The National Water Commission (NWC) has commenced operations for the transfer of effluent from the Portmore sewage pumping stations to the Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant in St. Catherine. This follows completion of the $2.3-billion Portmore Sewage Project to provide improved sewage-treatment facilities for some 200,000 residents. Under the project, which commenced in 2014, five wastewater treatment plants at Independence City,...

As the financial services sector faces a range of new challenges, the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS) is poised to enhance its contribution to the professional development of the industry. Newly appointed Chairman of the JIFS, Dr. Rickert Allen, said the Institute will ensure that the human capital is adequately competent to secure the future sustainability and profitability of...

Residents at the Clifton Boys’ Home, in Westmoreland, have received 19 tablet computers from the Universal Service Fund (USF). The donation was made in response to a request from Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, after it came to his attention that a recent fire, which destroyed the home, had also left the boys without their computers....

The Government is finalising a Protected Areas Policy and overarching legislation for the management of protected areas as it ramps up efforts to preserve the country’s natural resources. This is being undertaken by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, in partnership with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). The disclosure was made by Minister without Portfolio in...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government remains unrelenting in its push to change the culture of disorder in the country. “There is a culture of disorder and there is a culture of making excuse for disorder, and we must stand against this,” Mr. Holness emphasised as he broke ground for the building of 1,500 housing units...

More than $697 million will be used for the promotion of sports in the upcoming fiscal year. This is outlined in the 2017/18 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. The promotion of sports programme, which falls under the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, is responsible for the development and implementation of sporting activities at the...

The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) has teamed with Agrocaelum Limited to train pilots for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly called drones. Part of the agreement will see a drone laboratory established at the CMI, through funding from Agrocaelum. Along with the training of pilots, there will also be testing of the drones to meet regional agricultural needs, which involve the...