Plans are advanced for the construction of a 220-bed hospital for children in western Jamaica. The Governments of Jamaica and China yesterday (January 9) signed an agreement for the building of the Western Children’s Hospital in Montego Bay, St. James. The facility will be the first to be constructed in the island since the May Pen Hospital was built in...

National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, has announced that a police post will be established soon in the Accompong Maroon community of St. Elizabeth. The Minister said he will be having dialogue with Maroon Colonel, Ferron Williams, to identify a location for the police post. Speaking in Accompong on January 6, Mr. Montague said the establishment of the post is...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Robert Montague, says he supports offering some kind of reward to defendants in exchange for them giving credible information to the police that will lead to the arrest of hardened criminals. Addressing Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) personnel at the Half Moon Hotel, in St. James, on January 5, Mr. Montague...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says an additional $20 million will be allocated to complete the road leading to the Accompong Maroon village in St. Elizabeth. Addressing the annual Accompong Maroon celebrations in St. Elizabeth on January 6, Mr. Bartlett said he is satisfied that the initial sum of $9 million that was used to improve roads in the...

Work on the US$100-million redevelopment of the Dragon Bay Hotel in Portland is set to commence this year, with the property to start operation in 2019. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said some 600 to 800 persons will be employed during the construction phase of the 250-room property. A total...

The Social Development Commission (SDC) and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) are being hailed for undergoing significant and transformational adjustments to their operations. The staff were recently congratulated by Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie for their work in transforming the public image of both institutions. “I believe the SDC stands out as a flagship...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Winston De La Haye, is appealing to Jamaicans to participate in the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey III, which is currently being carried out across the island by the Caribbean Institute for Health Research, in association with the Ministry. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on January 4, Dr. De...