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The Ministry of Agriculture's National Quarantine Station at Plumb Point, Palisadoes, will be closed to facilitate major repairs on Monday, June 9th, 2008. The renovation is expected to be completed within a five to six month timeframe. Based on this, although all live animal being imported into the island by law, are quarantined for a minimum of 14 days, due...

Collaboration on security matters among Caribbean states is of utmost importance to regional security as the nature of threats today are either trans-national or have trans-national links. Deputy Chief of Defence Staff in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Colonel Anthony Anderson expressed this view yesterday (June 3), during a JIS News interview at the third annual Conference on Caribbean Security...

The issue of personal, national, regional, and international security is the focus of discussions at the third annual Conference on Caribbean Security and Strategy, which is being held at the Grand Lido Hotel, in Negril, Westmoreland, from June 2 to 6. Approximately 40 representatives from five countries and 16 organisations across the Caribbean region are participating in the conference, which...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the purchase of St. Joseph's Hospital and the planned expansion of the Bustamante Hospital for Children will allow for an increase in health care offerings in the island. "We recognize that our major facility, the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), is over its capacity and there is limited capacity for extending...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the health sector must strengthen partnerships with the non-governmental community, both locally and internationally; the private sector, and key public sector entities. He was making his presentation in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House, yesterday (June 3), where he outlined three key areas, which he said must be given...

Several initiatives are being implemented by the Government to enable the country to adapt to or mitigate the effects of climate change. Health and Environment Minister, Rudyard Spencer, speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday (June 3), said that adaptation planning continues to be the main area of focus to address the impacts of climate change in Jamaica. "Work started...

The Ministry of Health and Environment will, during this fiscal year, continue discussions for the development of national programmes to address the sound environmental management of materials considered as hazardous. Minister Rudyard Spencer, in his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (June 3), said that talks are in progress for the development of a financially...

The Ministry of Health is seeking to increase immunization coverage and has called on parents and guardians to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated before they enter school. The immunization law requires all children under the age of seven years to be fully vaccinated. "Schools must not accept children unless they are adequately vaccinated," said Health Minister, Rudyard Spencer,...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the continued revision and evaluation of the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) will ensure that the highest quality of care and services are provided to patients. Making his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 3, Mr. Spencer said that "the new dispensation will place...

The National HIV/STI Programme will be working to strengthen the current national response to HIV, by implementing strategies to achieve universal access to prevention, treatment care and support, Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer has said. Making his presentation in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House, yesterday (June 3), the Health Minister informed that the strategies included the...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has informed that work is ongoing on the finalisation of the country's National Implementation Plan (NIP) for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). "These chemicals pose a serious threat to human health and the environment. The NIP outlines the country's status in relation to the 12 POPs, commonly referred to as the 'dirty dozen', listed...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will not take place without a paradigm shift in the health and environment sectors. Making his contribution in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, yesterday (June 3), Mr. Spencer said that these two sectors account (directly or indirectly) for...