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Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (seated 2nd right), and Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce (seated 2nd left), affix their signatures to the contract for the rehabilitation of 8.1 kilometres of cane roads from Elim to Braes River in St. Elizabeth. The signing took place in the Elim community on Thursday, July 9. Preparing to sign are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry (seated left); and N. F. Barnes (seated right) of the construction company. Standing (from left) are Head of Delegation of the European Union, Jesus Orus Baguena; Project Engineer at the Sugar Transformation Unit (STU), Milton Hodlin; and Head of the STU, Keleen Grandison.

Gov’t Allocates $800 Million for Rehabilitation of Cane Roads

Some 80 kilometres of cane roads in the island’s six sugar-producing parishes are to be refurbished this financial year at a cost of $800 million. The works, being funded by the European Union (EU) through the Sugar Transformation Unit (STU),...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (2nd left), shakes hands with St. Elizabeth farmer, Donna-Ree Hutchinson, after presenting her with a water tank yesterday (July 9), during a function held at the Santa Cruz offices of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). Over 30 tanks were handed over to farmers affected by the drought conditions. Sharing the occasion (from left) are: Member of Parliament for North West St. Elizabeth , JC. Hutchinson; Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce; Chief Executive Officer of RADA, Lenworth Funton; and Member of Parliament for South East St. Elizabeth, Richard Parchment

Agriculture Minister Hands Over 30 Water Tanks to St. Elizabeth Farmers

The top students in the poster segment of the Office of the Contractor General Essay and Poster Competitions, proudly show off their illustrations at the award ceremony held on July 9, at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston. They are (from (left) winner Omario Kelvin of Chetwood Memorial Primary School; Shae-on Green of Glenmuir High, who placed second; and Pa’vielle Hamilton and Kavina Blake of the Edith Dalton James High School, who placed third.

Students Win Cash Prizes in Contractor General Essay and Poster Contest

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (centre), affixes his signature to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which concretises the establishment of the Ministry’s Labour Market Information System (LMIS) satellite station within the offices of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce (MCC). Also participating (from left) are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Colette Roberts Risden; and President of the MCC, Loven McCook. The signing took place during the staging of a Town Hall Outreach Meeting at the Mandeville Hotel in Manchester, on Thursday (July 9).

LMIS Station Now in Mandeville to Assist Job Seekers

Regional Disaster Coordinator for the Northern Region at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Allison Gordon (right), outlines the focus for World Population Day this Saturday (July 11) at a recent JIS Think Tank. Listening are Manager of the Population and Health Unit at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Toni-Shae Freckleton (left), and Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Sheila Roseau.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups During Emergencies a Top Priority of Government

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (4th right), participates in the breaking of ground for a US $61 million solar electricity plant, at the project site in Content District, Clarendon on July 9. Others (from left) are: Minister of Local Government and Community Development and Member of Parliament for South West Clarendon, Hon. Noel Arscott; Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell; Vice President, WRB Enterprises Inc., Robert Blenker; Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Public Service, Kelly Tomlinson; and Chargé d

11 years ago Prime Minister

PM Breaks Ground for First Solar Energy Power Plant in JA

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on Thursday (July 9) broke ground for the development of the first utility-scale solar energy power plant in Jamaica, which upon completion will be the largest and most sophisticated solar electricity facility in the Caribbean. Spanning some 160 acres of land in Content Village, York Town, Clarendon, the Content Solar Project being implemented by WRB...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Mr. Colin Fagan (3rd left), with (from left): United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Director, Ms. Sheila Roseau; Deputy Director General at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Mr. Richard Thompson; Executive Director of Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Mr. Ronald Jackson; Deputy Director General of Sustainable Development Planning and Research Division, at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Ms. Claire Bernard and Director General at the PIOJ, Mr. Colin Bullock. Occasion was a public lecture hosted by the PIOJ on July 9, in observance of World Population Day 2015.

11 years ago Local Government

Parish Councils Asked to Submit Areas Most Vulnerable to Natural Disasters

State Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan, says the parish councils and Portmore Municipality have been requested to provide preliminary reports on areas considered to be most vulnerable during natural disasters and most likely to put human safety at risk in such events. The State Minister said the reporting process is expected to...

Chief Executive Officer of the Footprints Foundation, Lorna Owens, chief facilitator for the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), addresses a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.

11 years ago Health & WellnessJIS Think Tank

Training to Reduce Infant Mortality

The Ministry of Health has embarked on a training programme to strengthen the capacity of health workers to help in reducing Jamaica’s infant and maternal mortality rate. This is being done in partnership with the United States based Footprints Foundation, under component three of the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC). This component deals specifically with...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Ms. Hillary Alexander, addresses the launch of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Graduate Internship Programme, at the PCJ’s auditorium, located at 36 Trafalgar Road, in New Kingston.

11 years ago Technology

Schools To Be Retrofitted With Solar Panels

Fifteen primary and secondary schools across the island are to be retrofitted with solar panels by the end of the summer. “We (Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica) are retrofitting the schools with solar and the project is valued at about $60 million. The first set of components has already been imported. They are being cleared now,” Permanent Secretary in the Ministry...

11 years ago Office of the Prime MinisterPrime MinisterTechnology

More Than 20,000 Homes To Be Powered By New Solar Plant

More than 20,000 Jamaican homes are expected to be powered by clean, affordable, renewable energy to be generated from the US$61 million solar electricity plant, being built in Content District, Clarendon. Electricity produced by this 20-megawatt plant, the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, will replace approximately three million gallons of fossil fuel per year. Construction of the state-of-the...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer (left), cuts the ribbon to officially open the Thompson Town community complex in Clarendon, yesterday (July 8). Others (from left) are: Councillor for the Thompson Town Division, Kavin Shirley; Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Scean Barnswell; Member of Parliament for North West Clarendon, Hon. Richard Azan; and Medical Officer of Health for Clarendon, Dr. Kimberly Scarlett-Campbell.

11 years ago Local Government

Multipurpose Complex Opens in Thompson Town

A multipurpose complex, housing a post office, poor relief office, home work centre, and a market, was officially opened on July 8 in the community of Thompson Town, Clarendon. The $8 million facility was constructed through financing from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), Clarendon Parish Council, and donations from businesses, as well as private contributions from...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hillary Alexander (centre), and Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Human Resources Manager, Kirk Johnson (right), share a moment with the 10 participants in the PCJ’s Graduate Internship Programme, at the launch on July 8, at the PCJ Auditorium, New Kingston.

11 years ago Technology

PCJ Interns Urged to Make Good Use of Opportunity

The first cohort of 10 interns participating in the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s (PCJ) Graduate Internship Programme, have been urged to make full use of the on-the- job training. “Grasp this chance that PCJ has given you, grasp it very generously with both hands. Let it teach you and let it guide you,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of...