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Chairman, Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica, Hyacinth Lightbourne (left), presents Director and Secretary, Everyting Oily Labs, Claudine Liu, with a cannabis licence, at a press conference on Wednesday (October 18), at the offices of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries in New Kingston.
Chairman, Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica, Hyacinth Lightbourne (left), presents Director and Secretary, Everyting Oily Labs, Claudine Liu, with a cannabis licence, at a press conference on Wednesday (October 18), at the offices of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries in New Kingston.

CLA Issues First Two Cannabis Licences

History was created on Wednesday (October 18) with the issuing of the first two licences by the Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica (CLA) for local entities to legally operate in the cannabis industry. Everyting Oily Labs was presented with a...
Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (third left), receives the document for the Trench Town Polytechnic College to offer Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ)-certified courses from Executive Director, CCCJ, Dr. Donna Powell-Wilson (second right) at the recent media launch of the St. Andrew-based institution. Others (from left) are Chairman of the college, Dr. Joan Spencer-Ernandez; nursing student, Shanique Rumble; and Principal of the college, Dr. Dosseth Edwards-Watson.
Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (third left), receives the document for the Trench Town Polytechnic College to offer Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ)-certified courses from Executive Director, CCCJ, Dr. Donna Powell-Wilson (second right) at the recent media launch of the St. Andrew-based institution. Others (from left) are Chairman of the college, Dr. Joan Spencer-Ernandez; nursing student, Shanique Rumble; and Principal of the college, Dr. Dosseth Edwards-Watson.

Trench Town Polytechnic Looking to Attract More Students
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. (FILE)
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. (FILE)

PM Says Provision of Housing Enhances Prospects for Sustainable Economic Growth
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (right), converses with Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Extension Officer, Tadj Barclay (centre), while RADA Livestock Officer, Peta-Gaye Watson, looks on. The occasion was an economic opportunities workshop held on October 18 at Morant Villas in St. Thomas.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (right), converses with Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Extension Officer, Tadj Barclay (centre), while RADA Livestock Officer, Peta-Gaye Watson, looks on. The occasion was an economic opportunities workshop held on October 18 at Morant Villas in St. Thomas.

Grant Funding for Youth to Establish Small Businesses in Blue and John Crow Mountains
Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Lady Allen (right), cuts the ribbon to open the newly equipped state-of-the-art Bustamante Hospital for Children’s Learning and Activity room on October 17. Others (from left) are President of Friends of Jamaica Seattle, Kirk Russell and his wife, Lisa Russell; and National Coordinator for the Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence, Major (Ret’d.) Effiom Whyte.
Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Lady Allen (right), cuts the ribbon to open the newly equipped state-of-the-art Bustamante Hospital for Children’s Learning and Activity room on October 17. Others (from left) are President of Friends of Jamaica Seattle, Kirk Russell and his wife, Lisa Russell; and National Coordinator for the Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence, Major (Ret’d.) Effiom Whyte.

Learning Room at Children’s Hospital Outfitted with State-Of-The-Art Computers

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Poison Information Coordinator at the Caribbean Poison Information Network, Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, speaking during a Jamaica Information Service Think Tank at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Wednesday, October 18.
Health & Wellness

Jamaicans Urged to Avoid Imports Containing Lead

The Caribbean Poison Information Network (CARPIN) is warning that persons may unwittingly be bringing products containing lead into the country. Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Wednesday, October 18, CARPIN’s Poison Information Coordinator, Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, said while Jamaica does not have a major concern with one of the most...
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A member of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) walks with a toddler in the community of Denham Town in Western Kingston on Wednesday (October 18). Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness on Tuesday (October 17) declared Denham Town the second Zone of Special Operations under the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act
National Security

Denham Town Residents Hope ZOSO will Bring Peace and Security

Residents of Denham Town in Western Kingston are welcoming the presence of the security forces in their community, which was declared the second Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness on Tuesday (October 17). One resident, who spoke to JIS News from her shop on Albert Street, said she hopes that the operations will...
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Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (2nd left), assists in displaying the CARICOM Reparations Youth Relays Baton at the launch of the Jamaican leg of the project on Wednesday (October 18) at the Morant Villas in St. Thomas. Others (from left) are member of the National Council on Reparations (NCR), Steven Golding; Head Boy at Paul Bogle High School, Daniel Reid; Head Girl at the school, Renae Robinson; and teacher at the institution, Lorraine Williams.
CultureGender Affairs

Jamaican Leg of CARICOM Reparations Youth Baton Relays Launched

The Jamaican leg of the CARICOM Reparations Youth Baton Relays and Rallies was launched in St. Thomas on Wednesday (October 18) to encourage participation from young people and the general public for the success of the region-wide movement. Speaking at the ceremony held at the Morant Villas, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, said Jamaica is...
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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw (left), is greeted by Managing Director, Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), Donald Farquharson (right), as he arrives at the Garmex Free Zone and Industrial Estate, Marcus Garvey Drive, on Wednesday (October 18) for the FCJ’s business and wellness expo. At centre is Chairman, FCJ, Lyttleton Shirley.
Finance & Public Service

Finance Minister Optimistic of Growth for Fiscal Year

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, is optimistic that the economy will record positive growth for 2017/18, despite a contraction in the first financial quarter. “We are still holding to an economic growth for the fiscal year of about 1.7 to two per cent, which will still be above the 1.3 per cent that we had...
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Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter.
CommerceForeign Affairs

Code of Conduct to Set Standard for FX Market

Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Brian Wynter, says the Foreign Exchange Code of Conduct, currently being crafted, will bring greater order and standard to the foreign exchange market. He noted that while there are excellent institutions operating within the market, the standards are not consistent across all entities. “So we are looking at creating some common standards that...
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Director of the Fi Wi Jamaica Project, Professor Rosalea Hamilton, makes a point at a recent Think Tank held at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) headquarters in Kingston.
DevelopmentFinance & Public ServiceGender Affairs

Jamaicans Urged to Show Greater Levels of National Responsibility

Director of the Fi Wi Jamaica Project, Professor Rosalea Hamilton, is appealing for citizens to show a greater sense of national responsibility, noting that this is key to addressing social ills. She argued that there is a direct correlation between civic pride, national responsibility of citizens and the urge to speak out or take action against deviant behaviours. Professor Hamilton...
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Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (at podium), closes the debate on the National Heroes and Other Freedom Fighters (Absolution from Criminal Liability in Respect of Specified Events) Act, 2017, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 17). At left is Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Mike Henry.
CultureEntertainmentGender AffairsJustice

House Passes Bill to Clear Heroes of Criminal Charges

Jamaica is a step closer to absolving several of the country’s National Heroes of criminal liability for the role they played in various uprisings in the quest for freedom and justice. This follows passage of the National Heroes and Other Freedom Fighters (Absolution from Criminal Liability in Respect of Specified Events) Act, 2017 in the House of Representatives on Tuesday...
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