The Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) in Mt. Salem, St. James; and Denham Town in Kingston are to be extended by another 60 days. The House of Representatives on Wednesday (December 6) approved a motion requesting the extension, which was moved by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. Mr. Holness noted that additional time is needed to facilitate social-intervention...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says he supports the concept of occupational degrees, where persons can reach that level as a butcher, a chef or as a cosmetologist. He argued that the country has suffered over the years as a result of society’s prejudice towards jobs and occupations that were deemed inferior. Addressing graduates of the Ministry of...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Government is paving the way for the growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, which now employs over 26,000 Jamaicans. The Minister, who was speaking at the opening of the two-day Outsource to the Caribbean Conference on December 6 at the Iberostar Beach Hotel in Montego Bay,...

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), formerly the Child Development Agency (CDA), is again appealing to Jamaicans to participate in its annual ‘Take a Child Home for Christmas’ programme. The programme, which started 10 years ago, allows persons to open their hearts and homes to wards of the State during the festive season. Speaking with JIS News, Manager,...

The new state-of-the-art West End Infant School, in Negril, Westmoreland, was officially opened on Wednesday, December 6. The facility, which commenced classes in September, is the result of a public-private partnership among the Sandals Foundation, the CHASE Fund and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. The school has the capacity to accommodate 160 students, with 60 students on roll...

Seventy-nine young people who have made outstanding contribution in various areas were presented with the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards for Excellence, during a ceremony held last evening (December 6) on the lawns of the Office of the Prime Minister. Awards were presented in the categories of Academics, Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Protection, Innovation in Science and Technology, International...

The First Supplementary Estimates for the 2017/18 financial year, which reflect an increase of $89.9 billion, was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday (December 6). Tabled in the House by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, on Tuesday (December 5), the Budget for this fiscal year was increased from $715.6 billion to $805.4 billion....