A total of 80 farmers operating in five parishes will benefit from agricultural inputs valued at $3.6 million under phase two of the Agri Resilience Response to COVID-19 project. Under the initiative, being funded by United Way of Jamaica and implemented by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), the farmers will receive 70,000 vegetable seedlings, 300 fruit trees, fertiliser, and technical...

A dedicated email address for back-to-school queries, as well as hotline numbers, has been established by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to provide additional support to parents and teachers for back-to-school preparations. This was disclosed by portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, who noted that the email – educate@educate.gov.jm, and telephone numbers – (888-EDU-CATE) 888-338-2283 or (888-SCH-TIME) 888-724-8463 will...

NEW CASES 24 HRS OVERALL   Confirmed Cases   73 6,555 SEX CLASSIFICATION       Males 31 2,970 Females               42 3,566 Under Investigation 0 19 AGE RANGE 3 years to 87 years   1 day to 104 years         PARISH CLASSIFICATION OF NEW CASES       Clarendon 1 365   Hanover 1 62  ...

Bank of Jamaica announces its decision to hold the policy interest rate (the rate offered to deposit-taking institutions on overnight placements with Bank of Jamaica) unchanged at 0.50 per cent per annum. Jamaica continues to grapple with the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and the adverse impact on economic activity. Bank of Jamaica has therefore kept the policy rate at...

Effective October 1, 2020, all taxpayers submitting Returns for Guest Accommodation Room Tax (GART) using the RT01 Form will be mandated to file online, via the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) online portal at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm. This marks the latest step in the phased introduction of mandatory eFiling by TAJ, which began in 2014. Currently, about 72% of GART Returns are filed...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on Wednesday (September 30) officially launched the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Rural Economic Development Initiative, Phase II (REDI II) Project. The programme, which aims to improve both the agricultural and tourism sectors, has, as its overall objective, enhancing access to markets and strengthening climate-resilient approaches for targeted beneficiaries. Building on the experience...

The Universal Service Fund (USF) says it intends to establish more Internet centres, in addition to public Wi-Fi hotspots, across the island. “In addition to the public Wi-Fi hotspots, we are still providing connectivity through our community computer labs. We have computer labs in St. James, St. Andrew, Kingston, St. Ann and Portland that will be rolled out in short...