contract-signing ceremony at JSIF’s Richmond Avenue offices in Kingston. Also participating in the signing (from left) are Chief Technical Director, Special Projects in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Courtney Cole; Project Manager at SM Quality Construction, Roger Smith; and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Tourism, David Dobson.

4 months ago AgricultureInvestmentTourism

Bath Botanical Gardens to Be Rehabilitated at a Cost of $29.5 Million

Bath Botanical Gardens in St. Thomas will be rehabilitated over a five-month period at a cost of $29.5 million. The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), along with the Ministries of Tourism, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, signed a contract with SM Quality Construction for the undertaking on Thursday (February 5), at JSIF’s Richmond Avenue offices in Kingston. The project will...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, responds to questions during Mayberry Investments Limited’s Virtual Investor Forum on Wednesday (February 4).

4 months ago Finance & Public Service

Private-Sector Collaboration Will Be Key in NaRRA’s Rebuilding Efforts

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, has underscored that the private sector will play an integral role in the work that will be undertaken by the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) to fast-track the national rebuilding effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Mrs. Williams was responding to questions regarding avenues for investments on the...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (seated left), looks on as Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) Communications Advisor, Benjamin Murray (seated centre) signs a symbolic cheque for the OFVGA Scholarship Programme, at the launch event on Thursday (February 5) at the Ministry’s North Street offices. Also looking on are (standing, left) Acting Permanent Secretary, Dione Jennings; Public Relations Manager in the Ministry, Justine Bailey; and Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Donovan Williams. The grant, valued at Can$10,000, is aimed at offsetting educational and school-related expenses for 10 children or wards of Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) workers.

4 months ago LabourSocial Security

Jamaica and Canada Celebrate 60-Year SAWP Partnership with Scholarship Programme

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in partnership with Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA), launched a scholarship programme to support the children of current farm workers participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) in Ontario, Canada. The grant, valued at Can$10,000, is aimed at offsetting educational and school-related expenses for 10 children or wards of SAWP...

Supervisor for the Contributions, Refunds, Payments and Monitoring Unit, National Housing Trust (NHT), Cameo Simmons Thomas, addresses a JIS Think Tank on February 5.

4 months ago HousingOffice of the Prime Minister

NHT to Pay an Additional 10,000 Contribution Refunds by February 9

An additional 10,000 National Housing Trust (NHT) contributors are set to receive their contribution refund for the year 2018 by Monday (February 9). Supervisor for the Contributions, Refunds, Payments and Monitoring Unit, Cameo Simmons Thomas, said that the latest payments, totalling approximately $39 million, form part of a strong payout cycle over the past five weeks. “In the past five...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.

4 months ago Health & WellnessYouth

Health Community Urged to Lobby for Regulation of Social Media Access Among Youth

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has called on health professionals to add their voices to the push for regulation of social media use among children 16 years and under as a mental health imperative. “I believe that the time has come for health to be part of that lobby, to say, ‘if you’re 16 years...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, addresses the House of Representatives on February 3.

4 months ago Finance & Public Service

GEMINI Grant Programme to Be Reviewed

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) is working with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) to undertake a review of the GEMINI Grant Programme. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure during the Standing Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday (February 3), at Gordon House. “The DBJ is saying that the Gemini programme is under...