The Government of Jamaica is to amend the Commission of Enquiry Act to modernise and discourage acts that undermine the effectiveness of the Commission or which are disruptive of the Commission's proceedings. The Commission of Enquiry (Amendment) Act was tabled in the Senate on Friday, September 13, by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. AJ Nicholson,...

President of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA), Andrew Collins says the non-traditional export sector continues to perform well despite the economic challenges facing the country. “We have been seeing a decline in traditional export products, what is noteworthy however is that non-traditional exports in Jamaica have grown consistently over the past few years. In 2008, the sector saw earnings of...

Jamaica will mark National Breastfeeding Week from September 15 to 21 under the theme:‘Support Breastfeeding: Working Closely with Mothers’. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank held on September 12 at the agency’s head office in Kingston, Director of Nutrition Services at the Ministry of Health (MOH), Sharmaine Edwards, noted that the week will highlight the importance of breastfeeding in the...

Approximately 800 Jamaicans received employment opportunities through projects associated with the Farm Road Maintenance Project. The work, which was carried out through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in partnership with the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) saw a total of 68 kilometres of rural roads being rehabilitated under the project. Speaking with JIS News, Director of Corporate Planning, Monitoring and...

The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) is drafting a set of standards for the accreditation of programmes offered online. The move comes in light of the increasing use of the Internet for the delivery of tertiary education. “We are on the finalizing of standards for distant education. We decided that we had to do this because there is an outburst...

The Ministry of Education, is strategically repositioning the Jamaican Foundation for Life-Long Learning as the central agency for adult education in the country. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites gave this indication during a reception at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday, September 11, to formally introduce the new Executive Director of the foundation, Merris Murray. “Its role...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites is calling for closer collaboration between the HEART Trust/NTA and the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) to upgrade the education level of applicants who have been denied enrolment by HEART. Rev. Thwaites made the call at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston on Thursday, September 11, during a reception to formally introduce...

Newly appointed Executive Director of the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), Merris Murray says the entity will continue to provide educational opportunities for all Jamaicans, as part of efforts to advance the country’s human development capacity beyond the 21st century. “We have an awesome responsibility, a responsibility to lead the literacy renaissance. We know that literacy is the foundation on...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has resuscitated the ‘Adopt a Fire Hydrant’ programme, which seeks to involve citizens in the care and maintenance of hydrants within their communities. Public Relations Officer for the JFB, Emilio Ebanks, told JIS News that the programme was instituted in 2003, however, not enough communities, clubs, or groups took up the challenge. According to Mr. Ebanks, “it...