President of the Dominican Republic, His Excellency Danilo Medina Sánchez, has extended his country’s full support to the Government and people of Jamaica, adding that he is committed to building a greater Caribbean. "The Government of the Dominican Republic is there at the disposal of the Government and people of Jamaica to serve you in whatever interest you may need...

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is inviting Jamaicans and persons residing in the country to enter their ‘Postcards of Christmas Past’ competition. “We want persons to share ‘Kodak’ moments of an authentic Jamaican Christmas for chances to win big,” Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the USF, Delene Powell, told JIS News. She explained that persons just need to “take...

Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Dr. Taleb Rifai, says there must be more interconnectedness between visitors and residents of communities, in order to achieve greater community empowerment. He also suggested that there must be a “lowering of the walls between the host communities and the visitors”, in order to achieve that goal. “We cannot continue...

The National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica (EXIM Bank) is reporting that its small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) loan scheme has been a success with strong take-up by players in the sector. The $1-billion facility, launched last September through financing from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), enables industry stakeholders to access between $5 million and $25 million to upgrade and...

International Consultant, Alison Kerry, is lauding the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) for its effective implementation of community projects. According to Ms. Kerry, who has been hired by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to evaluate the agency’s Basic Needs Trust Fund and other community development projects undertaken by JSIF, the initiatives are “excellently” managed. “The JSIF is an excellent organisation...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says unless the issue of disaster risk management and mitigation is seriously addressed, the Caribbean will not be able to maximise its potential as a global force in tourism. “More than any other time in our past, tourism authorities in the region must now seriously address the issue of disaster risk management and mitigation,”...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says two specialised disaster shelters are to be built in Portland to accommodate residents during times of disaster. Speaking at a town hall meeting at the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio on November 22, Mr. McKenzie said the shelters, to be built in the eastern and western sections of...