More

KINGSTON — The Forestry Department, now an executive agency under the Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government, wants Jamaicans to appreciate forests as areas for sustainable development and preservation of human wellbeing. The Department has the mandate to protect and manage the country's forest reserves for the benefit of all Jamaicans. And it seeks, through different fora and...

KINGSTON — Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon Olivia "Babsy" Grange, has come to the aid of a 30-year-old man, who was sentenced, last month, to three month’s imprisonment for stealing ackees from a farm on the King's House property, home of Jamaica's Governor-General. The man, Junior Christie, has been given a $30,000 bail by the same judge...

KINGSTON — The completion of an unfinished building to reduce overcrowding at the Granville Child Care Facility in Trelawny, will be the focus of this year's National Prayer Vigil project. The building was startedfour years ago, to facilitate counselling sessions and alleviate overcrowding but it has remained unfinished since due to a lack of finances. The National Prayer Vigil was...

KINGSTON — Minister of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, is encouraging more private developers to partner with the Government to provide affordable housing for Jamaicans. He said approximately 15,000 houses would have to be built annually to satisfy housing needs, and the Government could not, by itself, meet that demand. “The Government itself will never...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Education on (December 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom-based International City and Guilds of London Institute, to enhance the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) through the provision of examinations, primarily in literacy and numeracy. Under the three-year MoU, City and Guilds, through its local office, commits to providing examinations across all...

University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor, Anthony Clayton, says that Jamaica must increase investment in technology and highly skilled areas to ensure the employability of future generations. He noted that fast-paced advancements in science and technology will make some jobs and professions obsolete. “To a very considerable extent, our future depends on our ability to generate the skills that...

KINGSTON — Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, on Friday, December 2, broke ground for the refurbishing and upgrading of the Rocky Point Health Centre, in Clarendon, which has been out of service since it was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The centre, which is a Type 1facility, will be moved up to a Type 2 facility, as...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, is encouraging males to play a greater role in helping to minimise the spread of HIV/AIDS, given the vast majority of women infected with the disease. “In taking care of our women, the first responsibility is us  (males) - use the necessary protection. The second responsibility is to...

KINGSTON — Major upgrading works will be carried out at the Sawyers Primary and Freemans Hall Primary and Infant Schools in Trelawny at a cost of  $20.2 million and $28.8 million, respectively. Contracts for the two projects were  signed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the respective communities on November 30. The work is expected to be undertaken...

With an increase in the number of patients accessing medical care at health facilities, strategic measures to improve patient access and care have been implemented at health care facilities in the North East Region. Miss Suzette Morris, Regional Director of the North-East Regional Health Authority, (NERHA) indicated that, "We have been strengthening our internal systems to enhance the ease at...

KINGSTON — To ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the small ruminants industry, 14 Artificial Insemination (AI) technicians have been trained under the just concluded €5.8 million European Union Food Facility (EUFF) project. The technicians were presented with Certificates of Competence, as well as AI kits, during the closing ceremony on the lawns of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says his Ministry has embarked on a 'crusade' to empower Justices of the Peace (JPs) to play a greater role in restorative justice and conflict resolution in communities. Addressing another in the series of Restorative Justice National Stakeholders Sensitization meetings, at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall Catholic Church, Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland on...