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The House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1) approved the Customs Tariff (Revision) (Amendment) Resolution 2018. The Resolution repeals and replaces the first and fourth schedules to the Customs Tariff (Resolution), 1972 to accord with the World Customs Organization’s Harmonised System of classification of goods, which will assist customs administrators to monitor and control the importation and trade in goods,...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1), approved the Emergency Powers (Continuance) Resolution 2018, which will extend the State of Public Emergency in St. James until August 2, 2018. All 53 members of the Lower House who were present voted unanimously in favour of the motion. Ten members were absent. The State of Public Emergency was announced and declared...

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, says early collaboration between police investigators and prosecutors prior to taking a case to trial is critical. This, the DPP said, will lessen the chance for even the most skilful of defence attorneys to find and exploit loopholes or for a guilty person to walk free. Ms. Llewellyn, who was addressing the 33rd...

Security experts attending the five-day conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, have shared ideas about stemming gun violence in the Caribbean. The presentations and recommendations were made during a panel discussion with Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime and Security Portfolio, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Selvin...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Ministry is working with the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (JMEA) and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) on the development of a Five-Year Manufacturing Strategy. He said that the strategy will be tabled in Parliament as soon as it is approved by Cabinet. Mr. Shaw, who was making his...

The Scientific Research Council (SRC) is inviting entrepreneurs to make use of the entity’s pilot food plant for the production of value-added goods. The plant supports the growth of the local food industry through the utilisation of indigenous and local crops to produce new food products, and the provision of training and technical assistance to food processors. Executive Director at...

The Government has commenced work to establish Jamaica’s National Trade Portal, which was approved by Cabinet in 2017/18. This was disclosed by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, while opening the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1). Mr. Shaw, who indicated that the portal is being established under the Government’s Trade...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is spearheading implementation of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 Quality Management System across priority agencies of Government. This is according to Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, who was opening the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1). The 10 agencies under the Ministry are among...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is inviting public-sector employees to apply for tertiary-education grants on behalf of their children. The grant, which is to assist with tuition fees only, will cover 80 per cent payment, up to a maximum of $150,000. To benefit, the public-sector employee must be permanently, temporarily or contractually appointed, with at least two...

More small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will benefit from assistance this year to boost their export potential under the Caribbean Export Development Agency’s (CEDA’s) Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS). Proposals are now being accepted for the scheme, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and is specifically designed to provide financial support to established SMEs that are exporting or...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says there has been a reduction in the fear of crime among residents in St. James since the implementation of the State of Public Emergency in January. “Significant progress has been made in rebuilding public trust towards the police across communities within the parish, and the fear of crime is steadily being reduced,”...

The Government has programmed capital expenditure of approximately US$950 million on business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism projects, through Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), for the 2018/19 fiscal year. This was disclosed by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, while delivering the opening 2018/19 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1). Mr. Shaw...