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National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting (right), is presented with a signed copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by United States Agency for International Development USAID) Mission Director in Jamaica, Denise Herbol, that will facilitate implementation of phase two of USAID’s Community Empowerment and Transformation Project (COMET II) in Jamaica, in partnership with the Government, over the next five years, at a cost of $1.4 billion (US$13 million). The signing and presentation took place at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), New Kingston, on Friday (May 2).

USAID Launches Project to Empower Vulnerable Communities

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $330 million (US$3 million) in grant assistance to support targeted community activities under phase two of its Community Empowerment and Transformation Project (COMET II). The Small Grants Programme will provide...

Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Grace Mc Lean empshasises a point at the post- Sectoral press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, May 8. Seated at left is Minister of Education Hon Rev. Ronald Thwaites.

Schools Must Implement Improvement Plans – Education Minister

Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison (left), is greeted by Chairman of Kingston Bookshop, Hon. Steadman Fuller, who is also Custos of Kingston. Occasion was a teachers’ luncheon and awards ceremony held on Tuesday, May 6, at the Terra Nova Hotel, where Mrs. Gordon Harrison was the keynote speaker.

Children’s Advocate Cautions Schools Against Protecting Sexual Predators

Minister of Education Hon Rev. Ronald Thwaites addresses journalists at a post-Sectoral press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Schools Must Report Inappropriate Teacher/Student Relations – Minister Thwaites

Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Clyde Harrison, highlights projects and programmes being financed by the entity, at a JIS ‘Think Tank’.

TEF Summer Internship Programme Preparing Youth for Work

Minister of Education Hon Rev. Ronald Thwaites (left) along with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Elaine Foster Allen examine teaching blocks at a post- Sectoral press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, May 8. Looking on is National Literacy Coordinator, Andre Hill.

12 years ago Education

Government Investing More in Early Childhood

The Government has increased expenditure on early childhood education to $14.1 billion. This represents 18 per cent of the Education Ministry’s recurrent budget. An additional $316.5 million will be spent on supporting and improving early childhood education. Making the disclosure in his contribution to the Sectoral 2014/2015 Budget Debate in Parliament on Wednesday, May 7, Minister of Education, Rev. Hon...

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies (second left) is presented with a set of keys for the new Volvo buses by Managing Director, JR Group, Rennie Wellington (left) during the official handing over of the units at Digicel’s Parking Lot on Lady Musgrave Road in Kingston on May 8. Others from third left are: Minister with responsibility for Housing in the Ministry, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy; Ambassador of Belgium, Her Excellency Godelieve Vanden Bergh; Managing Director, Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Colin Campbell; and Board Director, JUTC, Carolyn Gardner. With the addition of the 73 new Volvo buses, the company’s seating capacity has been increased by 3,500. Sixty-nine of the buses will be placed in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR), while four will be deployed to Montego Bay Metro. The units for the KMTR will be placed at the Spanish Town, Portmore, and Rockfort JUTC depots. Four of the units have been customized to cater to the needs of persons with disabilities.

12 years ago Transport

JUTC Acquires 73 New Buses

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company’s (JUTC) seating capacity has been increased by 3,500 with the addition of 73 new Volvo buses to its fleet. Sixty-nine of the buses will be placed in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR), while four will be deployed to Montego Bay Metro. The units for the KMTR will be allocated across the Spanish Town, Portmore,...

12 years ago Education

More Incentives for Early Childhood Teachers

The Government is increasing the subsidy provided to early childhood teachers by 15 per cent, with further adjustments to be made in the next financial year. Making the disclosure on Wednesday, May 7, during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev Ronald Thwaites, said the increase is part of measures...

Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson greets Head of the Convention Secretariat of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Dr. Haik Nikogosian, upon his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on Wednesday May 7.

12 years ago Health & Wellness

WHO Lauds Jamaica’s Tobacco Control Measures

Jamaica is taking the lead internationally in terms of the size of the graphic health warnings on (cigarette) packages. This was disclosed by Head of the Convention Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Dr. Haik Nikogosian. In an interview with JIS News, the FCTC Head who arrived in the island on Wednesday, May...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (2nd right), along with Coordinator for the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Professor Jeffrey Sachs (left); and University of the West Indies (UWI) UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris (2nd left), share pleasantries with United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, Dr. Arun Kashyap, during Wednesday’s (May 7) launch of the Caribbean Chapter of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge and Conference Centre. Mrs. Simpson Miller was the guest speaker. The SDSN will operate from the UWI.

12 years ago Office of the Prime MinisterPrime Minister

Sustainable Development Solutions Network Launched

Energy, climate change adaptation, and issues related to the economies of countries in the region, are among the key areas of focus for the newly established Caribbean chapter of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The Caribbean SDSN was formally launched at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Mona Campus in St. Andrew, on Wednesday, May...

Minister of Education, the Hon Rev Ronald Thwaites emphasises a point during his contribution to the 2014/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 7.

12 years ago Education

Library Service Receives Boost from Gates Foundation

The Jamaica Library Service (JLS) has received US$2 million in grant funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to implement the ‘JLS: Using Technology to Empower Individuals and Communities for Development’ project. “It will allow for the extension of technological opportunities in our libraries and other appropriate facilities throughout Jamaica,” Minister of Education, the Hon Rev Ronald Thwaites informed,...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (second left) listens as teacher at Immaculate Conception High School, Stacey Robinson explains aspects of their improvement project, while members of the team look on during the inaugural staging of the Jamaica Productivity Centre’s (JPC) Secondary Schools’ Productivity Improvement Project at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on May 7. Immaculate Conception High copped the first place in the competition. Their project focused on conservation of tissue, water and electricity in their school. The Secondary Schools’ Productivity Improvement Project aimed to expose students to the concept of continuous improvement, in an effort to raise their level of understanding of productivity. The programme taught students and teachers about the concept of continuous improvement and apply it to their school environment over 11 weeks.

12 years ago Labour

Students Urged To Pay Keen Attention To Productivity

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier is urging students to take the issue of productivity improvement seriously as this will assist them with transitioning from school to work. “In the future, it is qualitative productivity improvement that will determine whether you as members of the succeeding generation lead or follow; rise to the top; sink to the...