Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Mrs. Audrey Sewell, says Jamaica is committed to the plans and programmes being pursued by the Ministers and High Level Authorities on Housing and Urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI). Addressing the opening ceremony for the 24th meeting of the group at Secrets Resorts in Montego Bay, St....

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, said her administration is unwavering in its commitment to providing access to housing for Jamaicans. She said the Government embraces the fact that housing is a social and economic right of every citizen and has prioritised access through inner-city renewal and low income housing projects, and the development of informal settlements. “For...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, is assuring prospective tertiary-level entrants that the Student Loan Bureau (SLB) is adequately financed to fulfill its demands this year. He said the SLB has been allocated between $ 4 billion and $5 billion to deal with the usually high number of applications by those hoping to undertake tertiary education. Rev. Thwaites, who...

Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, says several pieces of legislation have been passed to ensure that more persons comply with the law and pay their taxes. “Our basic policy is to lower the rate and broaden the base,” Dr. Phillips said, during the question and answer segment of a forum, dubbed: ‘Money Talk Hackathon’, held at...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites is calling on students, parents and educators to “turn over a new leaf” by committing to the pursuit of excellence in the new academic year. “This is a time for deep commitment on the part of us all and the commitment embraces everyone...we must use what we have to accomplish more for ourselves...

Several secondary institutions across the island have been earmarked for expansion and renovation of classrooms and other amenities at a cost of some $267.5 million. Director of Technical Services in the Ministry of Education, Carey Brown, told JIS News that four classrooms will be built at the Vauxhall High School in Kingston and a “lightweight structure” added to an existing...

Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Advisory Commission, Silvera Castro, says he is impressed with the recommendations coming out of the minimum wage consultations now underway. He said the proposals show that Jamaicans are more educated about the state of the economy and have the country’s interest at heart. “Jamaicans are more informed and much more educated now, and I...