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KINGSTON — A progress report on the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) is now available on the website of the National Works Agency (NWA) at: www.nwa.gov.jm. The report was posted on Tuesday, May 24. In an interview with JIS News, NWA Communications and Customer Service Manager, Stephen Shaw said the report provides details on all aspects of the JDIP up...

MANDEVILLE — Manchester’s Porus High School honoured five retired teachers and Dr. Bert Mitchell, who established a scholarship fund to support the students over 35 years ago, at a special function on Tuesday (May 19), at the Golf View Hotel, Mandeville. The other honourees were: Bernice Hylton, retired Vice Principal, who served the school for 36 years; Arlene Bryan, 32...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Education, Hon Andrew Holness, wants the full force of the law applied to students guilty of violence against teachers. He was speaking to the media on Wednesday (May 25), during a visit to the Cambridge High School, St. James. The school was the scene of an altercation between a male teacher and a group of...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has reported substantial progress in preparing for the implementation of the Community Renewal Programme (CRP) this year. The CRP resulted from Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s mandate to the PIOJ to prepare a programme for long term stability and well-being, inclusive of violent and vulnerable communities and consistent with the goals of Vision 2030, following...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton says a scientific approach to cultivation, particularly in the coconut industry, is necessary for continued sustenance and growth of the sector. “There is significant economic value to be derived from investing in this (coconut) industry, by supporting the farmers to expand, but it has to be done in a...

A Policy Logistics Unit has been established at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ),  to monitor, problem-solve and harmonise the government’s plans to implement and adopt elements of the growth inducement strategy across Ministries and agencies. Director General of the PIOJ, Dr. Gladstone Hutchinson made the announcement at the Institute’s quarterly press briefing on May 20. “We have re-assigned, at...

KINGSTON — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says a disaster management team has been established in the Ministry to focus on enhancing the sector’s capacity to minimise the risks and damage associated with the impact of extreme weather patterns affecting Jamaica. Speaking on May 24 launch of the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust’s (JCDT) Green Expo 2011...

Programme Manager of the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) Plan Development Unit, Richard Lumsden, has reported significant gains in five key areas pivotal to the success of the National Development Plan, Vision 2030. He cited education status, labour force quality, national security, justice and economic growth as the key areas, and noted that for January to March 2011, progress had...

KINGSTON — A mathematics teaching module, piloted in six high schools over a three-year period, has significantly improved the test scores of students at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) level. Designed by former principal of Campion College, Radley Reid, the teaching guide has garnered tremendous results, with some schools reporting percentage changes of over 100 per cent, and one...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved two contracts for infrastructure works for 760 lots in Whitehall III, Westmoreland and Latium Housing Development, St. James. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunication and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz made the disclosure don May 25 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. An award of $502 million has been made to Ashtrom Building Systems Limited...

KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunication and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says the Governments of Jamaica and the United States (US) continue to enjoy strong relationships, despite postings regarding the administration on the WikiLeaks cables. “This administration continues to value the strong historical, cultural and economic ties between the people and the Government of Jamaica and the...

KINGSTON — The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) in a release Wednesday (May 25) says that local electricity consumers will see lower light bills beginning June 1. The OUR said that the reduction follows its annual tariff adjustment exercise, and that it has reduced the amount of the system losses which may be passed on to customers.   The release...