Youth in Seaview Gardens, St. Andrew, were connected to educational, training, and employment opportunities during a Youth Empowerment Fair hosted in the community by the Social Development Commission (SDC) on Friday, February 20. SDC Parish Manager for Kingston and St. Andrew, Wade Brown, told JIS News that the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between young...

Residents of St. Mary can expect continued dialogue with the parish’s Municipal Corporation through its monthly town hall meetings. Mayor of Port Maria and Municipal Corporation Chairman, Councillor Fitzroy Wilson, told JIS News that a commitment was made to give a “listening ear” to the community at least once per month. Councillor Wilson stated that through these undertakings, “We will...

A $131-million investment by the Ministry of Health and Wellness has transformed the Belfield Community Health Centre in St. Mary, significantly enhancing the delivery of primary healthcare services in the area. The renovation, undertaken by the North East Regional Health Authority (NEHRA), which funded the project design at a cost of $10.1 million, was supported by $60 million from the...

The Government has allocated $500 million for fiscal year 2026/27 to advance work on the Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project. The funds are included in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled on February 12 by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, in the House of Representatives. Ground was broken on the project in July 2025, which...

The Government has allocated $776 million to advance work on the Southern Plains Agricultural Development (SPAD) Project. The provision is included in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, in the House of Representatives on February 12. The project is expected to provide access to irrigation water on fallow sugar...

The St. James Health Department’s Integrated Vector Control Programme is delivering measurable results, with the parish’s Breteau Index (BI) reduced from 67.9 per cent to 24.6 per cent. The BI is a public health metric used to measure the density of mosquito breeding sites, particularly those of the Aedes aegypti, the primary vector for diseases like Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya....

Two pieces of legislation underscoring the Government’s commitment to sound fiscal governance and responsibility were passed by the Senate on Friday (February 20). They are the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026, which was approved with two amendments, and the Asset Tax (Specified Bodies) (Amendment) Act, 2026, which was approved without amendment. In piloting the legislation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and...