More

Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke, has said that underage girls, who willingly consent to sexual acts, should be held just as accountable as their young male counterparts, under the sexual offences legislation. "We must today hold our young girls accountable for their behaviour," Mrs. Clarke said at yesterday's (May 16) award ceremony for fathers put on by the Ministry of Labour...

A number of the island's schools, infirmaries and community spaces will benefit from clean-up, repair and beautification work on Labour Day, May 23, through a slew of projects to be carried out by the Sandals Group. Director of Corporate Communications for the Sandals Group, Rachel McLarty, told JIS News that the various hotels within the group will be assigned to...

Chairman of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughan, has called on Jamaicans to volunteer their time and resources toward improving basic schools on Labour Day, including putting in features to increase the children's cultural awareness. "We should ensure that our children understand our heritage.so we would encourage.for this year's Labour Day programme, that persons look at basic schools...

Minister of State for Education and Youth, Senator Noel Monteith, has lauded members of the island's school boards for their contribution to the education sector and nation building. "These ladies and gentlemen, through their contribution to education, have shown how volunteerism can impact the nation building process. They did not ask what their country can do for them, but instead,...

A new female ward has been opened at the Morant Bay Infirmary in St Thomas. Built at a cost of $10.5 million, the ward was officially opened yesterday (May 16), by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Environment, Harry Douglas. Funding for the project was provided by the National Health Fund (NHF), in collaboration with...

The St. Thomas Parish Council has started clean-up work at the Paul Bogle Square in Morant Bay, in preparation for the National Labour Day Concert, scheduled to take place in the square on Wednesday, May 23, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Over the week-end, workmen employed by the Council began clearing burnt debris from the Morant Bay Courthouse, which was destroyed...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) Law Enforcement Torch Run, which aims to raise $2 million to assist Jamaican athletes participating in the Special Olympic Games, got underway yesterday (May 16) in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Superintendent Martin Bayliss of the Mandeville Police Division explained that the Police Commissioner or his deputy will start today's run and hand the torch over...

Advisory Services Manager at the Coffee Industry Board, Louis Campbell has said that the resurgence of the Coffee Berry Borer pest was due to the failure of farmers to carry out field sanitation practices. According to Mr. Campbell, after the onslaught of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, there was a drop in the infestation rate the following year, because there was...

The Cocoa Industry Board is projecting that it will export between 700 and 800 tonnes of cocoa by September this year. This projection is part of a five-year plan by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands to export some 1,400 tonnes of the commodity annually. Secretary/Manager for the Cocoa Industry Board, Naburn Nelson told JIS News that in order to...

The Jamaica Pig Farmers Association on (May 15), signed a grant agreement valued at $12.8 million with the European Union/Government of Jamaica Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP). This assistance will result in the formation of a Project Management Unit (PMU) within the association, to ensure that the core mandate of the organization is achieved. In addition, funding will go towards...

The Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce (MITEC) will join the rest of the world in observing World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on May 17, under the theme: 'Connecting the Young.The Opportunities of ICT'. Director General at MITEC, Karlene Francis told JIS News that the international focus would be on "raising awareness of the role of information communication...

The government is increasing its assistance to the micro and small business sector, with more than $3.8 billion in loan funds to be channeled into the sector this fiscal year. The sum is up from $2.2 billion, which was made available in 2005/2006. Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell, speaking at the opening of the 6th annual...