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Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport, Portia Simpson-Miller is currently in Canada on a six-day study tour, getting first-hand knowledge of municipalities at work. Accompanying the Minister are Councillor Milton Brown, Mayor of May Pen and Chairman of the Association of Local Government Authorities (ALGA); Councillor George Lee, Mayor of Portmore, and Robert Bryan, Executive Director of the...

The system adopted by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), for the distribution of relief supplies is airtight, ensuring that persons severely affected by Hurricane Ivan continue to receive the assistance they need, in an orderly and effective manner. In an interview with JIS News, Acting Deputy Director General of ODPEM, Ronald Jackson emphasizes that no supplies...

The Manchester Division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade has been encouraging schools across the parish to implement regular fire drills. This is in keeping with Fire Safety Awareness Week, which is being observed from October 25-30 under the theme: 'Fire prevention.develop the habit'. Fire Prevention Officer, Corporal Juliane Davis-Buckle told JIS News that so far, several persons have been visiting...

Customers sending Christmas cards to their friends and family members, both here and abroad, will benefit from special reduced postal rates between November 1 and December 24. Cards in unsealed envelopes of varying weights will be delivered at a cost of $10.00 below the regular rates to different destinations. Local rates for the first 230 grams will cost $20.00 instead...

Jamaicans have been challenged to find more peaceful ways to settle their differences, than through the use of violence, by Resident Magistrate for St. Elizabeth, Marlene Malahoo-Forte. She was speaking recently at a Public Forum organised by the Dispute Resolution Foundation, which was held at the Black River New Testament Church of God. "There is a breakdown in the family...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), alarmed by the increasing number of children dying as a result of fires, will be targeting parents and guardians during its Fire Safety Week activities this year.Fire Safety Awareness Week is being observed from October 24 to 30, under the theme 'Fire Prevention.Develop the Habit. Wayne Farquharson, Acting Deputy Chief Fire Prevention Officer, told JIS...

The Boys' Brigade of Jamaica, in celebration of its 110th anniversary this year, held a weekend of festivities in Brown's Town, St. Ann from October 22 to 24.Activities started on Friday (Oct. 22) with an opening ceremony at the Brown's Town car park. The boys were transported by bus from King's House in Kingston and alighted from the vehicle on...

The Government of Jamaica has awarded a building contract valued at $101.5 million for the construction of houses for sugar workers in Hartlands in St. Catherine. The housing development is part of the Bernard Lodge Sugar Company Housing Project. Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman, told Monday's (Oct. 25) post Cabinet press briefing, that the work would be undertaken by...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (Oct. 26) passed amendments to the Financial Services Commission (FSC) Act, to among other things, enable the Commission to satisfy the requirements of international financial regulators. Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, who tabled the Bill, explained that the legislation would allow the FSC to become party to multi-lateral instruments spearheaded by bodies...

The government has decided to abolish the payment of additional motor vehicle licence duty in respect of an existing motor vehicle licence where there is an increase or variation of the rates. Amendments to the Road Traffic Act, which was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 26, will give effect to this decision. Piloting the Bill, Minister...

Sixty-two secondary and five technical high schools are participating in a three-year programme of intervention aimed at improving the overall performance of students in the Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) examinations. The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Education, Youth & Culture. Dorrett Campbell, Communications Director at the Ministry, told JIS News that the programme, which was now...

Farmers participating in the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) funded ginger and cassava projects in St. Catherine are to receive fertilizers and herbicides to facilitate replanting. Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Parish Manager for St. Catherine, Andrew Carty, told JIS News that the JBI had provided some $400,000 to rehabilitate ginger and cassava plots in the Linstead Extension Area that were...