The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is reporting that its childcare facilities have put measures in place to ensure that children in State care are protected during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Rosalee Gage Grey, told JIS News that the agency has activated its National Emergency Disaster Committee, similar to what is done...

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) is advising seafarers with certificates that will expire in the next three months to present the MAJ bulletin regarding the extension of validity of these documents, along with the expired papers, to Port State Control (PSC) at their various ports of call. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, MAJ Director General, Rear Admiral...

The Ministry of Tourism is reporting that the final arrangements have been made to officially begin the tourism workers’ pension scheme. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the contracts have been signed between the fund manager, Sagicor, and the administrators, Guardian Life. He informed that the first tranche of $250 million would be transferred to the fund in short order....

Jamaica’s imports for January to December 2019 were valued at US$6,339.2 million, an increase of 2.7 per cent when compared to US$6,170.5 million which was spent for the similar period in 2018 according to the International Merchandise Trade (IMT) Bulletin released today (March 31, 2020) by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). The December 2019 IMT Bulletin further outlined that...

There are now 38 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Jamaica. Additional results received last evening from the National Influenza Centre, showed that of the nine pending results, seven samples tested negative, while two were positive for COVID-19. The two new cases are: a 48 year old female from St. Elizabeth with a travel history from Boston/Atlanta, USA, who arrived in...

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) is working with other maritime administrations globally to maintain stability in the shipping industry as the world deals with the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In an interview with JIS News, MAJ Director General, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, said shipping is very important to international trade and more so to Jamaica, as 93 per...

Markets across the island will now open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday. This is an extension of the restricted opening hours of 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., put in place by the Government as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Speaking at a digital press conference from Jamaica House on...