Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Government is expected to spend in excess of $350 million during the new fiscal year to construct three multipurpose drop-in centres to serve indigent residents in the Corporate Area, Portland and St. Catherine. “So, by the end of 2020, we would have created facilities of this nature in...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the necessary submission will be made to Cabinet to ensure that there is adequate funding to operate drop-in centres being constructed across the island. He was speaking at the official opening of the Hanover Drop-in Centre on Miller’s Drive, Lucea, on Friday (February 15). “No drop-in facility that is...

The Ministry of Justice and National Integrity Action (NIA) have entered a new phase of collaboration. “We shall be supporting the implementation of the Child Diversion Act to include training of police officers and other agents in the justice system,” said the NIA’s Executive Director, Professor Trevor Munroe. He said that the entity will also continue its drive for legislative...

The Ministry of National Security is ramping up its community intervention efforts in Montego Bay, St. James with the launch of the second phase of the ‘Goals For Peace’ initiative. Goals for Peace involves collaboration between the Ministry’s Citizen Security and Justice Programme III and the ‘I AM Voluntourism’ programme, which sees neighbouring communities participating in football tournaments and social...

Senior Director, HEART Trust/NTA, Dr. Marcia Rowe Amonde, says that the entity welcomes all citizens who require training regardless of their qualifications. “You can no longer say that training is expensive and that you cannot afford it, because the HEART Trust provides opportunities and we do not turn anyone away. No matter what (qualifications) you have, you come to the...

Professor of law and director of the Human Trafficking Academy at St. Thomas University in the United States, Dr. Roza Pati, says a multi-national approach is needed to combat human trafficking. “A phenomenon like trafficking is too big of a problem to be faced by governments alone. It’s too big of a problem to be faced by any nation State...

Former Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Grace McLean, is assuring the public that adequate post-assessment procedures are in place for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). “We are now in examination mode, so we will activate our hotlines across the island,” she said while addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the...