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As part of the continuing support for the education sector, Alumina Partners of Jamaica (Alpart) recently staged its annual academic awards exercise for Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) students and teachers in Manchester. At the function, held at International Chinese Restaurant in Mandeville, 35 students and four teachers received much-needed financial support in the form of grants and bursaries. Speaking...

Jamaica is gearing up to host more than 200 archaeologists from across the region at the 2007 International Association for Caribbean Archaeologists (IACA) conference. The five-day event, which will be staged in Jamaica for the first time, is slated for the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston from July 23 to 29 under the theme: 'Diversity of Caribbean Archaeologists'. In an...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on (July 14) broke ground for the construction of the Mount Rosser Bypass as part of the 67 kilometre Road Development Project between Spanish Town and Ocho Rios. Construction of the bypass is estimated to cost J$7 Billion and should be completed by December 2009. Addressing the ground breaking ceremony in St. Ann on Saturday,...

The National Water Commission (NWC) has acquired 23 standby generators, which will be installed at 18 water supply systems across the island. The generators, which arrived in the island last week, form part of a US$10 million agreement between the Governments of Jamaica and India. Speaking with JIS News, NWC's Corporate Communications Manager, Charles Buchanan, said that the Commission's ability...

The new Plantain Garden River bridge, constructed by the government at a cost of $71.5 million, was opened late last week in St. Thomas.The 290-foot double lane bridge, which spans the Plantain Garden River, replaces a 195-year old structure and provides a critical link between eastern St. Thomas and the rest of the parish and to the world famous Bath...

Judging for the Better Environment for Sustainable Transformation (BEST) Community competition is now underway across the island. Launched by the Office of the Prime Minister in November 2006, the project seeks to engage and empower residents to get involved in the sustainable development of their communities, while protecting the environment. The competition, which is being implemented through the Social Development...

Early and intensive intervention can have a profound impact on the quality of life of children living with developmental disabilities and their families. At the downtown Kingston-based Early Stimulation Programme (ESP), this kind of early intervention is patiently provided by a caring and supportive community of clinicians, child development officers and parents, who prod and push tirelessly to get the...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has prepared a draft position paper that proposes several initiatives geared toward getting more young people involved in agriculture. State Minister for Agriculture, Victor Cummings, speaking at a cheque handing over ceremony held yesterday (July 13) in the Ministry's conference room in Kingston, noted that the document makes such proposals as increased enrollment in...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has received some $150,000 in sponsorship cheques, which will go towards providing scholarships and prizes for young people, who win competitive events under the National Youth in Agriculture/School's Agricultural Programme (NYA/SAP). Representatives from eight of the 14 sponsors, which include private and public sector organizations and individuals, yesterday (July 13) handed over the cheques...

The Programme for Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) will be re-certifying beneficiaries during this financial year, in keeping with its thrust to improve operational efficiency. Speaking to JIS News, Director of Social Security and PATH in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts-Risden, said that the re-certification process is to ensure that persons receiving benefits are still...

Come next month, beneficiaries under the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) in St. Ann and St. James, will be able to access payments through the cash card system. Director of Social Security and PATH at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts-Risden, told JIS News that the payment system, which is being introduced across the...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is undertaking a number of rehabilitation projects aimed at improving the island's water supply system. Speaking with JIS News, Corporate Communications Manager at NWC, Charles Buchanan, informed that the improvement projects are part of the NWC's three-year Modernization Action Plan. The plan, he said, includes undertaking a number of specific measures to ensure that the...