Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles, says plans are advanced to develop and implement the use of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) locally. Speaking during the BOJ’s digital quarterly briefing on Friday (February 19), Mr. Byles said that over the last couple months, the Bank undertook the requisite preliminary work relating to assessments and protocols for approval of...

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles, says Jamaica’s net international reserves (NIR), totalling just under US$3 billion as at February 16, should be “quite adequate” to see the country through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic crisis. Speaking during the BOJ’s digital quarterly briefing on Friday (February 19), Mr. Byles said that notwithstanding the fallout in tourism earnings due to a...

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says it is important that more community access points (CAPs) be established in the city and the wider St. James community. “If we have a more educated population, then they will be able to help us with the smart city concept and also to push the smart city development,” Mr. Vernon outlined....

Progress is being made in wetland forest (mangrove) restoration locally, says University of the West Indies (UWI) Marine Biologist, Dr. Camilo Trench. Citing a 2013 report published by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), which stated that Jamaica had lost more than 2,000 hectares of mangroves between 1989 and 2010, Dr. Trench said that collaborative efforts have led to...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says he is pleased to see that there is now a shift in public sentiment regarding the COVID-19 vaccination, with more persons seemingly willing to be vaccinated. He said he plans to be “at the head of the line” to receive the vaccine, once it arrives in the island and the process to...

Poison Information Coordinator at the Caribbean Poison Information Network, Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, is appealing for persons to be aware of and report any harmful effects from the use of or exposure to pesticides. She said that this is especially the case for persons who are exposed to these chemicals on a regular basis or over an extended period. “If your body...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has reported that young persons between the ages of 20 to 29 years now account for the highest number of persons confirmed with the coronavirus (COVID-19). Of the 20,310 persons now confirmed to have the virus in Jamaica, 4,369 (21.6 per cent) were of ages between 20 and 29 years. National Epidemiologist, Dr. Karen...