Member of Parliament for St Andrew Eastern, Hon. Fayval Williams, says efforts are being made to undertake a programme for the redevelopment of the town of Papine in the constituency. “Papine is a hub of activity of pedestrians, vehicles and vendors. It is the ‘capital city’ of St. Andrew Eastern and an asset to the constituency, but it is in...

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says young people are at the heart of the Government’s economic development programme. He noted that policies and programmes have been put in place to fully engage the youth and ensure that they have access to education and training, to take full advantage of opportunities in the country. “We...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Government will be changing the name of the island’s infirmaries, with the process to begin in eastern parishes. He made the disclosure at a recent town hall meeting at the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio, Portland. “So when you go to the Portland Infirmary in a couple...

Tourism Specialist at the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Beverly Stewart, says the agency, through its Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), is empowering Jamaicans to capitalise on the prospects in community-based tourism. She noted that the area is fast outpacing sun, sea and sand travel. “Experiential tourism… is growing at 15-20 per cent while sun, sea and sand is only...

International Consultant, Alison Kerry, is lauding the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) for its effective implementation of community projects. According to Ms. Kerry, who has been hired by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to evaluate the agency’s Basic Needs Trust Fund and other community development projects undertaken by JSIF, the initiatives are “excellently” managed. “The JSIF is an excellent organisation...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, says it is time for Jamaicans stand up against gender-based violence. “When we take a stand against violence and offer no comfort to perpetrators; when we expose them, when we stop turning a blind eye to the gender-violence that we know goes on next door, when we create a culture...

Residents of Rockfort in Kingston now have easier access to Internet and other computer-related services with the establishment of a community access point (CAP) in the community by the Universal Service Fund (USF) at a cost of $2.6 million. The Rockfort Internet Café, located at Glasspole Avenue, is equipped with 13 desktop computers, two printers, one server unit with supporting...