The Government has held discussions with China, Cuba and India with regard to obtaining coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for Jamaicans, when they become available. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, made this announcement at a virtual press conference on Monday (January 25). Dr. Tufton said these countries are well advanced in the research and clinical trials of...

Private laboratories interested in becoming authorised to conduct private antigen and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) are being encouraged to make contact with the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) and the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL). The call has come from Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton. “The Ministry wishes to...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the killing of 4 homeless men and the severe wounding of two others, represent a new kind of savagery especially given what appears to be the serial nature of the attacks which call for a new kind of policing. He said, “We will spare no effort in investigating the heinous and barbaric murders of these...

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams (right), accepts a cheque valued at $250,000 from Chairman, Jacden Group of Companies, Councillor Dennis Gordon (left), to purchase tablet computers for students, during a presentation ceremony at the Minister’s Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on January 25. Also sharing in the moment (from second left) are Acting Chief Education Officer...

The strong ties between Jamaica and the European Union (EU) will be further strengthened. This assurance was given by newly appointed Head of the EU Delegation to Jamaica, Ambassador Marianne Van Steen, at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, held at the Agency’s head office in Kingston. She said it is important for the connection to be strengthened...

Persons with comorbidities are 96 times more likely to have moderate and severe illnesses and are more than 100 times more likely to die than persons without chronic illnesses, if infected with COVID-19. Speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, explained some of the Ministry’s findings. “Of the 557 persons we have documented...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is taking steps to regularise former sugar cane lands in Parnassus, Trelawny, which are occupied by informal settlers. The move is in keeping with the Government’s drive to ensure that agricultural lands are used for farming and other developments. Speaking to journalists during a tour of sections of Southern Trelawny on Friday (January 22),...