Jamaica recorded a 13 per cent reduction in road fatalities and a 10 per cent decline in fatal crashes last year when compared to the corresponding period in 2022. Data from the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the Island Traffic Authority indicate that 425 road fatalities were recorded, resulting from 384 crashes as at December 31, 2023. Westmoreland, St. Catherine...

The Government will be placing “direct focus” on repairing local and community roads this year, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. He gave this assurance in his 2024 New Year’s Message as he announced a $20-billion budget allocation. Noting that there has not been a comprehensive and sustained programme of road repairs for some time, Mr. Holness said...

Government support for agriculture will be strengthened this year to boost productivity and enhance the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture currently contributes about 8.3 per cent of GDP, and the aim is to get to the nine per cent mark, said Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister, Hon. Floyd Green. “I believe that [this] will be an exceptional...

Significant progress has been made to clear the backlog of traffic tickets in the Corporate Area Traffic Court. Chief Justice, Hon. Bryan Sykes, made the disclosure during an interview with JIS News. He informed that this was made possible through the work of the judges as well as the night court. “With regard to the traffic tickets under the Traffic...

It could cost the Government between US$3 million and US$5 million to implement an integrated electronic case management framework for the justice system. This was disclosed by Chief Justice, Hon. Bryan Sykes, during a JIS News interview. He said it is proposed to commence the process of developing and operating the electronic case management system in both civil and criminal...

Self-employed persons are being reminded to provide accurate information to the National Housing Trust (NHT) when making contributions. Assistant General Manager for Compliance Management at the NHT, Dameon McNally, said this is important to avoid delays in accessing refunds eight years after the contribution was made. Mr. McNally was addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank in Kingston on...

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, has commended the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) for the work they continue to do in preventing drug abuse in the island. Councillor Vernon was addressing the NCDA’s 40th anniversary awards ceremony, which was held at the Chateau Margarita Waterfront Hotel in Unity Hall, St. James, recently. “Those 40 years would...