The issue of community renewal through the upgrading of housing stock, will take centre stage, as Jamaica joins the rest of the world in commemorating the 66th anniversary of World Town Planning Day in November. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is partnering with several other government and non-government agencies to stage a number of activities to mark the...

Chief Economist, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Everton McFarlane, is encouraging public sector auditors to continue to carry out their duties efficiently and effectively despite the challenges they may encounter. These include: adapting to technological advancements; managing exposure to strategic and operational risks; and addressing evolution of organisations, risk profiles and compliance. “Auditors have to be aware of these changes from...

The country’s over 100,000 government workers are to benefit from cash rewards at select private sector establishments through the ‘Team Jamaica Valucard’ programme. The initiative,  launched at the Super Shoppers Fair complex on Washington Boulevard on October 30, will see civil servants being rewarded with cash back benefits whenever they use the card to access goods and services at any...

A parenting assessment tool developed and being tested by the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), is proving that lack of effective parenting is responsible for many of the behavioural problems being exhibited by children. Executive Director of the NPSC, Dr. Patrece Charles-Freeman, said the data is showing that many parents “are not creating structures at home for their children, they...

The Government is preparing residents living in and around the Blue and John Crow Mountains World Heritage Site, to tap into the economic value of the area. “For example, we are exploring partnership with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) to develop craft industries by strengthening the product and marketing capabilities of the local communities,” said Prime Minister, the Most...

The National Family Planning Board (NFPB) is reporting a significant decline in the prevalence rate of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) among sex workers. A recent sex worker survey done by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) showed that the rate has dropped from 12 per cent to 2.9 per cent. Director of Health Promotion and Prevention at the NFPB, Andrea...

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, is calling on Jamaicans to be vigilant in looking out for signs of child abuse, even within in their own families, and to be courageous in reporting any such incident. She made the call, while responding to questions at a human rights forum held on October 29, at the University of Technology’s (UTech)...