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Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna has announced measures by her ministry to address the welfare of juveniles remanded to correctional centres. Minister Hanna issued the statement following a visit, along with a team of child care practitioners and psychiatrists, to the juvenile sections of the Fort Augusta Correctional Centre in St. Catherine and the Horizon Remand Centre...

Coming out of its three-day retreat, the Cabinet has signed off on a number of measures that are required to advance Jamaica’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), towards a satisfactory conclusion. Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, told a post Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on January 14, that...

An additional $1.5 billion will be paid out to beneficiaries under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), with new increases in both contributions and benefits, for 2013. Acting Director of the NIS, Portia Magnus, said the benefit increases include old age, sugar worker, invalidity, widow/widower’s pension, and orphan and special child allowances. She explained that benefits for old age, invalidity, and...

While acknowledging that Jamaica started later than expected, the Government has taken measures to implement the tariff liberalization aspect of the CARIFORUM/EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. The tariff liberalization will be phased over 25 years with reductions occurring biennially until 2033. Cabinet gave approval for the necessary amendments to be made to...

Head of the Road Traffic Unit of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing has indicated that the new Road Traffic Act, that is expected to be passed in 2013, will focus on motor vehicle tyre safety. Director of the Unit, Kenute Hare,told JIS News that the agency will continue to educate the public on the importance of tyre safety...

National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, said that the security forces will need approximately 500 vehicles per year, over the next six years, to operate effectively. He said the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will need some 400 vehicles, and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), 100 units per year, over the period. The National Security Minister was a addressing the weekly...

The Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, through the National Road Safety Unit, is looking at putting in proper road infrastructure to ensure the safety of disabled persons. The measure is in keeping with the ministry’s commitment to provide safe and reliable services for all road users. The Papine area of St. Andrew, which houses a number of institutions that...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has stated that good and steady progress was made over the three day special meeting of the Cabinet. At the session today, (Saturday, January 12) Ministers reported on their strategic priorities for 2013/2014 and the Cabinet examined the issues with a view to taking decisions as to the final shape of the upcoming budget, against...

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) is advising Jamaicans to only purchase and use approved mosquito destroyer brands. The authority has approved five brands for use locally. These are: Baygon; Bugoff; Dragon; Protox; and Vape. "These pesticides have been properly evaluated and that is the reason why they have been approved for use in Jamaica," said Head of the PCA, Michael...

Mayor of Savanna-La-Mar, Bertel Moore, is appealing to persons setting illicit fires to cane fields across the parish to desist, as they are harming the industry. "It is high time for citizens of the parish, who are engaged in these unlawful activities year after year, to understand the serious and irreparable damage to the sugar industry and to the livelihood...

WASHINGTON - Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie, is slated to deliver the keynote address at an awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 19 which will culminate a series of year-long series activities staged in that city to mark Jamaica's 50th Independence Anniversary. The function, which is scheduled for the Atlanta City Hall Atrium, will...

The results of the recently concluded traffic ticket amnesty are currently being evaluated by the Ministry of National Security. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, said an assessment of the exercise, which ran between July and December 2012, is being undertaken, adding that an announcement on the matter will be made shortly. He was speaking at Thursday's (January 10) weekly meeting...