Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, says the Early Childhood Commission has commenced the provision of back-to-school grants for basic schools. Mrs. Williams made the disclosure during a virtual press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, on September 22. She said a total of $13.5 million is being distributed to the Brain Builders Centre, which...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) hosted a virtual stakeholder sensitisation session for the Rural Economic Development Initiative, Phase II (REDI II) yesterday (September 23). REDI II, which aims to improve both the Agricultural and Tourism sectors, has as its overall objective to enhance access to markets and to build climate-resilient approaches for targeted beneficiaries. Building on the experience and...

The Jamaica Deposit Insurance Corporation (JDIC) has embarked on a media campaign to heighten public awareness about the increased coverage limit for accounts held at deposit-taking institutions (DTIs). Effective August 31, 2020, the coverage limit has been adjusted from $600,000 to $1.2 million for holders of individual, joint, business, and trust accounts at commercial and merchant banks and building societies....

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has encouraged companies not to close workplaces when the coronavirus (COVID-19) is detected, as the Ministry and international health partners are recommending that cleaning can minimise the spread of the virus. “Remove those who are positive. Stopping your business may be counterproductive. You might have to stop it every day...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) has been undertaking a survey of sanitisation and hygiene products retailed islandwide since March, when Jamaica recorded its first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Chief Executive Officer, Dolsie Allen, said approximately 118 locations, including supermarkets and pharmacies, have been visited. “We actually surveyed 54 different products [including] disinfectants, hand sanitisers, antibacterial hand soaps, hydrogen...

‘Tourism and Rural Development’ is the theme for this year’s observance of Tourism Awareness Week (TAW), slated for September 27 to October 3. Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Tuesday (September 22), Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, disclosed that several activities will be held digitally to mark this year’s...

The first of four field hospitals being established to provide 152 additional bed spaces to facilitate the treatment of persons with coronavirus (COVID-19) will be commissioned into service shortly. This was announced by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, who noted that this initial 40-bed facility, which was provided in collaboration with the United States Government,...