Since taking over the Energy, and Science and Technology Portfolios in July 2018, significant policy, governance and administrative advances have been made. Through the Energy Portfolio, government’s strategic policy goal of providing real assets to private citizens and entities through listing on the Jamaican Stock Market has begun to take shape with the imminent initial public offering of Wigton Wind...

The Government plans to lobby the support of the international community, particularly the United States, for the Jamaican cannabis industry’s development. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says this partly stems from reluctance by local banks to fund the industry’s growth, due to fear of international de-risking, citing this as a major impediment with serious economic implications...

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) will assist in fostering entrepreneurship among young persons. He contended that “it will cultivate more independent thinkers”, citing this as a “critical need” in business. The State Minister was speaking during the recent LearnFest symposium at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in...

With the country’s hotel room stock projected to reach approximately 48,000 by 2022, local food distributor, Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited (CPJ), is pledging to ensure that the hospitality sector “will always be adequately supplied”. The company’s founder and co-chairman, Tom Tyler, gave the pledge as he addressed the official opening of CPJ’s US$10-million Distribution Centre in Freeport, Montego Bay, on...

The Ministry of Health has placed Jamaica on influenza alert in light of the significant increase in the number of cases of fever and respiratory illnesses reported across the island. Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, in a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (February 12), said that data collected over the past two weeks indicate an...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, recently hosted a reception for members of the winning 2018 TVJ Junior Schools’ Challenge Quiz team, Mount Airy All-Age School, and runner-up, Broughton Primary School. The students and their coaches, principals, and parents were feted in fine style at the Royan Hotel in Negril, Westmoreland. Both schools are located in Westmoreland, which is the parish...

The Petrojam Review Commission will shortly submit recommendations to the Government regarding the State refinery’s operations. Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said that the recommendations are based on a technical analysis of the facility. They will, among other things, address changes in the international fuel regulatory regime, which take effect in 2020, and...