The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting that the Beet Armyworm infestation, that has been plaguing St Elizabeth, has declined to less than five per cent in cultivations still affected by the pest. Acting Deputy Director of the Crop and Plant Protection Unit in the Ministry’s Research and Development Division, Michelle Sherwood, says this decline results from extensive field...

A call has been made for global partnerships to mitigate external economic, social, and environmental challenges that significantly impact Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as Jamaica. This appeal comes from Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, who contends that it is through multilateral mechanisms and cooperation that the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)...

Students in and around South Manchester will have the opportunity to pursue Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level studies at Cross Keys High School, situated in that area, which commences its sixth form programme on Monday, September 15. Principal, Ralph Nelson, who made the disclosure in an interview with JIS News, said the decision was suggested and supported by Education...

Since her entry into the public service 19 years ago, Acting Director, Human Resource Development with responsibility for training, Accountant General’s Department (AGD), Yvette Alexia Harriott, has remained committed to making a meaningful impact on the sector and advancing the welfare of her colleagues, particularly those she supervises. Mrs. Harriott, who assumed the position in December 2012, commenced her civil...

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, says addressing the issue of corruption remains a national priority. He says public perception of corruption continues to mar the political process in Jamaica, despite the passage of various pieces of legislation and strengthening of extensive requirements for the reporting of incomes by public officials. “There is perhaps no single...

Commissioner of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Dr. Rose Davies, says the organization remains strident in its quest to rid the nation’s schools of the practice of corporal punishment. Noting that the practice is still very prevalent in some schools, Dr. Davies said the ECC has been working with teachers in developing alternative approaches to corporal punishment. Delivering the keynote...

Over eighty local suppliers of goods and services, including manufacturers, will participate in the upcoming Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2014 trade show, through the coordinated efforts of the Tourism Linkages Hub and other partner entities. The initiative is in keeping with ongoing efforts to improve the linkages between tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and other sectors of the economy. The Linkages Hub...