Small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism and agriculture sectors are set to benefit from grants of up to US$500,000, through the second phase of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI II). Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is implementing the initiative under a US$40-million loan from the World Bank. Managing Director at JSIF, Omar Sweeney told JIS News that entities...

The National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) is hosting virtual history workshops for secondary-school students. Students preparing for their School-Based Assessments (SBAs) as part of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) can benefit from these workshops. Individuals or schools wishing to attend or have customised sessions for students can contact the NLJ via email...

The Government is acquiring 30 pumpers for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) at a cost of $3 billion. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who has portfolio responsibility for the JFB, says the first 16 units are slated to arrive next March, with the remainder expected by May. Additionally, the Minister said the JFB has been...

Local Government Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says Emancipation Park in St. Andrew has reopened to the public. Parks were among venues allowed to reopen for an initial period of two weeks, beginning June 15. However, Emancipation Park had remained closed. “I spoke with the Managing Director of the National Housing Trust (NHT), which operates Emancipation Park, and the… management wanted...

The Work Permit Committee that reviews applications must now include a representative from the HEART/NSTA Trust Director of Communications in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Vando Palmer, told JIS News that the move is at the instruction of portfolio Minister, Hon. Mike Henry. He said that the objective is to ensure verification of the availability of skill sets...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says citizens who refuse to wear masks in public could soon face prosecution under the Disaster Risk Management Act. In April of this year, the Government announced the mandatory wearing of masks in public spaces as part of measures to contain transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Wearing the protective device...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government is working to build the capacity of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) to increase earnings from the sector. He noted that while 80 per cent of tourism worldwide is driven by SMTEs, “only 20 per cent of the returns from tourism go to this particular sector”. “We want to build...