Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has informed that inflows from the US$6.7 billion in development financing, designed to support Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa, will be channelled through the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA). The US$6.7 billion is being provided through CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Inter-American...

Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has officially proclaimed Monday, January 26, as ‘National UNDP Day’ to mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi-Country Office’s service to Jamaica. The Proclamation designates 2026 as a year to highlight Jamaica’s challenges and opportunities for sustainable, inclusive development, with emphasis on cooperation and partnerships....

Bushfires remained a major challenge in 2025, with the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) reporting a 26.2 per cent increase in incidents across the island. “We have seen, over time, maybe over the last four years, bushfires remaining at a consistently high level. Last year, we responded to 5,710 such incidents, and that’s a 26.2 per cent increase over the previous...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has identified the full implementation of a fire management software as one of its major achievements for 2025, marking a significant step forward in modernising its operations. This was noted by Commissioner, JFB, Stewart Beckford, in an interview with JIS News at his office, located on Hagley Park Road in Kingston, on January 23. “In...

The Social Development Commission (SDC) is advancing citizen participation in governance as a catalyst for social change. Executive Director, Omar Frith, says a central feature of the Commission’s programme offering is its emphasis on participatory governance. “When we speak of democracy, we speak of citizens’ empowerment. The SDC has a significant role in ensuring that there are structured mechanisms available...

More than 170 applications have been received and are currently being processed by the Social Development Commission (SDC) under the Government’s Community Church Clean‑Up and Restoration Initiative. The initiative, announced recently by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, forms part of the post‑Hurricane Melissa National Clean‑Up Programme and provides $75 million in grant funding to support clean‑up activities...

Transportation will be provided free of cost for persons wishing to attend this year’s staging of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Best Practice Symposium on Social and Community Renewal. The event is scheduled for January 27 and 28 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. Speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, Technical Specialist for...