Latest

Craft Traders Pivot to Other Areas

President of the All Island Craft Traders and Producers Association, Melody Haughton, says craft traders have been pivoting to other areas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Some persons have been going into farming, such as chicken rearing and vegetable growing;...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), looks at work in progress on the Spanish Town Road Transmission Main by the National Water Commission, on Friday (February 26), when he toured the project.

Prime Minister Tours Project to Improve Water Supply in Corporate Area

Deputy General Manager for Subsidiary Management and Revenue Generation at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Lisa Golding, addresses a press briefing held after a tour of the Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St. James, on Friday (February 26).

Commercial Operators to Occupy Harmony Beach Park by April

Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Mining, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (second left) and Managing Director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (centre), display the document formalising the partnership between JSIF and the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) for implementation of the second phase of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI II) water harvesting and greenhouse cluster project, during a signing ceremony at the AC Kingston Marriot Hotel, on February 26. Sharing the moment (from left) are: General Manager, JBI, Stevie Barnett; Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Courtney Cole; and General Manager, Finance, JSIF, Orville Hill.

MoU Signed for Implementation of REDI II

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green (centre), in discussion with (from left), Acting Superintendent of the Public Gardens Division, in the Agriculture Ministry, Shanae Marks Bryan; and Nursery Supervisor at the Hope Botanical Gardens, Karen Fender. Occasion was the virtual staging of the Public Gardens Division’s Horticultural and Botanical Seminar, hosted at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew, on Friday (Feb. 26). The event was streamed live via the ZOOM video-conferencing platform.

Public Botanical Gardens Being Improved

Project Manager of the Basic Needs Trust Fund at the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Dainty Ann Barrett Smith.

5 years ago Gender Affairs

JSIF Supports Revision of National Policy for Gender Equality

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), through its Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), has been supporting the Bureau of Gender Affairs with the revision of the National Policy for Gender Equality (NPGE). Project Manager of the BNTF at JSIF, Dainty Ann Barrett Smith, told JIS News that the total value of the support is $8.8 million. “We are financing the...

5 years ago DevelopmentFinance & Public Service

CAC Secures $12.1 Million for Consumers

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) has secured $12.1 million in refunds and compensation on behalf of aggrieved consumers who transacted business with product and service providers between April 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. Speaking at a virtual forum on February 26, under the theme: #JamaicaConsumerTalks, Chairman of the CAC, Donovan White, revealed that the Commission handled 1,470 complaints during...

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left); Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Ambassador Masakui Rungsung and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, holding samples of pharmaceutical medicines and supplies donated by the Government of the Republic of India to assist with the local COVID-19 response. The supplies are valued at approximately $13.5 million. The official handover ceremony was held at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, New Kingston, on Friday (February 26).

5 years ago CoronavirusForeign AffairsHealth & Wellness

Jamaica to Receive Donation of COVID-19 Vaccines from India

The Government is to receive a donation of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Government of the Republic of India, to fight COVID-19. The vaccines are scheduled to arrive next week, says Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Ambassador Masakui Rungsung. He was speaking at the handover of pharmaceutical and medical supplies donated by the Government of the Republic of India,...

State Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, addresses a JIS Think Tank on Friday (February 26). At left is Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley.

5 years ago CommerceCoronavirusHealth & WellnessIndustryInvestment

Industry Ministry and JANAAC Regulating COVID-19 Testing Facilities

The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce and the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) are seeking to regulate COVID-19 testing facilities through the Pre-Accreditation Approval Programme (PAAP). State Minister, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, said that the programme will enable facilities to adequately meet public demand for fast, accurate and cost-effective COVID-19 testing in order to ensure “the best...

Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.

5 years ago CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

Work Advances on COVID-19 Vaccine in Cuba

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says work is advanced on the development of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine in Cuba. Speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital briefing on February 24, PAHO Assistant Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, said information received indicates that the vaccine’s development will shortly enter the third and final stage of clinical trials. He cautioned, however, that no timeline...

Chief Executive Officer of JANAAC, Sharonmae Shirley, speaks at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS)

‘Think Tank’, on February 26.

5 years ago CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

Three Entities Certified to Test for COVID-19

The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) is reporting that since the launch of the Pre-Accreditation Approval Programme (PAAP) for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, in January 2021, three entities have been certified under the programme. “We would like to celebrate granting pre-accreditation approval for COVID-19 testing to three medical facilities. These facilities are the first Point-Of-Care Diagnostic Test (POCT) facilities to...

Regional Technical Director, Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Dr. Dianne Campbell-Stennett.

5 years ago CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

St. James Business Operators Urged to do More to Contain COVID-19

The Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is calling on the St. James business community to do more to help contain and reduce the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Regional Technical Director, Dr. Diane Campbell-Stennett, said with the continued spike in COVID-19-positive cases, business operators must continue to follow best practices in order to keep their customers and staff safe. She...