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Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw. (FILE)

Gov’t Embarking on Rationalisation of Public Bodies

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Government has embarked on a comprehensive rationalisation of public bodies. This, he said, will involve “a series of phased and sequenced actions over the next couple of fiscal...

Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund (USF), Suzette Buchanan.

USF Provides Millions to Boost Internet Access

Cofounder and Director of Counselling at Choose Life International (CLI), Faith Thomas (left), presents National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague (second left) with a book at CLI’s conference on happiness at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on March 23. Others (from third left) are Management Consultant and Social Entrepreneur, Dr. Henley Morgan and Founder of CLI, Dr. Donovan Thomas.

Jamaica Constantly on Alert – Security Minister

Acting Executive Director of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Karlene Deslandes.

ECC Forms Partnership to Help Early-Childhood Schools

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz ( 2nd left), examines a bag of castor beans being shown to him by Project Director of the Jamaica Baptist Union’s (JBU) Grow Castor Bean Project, Dr. Judith Johnston (2nd right). Occasion was the official launch of the initiative at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew on March 22. Others looking on (from left): are Chief of Operations at the Jamaica National Bank, Janice Robinson Longmore; and JBU General Secretary, Karl Johnson.

Minister Vaz Commits Land for Baptist Union Castor Oil Project

Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Corporate Communications Unit, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, addresses a recent JIS Think Tank.

9 years ago National Security and Peace

JCF Takes 150th Anniversary Celebrations to Montego Bay

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) continues its 150th anniversary celebrations with the staging of a concert in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, on Saturday, March 25. The event is the third of six scheduled concerts to be staged, one for each police division. Head of the Corporate Communications Unit, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, told JIS News that the event is part...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw. (FILE)

9 years ago Finance & Public Service

Interest Rates on New Loans Trending Down

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says lending rates by banks on new loans as at December 2016 were trending down. Closing the 2017/18 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 22, the Minister pointed out that interest rates on new loans for large projects are now at 10.23 per cent, compared with 13...

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (right), in discussion with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director, Maura Barry-Boyle (left) and Chairman of the Digicel Foundation, Jean Lowrie-Chin, during the handing over of the Enrichment Initiative to the Education Ministry on March 22 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston. The programme seeks to improve literacy in all primary schools.

9 years ago Education

Literacy Project Reaping Success

The Enrichment Initiative, which seeks to achieve 100 per cent literacy among primary-school students, has been handed over fully to the Ministry of Education. The project was initiated in 2009 by the Education Ministry and the Digicel Foundation, which provided funding. In 2013, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) came on board with more funding. Through the initiative,...

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (2nd left), listens to a point from Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), Kelly Tomblin, at an Energy Policy Workshop staged by the University of the West Indies (UWI) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on March 23. Others (from 2nd left) are UWI Professor, Tara Desgupta; and Coordinator for the UWI Institute of Sustainable Development, Dr. David Smith.

9 years ago Technology

$131.5 Million in Savings from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says the Government has realised savings of some $131.5 million through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP). “This is money that can be diverted to other areas, such as social and infrastructural development,” he said. He noted that the programme, being undertaken in collaboration with international funding partners,...

9 years ago Budget 2017/2018

GCT on Group Health Insurance a Deductible Expense for Companies – Shaw

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says companies that pay the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on group health insurance on behalf of their workers will be able to treat the payment as a deductible expense. Deductible expenses are those that can be subtracted from a company's income before it is subject to taxation. “Simply put, those...

Back to Basics (BTB) team members (standing l-r) Alyia Titus, Tarik Kiddoe and Jordan Mullings demonstrate safe group riding formation and signals at a Back to Basics Motorcycle Safety workshop held in partnership with the National Road Safety Council and Sandals Resorts International at Negril Hills Golf Course.

9 years ago Transport

Fewer Motorcyclists Dying

Seventeen fewer motorcyclists have died on the nation’s streets since the beginning of the year when compared to the corresponding period in 2016, representing a decrease of almost 50 per cent.Data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force Highway and Traffic Division show that up to Thursday, March 16, some 19 motorcyclists had been killed, compared with 36 over the similar period...

9 years ago Transport

JUTC Doubles Purchase on SmarterCards March 25

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is encouraging persons in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) and St. Catherine to come out on Saturday, March 25 and benefit from the ‘Big Bacchanal Double Day’ bonanza deal. The promotion, which is returning after a one-year break, will see SmarterCard holders getting twice the top-up value that is placed on their cards...