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One of the critical components of the Office of the Public Defender is the Investigation Department. This unit is responsible for investigating all complaints of mal-administration or injustice suffered by citizens at the hands of a Government institution. In turn, the Office is empowered to bring an action against the Government entity for redress, even after the time has passed...

The Government has acquired several hectares of land at various locations in Kingston, to construct houses. Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman, made the disclosure at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday (November 1). The acquired lands are situated along Waltham Park Road, Mountain View Avenue and Norwood Road, and according to Minister Whiteman, persons currently residing...

A macro socio economic assessment of the damage done by Hurricane Ivan, which was produced by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), is to be tabled in Parliament today (November 2) by Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies. Speaking at the weekly post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday (November 1), Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman told...

Having the privilege to see the superb performance of the Sunshine Girls at the 11th World Netball Championships during the summer of 2003, 10 year-old Laura secretly harbours a dream of also representing her country in the sport. For now, she eagerly anticipates being able to fully work on her skills to make the cut to represent her school's netball...

Minister of Health, John Junor has challenged mental health practitioners and officers to become more vocal in promoting the shift from mental health institutional care to community care. For the past 40 years in Jamaica, he said that the Ministry had been striving to create a shift in the care paradigm from traditional institutional care to one that was based...

Parish Disaster Co-ordinator for St. Elizabeth, Yvonne Morrison has urged Jamaicans to be prepared for natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, to mitigate loss of life and property. Ms. Morrison, who was speaking to JIS News recently, said that in preparing for earthquakes, persons should have on hand, emergency kits at home, work or school and also practise earthquake...

Jamaica has been using biotechnological discoveries to aid in the island's research, to manage and use its genetic resources for food security and safety, as well as other commercial agricultural pursuits and environmental care. According to Dr. Arnoldo Ventura, Senior Adviser on Science and Technology in the Office of the Prime Minister, these technologies, which have also been making considerable...

Milton Russell, Recruitment Officer at the HEART/NTA, is urging persons living in St. Elizabeth to enroll in any certifiable skills training programme such as those offered by his organisation so as to become more marketable. He was speaking at a public education session held in Newell, St. Elizabeth recently, to inform residents of training programmes offered by HEART in the...

An estimated 3,500 residents of St. James benefited from medical services organized recently by the Montego Bay/Atlanta Sister City Health Mission.The annual health fair, now in its 11th year, was part of activities to mark the 24th anniversary of Montego Bay receiving city status. The team of 50 healthcare volunteers from Atlanta included specialists in the areas of ophthalmology, gynaecology,...

Health Education Officer for St. Elizabeth, Delphene Grandison is encouraging all Jamaicans to make proper use of the various preventative health programmes being initiated by the Ministry of Health through the Regional Health Authorities. Making specific reference to the parish of St. Elizabeth, Mrs. Grandison said that for quite some time now, "we have been promoting a wellness programme which...

A revolving fund loan in the amount of TT$100 million is to be disbursed on an interest free basis to firms in CARICOM, except those located in Trinidad and Tobago, for the procurement of technical assistance/consultancy services and/or training programmes for business development projects. Known as the 'CARICOM Trade Support Programme (CTS) of Trinidad and Tobago-A Roadmap for Regional Prosperity,'...

Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Shirley Tyndall has emphasized the need for every tax dollar to be collected, as tax losses resulting from non-compliance had negative repercussions for the national budget. Miss. Tyndall was speaking today at the opening of the 21st training course of the Tax Audit and Revenue Administration (TARA) Post Graduate Diploma Programme,...