President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, T’Shura Gibbs, says the business community supports the establishment of the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) in Mount Salem and would welcome its rollout to other communities once the objectives are clearly defined. She noted that the Chamber and other entities have been asking the Government to take action to...

In another two weeks, the Government will be launching a revolving loan scheme for farmers across the island for selected crops. Under the arrangement, registered farmers with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), will access the support through their local farm organisations, which will oversee the repayment of the loans. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture...

Work is now complete for the merger of the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), and is awaiting approval by Cabinet. Making the disclosure, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says by the end of October, the “merger will be operationalized”, while work continues on the...

The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) will officially become Caribbean Maritime University on World Maritime Day, September 28, at an official Charter Day ceremony to be held at the National Arena in Kingston. This follows passage of relevant legislation in Parliament earlier this year to grant the institution university status and to confer degrees, awards, certificates, diplomas and other academic distinctions....

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says discussions have been held with his counterpart in Trinidad and Tobago about co-sponsoring a ship that will provide relief to Caribbean nations during times of emergencies. He made the disclosure during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (September 19). The Prime Minister was responding to Member of Parliament for...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (September 19) approved the National Identification and Registration Bill with 100 amendments. The Bill seeks to facilitate the establishment and regulation of a system for the registration, verification and authentication of the identity of citizens and other persons residing in Jamaica; and establishment of a National Civil and Identification Database to generate national identification...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says Jamaicans can expect a new National Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy and the National Infant and Young Child Feeding Strategic Action Plan, which are both geared towards improving the health and well-being of the nation’s children. Addressing the National Breastfeeding Week’s launch and two-day conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre...