Fifty residents of St. Catherine are being trained as community health aides (CHAs) in keeping with the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ strategic framework to prepare the population to live with the coronavirus (COVID-19). The CHAs, who will be deployed in communities throughout the parish, are part of approximately 1,300 CHAs being recruited islandwide by the Ministry. Portfolio Minister, Dr....

Cinemas, playhouses and theatres will be conditionally reopened to the public for a period of 14 days, as of Sunday (July 5). These entertainment venues have been closed since March as part of measures instituted by the Government to curtail the local spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Speaking in the House of Representatives on July 1, Minister of Local Government...

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) in the Ministry of Justice has developed three new draft instruction templates to guide client Ministries as they prepare legislation. Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Judith Grant, told JIS News that the introduction of the templates forms part of efforts aimed at improving the procedures for crafting laws. She explained that the guides “deal with...

As at Wednesday (July 1), the island now has on record 707 confirmed COVID-19 cases. This follows the confirmation of five new samples that have tested positive in the last 24 hours. In the meantime, two additional COVID-19 patients have recovered and have been released from care, bringing that total to 555. (78.5% Recovery Rate). All five cases are imported,...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, today (July 1), handed over 50 keys to new homeowners at SilverSun Estates in St. Catherine. Two hundred of the 1,200 houses in the development have been completed. Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Prime Minister said the goal of his Administration is to make homeownership a reality for working Jamaicans, and that...

As of Thursday (July 2), all beaches and rivers in breach of safety protocols established to curtail the local spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), will be closed with immediate effect. This warning comes from Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who noted that non-compliant beach and river operators, as well as patrons, could face possible prosecution...

A cheque valued at $200,000.00 was today (July 1) handed over to the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) to purchase tablet computers to enhance its academic programme. The donation, a gift from the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League, was presented to Chairman of the WCJF, Debby Ann Brown-Salmon, and Executive Director, WCJF, Dr. Zoe Simpson, at a ceremony held...