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Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, addresses an Energy, Efficiency and Conservation Awareness Workshop at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston on June 29.

More than $100 Million Saved Under Energy Efficiency Programme

The Government has saved more than $100 million in energy costs under the Energy, Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP). Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, said the programme has resulted in a significant reduction in...

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (left), addresses parents and students at Pembroke Hall Primary School’s awards ceremony, held on June 29 at the school.

Parents Urged to Support PTAs

Executive Director of the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica, Dr. Donna Powell Wilson (centre), addresses Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ recently. Observing from left are: Principal of Excelsior Community College in Kingston and Chair of the Curriculum Development Committee in the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ), Philmore McCarthy, and Principal of Knox Community College and President of the Association of Principals and Vice Principals of Community Colleges, Dr. Gordon Cowans.

Community Colleges Providing Access to Affordable Tertiary Education

Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), Nari Williams-Singh (2nd right), presents a novelty cheque for $750,000 to Principal of Westwood High School, Karen Francis (left), to assist with rebuilding efforts of the institution in Trelawny following a massive fire on May 3, which destroyed the kitchen, dining room, tuck room and the matron’s quarters. Westwood past student and JCAA Deputy Director General for Corporate Services, Nichole Morgan (right), led the charge to secure the funds. Sharing in the moment are Westwood High students Deaundra Dobson (2nd left); and Shaneisia Bailey.

JCAA Donates to Westwood High School Rebuilding Effort

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), has a light moment as he addresses the Caribbean Action 2030 Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Mona, St. Andrew, on June 28. Others seated at the head table (from left) are: United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Bruno Pouezat; Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UWI, Open Campus, Dr. Luz Longsworth; and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jessica Faieta.

Jamaica Focused on Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Through Vision 2030 – PM

Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator, the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), engages first-form students of Campion College . (File Photo)

9 years ago Education

Education Ministry Disburses $1.4 Billion in Subventions to Schools

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has disbursed subventions totalling over $1.4 billion to secondary schools for the 2017/ 2018 academic year. This was announced by Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, at a post- Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on June 28. The Minister pointed out that this is the first of four tranches to be...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, addresses the House of Representatives on June 28.

9 years ago Finance & Public ServiceParliament

House Passes Bill to Allow Withdrawal from NHT

The Government is to continue withdrawing $11.4 billion annually from the National Housing Trust (NHT) to support the budget for the next four years. Legislation to effect this was passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 28). The National Housing Trust (Amendment) (Special Provisions) Bill was piloted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw....

Chief Executive Officer of the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA), Lorice Edwards Brown, is urging persons to ensure that they are in compliance with the labelling and packaging standards for sugar, which take effect on July 1. She was speaking at a JIS Think Tank on June 29 at the agency’s head office in Kingston.

9 years ago Commerce

Stiff Penalties for Non-Compliance with Sugar Labelling, Packaging Standards

Persons could face stiff penalties for non-compliance with the labelling and packaging standards for sugar sold in the retail market. Director at the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA), Orine Henry, said the Standards Act provides for a fine of $3 million and 12 months in prison. She was speaking at a Think Tank held on June 29 at the...

Communication/Social Marketing Coordinator for the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP), Patrice Nephew, speaks about the achievements of the
programme at a JIS think Tank on Wednesday, June 28.

9 years ago JusticeNational Security and Peace

More than 5,000 Youth Benefit from CSJP III

More than 5,000 persons have benefited from the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) III since its implementation in 2014. Of the number, over 2,000 were deemed to be at medium or high risk for involvement in crime and violence. Counselling services were provided for 1,000 persons; 404 received vocational skills training; 226 benefited from employment internships; and another 158...

Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), and World Bank
Country Manager for Jamaica, Galina Sotirova (right), sign the multilateral institution’s
J$9.01 billion (US$70 million) Second Competitiveness and Fiscal Management
Programmatic Development Policy Loan agreement on June 28 at the Ministry’s offices
in Kingston. At left is State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service,
Hon. Fayval Williams.

9 years ago Finance & Public Service

Development Approval Time to be Reduced from 90 to 60 Days by March 2018

The Government is targeting a reduction in the development approval process timeline from 90 to 60 days by March 2018. Additionally, the Administration has taken steps to reduce the time taken to establish a business by facilitating an electronic registration process, Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, has said. These measures, he indicated, form part of the thrust...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), converses with Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
(ODPEM) Director General, Major Clive Davis (2 nd left), during the Jamaica-Mexico
Bilateral Cooperation Programme stakeholders’ meeting at ODPEM’s New Kingston head office on June 23. Others (from left) are: Mexico’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Martha Cecelia Jaber; Director General of the National Centre for Disaster
Preparedness in Mexico (CENAPRED), Dr. Carlos Gonzales; and Consultant for the
scoping mission of the governance continuity strategy development project, Ana Lucia
Hill.

9 years ago Local Government

14 State Entities Targeted Under Continuity of Government Operations Plan

An initial 14 Ministries and State agencies will benefit from capacity support to ensure continuity of Government operations in the event that the island is impacted by a natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane. This is under the 2016/17 Jamaica-Mexico Bilateral Cooperation Programme, which is being spearheaded by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) with...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, emphasises a point as he contributes to the debate on the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 28). The Bill was passed with 18 amendments.

9 years ago National Security and PeaceParliament

More Resources for Security Forces, Social Intervention

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that additional resources will be provided to the security forces for implementation of social intervention programmes as part of efforts to address crime. “The Government will have to provide resources to the police, to the army and to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA),” he said. “More so, we will...