A sum of $10 million has been budgeted by the Government to strengthen the policy, legislative and institutional framework that guides the management and treatment of involuntary returned migrants to the island. The money has been allocated in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. It will go towards preparing a framework and protocol for tracking...

The Government is assuring the motoring public that the appropriate legislative framework will be created to ensure that petroleum and petroleum products received into the market are safe and conform to international best practices. Newly appointed Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, noted that in this regard, the Petroleum (Downstream Activities) Act is being developed to regulate the...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says that the Government will be amending the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) this year to address illicit cash transactions. “The idea here is that other bodies, such as the legal profession and people who engage in jewellery (sales), will have to report cash transactions, because many illicit activities take place with cash,” he...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says 2019 is shaping up to become another record-breaking year for stopover arrivals. Preliminary figures for airport arrivals for the seven-week period from January 1 to February 17, show the number of visitors at 320,602, which is an increase of 31,172 or 10.2 per cent over the corresponding period last year. The bulk of...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that the economy grew by an estimated 1.7 per cent over the October to December 2018 quarter, as against 1.8 percentage points during the preceding period. Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, says this reflected an estimated 4.2 per cent increase in the goods producing industry and a 0.8 per cent out-turn in...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security and The Mico University College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to better disseminate labour market intelligence, increase career development and populate a Skills Bank with certified persons. The MOU was signed in the Museum Lecture Room of The Mico University College in Kingston on Tuesday (February 19). This...

The Government has earmarked $3 billion under the Health Services Improvement Project to expand service delivery at public health facilities. Details of the funds are outlined in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The allocation will be used for infrastructure work at seven hospitals and three health centres to include upgrading of sewerage systems, laboratories,...