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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (second left), hands over the accreditation certificate for the Veterinary Services Diagnostic Laboratory (VSDL) to Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Osbil Watson (third left) during a ceremony at VSDL’s offices on Old Hope Road in St. Andrew on January 31.Others (from left) are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley; Chairman, JANAAC, Simon Roberts; and Quality Manager, VSDL, Tricia Fraser.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (second left), hands over the accreditation certificate for the Veterinary Services Diagnostic Laboratory (VSDL) to Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Osbil Watson (third left) during a ceremony at VSDL’s offices on Old Hope Road in St. Andrew on January 31.Others (from left) are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley; Chairman, JANAAC, Simon Roberts; and Quality Manager, VSDL, Tricia Fraser.

Veterinary Services Diagnostic Lab Accredited for Testing of Fish

The Veterinary Services Diagnostic Laboratory (VSDL) in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, has been accredited to carry out tests on fish for the export market. The certification, from the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), is for...
Chairman, Board of Directors, HEART Trust/NTA, Edward Gabbidon (right), addresses the ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between HEART Trust/NTA and the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ), to provide skills training for persons interested in becoming employed in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, at HEART’s head office in Kingston, on Friday (February 2). At left is President, BPIAJ, Gloria Henry.
Chairman, Board of Directors, HEART Trust/NTA, Edward Gabbidon (right), addresses the ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between HEART Trust/NTA and the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ), to provide skills training for persons interested in becoming employed in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, at HEART’s head office in Kingston, on Friday (February 2). At left is President, BPIAJ, Gloria Henry.

HEART Signs with BPIAJ for Training
Finance and the Public Service Minister and Member of Parliament for North East Manchester, Hon. Audley Shaw (second left), points out something of interest to Chairman of Caribbean Cement Company, Dr. Parris Lyew-Ayee (left); and Chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority, Wayne Chen (third left), as they walk along the freshly repaved water-harvesting facility at Percy Junor Hospital in Spaldings, Manchester. The catchment facility, renovated by Carib Cement, was officially handed over on January 31. At right is General Manager of Carib Cement, Peter Donkersloot.
Finance and the Public Service Minister and Member of Parliament for North East Manchester, Hon. Audley Shaw (second left), points out something of interest to Chairman of Caribbean Cement Company, Dr. Parris Lyew-Ayee (left); and Chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority, Wayne Chen (third left), as they walk along the freshly repaved water-harvesting facility at Percy Junor Hospital in Spaldings, Manchester. The catchment facility, renovated by Carib Cement, was officially handed over on January 31. At right is General Manager of Carib Cement, Peter Donkersloot.

Percy Junor Hospital Rainwater Harvesting Facility Restored
Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (second left), congratulates winner of an inverter refrigerator in the Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) ‘Energy Matters Competition’, Albert Chin (second right), during the awards ceremony on February 2, at ATL’s showroom in Kingston. Observing (from left) are Managing Director of ATL, Danville Walker; and ATL’s Marketing Manager, Tanya Russell. The competition forms part of the Government’s World Bank-funded public education thrust to increase awareness of the Energy Security and Efficiency Enhancement Project (ESEEP) and other energy-related developments in Jamaica.
Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (second left), congratulates winner of an inverter refrigerator in the Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) ‘Energy Matters Competition’, Albert Chin (second right), during the awards ceremony on February 2, at ATL’s showroom in Kingston. Observing (from left) are Managing Director of ATL, Danville Walker; and ATL’s Marketing Manager, Tanya Russell. The competition forms part of the Government’s World Bank-funded public education thrust to increase awareness of the Energy Security and Efficiency Enhancement Project (ESEEP) and other energy-related developments in Jamaica.

Government Saves $150 Million through ESEEP
Academic Vice Principal of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Robert Edwards, addresses Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, at the agency’s Montego Bay Regional office on January 29.
Academic Vice Principal of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Robert Edwards, addresses Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, at the agency’s Montego Bay Regional office on January 29.

Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College Wooing More Males to Teaching Profession

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Director-General for International Cooperation and Development in the European Commission, Stefano Manservisi (centre), emphasizes a point while fielding questions from attendees at his open lecture entitled: ‘The European Union (EU) and the Caribbean: a proposal for a modern partnership beyond 2020’, at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in St. Andrew on Thursday (February 1). He flanked by (from left): Head of the EU Delegation to Jamaica, Malgorzata Wasilewska; and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs, UWI, Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal.
Foreign Affairs

EU Seeking To Establish Separate Arrangements with ACP Countries

The European Union (EU) is seeking to establish separate arrangements with members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group as it prepares to enter into a new partnership agreement with these countries. Director-General for International Cooperation and Development in the European Commission, Stefano Manservisi, said this would represent a shift from finance-focused arrangements under the ACP-EU Partnership (Cotonou) Agreement,...
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Film Commissioner at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Renee Robinson, speaks to JIS News about various initiatives being undertaken to boost the film industry.
Entertainment

Finalists Leave for France to Take Part in Film Festival

Jamaica’s Film Commissioner, Renée Robinson and finalists from the 2017 Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA)/Propella programme journey to France today (February 3), to participate in the week-long Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. It will be the first time that a delegation from Jamaica will participate in the festival. The finalists are the 2017 cohort of Jamaica’s top film talent,...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, cuddles 10-month old Zeerika Forbes of Denham Town, West Kingston, while touring the community with European Union (EU) and Government officials on Friday (February 2). Looking on are: Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith (centre); and Head of the EU Delegation in Jamaica, Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska.
Development

PM Reaffirms Commitment to Use EU Funds Effectively

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to effectively utilize European Union (EU) funding support to implement programmes for which they are earmarked. “We take seriously European taxpayers’ funds as we do Jamaican taxpayers’ money. The truth is, if we are spending resources, whether it is (an EU) grant or Jamaican taxes, we must ensure...
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Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon Audley Shaw (left), greets Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) General Manager, Country Department, Caribbean Group, Therese Turner-Jones, during Thursday’s (February 1) signing ceremony for €9.17 million (US$10 million) in grant funding under the European Union-Caribbean Investment Facility (EU-CIF) for the Government’s energy management and efficiency project. The signing took place at the Ministry in Kingston. At centre is Director-General for International Cooperation and Development in the European Commission, Stefano Manservisi.
EnergyFinance & Public ServiceVision 2030

Additional Funding for Energy Efficiency Programme

The Government has received additional funding support for its Energy Management and Efficiency Programme (EMEP) through a €9.17-million (US$10-million) grant from the European Union (EU). This is being allocated through the European Union-Caribbean Investment Fund Facility (EU-CIF) and will serve to promote more efficient use of energy resources by the State that would free up public funds through the reduction...
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Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck. (FILE)
Justice

House Approves Amendments to Trafficking in Persons Act

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (January 30), passed amendments to the Trafficking in Persons Act to enable a judge to try trafficking offences without a jury. The amendments were made following reports from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) that a number of irregularities were discovered with trials for Trafficking in Persons (TIP) offences. Minister of...
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Deputy Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Maxine Headlam (right), and President of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA), Karlene Bisnott (second right), speak to Sales and Marketing Executive, Hodder Education, Frank Mark Phipps, about some of the books the company publishes and distributes. They were visiting booths mounted as part of the annual general meeting of JISA, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on January 31.
EducationInformationYouth

Private Schools Encouraged to Partner with Government

Operators of private schools are being encouraged to further partner with the Government as it seeks to increase the placement of infants (aged zero to three) and special needs students in these institutions. The call comes from Deputy Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Maxine Headlam, who noted that accommodation for these children is one...
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