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Students of the Wilsons Run Primary School in Trelawny, perform a cultural item during Friday's (April 26) handing over ceremony for newly refurbished institution which was renovated by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) at a cost of $31.4 million under its Community Investment Project (CIP), with funding jointly provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and residents of the community.

JSIF Empowering Young People and Communities

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) impacted the lives of thousands of Jamaicans in the past year through a series of programmes that assisted in empowering young people and communities, as well as improving social and economic infrastructure across the...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), addressing the first batch of farm workers to be dispatched for 2013 to Canada, under the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Programme, on January 2, at East Street in Kingston. The 172 workers will leave the island on January 3, 2013 on a Chartered flight. (FILE)

More Jobs for Jamaicans Overseas in 2013

Chairman, National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee (NLPBC), Rev. Dr. Stevenson Samuels (2nd left), has a laugh with Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), Peter Reid (right), while Vice Chairman, NLPBC, Bishop Stanley Clarke (left), and Senior Vice President at VMBS, Keri-Gaye Brown, share the moment. Occasion was a press conference held on January 7 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, to launch the 2014 National Leadership Prayer Breakfast.

Jamaicans Invited to Participate in Week of Prayer

Executive Director of the National Council on Education, Merris Murray.

NCE to Train School Boards in St. Elizabeth and Manchester

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area One, Warren Clarke (centre), addressing a press conference, held at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Hotel in Montego Bay, on January 7. The session was held to update the media on the police's efforts to control crime in western Jamaica. At left is Senior Superintendent of Police, Ezra Stewart and at right is Lt. Colonel, Chris Lobban of the Jamaica Defence Force.

Police Report Success in Area One

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (right), moves to embrace President, Jamaica Civil Service Association, Oneil Grant (left), as she hands him a copy of the Heads of Agreement for the 2012-2015 contract period between the Government of Jamaica and the Public Sector Unions/Associations, which was signed today (March 6), at the Office of the Prime Minister. Looking on is Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips.

12 years ago Year in Review 2013

Prime Minister Very Focused on Growth and Development Agenda

Led by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, the Government made significant strides in taking the country forward in 2013, despite the many challenges it faced. It was a year during which the Government secured an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help stabilize the country’s economy; secured important foreign investments and bilateral economic agreements; passed...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (left), presents keys to Winston Chambers, one of the beneficiaries of the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) Longville Park Phase III Housing Scheme, during a handing over ceremony on February 20 in Clarendon. Some 882 solutions will be handed over in this phase of the development.

12 years ago Social SecurityVision 2030Year in Review 2013

Thousands Benefit from Social Inclusion Policy

Thousands of Jamaica’s most vulnerable benefitted from the Government’s strategic policy of Social Inclusion during 2013. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, told the nation during her 2013 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, in April, that protecting the most vulnerable - the poor, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities - was the Government’s central...

Minister of Health, the Hon. Fenton Ferguson at the launch of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica’s (HFJ) annual ‘Run for your Heart’ event on October 29, at Emancipation Park in New Kingston.

12 years ago Health & WellnessVision 2030Year in Review 2013

Access to Quality Health Care Advanced in 2013

The Ministry of Health, this year, created systems of excellence, and advanced healthcare for all, an agenda emphasised by portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson in his Sectoral presentation in June. TOBACCO LEGISLATION In July the Government, led by the Ministry of Health, passed regulations to ban smoking in specified public places. By October, Minister Ferguson was able to report...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (seated centre), is pictured with some of the 1,000 students that will benefit from the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) Tertiary Bursary intervention for fiscal year 2013/2014. The Minister, on November 13, signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with representatives of the 18 institutions, through which the bursaries will be offered, during a ceremony at the Knutsford Court hotel in New Kingston. Director of Social Security in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe (standing 2nd right), and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alvin McIntosh (standing at right), also shared in the moment.

12 years ago Vision 2030Year in Review 2013

Strengthening of Human Capital a Major Strategic Objective

The development of the country’s human capital formed a major strategic objective for the Government in 2013. This saw the administration making significant inroads in the areas of education; school improvement; development and strengthening of the health care system; and the creation of a modern public service. EDUCATION Significant strides were made in the areas of education and training as...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (second left); late Mayor of Portmore, George Lee (left); Chairman, Ascot High School, Pauline McKenzie (second right); and Principal, Ascot High School, Cedric Murray, break ground for the sixth form block at the Ascot High School in Greater Portmore, St. Catherine, on June 12.

12 years ago Year in Review 2013

Notable Achievements in Education Sector

The year 2013 was a productive one for the Ministry of Education, characterised by many notable achievements and the implementation of a number of projects and programmes. SCHOOL EXPANSION Among the most noteworthy achievements was the expansion of several schools throughout the year. These include the Garvey Maceo High in Clarendon; Glengoffe High in St. Catherine and Holy Trinity High...

Jamaican-born Howard University Asst. Professor, Dr. Goulda Downer (centre), receives the 2013 Congressional Black Caucus Healthcare Leadership Award from Congresswoman Donna Christiansen. Sharing in the occasion at left is President and CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum, Dr. Gary Puckrein.

12 years ago Foreign Affairs

Jamaican Wins 2013 Congressional Black Caucus Award

Jamaican-born Howard University assistant Professor of Medicine, Dr. Goulda Downer, is the recipient of the 2013 Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust Leadership in Advocacy Award. Dr. Downer is also the recipient of the 2013 Health Care Leadership Award from the Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives. Her work has helped to strengthen the...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (left), is greeted by Red Stripe Chairman, Richard Byles (right), when he arrived at the company’s Spanish Town Road head office in Kingston for the January 7 land lease agreement signing ceremony. The agreement, which Red Stripe negotiated with the Ministry’s agency, Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), will facilitate the brewing company’s access to 36.2 acres of land at Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine, to undertake a pilot cassava production pilot project. This undertaking forms part of the company’s efforts to substitute imported barley, one of the inputs in the production of the globally-renowned Red Stripe beer, with cassava. Looking on is Red Stripe’s Managing Director, Cedric Blair.

12 years ago Agriculture

Big Boost for Cassava Production

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and brewing company, Red Stripe, have signed a lease agreement for land at Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine, to facilitate the multi-million dollar Project Grow cassava initiative, being undertaken by Red Stripe’s parent company, Diageo. Signed at Red Stripe’s Spanish Town Road head office in Kingston on January 7, the agreement will facilitate the provision...