Opposition Spokesperson on Finance, Audley Shaw, has recommended that the Government develop an overseas work programme to provide more employment opportunities for Jamaicans outside of the traditional areas of farming and hospitality. He noted that the programme, which would be similar in structure to the farm and hotel work programmes, would reach a wider range of skilled Jamaicans, who are...

The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), in collaboration with the Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, has embarked on a major training initiative focusing on traffic crash investigating and reporting. Speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Executive Director of the CMI, Dr. Fritz Pinnock, explained that training is a major factor in stemming the tide...

More Jamaican students will be able to access medical training at the recently opened $4 billion Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex, at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus. The 250,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility boasts some of the most advanced teaching and research laboratories, lecture theatres and tutorial rooms, which national leaders and academics...

The Portland branch of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) is set to be completed by midyear. The Programme’s Director, Antonica Gunter Gayle, told JIS News that when finished, the early intervention centre will be equipped with all the requisite resources. “We should have an administrative block, assessment and therapy rooms, at least five bathrooms...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management wishes to advise that as at 10.00am today the following schools were closed due to the continued smoke nuisance resulting from the fire at the Riverton City Dump. The schools are:   Region One (Corporate Area) -       Dupont Primary -       Duhaney Park Primary -       Pembroke Hall High -       Coburn Gardens Primary &...

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is denying reports that the ports in Kingston were closed for three days due to the effects of the smog emanating from the fire at the Riverton disposal site. Chief Executive Officer of the JCA, Major Richard Reese, said no significant disruption was experienced at the ports. He told JIS News that the Adolph Levy...

As extinguishing and cooling down operations continue at the Riverton City Disposal Site, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reminding persons that there could be periodic increases in smoke levels across sections of the Corporate Area and St. Catherine. Steady progress continues to be realised as the Jamaica Fire Brigade maintains 24-hour operations with the sustained...