Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid has reiterated the importance for today’s youth to be trained and certified in specialised skill areas that are in demand in an increasingly competitive labour market. He made the call at the closing ceremony for the National Skills Competition held at the National Arena on February 22. He encouraged...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the role of the government is to ensure that the public sector works efficiently to provide services for Jamaicans in an effective and timely manner. The Prime Minister made it clear that the government is responsible for ensuring equal opportunity for access to all in the country. “My role is to make sure that government...

The Government is continuing work this year under phase four of the Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP IV) for which an additional $602.6 million has been allocated in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which commenced in November 2014, aims to empower residents of volatile communities to achieve their fullest potential, thereby contributing to...

The Virtual Sports Museum, which will trace and showcase Jamaica’s performance in sports, is scheduled to be developed during the 2018/19 fiscal year, which begins on April 1. Creation of the virtual museum is one of the legacy projects for Jamaica’s 55th year of Independence that were announced by the Government last year. Senior Director of Sports Development and Monitoring...

Professional and amateur singers are being encouraged to enter the 2018 Jamaica Festival Song Competition, which sets the tone for the island’s Emancipation and Independence celebrations. Speaking with JIS News, Interim Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Orville Hill, said the competition is not restricted to only new talents but also professionals in the music industry. “We...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, honoured Jamaica’s oldest living person, Ms. Ida Troupe, on Christmas Day (December 25), which was also celebrated as her 117th birthday, at her home in West Kingston. Ms. Troupe, a retired vendor who was born on December 25, 1900, was among the first group of persons who moved into the...

Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Dr. Andrew Spencer, is encouraging members of the local craft sector to keep refining their skills and innovate in order to remain competitive and meet the needs of consumers. “You have to keep abreast of what is happening, but not only keep abreast – you have to be ahead of the...