Dame Karlene Davis and the Rt. Rev. Rose Hudson Wilkin, two Jamaican trailblazers living in the United Kingdom (UK), have been presented with the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) for outstanding contribution in their fields. High Commissioner, His Excellency Seth George Ramocan, made the presentation on behalf of the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at a...

Pastor of the Spanish Town Methodist Church and retired staff member of the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Bradley Simmonds (right), offers prayers during the RGD’s Thanksgiving Service to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the agency, at the Spanish Town Methodist Church, White Church Street, St. Catherine, on November 24. Participating (from left) are Chief Executive Officer (Acting), Registrar General’s Department...

The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Joint United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) – (UNAIDS) – which will activate the Fast-Track Cities programme in Kingston. The Fast-Track Cities initiative is a global partnership between cities and municipalities around the world with four core partners – the International Association of Providers...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is looking to strengthen the extension services provided by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) through the introduction of agricultural aides. Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, said that the agricultural aides, who will be adequately trained, will work with farmers in communities in order to raise the country’s...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says tourism-dependent countries like Jamaica need a systematic approach, incorporating the relevant stakeholders and requisite resources, to counter existing and potential threats to the industry. Among these threats, he noted, are issues related to climate change, epidemics and pandemics, and terrorism, in particular cyberattacks. “Building resilience will require a strengthening of collaborations at the national...

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Mike Henry, says Jamaica will not back down from its push for reparation for the descendants of enslaved Africans. He noted that while the smatterings of compensation from a few organisations is a good place to start, and the country is encouraged by the show of support, a piecemeal...

Policy Advisor for the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), Nicole Foster, says that consumers must have easy access to information on the contents of packaged foods, noting that the matter is a human rights issue. “This is a matter of our right to know, our children’s right to know as well as our right to the highest attainable standard of health...