The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) has reported that an additional eight early-childhood institutions (ECIs) have met the ECC’s 12 operating standards and are now certified. This brings to 55 the total number of ECIs that have attained certification to date. Executive Director of the ECC, Karlene DeGrasse Deslandes, told JIS News that the achievement is timely, “as our nation is...

The Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to give assistance to the disabled community by including in their summer employee cohort someone who is a deaf mute. Chief Executive Officer at the USF, Suzette Buchanan, told JIS News that the agency has given a great deal of support to the disabled community over the years, and “we are now stepping up...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has assured that the Government will act in the nation’s best interest in its pursuit of foreign investments. Jamaica’s engagement and facilitation of foreign investors is intended to deliver the social and economic benefits, which, the Prime Minister noted, are critical in enabling the country to attain developed status. “We can’t (achieve this)...

Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, on Thursday (August 10) launched the National Youth Summer Employment Programme under which some 2,300 youths will be employed over a four-week period. The young people, from across the island, will be engaged in the auditing of street lights and identifying vulnerable persons within communities who may require assistance during periods of natural...

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has congratulated Ristananna Tracey on taking the bronze medal in the 400 metre hurdles at the IAAF World Championships currently underway in London. Minister Grange said it was “obvious that Ristananna gave it her all” in the championship race in which she returned her personal best time of...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is calling for the strengthening of the local government regime in the region. “There is a lack of a coordinated effort between countries in the region that actually practise local (governance). There are only a few countries that have such a system,” the Minister noted. Mr. McKenzie told JIS News...

A social-marketing campaign has officially been launched by the Ministry of Health to encourage persons living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) to take their medication and to continue to do so for life. The campaign, which has been dubbed, ‘Test and Start: Get on yu meds and get on wid life’, goes further to encourage persons to get tested...