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Director of the Work Permit Unit at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ms. Lisa-Ann Grant, speaking at a JIS ‘Think Thank’ on June 18.

Changes Coming for Work Permit Process on June 23

As of Monday, June 23, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) will restructure the processing of work permits for foreign nationals to protect the Jamaican labour force from a saturation of skills that are already available locally. The...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (second left), looks on as Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Scarlette Gillings (right), and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Jamaica, Ambassador Paola Amadei (fourth left), unveil a plaque at the official opening of the Parade Gardens Community Centre, in Down Town Kingston, on June 18. Others (from left) are: Director of Crime Prevention and Community Safety, in the Ministry of National Security, Courtney Brown; and President of the Parade Gardens Community Development Council, Sandra Buchanan.

New Community Centre for Parade Gardens and Environs

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown with sprint legend, Merlene Ottey, at the High Commission in London, last week. The State Minister launched the Mapping the Jamaican Diaspora Project in the UK on June 13 and received the endorsement of Miss Ottey.

Sprint legend Endorses Diaspora Mapping Project

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna (right), addresses journalists during a press briefing held at her New Kingston offices on Wednesday, January 15. Also pictured (from left) are: Acting Chief Executive Officer, Child Development Agency, Rosalee Gage-Grey; and Children’s Adviser in the Ministry, Sadie Keating. (FILE)

Minister Hanna Refers JFJ Manual to Attorney General and Children’s Advocate

Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Grace McLean. (FILE)

Education Ministry Urges Schools to Cut Cost of Graduation

12 years ago Labour

Processing of Work Permits for Foreigners to be Restructured

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has announced that effective Monday, June 23, it will restructure the processing of work permits for foreign nationals to protect the Jamaican labour force from a saturation of skills that are already locally available. This is being done in keeping with the country’s Labour Market Reform, which is intended to create a...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, makes a point during a press briefing held at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices on June 17 to release the results of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

12 years ago Education

More Than 70% of GSAT Students Placed in Schools of Choice

More than 70 per cent of students, who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) in March 2014, have been placed in the schools of their choice. Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, has pointed out that 28,883 of the 39,438 students have been placed in their preferred schools. The Minister was speaking at a press briefing, held at...

Registered Nurse/Phlebotomist at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Sonjay Stewart prepares to take blood from Chairperson of the 115th Anniversary Planning Committee of the St. Hugh’s Past Students Association, Deanne Clarke. Occasion was the NBTS blood drive and wellness fair dubbed ‘Donorfest’ held June 14 at the Kiwanis Blood Collection Centre, at the National Chest Hospital in St. Andrew. St. Hugh’s was one of the sponsors of the event.

12 years ago Health & Wellness

NBTS Blood Drive Successful

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is reporting that 130 units of blood were collected at its blood drive and wellness fair on Saturday, June 14, at the Kiwanis Blood Collection Centre, at the National Chest Hospital in St. Andrew. The fair, dubbed "DonorFest”, was held in recognition of World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), observed this year under the theme...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, displays a graph showing building applications approved and received by the local authorities for the financial year 2013/14. The Minister was making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 17.

12 years ago Local GovernmentParliamentSectoral Debate 2014/2015

Parish Councils Deliver Record Number of Building Permits

Parish Councils last year delivered 4,543 building permits, valued at $31 billion, as the Government continues the drive to reduce the processing time for building approval applications. Making the disclosure while making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 17, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, stated that...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott (standing), making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 17. Listening keenly (from left) are: Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier; Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan.

12 years ago Local GovernmentParliamentSectoral Debate 2014/2015

Government Identifying Alternative to Rivertion Landfill

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is in the process of identifying an alternative site to Riverton City landfill where a modern facility can be established. This forms part of the Ministry’s three-pronged approach to curtailing some of the issues at the facility located in St. Andrew. “Riverton continues to be a major problem – fires are sometimes...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (2nd left), observes as Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Financial Management Specialist in Jamaica, Graham Williams (left), signs one of five contracts to undertake infrastructure works projects, valued $501.6 million, at three of the island’s agro-parks over the next 12 months, during Tuesday’s (June 17) signing ceremony at the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in St. Andrew. The parks to benefit are located at New Forest/Duff House, Manchester; Yallahs, St. Thomas; and Spring Plain/Ebony Park, Clarendon. The projects are being carried out under the Ministry’s IDB-funded Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP). Also participating are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry (right); and Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Drip Irrigation Limited, Shalom Hodari, who is one of the project contractors.

12 years ago Agriculture

Jamaican Bananas Return To European Market

Local bananas have returned to the United Kingdom (UK), six years after exports to that, and other European markets ceased. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says an initial shipment of 2,000 bananas was exported to the UK last week, while another order is being prepared to be sent to that country on Wednesday. The shipments will be Jamaica’s...

General Manager of the UDC, Desmond Malcolm addresses a JIS Think Tank session on Thursday, June 12.

12 years ago Office of the Prime Minister

UDC Pursuing Private Sector Partnership for Projects

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is seeking private sector partnerships to take on a number of investment projects. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, General Manager of the UDC, Desmond Malcolm, said the projects include Long Bay Beach 1 and 2 in Negril, Westmoreland; and the northern car park in downtown Kingston. He also cited the Catherine Hall Entertainment...