Jamaica is now compliant or largely compliant with 27 of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) 40 recommendations. The Financial Action Task Force is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. “[This is] a substantial improvement over compliance or partial compliance with only 17 out of 40 FATF Recommendations in our mutual evaluation which was undertaken in 2015 and...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, on Tuesday (January 19), tabled the third Supplementary Estimates for 2020-21 in the House of Representatives, which shows a $3.5 billion reduction in spending for the fiscal year. The revised Budget proposes a reduction in expenditure from $853.8 billion to $850.3 billion. The capital budget was reduced from...

The Ministry of Health & Wellness has assigned the first set of Reach Out Rangers to its COVID-19 Mental Health Response Programme, to assist community members who are facing psychosocial challenges. Speaking at a virtual graduation for 30 persons, Wednesday (January 20), portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said another 50 personnel will also be added. He noted that...

On Friday, 15 January 2021, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) published its bulletin for the Consumer Price Index for December 2020. In this report, it was noted that, for calendar year 2020, the inflation rate was 6.4 per cent. The same release by STATIN also noted that the point-to-point inflation rate as at December 2020 was 5.2 per cent....

Aeronautical Telecommunications Ltd. (AEROTEL) is far advanced in the development of its Learning Resource and Development Centre (LRDC), which is expected to be launched on April 1. In an interview with JIS News, General Manager of AEROTEL, Howard Armstrong, said that the LRDC, which is the entity’s latest initiative, will simulate all aspects of the Communication Navigational Surveillance environment. “Our...

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica is urging Jamaicans to heed the warnings to get screened for heart disease, based on the adverse effects that COVID-19 could have on the organ. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’, today (January 20), Chairman and Consultant Cardiologist at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, Dr. Andrene Chung, explained some of the findings from studies that...

The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, has donated over 500 copies of the book ‘Voices of the Pelican’ to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Education, for islandwide distribution to sixth-form students. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, accepted the publications from the Curator of the UWI Museum, Dr. Shani Roper, at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle location in...