With flags waving and an impromptu singing of the National Anthem, 1,044 Jamaican ship workers returned home at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny, on May 19. Health officials from the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) were on hand for the arrival of Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas. The ship workers, while not able to start the disembarkation process until...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has commended the coalition of beverage companies that has pledged to help local bars and taverns reopen for business. The $28-million initiative is being undertaken by Red Stripe, Pepsi Cola Jamaica, Celebration Brands and the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation. During the virtual press launch of the ‘For Our Bars: For...

The Disaster Committee of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is reporting that it is prepared for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season despite changes to its operations brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Disaster Committee is collaborating with various response agencies to plan for and handle any eventuality that may arise. The body is also working...

The business process outsourcing (BPO) task force has approved new protocols for the operations of the BPO sector. The new protocols, which were developed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness officials, will ensure that all operators in the BPO sector implement preventative measures in their operations and give the regulatory bodies an opportunity to thoroughly inspect their operations as...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is looking into procuring monitoring technology to effectively facilitate home quarantining of residents repatriated under the controlled re-entry programme. He said that the Government cannot accommodate all persons returning to the island in a State-operated facility. “We can’t house all the persons who will come in during this period, and,...

As community bars and taverns begin a two-week probationary reopening period on Tuesday (May 19), Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that there is full compliance with the reopening requirements. Minister McKenzie was speaking during a virtual press conference on Monday (May 18) at the Office of...

The Government has increased the number of persons allowed to attend funerals to 15. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, gave an update at a virtual press conference on Monday (May 18) at the Office of the Prime Minister. "Following a meeting we had some weeks ago with the undertakers… they recommended 15 funerals per day,...