Business owners who have paid the now abolished minimum business tax for this year are entitled to a refund. This was disclosed by Leader of Government Business in the Senate and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, as she piloted the legislation giving effect to the elimination and refund of the tax, at...

Forty- seven of the nation’s youth, who have made outstanding contributions in various areas of national life, were presented with the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards for Excellence during a ceremony held on the lawns of Jamaica House on Saturday (November 30). The award recipients, which included new Reggae sensation Mikayla ‘Koffee’ Simpson; entertainer, Jamila Falak James; Reggae Girl, Jody Brown;...

The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) is exploring the establishment of a transitional permit to facilitate the ease in which small farmers can enter the medicinal cannabis industry. Speaking at a JIS Studio 58A session on November 28, Director of Enforcement and Monitoring at the CLA, Faith Graham said this is one the initiatives being finalised to increase the number of...

The Government is in the process of establishing three state-run shelters for victims of gender-based violence. The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has already completed the purchase of one property to serve as a national shelter. Speaking at the Stand up, Talk up Public Forum on Friday (November, 29) at the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston, Portfolio Minister, Hon....

Divisional Director, Industrial Relations and Allied Services, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ms. Gillian Corrodus, says the Ministry is calling on parents and guardians to ensure that their children are protected and not forced to work. Speaking at the Ministry’s Eastern Roadshow on November 27 at the Anglican Church Hall in Port Maria, St. Mary, she said that the...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is encouraging young people to remain unwavering in their pursuit of excellence. “You are our hope and future and I want to encourage you to continue to shine as an example to the rest of us,” he said. “Never allow the positions that you have taken to pursue excellence to be mocked, to...

National Security Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, is calling on the church to play a greater role in helping to curb crime in Jamaica. He said that the church has long stood as an agent of transformation and change and, as such, has an instrumental part to play in addressing criminal behaviour and acts of violence in the society. “We...