The Ministry of Health and Wellness has conducted a series of training sessions with critical personnel in preparation for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Wednesday (February 24), Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry, Dr. Melody Ennis, said that “over 580 staff members in the public sector from various categories were...

The 2021/22 Budget Debate begins on Tuesday, March 9 in the House of Representatives, with Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, making his presentation. Dr. Clarke will inform the nation how the $830.8-billion Budget for the new fiscal year, which he tabled in the House on February 18 will be funded. The Standing Finance...

Managing Director of the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA), Dr. Maria Myers-Hamilton, says the Request for Proposal (RFP) for licence in the 700 MHz spectrum (Band 13) has garnered global interest. The RFP was published on February 9. Dr. Myers-Hamilton told JIS News that through this band “we are trying to achieve increased competition in the mobile (telecommunication) space but most...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Government is working to have between 30 and 40 public-sector entities certified to the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) standard by the end of the new financial year. “[We] are now undergoing an aggressive approval of a number of public-sector [entities] that have already received their ISO 9001...

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are advised to offer various options to consumers when they begin to operate web stores. Speaking at a recently held Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) ‘Virtual Biz Zone’ session, held under the theme 'Jamaica! Start Selling Online’, Chief Executive Officer of Fygaro, Ariel Rochwerger, said that offering ways to pay for products and services...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Thursday (February 25), in chairing the monthly National Security Council (NSC) meeting received a comprehensive update on Jamaica’s cyber architecture and a specific report on matters related to the Jamcovid-19 application. Among the main points of discussion were the steps being taken to build a robust governance framework and infrastructure for cybersecurity embedded in Plan...

The National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) is assuring the public that a high level of environmental monitoring and compliance is taking place on the May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000. In an interview with JIS News, Environmental Manager at NROCC, Errol Mortley, explained that before the project even began, an environmental permit was required and that...