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The construction of houses under the Inner City Renewal Programme is far advanced, with the first set of homes to be delivered during the first quarter of the year, said Water and Housing Minister, Donald Buchanan. "In Denham Town, 94 units are in an advanced state of completion. In fact, completion is expected by March 2005, he stated. Mr. Buchanan,...

Companies in rural Jamaica which are still not compliant with the Companies Act, will be given a convenient opportunity to become compliant, as the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has been dispatching mini mobiles to a number of rural towns across the island. Compliance Manager at the ORC, Christine Morris-Gillespie told JIS News that the office has begun...

The government's information technology (IT) programme for disabled persons was resumed last November after a one-year break, with three persons awarded scholarships tenable at the Caribbean Institute of Technology (CIT). The programme, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology in collaboration with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Combined Disabilities Association and the...

Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Adelle Brown, has emphasised that citizens must be computer literate in order to compete effectively in the global economy. "If you look in the newspaper, you will see that there are vacancies and for every work, the employer requires skills in computer, either as an asset or a requirement...

The Westmoreland Fire Service responded favourably to fire calls in 2004, saving properties valued at over $2.5 billion, in comparison to properties valued at some $500 million the previous year. There were 311 fires in the parish last year, with a total loss in property of over $140 million, an increase from the 2003 statistics which recorded over 255 fires...

As of January 31, the national minimum wage will be increased to $2,400 per week up from $2,000, reflecting an increase of 20 per cent. Also, the hourly rate for industrial security guards will be increased by 12.5 per cent, moving to $90 per hour from $80 per hour. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Horace Dalley made the announcement...

Hundreds of students from 16 educational institutions in Montego Bay and its environs, participated in the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Hazard Awareness Day activities, held at the Montego Bay High School in St. James, on Tuesday (January 11). The activities, which included performances by students in poetry, song, dance and drama, as well as a poster...

The Management Institute for National Development (MIND) has introduced, as its newest academic offering, the Associate Degree in Public Sector Management, which will be taught at the institution's campus located in Mandeville. Manager of the Division of Finance and Organizational Administration at MIND, John Tracey told JIS News that the new course was targeted at Public Sector workers, even though...

Jamaica's former Trade Commissioner to Canada, Cherita Girvan-Campbell, has been appointed President of the Toronto-based organization Arts and Culture Jamaica. Mrs. Girvan-Campbell has replaced Paula de Ronde as head of the 12-year-old organization, which was set up to showcase the art and culture of Jamaica to the Canadian community. The move came at the annual general meeting held on Wednesday,...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (Jan. 11) passed a Resolution to increase the borrowing ceiling from the Caribbean Development Bank to $6 billion from $40 million. State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Fitz Jackson, who moved the motion titled 'The Loans (Caribbean Development Bank) increase in borrowing Authority) Resolution', explained that this was being done to...

Staff members of key response agencies are being trained in Critical Incidents Stress Management as part of Jamaica's preparations for a disaster. The training, which commenced last year focusing on the emergency response team, delves into the aftermath of a traumatic incident, such as handling mass casualties. The psychological effects that can occur are also dealt with. This area is...

The Ministry of Health is to become more involved in training members of the public in first aid measures.It will be strengthening its collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as the Jamaica Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, as part of its overall strategy for 2005. The NGOs, which work with several government ministries, especially during times of disasters, have...