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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier has announced that by year end, some $1 billion would be invested in the small business sector from the National Insurance Fund. This would be done in an effort to enhance small and micro businesses across Jamaica, and at the same time, to make loans available to these entrepreneurs at lower interest...

As the Jamaican medals accumulate at the 11th International Association of Athletics Federations (I.A.A.F) World Junior Championship which was held in Beijing, China from August 15 to 20, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has congratulated the young athletes on their performance. In a statement on August 18, Mrs. Simpson Miller said, "Whether it's juniors or seniors, Jamaican athletes continue to...

The Child Development Agency (CDA) is projecting that by year end, the Registrar of the Children's Registry will be recruited. Director of Policy Planning and Evaluation at the CDA, Audrey Budhi, told JIS News that the agency was looking to fast track the process in order to have both the Registrar and staff in place by December. She explained that...

More parents are registering their children's births, leading to a decline in non-registration from 1.7 per cent to 0.13 per cent over the seven-year period from 1998 to 2005. "We have reduced the number of births that go unregistered from 881 in 1998 to 60 in 2005, so we have moved from 1.7 per cent of unregistered births within a...

The Government will be underwriting more than $24 million to provide birth certificates for 18,000 children, whose names are not on birth records at the Registrar General's Department (RGD). This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Horace Dalley, on August 17, at the official opening of the RGD's Portmore Regional Office located at Portmore Pines, St. Catherine. The 18,000 children,...

Several communities across the island are benefiting from necessary works to rehabilitate roads and bridges, and alleviate the effects of possible flooding, under the Ministry of Housing, Transport Water and Works' Flood Control and Disaster Mitigation Programme. Some $3.5 billion has been allocated to the project for road and bridge repairs, de-silting of rivers, drain cleaning and works to critical...

More government entities are responding positively to recommendations made by civil society and private sector groups, particularly as they relate to social policy development. The process of feedback is being facilitated by the Jamaica Social Policy Evaluation (JASPEV) Project, which was implemented in 2002 under the theme, 'Getting citizens involved for the best results'. Speaking at a recent JIS 'Think...

Fourteen new Justices of the Peace (JPs) were sworn in to serve St. Mary during a ceremony held at the Port Maria Civic Centre on August 16. This brings to 280, the number of JPs serving the parish. The function, which was presided over by Custos of St. Mary, Hon. A.A. Bobby Pottinger, was attended by a wide cross section...

Jamaican artist, Errol 'Elgo' Lewis has paid tribute to Jamaican international reggae artist, Annette Brissett, in an art exhibition now on show at the African American Art Research Library and Cultural Centre (AARLCC) in Fort Lauderdale. The exhibition, which will last until September 15, features 25 paintings done by Elgo, forming a range of works inspired by Brissett's songs, each...

New York City Council member, Charles Barron (42nd CD, Brooklyn), on August 16 became the latest in a growing list of persons calling for a full pardon for National Hero, the Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, from the US Government. Speaking from the floor of the New York City Council in Manhattan, Mr. Barron called on his colleagues to join...

Minister of State for Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has said that government, through the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO) was developing a sustainable growth plan for the craft industry, which would be implemented by year-end. Dr. McNeill, who was addressing a special meeting of stakeholders in the craft industry at the Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort in...

The Manchester Wellness Foundation (MANWELL), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Mandeville, is seeking to raise $1.2 million for the purchase of a ventilator for the Percy Junor Hospital. One of the main fundraising events will be a wellness festival from August 25 to 27. The festival will get underway at 10:00 a.m. on August 25, with a health fair at...