The Universal Service Fund (USF) will facilitate the establishment of 20 new Community Access Points (CAPs) and provide access to schools, libraries and post offices, along with faith-based organisations and the disabled community. This is outlined in the 2020/21 Public Bodies Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service,...

Food packages worth $10 million will be distributed to communities across Jamaica by J. Wray and Nephew Limited as a response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This will be done at central points in the various communities, and the needy and vulnerable, especially in remote areas throughout the country, will be targeted. Commercial Director for Jamaica and the Caribbean at...

Custos of St. James, Bishop the Hon. Conrad Pitkin, on Friday (April 24), distributed over 450 reusable protective face masks to vendors and customers at the Charles Gordon Market, in Montego Bay, to help combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the parish. Bishop Pitkin told JIS News that the washable masks were manufactured using the specific recommendation of...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councilor Homer Davis, says the St. James Municipal Corporation is exploring ways to stem the proliferation of handcarts at the Charles Gordon Market in the parish. He noted that the use of handcarts is part of the reason vendors sell outside of the designated areas, which contributes to congestion and flouting of the social distancing rules....

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is imploring Jamaicans not to discriminate against persons who may be infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19), as they could be the next victim of the contagious disease. “None of us are immune to the virus. None of us must claim or think that we will exclusively escape and it is...

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed sadness at the passing of Professor Tara Dasgupta, the recipient of the Silver Musgrave Medal in 2019. In her tribute, Minister Grange said “Professor Dasgupta had served Jamaica well” and that his contribution in the area of science had been “immense”. Minister Grange recalled Professor Dasgupta’s...

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has received the symbolic cheque of the generous contribution of the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League to Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand. Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League has contributed J$4 million to the telethon which raised funds to provide Jamaica’s frontline workers with equipment to battle COVID-19. Minister...