The Government will be embarking on a programme to establish recreational spaces across Jamaica. This will be undertaken through collaboration between the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) and the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund.             The $15 million project was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his 2016/17 Budget Debate presentation in the House...

The Government is moving to tackle the problem of domestic violence through the implementation of a Domestic Violence Coordinator programme. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his 2016/17 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on May 24, said a Domestic Violence Coordinator from within the ranks of the police force will be installed at all police...

Negotiations have started between the Government and a German firm to establish a major dry dock facility that has the potential to employ 500 Jamaicans when operational. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2016/17 Budget Debate in Gordon House on May 24. He noted that the project is part of plans...

Six centenarians from Kingston and St. Andrew have been recognised by the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) for a combined 618 years of contribution to the growth and development of the country. They are: George Thompson, 106; Ethel Lawrence, 104; Isabella Lewis, 103; Lenore Harrison and Lena Hemmings, 102; and James Hall, 101. At a function held on May...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says that submission has been made for the hiring of 10 additional judicial clerks to assist courts in handing down judgments. A judicial clerk is a qualified attorney who aids a judge in researching issues before the court, writing opinions and making legal determinations. Minister Chuck, who was addressing the General Legal Council’s Law...

Students involved in lotto scamming will be targeted under the special intervention programme for at-risk youth developed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. The initiative, to be implemented by the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) in partnership with the HEART Trust/NTA, is aimed at providing education and training for disengaged students in vulnerable communities. Speaking during a recent tour...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says an additional $175 million is to be spent in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, to make the resort town more marketable and attractive to cruise ship and stopover visitors. Following a recent tour of the area, Mr. Bartlett said the town will be given a complete makeover. Some $400 million had already been allocated for...

President of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), Metry Seaga, has hailed the Prime Minister’s 2016 budget presentation for addressing the needs of low income earners.             Citing the Prime Minister’s announcement in the House on May 24 that some National Housing Trust (NHT) contributors will benefit from interest free loans Mr. Seaga said this is a “step in the right...

Jamaica is on course for a 12th drawdown, totalling US$80 million, from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country has met all targets under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for the December 2015 and March 2016 quarters, which were reviewed by the IMF Staff Mission Team to Jamaica over the past two weeks. This was disclosed by Mission Head, Dr....