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The Early Childhood Commission is to conduct the first national survey of the number of basic schools and students in the island as it seeks to develop a national profile of the early childhood education system. Speaking in London recently, Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughn said the survey would begin later this month. "What we have to do...

Regional National Training Agencies (NTAs) have bonded together to form an umbrella grouping, known as the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA). This is to ensure a uniformed level of certified skilled labour under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which is expected to be fully implemented by 2008. Formed in 2003, CANTA has established a regional certification...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Howard Cooke will be visiting Canada from October 21-25, to attend and deliver the main address at the Jamaica (Ottawa) Community Heroes Day Banquet. During his absence, the Very Rev. Canon The Hon. Weeville Gordon, CD, Custos of Kingston, will serve as the Deputy Governor-General. The Governor-General will be accompanied by his Aide-de-Camp,...

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie today (October 20), accepted an invitation to visit the municipality of Shenzhen in China from that city's Vice Mayor, Chen Yingchun. The visit would be made to strengthen ties between the two cities, and Mayor McKenzie pointed out that he might travel to the Asian city as soon as January of next year. Mayor...

Correctional Services Week was officially launched today at the offices of the Department of Correctional Services, in downtown Kingston, with Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese noting that this year marked 30 years since the amalgamation of three entities - the prisons, probation services and approved schools. The week will be observed from Sunday, October, 23 to Saturday, October 29....

Landowners or those in possession of land can now submit changes and update their information on the Valuation Roll at all Inland Revenue Collectorates islandwide. Speaking with JIS News, Commissioner of Land Valuations, Pearl Piccott said this latest initiative was another of the National Land Agency's (NLA) efforts "to reach the customer from as many points as possible." The Collectorates...

Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, Maxine Henry Wilson has said that Jamaicans must become more attuned to the various technologies that are being used within the education and business environments, if "we are to remain competitive in the global environment". Mrs. Henry Wilson was speaking at the launch of the 2005 'Edu Vision' Conference, yesterday (October 19), at the...

Fire Safety Awareness Week will be observed from October 23 to 29, under the theme - 'Fire Prevention: A Collective Effort'. Senior Deputy Superintendent of Fire Prevention, Rupert Francis, told JIS News that the week would involve a number of activities designed to raise awareness in children and adults, on how to exercise diligence in avoiding tragic situations. He added...

As the rains associated with Hurricane Wilma continue to drench the island, road users in Manchester and St. Elizabeth are being urged by their Disaster Preparedness Co-ordinators to exercise extreme caution when faced with large bodies of water as well as landslides. "We have received reports of ponding and landslides on a number of roads, such as the one leading...

Principal of the Staceyville All-Age School in Sandy River, Clarendon Pamela Mapp thinks that nine-year old Sherice Douglas is a gifted student and that the young girl's congestive heart condition stands in her way of academic excellence and her dream of making her family proud. If all goes well, little Sherice may yet get the best gift of her young...

The National Works Agency advised the ODPEM that they have succeeded in cutting a hole to let out the water from the Portmore Causeway and a pump is also being used. It is expected that by tomorrow, the water level should decrease. The ODPEM is also reporting that there are approximately Two Hundred and Forty-One (241) persons in shelters in...

The ODPEM is advising the public that as a result of the difficulties experienced on the Portmore Causeway, the JUTC is trying to allocate as many buses as possible on the Portmore route. In addition, in St. Elizabeth, the following roads are inundated: Middle Quarters. The alternate route is Charley Galton corner to Craigy. Luana to Black River Road, that...