The Government has embarked on a programme to expand irrigation on a number of farmlands located at the southern part of the country. “The efforts of this Government to expand irrigation is not only admirable, but critical. We are starting with Essex Valley, and there are also initiatives afoot to significantly improve irrigation in Southern St. Catherine and Clarendon, which...

HEART Trust/NTA and the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) geared towards providing on-the-job training for apprentices in the manufacturing and export sectors. At the signing on Tuesday (January 23) at the JMA boardroom, downtown Kingston, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard, commended the entities for coming together to...

Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, says coffee farmers in the area are looking at various options to expand the industry. She noted that there is understanding among the farmers that “beans alone will not cut it and they have to explore various options for the product”. “We would like to expand the...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government is in the process of developing a comprehensive policy to deal with securing the integrity of the security forces. He was responding to questions from journalists at his quarterly press briefing held this morning (January 24) at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston. The Prime Minister noted that the security forces...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is to provide $100 million in support to farmers affected by the recent heavy rains in Portland, St. Mary and Trelawny. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, has explained that these three parishes experienced extreme flooding, not only causing agricultural damage of over $343 million but also significant infrastructure damage, such as farm...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is encouraging the remaining 148 claimants who suffered damage and losses as a result of the 2010 West Kingston security operations to urgently come forward to claim their share of $21 million in compensation. Providing an update in the House of Representatives on January 23, the Minister said persons are being asked to visit the...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says he is optimistic that Jamaica will benefit from the Government’s proactive implementation of initiatives to curb the upsurge in crime, beginning with the State of Public Emergency in St. James. While acknowledging “initial jitters” likely to resonate among members of civil society regarding the “definitive actions” to arrest the upsurge, the Prime...