The leading edge of the Saharan Dust plume currently across the eastern Caribbean is expected to impact Jamaica, starting Monday (June 22). Satellite images from the past few days show the thick dust moving off the west coast of Africa, crawling across the Atlantic and eastern Caribbean on Sunday, and now moving into the Central Caribbean. The dust mass is...

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, says the nation requires the collective utilisation of resources at its disposal to overcome the challenges associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Speaking at the PIOJ’s digital quarterly media briefing on May 27, Dr. Henry said that Jamaica has entered a period of “significant challenges”, consequent on...

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) is reporting that it is ready to monitor and inform the country on weather systems that may develop in what is anticipated to be an above average Atlantic Hurricane Season. Director of the Met Service, Evan Thompson, said that the office is following the forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that the economy contracted by an estimated 1.7 per cent for the January to March 2020 quarter, relative to the corresponding period last year. The Institute says that the March 2020 quarter out-turn largely reflected implementation of measures to manage the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which commenced in mid-March; and lower capacity utilisation...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, is calling on Jamaicans to protect the country’s biodiversity, in order to build long-term environmental sustainability. “For us here in Jamaica and other small island developing states, effective action may be as simple as planting a tree, recycling our waste, conserving our water, properly disposing...

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles, says the anticipated gradual recovery of economic activity from the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is expected to result in improvements in the current account deficit of the balance of payments (BOP). He was speaking at the Central Bank’s digital quarterly press conference held on Wednesday (May 20). Mr. Byles noted that due...

The business process outsourcing (BPO) task force has approved new protocols for the operations of the BPO sector. The new protocols, which were developed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness officials, will ensure that all operators in the BPO sector implement preventative measures in their operations and give the regulatory bodies an opportunity to thoroughly inspect their operations as...