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Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (centre), observes while students from the Westmoreland-based Culloden Early Childhood Institution use learning tools, at the launch of Project Sprout, an early childhood improvement initiative being spearheaded by the Sandals Foundation, at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa, in Kingston.

Initiative Launched to Advance Early Childhood Education

The early childhood education system is benefitting from a $50 million development project dubbed ‘Project Sprout’. Under the project, which is being funded by the Sandals Foundation, with input from several Government agencies, schools benefit from infrastructure upgrades; teaching and...

Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Yasuo Takese hands over cheque to outgoing Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Laurie Williams, at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development in Kingston, on March 27. Looking on are (from left): Chairman of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Mr. Jalil Dabdoub Jnr., and Acting Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Errol Mowatt.

Japan Funds Repairs of Fire Hydrants

Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Burchell Whiteman (left) presents mentor within the National Mentorship Programme, Dr. Elizabeth Watson with her instrument of appointment during the presentation ceremony held at King’s House on March 28. The National Mentorship Programme is an element of the National Respect Agenda Campaign (NRAC) where past students in the society are invited to act as mentors at the class level at their former high schools.

Jamaicans Giving Back Through Youth Mentorship

Prime Minister Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller and Minister with Responsibility for Housing Hon. Dr. Morais Guy (standing at centre) share the joy of new home owners who proudly display their keys during the official handing over ceremony for 66 houses on March 27 at Hampden in Bounty Hall,Trelawny, on March 27.

PM Hands Over 66 First Start Homes in Trelawny

JUTC Reclaims Routes with the Commencement of the Reformed Sub-Franchise System

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

12 years ago Finance & Public ServiceParliament

Government Presents Budget April 3

Come Thursday afternoon, April 3, Jamaicans will hear what the Government intends to spend for the Fiscal Year 2014/15. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, will table the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure in the House of Representatives, which will provide details on what the Ministries and agencies will receive for Recurrent (house-keeping) and Capital (development) expenses....

Manager of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Franchise Protection and Inspection Department, retired Senior Superintendent of Police, Radcliffe Lewis, addressing sub-franchise holders at the Elletson Road Police Station, in Kingston, on March 28.

12 years ago Transport

JUTC Sub-Franchise Holders Urged To Submit Documents

Up to Friday, March 28, only 43 or 13 per cent of the 319 operators approved to operate under the new Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) sub-franchise system, had done the necessary due diligence to begin operating on Tuesday, April 1. This was noted by the JUTC’s Managing Director, Colin Campbell, at a meeting with the licencees on March 29,...

Cargo ships in port at the Port of Kingston.

12 years ago JIS Think TankTransport

Maritime Authority Ready for Expansion of Panama Canal

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica is prepared to receive larger vessels (New Panamax) that are likely to call at Jamaica’s ports following the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2015. This was disclosed by Director General of the Maritime Authority, Rear Admiral Peter Brady at a JIS Think Tank on March 26. He explained the implications of larger vessels coming...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (5th left), turns on a pipe of the rainwater harvesting system, which was commissioned on March 28 at the Aabuthnott Gallimore High School, in St. Ann. Also sharing in the occasion are (from fourth left): Managing Director, Water Resources Authority, Bazil Fernandez; Chairman of the School Board, Bishop Omar Oliphant; Minister of Education, Hon. the Rev. Ronald Thwaites; Principal of the school, Geoffrey Sharpe; Member of Parliament, Keith Walford; and teachers at the school.

12 years ago EducationEnvironmentVision 2030Water

More Water for High School in St. Ann

A rainwater harvesting system, constructed at a cost of $3.6 million, was commissioned into service at the Aabuthnott Gallimore High School, in Alexandria, St. Ann, on March 28, by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill. Funding for the facility, designed to assist the school community to overcome the severe water shortage, was provided by the...

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies (3rd left), signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with China Engineering Company (CHEC) for a feasibility study on the damming of the Bog Walk Gorge, at the Ministry in Kingston, on March 28. Also participating are (from left): Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Jamaica, Mr. Xiaojun Dong; Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell; and Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill. In the back row (from left) are: Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mrs. Lei Liu (left); Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Mrs. Audrey Sewell and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Alwin Hayles.

12 years ago EnvironmentTechnologyTransport

Damming of Bog Walk Gorge

The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Engineering Company (CHEC), for a feasibility study for the damming of the Bog Walk Gorge, in St. Catherine. The dam would be able to store up to 1,900 million gallons, and supply 80 million gallons per day. The Mona Dam, which is the country’s largest water facility, stores 800...

Government Senator Noel Sloley makes a point as he closed the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday, March 28.

12 years ago Parliament

Gov’t Senator Says Parliament Must Continue to Pass Critical Laws

Government Senator, Noel Sloley is urging the Parliament to continue passing legislation that will be of benefit to the country. “During the legislative year, we had a record number of Bills and we must not resile from that pace, as so many of our legislation are in need of updating, to be brought in line with the modern era in...

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna (right), greets Chairman, Child Development Agency (CDA), Children’s Advisory Panel, Charles Young (left), before the start of the two-day Caribbean Child Research Conference held in November 2012, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. Making the introduction is Professor of Social and Political Change at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Professor Brian Meeks.

12 years ago Culture

Children’s Advisory Panel Making an Impact

The latest project of the Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP), “Plant- a-Tree” is bearing fruit. CAP’s 17-year-old Chairman, Charles Young, describes the project as the Panel’s “biggest accomplishment” since it was established on July 9, 2012. “The Plant- a-Tree Scheme is hands-on and the most lucrative plan that we have. I am really proud of the team for coming up with...