Jamaica received official development assistance (ODA) funding worth US$140.9 million during 2019 from international development partners (IDPs). This was 36.2 per cent lower than the sum received the previous year, according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) 2019 Economic and Social Survey. The document indicates that the 2019 provision comprised loans amounting to US$65 million, and grants totalling US$75.9...

Two hundred at-risk youth from communities across the parish of Clarendon are to benefit through a new crime-prevention initiative – the Clarendon Collaborative Action Project. The initiative is a new approach to crime prevention that utilises several integrated social strategies to address deviant and antisocial behaviours among youth and empower them to become productive members of society. The project will...

The Social Development Commission is advising that its Corporate Office, Kingston and St. Andrew, Portmore and St Thomas Offices will be closed to the public Tuesday August 25, 2020 and Wednesday August 26, 2020. The temporary closure is to facilitate deep cleaning and sanitization of the offices given the exposure of staff to an individual who has tested positive for...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is in the process of instituting measures aimed at further strengthening the accountability framework at Municipal Corporations. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says chief among these is the implementation of a new accounting-based system, for which technical assistance support is being provided by the European Union (EU). He also mentioned the proposed...

Tributes continue to flow for the late Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson. Mrs. Robinson, who served as Member of Parliament for North East St. Ann, died on May 29 after a prolonged illness. She was 66 years old. Among those remembering the veteran parliamentarian, is Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. Speaking...

The Hanover office of the Social Development Commission (SDC), through its Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP), is helping community enterprises impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) to rebound. Cash grants ranging from $15,000 to a maximum of $115,000 were presented to seven entrepreneurs during an SDC-organised farmers’ market and bus tour on July 2, which stopped at various communities throughout...

Master of Architecture students at the University of Technology (UTech) have created history by participating in the first ever International Dezeen Virtual Design Festival. Dezeen is known as one of the world’s leading digital magazines on architecture, interiors and design. Submissions for the inaugural Virtual Design Competition were presented by ten Caribbean School of Architecture (CSA) students and focused on...