Latest

General Manager at Self Start Fund, Sezvin Hamilton.

Fifty Per Cent Reduction in $40 Million Owed to the Self Start Fund

The Self Start Fund (SSF) is reporting a 50 per cent reduction in the $40 million owed by delinquent borrowers. General Manager, Sezvin Hamilton, says the reduction resulted from the agency’s sustained collection efforts undertaken in 2014. “We had to...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr Fenton Ferguson ((2nd left), and Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon Dr Wykeham McNeill (3rd left), discuss details of the planned renovation of the Grange Hill Health Centre in Westmoreland, with representatives of the Health Ministry and the institution, during a tour of the facility on February 13. Phase one of the renovations will be carried out over the next six months at a cost of $20 million, under the Health Ministry’s Primary Health Care Renewal Programme. Financing has been provided by the National Health Fund (NHF). Among those touring with the Ministers were: Deputy Chairman, Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Calvin Brown (left); Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr Khaushal Singh (centre); Public Health Nurse, Carol Smith Beharie (3rd right); WRHA Director, Wayne Vacciana (2nd right); and Special Advisor to Dr. Ferguson, Hurley Taylor.

$20M Renovation for Grange Hill Health Centre in Westmoreland

Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (3rd left), turns a switch to officially commission into service the rehabilitated six-million gallons per day, and new five-million gallons per day National Water Commission (NWC) water treatment plants at Martha Brae, Trelawny, on Friday, February 13. Work on the facilities was carried out by the NWC at a cost of approximately $1.6 billion, under the Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Project (JWSIP). Those sharing the occasion, include: Acting NWC President, Mark Barnett (2nd left); Falmouth’s Mayor, Councillor Garth Wilkinson (2nd right); and Attorney General and Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, where the facilities are located, Hon. Patrick Atkinson (right).

$1.6 Billion Upgrade for Martha Brae Water Systems in Trelawny

Executive Director, Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), Andral 'Jack' Shirley, speaking at the agency's town hall meeting, in Negril, Westmoreland, on February 12.

Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission’s Town Hall Meetings Underway

Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (centre), and Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (right), are engaged in discussion by Chief Executive Officer, SCJ Holdings Limited (SCJH), John Gayle, during Tuesday’s (February 17) launch of SCJH’s “Navel String” tree planting project at the National Water Commission’s (NWC) artificial groundwater facility, at Innswood, St. Catherine. One million trees are earmarked to be planted over the next four years under the initiative, at a cost of over $25 million.

One Million Trees to be Planted Under Navel String Project

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (front row, 4th left ); Lady Allen (front row, centre); and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson (front row, 4th right), with members of the Diplomatic Corps, at the Annual Diplomatic Dinner held last night (February 12), at King’s House.

11 years ago Governor General

GG Hails Contribution of Int’l Partners

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has hailed the international partners for their invaluable contribution to the country’s development. “The Government and people of Jamaica deeply appreciate the invaluable assistance and cooperative spirit in which our partners support our efforts to build our economy, and improve the quality of life of our people,” Sir Patrick said. He...

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (left), is assisted by a student of Bois Content Primary School in south west St. Catherine, in cutting the ribbon to formally open the newly built flush toilet facility at the school, under the Ministry’s $100 million Primary School Sanitation Project. The initiative is being jointly implemented with charity organization, Food for the Poor, and the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation. Sharing the occasion are (from 2nd left): General Manager, JN Foundation, Saffrey Brown; Chairman, Food for the Poor, Andrew Mahfood; and Member of Parliament, South West St. Catherine, Everald Warmington; along with other students of Bois Content Primary School.

11 years ago Education

Govt Undertakes $100 Million Primary School Sanitation Project

The Ministry of Education has embarked on a major $100 million project aimed at installing flush toilets at primary schools island wide, which currently use pit latrines. The Primary School Sanitation Project, which is being jointly undertaken with charity organization, Food for the Poor, will initially target 50 institutions, where renovations will be carried out over the next three to...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (left), presents keys to proud homeowners, Kenneth and Carol Dacosta, who are among beneficiaries of the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) Sandhill Vista housing development in Hellshire, St. Catherine. Some 60 solutions were handed over to beneficiaries today February 13).

11 years ago HousingPrime Minister

PM Hands Over Housing Solutions in Hellshire

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller today (Feb. 13) presented 60 proud homeowners with keys and possession letters to their brand new homes in the Sandhills Vista housing development in Hellshire, St. Catherine. They represent the first batch of some 226 families, who will benefit from new housing solutions constructed at a cost of $1.8 billion, under the...

Mr. Rodney Leon (second left), winner of the design competition, ‘The Ark of Return’, to be erected as a Permanent Memorial to the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, explains his concept to (from left), Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller; Antiguan Prime Minister, Hon. Baldwin Spencer and Jamaica

11 years ago Foreign AffairsPrime Minister

Monument to Victims of Slavery to Open at UN Headquarters in March

The permanent memorial to the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade is to be erected in March on the grounds of the United Nations headquarters in New York. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, who made the disclosure on Tuesday, February 10, said the UN initiative to erect the monument, entitled ‘The...

Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips. (FILE)

11 years ago Finance & Public Service

Dr. Phillips Cautions Unions Against Unrealistic Expectations

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, has again given the Government’s commitment to doing “everything possible” to accommodate claims for salary increases to civil servants for the 2015 to 2017 contract period. He, however, cautioned unions that while there is a “good basis” for the increases being sought, they must recognise that “there has to be a...

President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards (right), is in discussion with Ambassador of Poland to
Jamaica, His Excellency, Piotr Kaszuba, following a briefing session for members of the diplomatic corps held today (February 11), at JAMPRO’s New Kingston offices. The session was part of the programme of activities to mark the 17th annual staging of Diplomatic Week, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

11 years ago Commerce

Jamaica Investment Forum to Build Int’l Partnerships

The Government will be looking to build new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships with the international community through the staging of Jamaica Investment Forum (JIF) 2015. The forum, scheduled for March 10 to 12 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James, is targeted at high level international investors and business executives, who want to discover business opportunities and...

Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton, addresses a JIS ‘Think Tank’ .

11 years ago Agriculture

RADA to Build Capacity in 2015

The strategic direction of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) for 2015 will be capacity building of its staff and realigning the agency to become more technical in its operations; improve crop and livestock production; and encourage new entrants to the sector, with greater focus on women and youth. This was stated by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RADA, Lenworth...