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The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) will raise awareness of the critical need for more Jamaicans to donate life-saving blood during World Blood Donor Day on June 14. The day is being observed under the theme: ‘Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood’. “We hope, with our celebrations, we will encourage persons to become repeat voluntary blood donors and to...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) will be embarking on a behaviour change campaign aimed at getting more Jamaicans to pay their taxes. Communications Officer at TAJ, Leighton Beckles, made the disclosure to JIS News during a recent interview. The aim is to increase compliance through moral suasion. “What we intend to do is embark on a campaign, where we are winning...

Approximately 20,000 students on the Government’s Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) are to benefit from a transportation allowance when the new school year starts in September. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, said his Ministry is working with the Ministry of Education to finalise details of the proposed allowance. Mr. Kellier, who was making...

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE MOST HON. PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER O.N., M.P. DELIVERED AT THE 50th ANNIVERSARY SUMMIT OF THE OAU/AFRICAN UNION ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA SATURDAY, MAY 25 2013 SALUATION: - Madam Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma - Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, - Heads of State...

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is seeking to change the mindset of youth toward giving blood, and will include students from various schools islandwide in the activities for World Blood Donor Day, to be observed on June 14. Director of the NBTS, Dr. Angella Scott, said this is being done to diffuse the fear among Jamaicans about donating blood,...

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is making an urgent appeal for blood donations to boost depleted supplies. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Tuesday, June 4, Director of the NBTS, Dr. Angela Scott, said that the service, although not at crisis level, is short of all blood types. “As of yesterday (June 3) all groups were short. We...

A total of 38 Jamaicans are being prepared to take up jobs with Canadian-based fast-food chain, Tim Horton’s Corporation, as soon as formal arrangements are in place. Making the disclosure during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Tuesday, June 4, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier said the Ministry is about to...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s programme of assistance for persons with disabilities has been boosted by a $250 million grant from the Japan Social Intervention Fund. The provision, which is being channeled through the World Bank, is in addition to a $56 million grant, which was recently secured through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the move by the Government to ban smoking in public spaces will not be easy, but is a task that has to be undertaken to protect public health. He was speaking on Monday, June 3, at the Medical Association of Jamaica’s (MAJ) Symposium at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston. The Minister...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to have the proposed Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) tabled this legislative year. Making his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 4, the Minister informed that the most recent draft of the legislation was received by the Ministry...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says 175 of the 478 persons who were engaged under the Workforce Intervention aspect of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), have retained employment. Mr. Kellier, who was making his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 4, explained that as one of the...

A Steering Committee has been established to examine the feasibility of introducing unemployment insurance. The Committee has been formed following the positive outcomes achieved at a major joint labour market forum, hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in partnership with the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, made the...