Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, has hailed Japan’s outgoing Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki, for helping to further deepen bilateral relations between the countries over the last three years. She was speaking during Tuesday’s (June 16) signing ceremony for the Government of Japan’s provision of approximately J$262 million (¥200 million)...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has encouraged members of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Council to have “unquestionable integrity, knowledge of the field, proven competence, visionary thinking, commitment to excellence and commitment to Jamaica”. In recent months, the CMU has been under scrutiny with regard to its operations and management. Speaking to Council Members of the institution on...

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) is reporting that members are having success on the local and export market since the COVID-9 outbreak in March. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, said based on a report from the JMEA, listing some 20 Jamaican companies, the country has been able to replace some imported products, such...

Three parcels of land in the parishes of St. Catherine and Clarendon, totalling 795 hectares, have been selected for development under the Southern Plains Agricultural Development (SPAD) Project, for which ground will be broken mid-July. The project is being funded through a grant of approximately £17.5 million from the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UK-CIF), administered by the Caribbean Development...

Jamaica recorded five new imported cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday (June 17). This brings the total number of confirmed cases for the island to 626. At the same time, two more patients have recovered and have been released from care, bringing that total to 451. The island’s recovery rate now stands at 72%. The new cases are a 56-year-old male...

As at May 31, 2020, the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) had received 705 applications for licences. This was disclosed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, during his contribution to the 2020/21 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 16. “To date, 63 licences have been issued, 23 are at the granted stage, and...

Guidance Counsellor at William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, Carradine Kerr, says the institution is placing emphasis on safeguarding the mental health of students who have returned to school. Schools across the island were closed in late March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Secondary schools, as of Monday (June 8), were temporarily reopened to facilitate final preparation for...