The record of COVID-19 cases for Jamaica now stands at 816. This increase comes as six new cases were confirmed positive as at Wednesday (July 22). Over the same period, Jamaica recorded one more recovery, bringing the total number persons recovered and released from care to 710 (87% recovery rate). Five imported cases and one import-related case (contact of an...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mike Henry, says two codes of practice for the protection of persons with disabilities have been completed. He said development of the codes, which cover employment, and education and training, is in keeping with a commitment given by late Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson. Minister Henry said that two more codes of practice for...

Hundreds of young people benefited from education and employment opportunities during the last financial year under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Social Intervention Programme (SIP). “Indeed, this programme has been touching the lives of people and is changing their lives for the better,” said portfolio Minister, Hon. Mike Henry, during his contribution to the 2020/21 Sectoral Debate in...

For the 2019/2020 fiscal year, the Government spent $6.9 billion on cash grants for Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) beneficiaries. This was disclosed by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mike Henry, during his contribution to the 2020/21 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 21. He told the House that the challenges of...

The Revenue Appeals Division (RAD) is reporting a major reduction in its appeals backlog from 466 to 68 cases over the last three years. The reduction is among achievements under the entity’s medium-term strategic initiatives covering the financial periods from 2017/18 to 2019/20. “This is the lowest inventory level in the last 10 years and we are almost current with...

Local authorities and partner agencies received 3,773 development applications valued at $148.3 billion in the last financial year, with 2,777 approved within 90 days, representing an approval rate of nearly 84 per cent. Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, made the disclosure during his 2020/21 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21),...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is in the process of instituting measures aimed at further strengthening the accountability framework at Municipal Corporations. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says chief among these is the implementation of a new accounting-based system, for which technical assistance support is being provided by the European Union (EU). He also mentioned the proposed...