Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the aim for an annual five per cent growth is well on track, following confirmation by Karisma Hotels and Resorts that the groundbreaking for its US$900-million mega hotel development project will commence in January 2017. Addressing tourism interests and other stakeholders at Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay, on August 26, Mr. Bartlett...

The Marcus Mosiah Garvey Multimedia Museum (MMGMM) at Liberty Hall on King Street in downtown Kingston is being renovated at a cost of $13.6 million. The funds have been provided by the Government, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), to upgrade the historic landmark which was the home of Jamaica’s first National Hero, the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey. The...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has lauded resort operators in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, for enabling Jamaica to gross approximately US$2.6 billion in earnings from visitor arrivals in 2015. “Treasure Beach contributed US$82.4 million of that amount; and you do it with the smallest cluster of tourism enterprises in Jamaica. But you do it because you have a particular brand,...

The Integrated Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Information System and Database is supporting law enforcement efforts to combat human trafficking in Jamaica. Jointly developed by the Ministry of Justice and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in August 2015, the system is designed to improve data collection, analysis, and sharing in support of national policies, programmes and strategies to prevent human trafficking....

The Government is maintaining its position regarding speedier timelines for developmental approvals. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says this is necessary in ensuring that projects are not setback due to unnecessary administrative delays. He was speaking at the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 63,000 square feet of...

The Government remains committed to the ongoing implementation of measures aimed at creating safer environments in schools. Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the administration has invested “heavily” in developing and implementing security strategies to this end. These, he said, include training and deploying approximately 1,000 safety and security officers, with an additional 400 to...

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is seeking to strengthen community support for primary schools islandwide. Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, notes that while secondary schools, in many instances, are assisted by their alumni, primary schools, to a great extent, often have to rely on the goodwill of stakeholders such as the private sector. He was speaking...