Latest

Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund (USF), Dr. Hugh Cross.

USF Provides $430 Million for ICT Infrastructure Development in Tertiary Institutions

The Universal Service Fund (USF) has provided nearly $430 million in information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure development support for several tertiary institutions over the past four years. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Hugh Cross, says this entailed the installation...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz (standing, left) and General Manager, Country Department, Caribbean Group, Inter-American Development Bank, Therese Turner Jones (standing, right), observe as (from left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Audrey Sewell; Managing Director, Development Bank of Jamaica, Milverton Reynolds; General Manager, JN Small Business Loans, Gillian Hyde; and Programme Manager, Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), Allison Rangolan McFarlane sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism Project at Jamaica House, in St. Andrew, on July 28. Under the initiative, US$7.2 million will be made available to micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism and agricultural sectors to finance climate-change adaptation initiatives islandwide.

US$ 7.2 Million to Boost Climate Change Resilience

Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Mike Henry.

Industrial Zone to be Established in St. Elizabeth

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), with President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, His Excellency Nicolás Maduro Moros (right), ahead of a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Sunday, May 22. The briefing followed bilateral talks between the two countries on trade, energy and culture. The Venezuelan President was on a working visit to Jamaica.

PetroCaribe Trade Compensation Mechanism Activated

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), points out something of interest to Acting Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry, Dr. Winston De La Haye, during a recent tour of the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth.

Improvements Coming for Black River Hospital

Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Mike Henry (centre), consults with Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (left), during a media briefing at the Transport Ministry’s offices in St. Andrew, on July 28. At right is Permanent Secretary in the Mining Ministry, Dr. Alwin Hales.

10 years ago Transport

Chinese Company Buys Alpart

The ALPART alumina refinery in Nain, St. Elizabeth, has been sold to Chinese entity Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCo). Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Mike Henry, says an interest purchase agreement negotiated between JISCo and Russian alumina firm, UC Rusal, which operated the refinery, was signed by representatives of both entities on July 19 in China. Mr. Henry, along...

Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) Special Projects Director and Archaeologist, Dorrick Gray, addresses a Think Tank at the JIS Montego Bay Regional Office, where he gave details about the staging of the Seville Emancipation Jubilee on July 31 into the morning of August 1.

10 years ago Culture

Emancipation Jubilee to Pay Tribute to African Ancestors

The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) says that this year’s Seville Emancipation Jubilee will be a fitting tribute to the African ancestors. JNHT Director of Special Projects and Archaeologist, Dorrick Gray, said the event, from Sunday (July 31) through to the morning of August 1, will honour the sacrifices and struggles of the African forefathers for the freedom we now...

Senior Administrative Projects Officer at the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Michelle Clayton Brown (left), and Suzanne Stanley of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) (2nd left) look at the contents of JET’s study entitled ‘Garbage and the Gully,’ which was unveiled at the launch of International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day on Wednesday (July 27), at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James. Others from (3rd left) are Marine Conservation Coordinator at the Montego Bay Marine Park, Jaedon Lowe; JET’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Diana McCauley; ICC Coordinator at JET, Felicia Wong; and JET’s Director of Marine Conservation, Llewelyn Meggs. ICC Day will be observed on Saturday, September 17.

10 years ago Environment

Hundreds to Participate in Beach Clean-Up Day

Hundreds of volunteers are expected to join forces to remove garbage and other debris from beaches across the island on International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day. The global initiative, aimed at improving the marine environment, will be observed on Saturday (September 17). Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) Coordinator for ICC Day activities, Felecia Wong, said that this is the 23rd year that...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, speaks about this year’s Emancipation and Independence celebrations at a JIS ‘Think Tank’, held on July 22, at the JIS head office in Kingston.

10 years ago CultureEntertainmentJIS Think Tank

No Smoking at Grand Gala

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, is reminding Jamaicans attending the 54th staging of Grand Gala at the National Stadium on Saturday, August 6, that no smoking will be allowed. Addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ recently, the Minister said the ban on smoking in public places still exists and this will be enforced....

Western Regional Manager of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Natalie Morris, addresses JIS ‘Think Tank’ in Montego Bay on July 28. She outlined details of the 2016 Emancipation/Independence celebrations for the region.

10 years ago CultureEntertainmentJIS Think Tank

Western Jamaica Well Covered for Independence Celebrations

Western Regional Manager of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Natalie Morris, says residents of the region are in for a treat during the 2016 Emancipation-Independence celebrations. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ in Montego Bay on July 28, Ms. Morris said the events will be taken to areas of Western Jamaica that have never experienced celebrations of this magnitude....

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), greets General Manager, Altamont Court Hotel, Christopher Jarrett (centre), while hotelier, Kevin Hendrickson, looks on. The occasion was a meeting with tourism investment partners at the Office of the Prime Minister on July 28.

10 years ago Prime MinisterTourism

Gov’t Committed to Tourism – PM

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has assured local and international tourism investors of the Government’s support for the continued development of the sector. He noted that tourism is a key part of the national growth strategy and is a priority area of focus. “Tourism, being such a major part of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), would be the...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz (at podium), speaks at the opening session for a Caribbean Regional Policy Dialogue on Environmental Licensing and Compliance conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, on July 27. Seated (from left) are General Manager, Caribbean Country Department, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones; and Chief, Environmental Safeguards Unit, IDB, Janine Ferrett

10 years ago Office of the Prime Minister

Licensing Regime for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultants

The Government is pursuing the enactment of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, which will introduce a licensing or certification regime for EIA Consultants. According to Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, this is expected to bring greater levels of control over their operations. “This Government is committed to sound environmental governance,...