More

The Government has activated the national emergency response mechanism, with the Ministry of Health (MoH), as the lead agency, reviewing the cholera prevention plan of 1991 and devising a programme of action. This move comes as neighbouring country Haiti continues to experience outbreaks of cholera, which has caused nearly 300 deaths up to (Oct. 26). Jamaica has not had a...

The new deadline for the submission of nominations for the Prime Minister's Youth Award is Sunday, October 31. This is the third time that the deadline has been extended by the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD). Speaking with JIS News, Youth Information Specialist, NCYD, Rochelle Brooks said there is need for more applications in the categories of agriculture, sports...

Agricultural production is showing a 5.8 per cent increase for the July to September quarter, when compared with the corresponding period for 2009, with domestic food crop production up by 13.5 per cent. The figure represents a 16 per cent increase over the April to June quarter, which was plagued by severe drought. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr....

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks will pay a four-day official visit to the city of Hartford, Connecticut, from October 28 to 31. While in Hartford, Ambassador Marks will declare open the Caribbean Trade Council's two-day conference on October 28. On Friday, October 29, she will call on the Mayor of Hartford, Pedro Segarra. The Ambassador...

The National Housing Trust (NHT) is working to make home ownership more affordable for Jamaica's young professionals. NHT Chairman, Howard Mitchell, said the agency has made some policy adjustments including shortening the time requirement for contributors to begin to receive benefit. "Because, what it usually means is that the longest standing contributor - older people - get houses, but we're...

State-run oil refinery, Petrojam, has donated books worth just under $1 million to two Corporate Area schools - St. Andrew Primary and Greenwich All Age, both situated on Spanish Town Road. Principals of both schools, Beverly Haase of St. Andrew Primary and Bryan Guscott of Greenwich All Age School, welcomed the donation of 1,120 workbooks by representatives of Petrojam, including...

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, has said the Health Ministry will be intensifying its efforts to prevent the spread of cholera in Jamaica, despite no reported outbreak of the disease in the island to date. She noted that a multi-disciplinary approach based on prevention, preparedness and response, along with an efficient surveillance system, are key to mitigating, controlling and...

Jamaica's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), His Excellency Anthony Johnson, has commended the contribution of the UK Diaspora, noting that they play a critical role in the country's development. "The Diaspora is critical for Jamaica. These people have changed the face of Britain after World War II. In fact they contributed to the multicultural nature of Britain," Mr....

Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby has assured that the country is adequately equipped to handle any possible cases of cholera among passengers and crews at the nation's airports. This assurance comes in the wake of reports of confirmed cases of cholera in Haiti. The Ministry of Health has heightened surveillance activities against...

Minister of State for Local Government, Hon Robert Montague, on (October 25) presented the Jamaica Fire Brigade with $5 million towards enhancing the working environment of its staff. In addition, rescue equipment were donated by Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) valued at approximately $20.8 million, including 30 sets of protective gear, five extrication tools (jaws of life) and two tripods....

Resident of Bull Savannah in St. Elizabeth, Mrs. Simonette Rochester, was showered with praise by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen; Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, and Leader of the Opposition, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, for reaching the milestone of 100 years on October 22. Mrs. Rochester is the mother of former State Minister...

Scores of Jamaicans and friends of the country residing in the Northeast United States of America (USA) will converge on Hartford, Connecticut, from October 29 to 31, for the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA Regional Conference. The conference will be held under the theme: 'Revitalising the Diaspora, Rebuilding Jamaica', at the West Indian Social Club (WISC), in downtown Hartford, and aims...