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Minister of Education and Youth, Maxine Henry-Wilson has attributed low scores in one area of the Grade Four Achievement Test to a possible flaw in the Grade Four curriculum. Stating that no child has in fact failed the test, Mrs. Henry-Wilson emphasized that the test, "is not an exam. It's not about a pass or fail." The Minister was addressing...

Administrative Director for the Institute of Sport (Insport), Ian Andrews, has suggested that a national policy on sport be established for the development of supporting institutions. Mr. Andrews said that there is a need to have proper structures within the local sporting fraternity, so as to enable sportsmen and women to make a living from their talents. "The talent is...

The Scouts Association of Jamaica in collaboration with the Post and Telecommunications Department today (July 9) launched commemorative postage stamps in recognition of the centenary of the founding of scouting worldwide. The four postage stamps and a souvenir sheet to commemorate the centenary of scouting have been released by the Government of Jamaica through the Postmaster General. Speaking at the...

Executive Director of the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC), Harold Davis has said that the provision of appropriate and timely business information and services, will assist tremendously in fuelling entrepreneurship and business development. Speaking with JIS News, the Executive Director noted that it is against this background that the JBDC has established business information centres across the island to provide...

The National Water Commission (NWC) will be conducting major upgrading work on its sewage mains located on Ruthven and Camperdown Roads in Kingston during the summer. Addressing a recent JIS News Think Tank, Corporate Communications Manager at the NWC, Charles Buchanan, said that the works form part of the Commission's continued thrust to improve sewage collection in the corporate area....

Jamaica is to host the region's first joint World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/ Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) event in over 10 years at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa, Ocho Rios this weekend. Participants at the event slated to take place between July 11-13 will be mostly from the Caribbean, along with delegates from Nicaragua, Mexico and Panama. Presenters will...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has announced a general election in Jamaica for Monday, August 27, 2007. The date for the nomination of candidates will be Tuesday, August 7. This will be the 15th general election to be held in Jamaica since the granting of universal adult suffrage in 1944. The next general election is constitutionally due by October this...

Jamaican-born Sylvia Hudson is one of nine new Justices of the Peace (JP) appointed recently to the Ontario Court of Justice by the province's Attorney General Michael Bryant. Ms. Hudson, who was a police officer in Jamaica prior to migrating to Canada in 1977, previously served as Vice-Chair of Outreach and Community Information for the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police...

The National Water Commission (NWC) has placed restriction on water being distributed through the Hermitage supply system, which is presently only at 50 per cent of its storage capacity. Customers served by the reservoir include those on Half-Way Tree Road, Constant Spring Road, Red Hills Road, Manor Park, Stony Hill and Smokey Vale areas. Corporate Communication Manager at the NWC,...

Minister of Education and Youth, Maxine Henry-Wilson, has challenged the National Parent Teachers' Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) to establish more vibrant associations that will play a proactive and supportive role for children, schools and the education system. She was addressing the NPTAJ's first annual conference held on (July 6) at the University of Technology Auditorium in Kingston. She noted however,...

New President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Seymour Panton, has said that one of his first tasks in taking office will be to increase the number of judges serving the island's courts. "The judges of the court are working night and day, everyday - public holidays and weekends including. I cannot ask them to do more and so there...

The collection of security deposits by landlords is to be legalized when the Rent Restriction Act is amended in the next legislative year. The Rent Services Unit in the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, as part of its regulatory function, is currently making a number of amendments to the Rent Restriction Act, which is to go before Parliament....