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Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (third left), affixes her signature to the new Heads of Agreement, which was signed between the Government and representatives of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, during a ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on August 11. Also signing (from left) are: Vice President, Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, Helene Davis Whyte; Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips; and President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association, O’neil Grant. Pictured in the background (from left) are: Manager, Public Relations, Special Projects and Community Outreach, OPM, Shelly-Ann Harris; and Finance and Planning Ministry officials - Director, Industrial Relations, Lorna A. Phillips; Acting Financial Secretary, Everton McFarlane; Senior Industrial Relations Officer, Charmaine Hayman; and Deputy Financial Secretary, Wayne Jones. The new wage agreement, which is for the contract period 2015 to 2017, will see public sector employees receiving a salary increase of seven per cent over two years.

Improved Benefits for Public Sector Workers

Civil Servants are to receive several improved benefits under the new wage agreement for the 2015 to 2017 contract period. This is in addition to the fixed figure increase of $48,000 to annual salaries across the public service, which will...

Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev. Ronon on August 13 at the Ministry’s head office in Kingston.

Support for Students Who Missed Pass Mark in Math and English A

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (centre), shares a moment with Joan McClure (left) and her daughter Trevonne McClure, who will be attending St. Catherine High School in September. Occasion was a Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) awards function held on August 13, at Jamaica House, where 17 students of staff employed to the Office of the Cabinet and Office of the Prime Minister were presented with book vouchers valued at $5,000 each.

Put Aside Negative Thoughts – PM

Co-Chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), Richard Byles, outlines the performance of key indicators under the country’s four-year extended fund facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), during a press briefing on Thursday, August 13. (File)

Jamaica On Course to Pass 9th Consecutive IMF Test

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (centre), engages in light discussion with General Manager, National Commercial Bank (NCB) Corporate Banking Division, Brian Boothe (left); and Acting President, National Water Commission (NWC), Mark Barnett. Occasion was the signing ceremony for a US$12 million loan agreement to finance the rehabilitation or replacement of wastewater management facilities, held on August 12, at the NCB's Wellness and Recreation Centre in Kingston.

NWC and NCB Sign US$12 Million Loan Facility for Sewage Upgrading

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, gives his remarks at a press conference to provide an update on the status of the Cannabis Industry Regulatory Framework, held at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Thursday, August 13.

11 years ago Commerce

Work Progressing On Ganja Regulations

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says he expects to receive final recommendations to guide the development of the regulations for the ganja industry by the end of September. Development of the regulations represents the first steps towards establishing a successful and globally competitive medical marijuana industry in Jamaica. The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015, which became...

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (left), congratulates Guardian Life Limited’s top Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarship awardees Mikhail Morris (right) and Yendi Foo (centre). Occasion was the company’s 10th annual GSAT awards ceremony held on August 12 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Sharing the moment are President of Guardian Life Limited, Eric Hosin; and Youth Advocate, Kemesha Kelly.

11 years ago Education

Rev. Thwaites Hails Contribution of Education Partners

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, is commending the various corporate entities, groups, and individuals, who continue to contribute to the education sector. He noted that while the Government invests some $80 billion in education annually, the sum “would be insufficient to do what we do if it were not for the contribution of companies, persons in the Diaspora, parents,...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (second left), addresses a press conference about Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) results at the Ministry’s head office on Thursday (August 13). Also in attendance are (from left): Senior Advisor in the Ministry, Mr. Radley Reid; Chief Education Officer, Dr. Grace McLean; and National Numeracy Co-ordinator, Dr. Tamika Benjamin.

11 years ago Education

More Students Pass CSEC Mathematics

The Ministry of Education is reporting an increase in the number of students who acquired grade one to three passes in Mathematics, as well as in 13 other subjects in the 2015 sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC). Of the 23,639 public school candidates who sat the Mathematics examination, 14,657 or 62 per cent were awarded passing grades....

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (left) is pleased to hand over a Certificate of Title to Ms. Linda Wellington at the launch of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing’s National Land Titling Programme and Certificates of Title Handing-over Ceremony at the Christ the Redeemer Church, Seaview Gardens in Kingston on Wednesday, August 12. Ms. Wellington was among 63 persons from the Tower Hill, Seaview Gardens and Seaward Pen communities of Kingston who received land titles.

11 years ago Office of the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Launches National Land Titling Programme

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller on Wednesday, August 12, handed over land titles to 63 persons from the Tower Hill, Seaview Gardens and Seaward Pen communities of Kingston at the launch of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing’s National Land Titling Programme and Certificates of Title Handing-over Ceremony at the Christ the Redeemer Church, Seaview Gardens...

Vice President for Export and Market Development at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Robert Scott, speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.

11 years ago Commerce

Film Industry Benefits From Festival

The film industry is already starting to see significant benefits and opportunities as a result of last month’s staging of Jamaica’s inaugural Film Festival, says Vice President of Export and Market Development at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Mr. Robert Scott. “We have done something that has really put us on the map or began the process of putting us on...

Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (left), presents the Instrument of Appointment to Custos of St. Mary, Hon. Errol Vaughan Johnson, during a ceremony at King’s House in June.

11 years ago Governor General

Errol Johnson to Be Installed As Custos of St. Mary

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, is to formally install acting principal of the Islington High School, Errol Vaughan Johnson, as Custos Rotulorum for the parish of St. Mary. This is on the recommendation of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller. The installation ceremony will take place on August 20 at the St. Mary High...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (third left), makes a point to Councillor for the Payne Land Division, Audrey Smith-Facey (left). Listening (from second left) are: Executive Director of the United States-based Joseph Assignment Global Initiative, Mordecai Buckley; Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Lead Volunteer, Dr. Alexia Felder; and Co-Founder, Dr. Trunell Felder. Occasion was a tour of several sections of the Payne Land Division in Kingston on Wednesday, August 12. The visiting humanitarian group has been undertaking various capacity-building initiatives in the community over the past two weeks.

11 years ago Office of the Prime MinisterPrime Minister

PM Praises Work of Joseph Assignment Global Initiative

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has praised members of visiting humanitarian group, Joseph Assignment Global Initiative, on efforts to enhance the lives of residents in several inner city and rural communities. Joseph Assignment, which is a worldwide organisation based in the United States, has been providing interventions in health, education, and skills training in communities in Kingston,...