Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, has praised the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) as an embodiment of justice and fairness for all. Addressing a symposium commemorating the organisation’s 50th anniversary at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in Kingston on Wednesday (May 20), he pointed out that since its inception, the IDT has...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness will on Friday (May 29) launch the Park Walker Initiative for Older Adults at the Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St. James. It is aimed at encouraging senior citizens to remain physically active, socially connected, and mentally engaged through organised walking activities and wellness programmes in safe and accessible public spaces across the...

A total of 15,169 Jamaican workers were dispatched to Canada and the United States in 2025 under the Overseas Employment Programme. This was disclosed by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., during his 2026/27 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 19). “This is an increase of 944 over the previous year…...

The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) is urging Jamaicans to refrain from squatting on bauxite lands. These lands are utilised both before and after mining to support agricultural production, which requires careful infrastructure development planning across the five bauxite parishes. Director of Bauxite Lands and Programme Manager for the Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP), Kemoy Lindsay, said the Institute spearheads activities...

A Bill to facilitate the withdrawal of $11.4 billion annually from the National Housing Trust (NHT), to provide budgetary support for the Government over the next five years, was passed in the House of Representatives on May 19. The National Housing Trust (Amendment) (Special Provisions) Act 2026 was piloted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams....

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, has underscored the need for local industries to embrace a higher level of sophistication in order to remain competitive within a shifting global operating environment. He noted that Hurricane Melissa devastated much of Jamaica’s western parishes, including manufacturing enterprises, and that this impact has been compounded by unrest in...

Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Daren Tang, has charged the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) to take IP to the next level by transitioning from mere legal protection to active wealth creation. He said the objective is to shift the focus from simply registering IP to one that commercialises it. “I am going to ask us...