More

Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Maxine Henry Wilson, has said that the building of a strong foundation for early childhood education and development would help to reduce poverty in Jamaica. "Early childhood education, building a strong foundation, is going to be the basis on which we are going to break that inter-generational poverty where children are given that chance...

Effective Monday (Jan. 29), the national minimum wage will be increased by 14 per cent from $2,800 to $3,200 per 40-hour work week, while the hourly rate will move from $70 to $80. The new rates, which were approved in the House of Representatives yesterday (Jan. 23), will also see minimum wages for industrial security guards increasing by 13.52 per...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has said that despite the outcome of a recent court case surrounding attempts to unionize security guards, there was no declaration against the legal classification of security guards as workers. He made the point in the House of Representatives yesterday (Jan. 23), while moving a resolution for increases in the National...

The House of Representatives yesterday (Jan. 23) passed the Proceeds of Crime Act following a suspended debate, which began last year and simultaneously approved the Report of the Joint select Committee, which was set up to consider and report on the Bill. The Act repeals and replaces the Drug Offences Forfeiture of Proceeds and Money Laundering Acts, and will provide...

The project to expand the No. 5 kiln at the Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL) is on schedule and should be completed by mid 2008, Project Manager, Ken Wiltshire has said. He told JIS News that work on the US$133 million project, which is being undertaken over a period of three and a half years, got underway in January of...

The Government of Jamaica has secured a US$7.5 million line of credit from the Government of India to purchase much needed water pipes and other supplies for the National Water Commission (NWC). Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, in his remarks at the signing ceremony on Friday (Jan. 19) at his National Heroes Circle offices, noted that the loan,...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Anthony Hylton, has lauded the contribution of Jamaicans to the development of their adopted homes, in areas of economics, health, education and politics. "Jamaicans have contributed to the growth of economies to the building of education, health, transportation and other socio-economic systems, and the development of political systems," Minister Hylton stated. He...

Cabinet has given its approval for a delegation, headed by Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell, to attend an oil and gas exploration meeting in Houston, Texas. Information and Development Minister, Donald Buchanan, made the announcement yesterday (January 22), at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. "You would have noted in recent media reports, that...

Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan has said that the islandwide beautification campaign would be intensified and special attention would be given to areas near Sabina Park in Kingston, where a number of Cricket World Cup (CWC) matches would be played in March of this year. "There is going to be an intensification of the projects in certain corridors,...

The island's banana producers are undergoing an intensive programme of preparation to meet the certification standards under the European Union Retail Parties Good Agricultural Practices (EUREPGAP) system. Director of Research at the Banana Industry Board, Janet Coney, told JIS News, that the programme of preparation included improving farm practices, documentation procedures, and "generally trying to bring about a culture change...

Cabinet yesterday (January 22), received a submission from Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Robert Pickersgill, for the appointment of a new Board for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). The new Board will be chaired by Former Financial Secretary, Shirley Tyndall. This was announced by Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan, at the post-Cabinet press briefing held...

The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, in conjunction with the Ministry of National Security, will be conducting a simulation exercise, called 'Iron Eagle', at the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday, January 25. Exercise 'Iron Eagle' is aimed at testing and evaluating the national crisis management plan in the event of an act of unlawful interference against civil aviation. It is...