Persistent heavy rainfall in sections of Westmoreland on May 19 and 20 left some major roadways across the parish inundated and badly damaged and in many cases, inaccessible to vehicular traffic. Some of the worst affected areas are: McNeill Lands, Frome, Little London, Three Miles River, Grange Hill, Petersfield, Bethel Town, Chester Castle and adjoining communities. Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for...

The Ministry of Youth will be introducing, for the first time, an industry specific skills Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development programme to engage 40 youth in animation, graphic design and videography training. “We have also built in exposure/internship opportunities into the programme to ensure that our young people will develop their technical expertise and be ready to start their...

The National Youth Service (NYS) will be introducing an Empowerment Programme, especially for youth with disabilities, at a cost of $15 million. Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, said the programme will target 100 young people with intellectual disabilities and assist them with personal and professional development skills. The Minister was speaking in the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in...

Director of the Island Traffic Authority (ITA), Ludlow Powell is reminding owners and operators of motor vehicles to ensure that their vehicles are of roadworthy standard at all times. In an interview with JIS News, he explained that a vehicle could become unfit at any time based on road conditions and/or weather conditions and that although the fitness period is...

The Ministry of Youth and Culture will, this year, commence phased implementation of a Case Management System (CMS), designed to maintain accurate records of children taken into State custody at places of safety, until their departure from these institutions. The system, which will cost approximately $58 million to implement, is slated for roll out over the next three years, and...

The St. James Disaster Preparedness Committee said it is well advanced with plans to meet and address any challenge that the upcoming Hurricane Season may pose. Following a meeting of the Committee at the St. James Parish Council on May 20, Co-ordinator, Disaster Preparedness for the parish, Tamoy Sinclair, told JIS News that all is in place to meet the 2014...

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to participate in another Sectoral Debate in this House. This year marks my 30th anniversary as a member of this Parliament and I am grateful to my constituents in North West St. Andrew, my councilors, my family and my party leaders, members and colleagues, who have kept faith in me through the years and...