Community Relations Officer at the National Works Agency (NWA) Western Office, Janel Ricketts, says the rehabilitation of the Somerton to Virgin Valley roadway in St. James is now complete. The 800-metre stretch of roadway was repaired at a cost of $21.8 million. Work commenced on the project on April 15 of last year. “As part of the project, we completed...

Twenty-one public servants in St. Catherine were recognised by the Cherry Youth Society in West Central St. Catherine, at a function held in the community’s square on New Year’s Day (January 1). The persons were selected from the communities of Content, Dover and Cherry. They are serving in the teaching and nursing professions, the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Jamaica Constabulary...

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) says net currency issued during the last five working days of 2019, between December 23 and 31, totalled some $2.9 billion. In a statement on Thursday (January 2), the BOJ said this out-turn for the week contributed to the overall $18.9 billion or 14.5 per cent growth in the currency stock for the month, consistent...

Approximately 450 homeless and elderly persons across St. Ann were treated to meals and offered care packages on New Year’s Day (January 1), by veteran Correctional Officer, Donovan Small. Mr. Small and his team of volunteers journeyed to more than 10 communities, including St. Ann’s Bay, Bamboo, Brown’s Town and Philadelphia, distributing food and offering words of encouragement to the...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting third-quarter 2019 calendar year economic growth of 0.6 per cent, from July to September, relative to the corresponding period the previous year. This out-turn is 0.3 per cent higher than the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) estimate, as announced during the agency’s quarterly briefing last November. Minister of Finance and the Public...

Government Senator, Matthew Samuda, is proposing that an environmental impact assessment study be undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of the ban on certain categories of single-use plastics. In an interview with JIS News on December 30, Senator Samuda said the study would look at how much plastics have been taken out of the island’s waste stream since the ban took...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke is pointing to the improving resilience of the Jamaican economy given the economy’s modest expansion, despite external economic shocks, in the third quarter of 2019. Minister Clarke stated, “STATIN reported earlier this week that the Jamaican economy grew in the June – September quarter of 2019 by 0.6%...