Minister of State for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, is calling on service clubs to partner with early-childhood institutions to assist them in meeting the certification standards. He said that of the more than 2,700 schools across the island, only 34 have been certified as meeting the Early Childhood Commission’s (ECC) stipulations. The first one was approved last...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness today (May 3) hailed journalists for their continued work in helping to secure Jamaica's democracy. His statement comes as journalists throughout the world celebrate World Press Freedom Day. The Prime Minister said "Governments over the years have worked with the media to ensure that there is a positive relationship between journalists and the State. This year...

The Justice Ministry has embarked on a review of all Acts and Regulations to ensure that penalties for breaches are in line with current realities. Director of the Legal Reform Department, Maurice Bailey, said pieces of legislation that are obsolete and archaic will be brought up to date. He informed that three officers have been assigned to undertake the review....

The Government spent more than $192 million to upgrade courthouses during the 2016/17 fiscal year Additionally, the Administration received $20 million in funding support from the United States Embassy in Jamaica, which facilitated the installation of air-conditioning units and provision of computers at several courts. This was disclosed by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, during his 2017/18 Sectoral Debate presentation...

Amendments are being made to the Public Debt Management Act (PDMA) to make certain provisions more consistent with international and local standards. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, who piloted the Bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 2), said it has become necessary to effect changes to the Act in order to improve...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says it will cost the Government $7 billion to complete all major aspects of justice reform by 2020. Making his contribution to the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, yesterday (May 2), Mr. Chuck said this amount does not include the cost for infrastructural works and institutional capacity. He noted that the...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Robert Montague, says the continuous collection and analysis of reliable data are essential in addressing crime and violence in the country. He said the availability of data is critical in the development of preventative strategies and facilitates effective deployment of resources. “To develop effective and informed interventions, better data are needed, and not only about...