Cultivation of the Wambugu apple variety in Jamaca could cut the import bill for the fruit, which amounts to hundreds of million each year, says Chief Executive Officer of the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), Vivion Scully. “Jamaica imported over 1.4 million kilograms of apples last year, costing us more than $260 million and you can do the conversion in US dollars....

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting an increase in the number of urban districts across the island. According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, 61 per cent of the population is living in urban areas and 39 per cent in rural areas. Of the 6,611 enumeration districts, 4,021 were considered urban, while 2,590 were categorised as rural....

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) invites entrepreneurs and business owners to register for its upcoming ‘Managing a Business’ Workshop, tailored to strengthen the operational framework of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Slated to begin on Tuesday, November 4, the sessions will be held online via Zoom every Tuesday throughout November, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The full...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Delroy Williams, says the impact of local government touches all aspects of the lives of Jamaicans. “You can’t hide from it; we are involved in every aspect of your life, for example road maintenance, flood mitigation, building regulations, disaster management and responsiveness – all of it is...

Ocho Rios Primary School in St. Ann has a new smart room, equipped with technology devices to create a more interactive and modern learning environment for students. The state-of-the-art facility, which is a gift from Digicel Foundation, includes tools like smart boards, tablets and laptops. A bright symbol of innovation, it is designed to incorporate digital tools and interactive technologies...

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI) remains in constant communication with the Meteorological Service of Jamaica. According to the latest updates, Tropical Storm Melissa has slowed significantly, and a further decrease in forward speed is projected. School boards and principals have been urged to assess their local circumstances carefully and make informed decisions regarding school operations, under...

A total of 27,000 students have been screened under the Jamaica School Readiness and Assessment Programme. “That represents 81 per cent of our infants,” said Project Lead and Transformation Officer for the Transforming Education for National Development (TREND) Programme, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Venesse Morrison Leon. She was addressing the TREND year three, second quarter progress...