The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), on Friday (February 9), launched its 2015 State of the Jamaican Climate Report, which provides a concise overview of data and information on Jamaica’s climate. The report, which is an update of the 2012 edition, builds on the core data in the previous report, and is a first reference point with respect to parameters...

The Government has launched a $5.9-million incentive programme aimed at increasing secondary-school attendance by students benefiting under the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). Dubbed ‘School Days Count’, the two-year initiative will roll out between February and April in 34 institutions that have below-70 per cent attendance levels. It will offer a range of cash and non-cash incentives...

The Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) is moving ahead with plans to provide 830,000 square feet of business process outsourcing (BPO) space in St. Thomas and St. Catherine. The spaces will be created in Naggo Head, St. Catherine; and Morant Bay, St. Thomas and will have the capacity to provide 23,000 employment opportunities in the sector. In an interview with...

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the Government is exploring public-private partnership models to assist in the delivery of quality, affordable public health services. “We believe that in the years to come, more of that partnership will have to be the norm rather than the exception if we are to deliver quality healthcare to our people,” he said....

Schools in East Central St. Andrew are to benefit from a Quality Education Circle (QEC 3) geared towards improving student performance and overall educational outcomes. The programme, which was officially launched during a ceremony on Thursday (February 8), at the Merl Grove High School Auditorium, 77-79 Constant Spring Road, incorporates institutions at the primary and secondary levels. The objective is...

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says a deeper partnership can be forged with the University of the West Indies (UWI), to solve challenges in the education system. Speaking at the UWI Research Days, at the Mona campus, on February 7, the Minister argued that the partnership could enable major results from meagre resources. He...

The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is expecting a major boost in employment in business process outsourcing (BPO) by year end from the provision of additional office space to meet the demands of the rapidly growing sector. Senior Vice-President, Elva Williams-Richards, said that the Authority has just completed 63,000 square feet of modern BPO space in Montego Bay, and within...