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Primary level education in Jamaica is being transformed with a new emphasis on learning rather than teaching, a concept that has been in place for the past three years. The Revised Primary Curriculum, which is now applied in grades 1- 3, was first introduced in a select number of schools before national implementation in 2003. It seeks to make learning...

The government of Jamaica is spending millions of dollars to upgrade water supply projects in Western Portland. Minister of State for Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during a recent tour of the area, told residents that in addition to improvement of the White River and Kildare supply, which was recently completed by the National Water Commission (NWC)...

Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Robert Pickersgill, has called for increased collaboration among countries in the western hemisphere to counteract the risks and challenges involved in aviation transportation. Citing incidents such as the 2001 terror attack on the United States, the Minister said "indeed, the most profound lesson that has been taught to our generation is the indivisibility...

Some 34 mobile outreach teams of the Registrar General's Department (RGD) will be located islandwide to facilitate the official naming of the 18,000 children, whose names are not on their birth records. The teams will visit the main towns and districts in all 14 parishes over a five-week period, beginning September 11, to accept applications relating to the 18,000 children....

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, through its Fisheries Division, has commenced training of a second batch of ornamental fish growers under its Inner-City Ornamental Fish Production Project. State Minister in the Ministry, Victor Cummings, told JIS News that the project aims to create employment and economic opportunities in inner-city areas, particularly for the youth, through backyard ornamental fish culture...

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke, has said that the development taking place in the bee-keeping sub-sector was a model that should be emulated by other areas of the agricultural sector. He pointed out that as part of the Government's agricultural development strategy, bee-keeping had been identified as one of eight high-yielding competitive sub-sectors, which would receive some $200...

Protecting Jamaica's borders is serious business for the Coast Guard, and as the island's maritime defence arm, it continues to make a dent in drug running and other criminal activities. Under its vigilant watch at sea over the last three years, the Coast Guard has played an integral hand, alongside the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and international counterparts, in the...

Several agencies have expressed interest in continuing aspects of the Jamaica Social Policy Evaluation (JASPEV) project, which will end in December 2006. This is as a result of the positive impact the project has had on participants. At a recent JIS 'Think Tank', Communications Specialist at JASPEV, Keron Morris, pointed out that through the Youth Inclusion Prototype operated by the...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller yesterday (August 22) officially launched the National Community Cricket Championship, aimed at sensitizing communities on the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. The ceremony was held on the lawns of Jamaica House. In her address, Mrs. Simpson Miller said that with the exception of the University of the West Indies, cricket was...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has assured that everything will be done to ensure that Jamaica is fully prepared to host its segment of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. "Everything that is necessary will be done, and I want to assure you, I have given directives and will be holding those responsible, to ensuring that everything...

I would like to first of all commend the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA), the humanitarian and community development arm of the Seventh - day Adventist church, which has played an important role in this country since its founding some 25 years ago. I cannot forget the significant relief work which ADRA did just after Hurricane Ivan. ADRA signed an...

Cabinet has given its approval for the provision of $1.775 billion for the Student Loan Bureau (SLB), in loan guarantees to several banks participating in the Students Loan Programme. The financial institutions include the Bank of Nova Scotia; National Commercial Bank; Citi Bank; First Global Bank; Capital and Credit Merchant Bank; Dehring, Bunting and Golding Limited; M F and G...