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State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes- Abrahams, has emphasised the importance of minimising bureaucracy and creating a favourable business environment for investors, in order to propel the economy forward. Mrs. Ffolkes-Abrahams explained that  a favourable business environment is critical, not only for attracting foreign direct investments, “but also essential for the development and sustainability of domestic...

The Government has taken another step towards strengthening security at its commercial ports, with the signing of a Letter of Intent with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to participate in the Container Control Programme.   The signing took place on June 27, at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, in Kingston. This programme is...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, says that arbitration and mediation will lead to better public sector governance, by reducing the backlog of disputes before the courts and improving the efficiency of the court system. “Both mechanisms not only help to alleviate the burdensome case load of the courts, but also create...

The police is cautioning persons against allowing others to use their bank accounts to facilitate the movement of large sums of money, as they could face serious charges. Speaking at a Think Tank hosted by the Jamaica Information Service’s (JIS) Montego Bay Regional Office on Wednesday (June 27), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Devon Watkis, noted that Jamaica is signatory...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the government’s new tax package targeting imported food items will benefit the Jamaican farmer and the local agricultural sector. He made the comments against the background of Government’s decision to apply additional stamp duties on imported meats, fish, ham and bacon instead of taxing animal feeds, fresh fruits, vegetables, tubers, fish and...

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Area One, Devon Watkis, says that the police has made significant inroads in dismantling gangs over the last two years, with a number of persons arrested and convicted before the courts. Addressing a Think Tank hosted by the Jamaica Information Service’s (JIS) Montego Bay Regional Office  on Wednesday (June 27),  ACP Watkis ...

Minister of State for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Ian Hayles, is encouraging farmers in St. James to stick with banana production, noting that the sector offers significant potential for job creation and earnings. He made the appeal on June 28, as he addressed the Annual General Meeting of the All Island Banana Growers Association’s (AIBGA) St. James Area Council held...

As Government moves to provide more spaces for students at the secondary level, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, on June 28 broke ground for construction of the Cedar Grove High School in Gregory Park, St. Catherine. The school, to be built at a cost of $660 million through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will accommodate...

The 32 newly commissioned Justices of the Peace (JPs) for the parish of St. James, have been called upon to be standard bearers in their communities. “I call upon you, Justices of the Peace, to do everything in your powers to stem the tides of corruption and moral decay.  If you have joined the service to further corruption or to...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising the public that Emergency Response Teams from the ODPEM, the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have conducted a reconnaissance tour to ascertain the type of substance which has been emitting fumes and its source which has not yet been identified. The Response teams...

Students at the Independence City Primary School in Portmore, St. Catherine, now have increased access to computer equipment, which is expected to enhance the literacy and numeracy programmes at the institution. The equipment, valued at US$15,000, was donated by the Embassy of Chile and  include lap top computers, printers, projectors, among others. Speaking at the official handing over ceremony at...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says the region must place high priority on the issue of disaster management. He noted that the Caribbean region is considered to be the second most disaster prone in the world, and  revealed that for Jamaica alone, it is conservatively estimated that for the past 10 years, the country has...