Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that he will be taking a keen interest in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs and their alignment with Vision 2030. He says that SDGs are aligned with key development concerns and priorities of the region. “We are paying close attention to the implementation of the accelerators as recommended in the SDGs...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on Thursday (March 30) broke ground for construction of the Excellence Oyster Bay hotel in Trelawny, which will create some 2,200 jobs for Jamaicans during the building and operation phases. The US$110-million project is being undertaken by the Excellence Group, which is renowned for its award-winning luxury properties. The hotel is expected to...

The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) will host a training workshop at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, from March 13 to 17, under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The workshop will be jointly staged with the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) under the theme, ‘Programme and Project Thinking Tools for Quality Infrastructure...

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) is well underway with work to certify 300 additional basic schools meeting its 12 qualifying Standards, over the Board’s three-year tenure. This exercise, when completed in 2019, will bring the number to 317, following last year’s certification of the first 17 of the approximately 2,700 early childhood institutions in operation. The ECC’s Acting Executive Director,...

It is a well-known fact that proper hygiene is necessary for good health and this is especially true for children who are more susceptible to germs and bacteria. It is also true that proper bathroom facilities are needed for this to happen, so imagine then your child not benefitting from such conveniences at their school. This was the case for...

Director of the Environmental and Conservation Division at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) Anthony McKenzie, says protected areas can contribute to the economic development of Jamaica. “They offer many environmental services such as clean water and fresh air. The headwaters of many of Jamaica’s main rivers are located in the Blue Mountains and the Cockpit Country forest reserves....

Vice Chairman of the Economic Growth Council (EGC), Ambassador Nigel Clarke, says the inclusion of aspects of the policy recommendations by the EGC in arrangements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an indication of the Government’s commitment to implementing the proposed strategies for economic growth. “We at the EGC take that as a sign that the Government is serious...