Some 350 more inner-city young men and women are better equipped to obtain employment, having graduated from Phase 2 of the Citizen Security and Justice Internship Programme, on December 13. The programme was in partnership with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), and was carried out by the Engineering Regiment at Up Park Camp. It was aimed at improving the employability...

There have been questions raised about the announcement of the award of contracts to Cenitech Engineering Solutions Ltd. which has been de-registered as a Works Grades 1 – 4 contractor by the National Contracts Commission. The award of the contracts was done following the endorsement of the National Contracts Commission. We are providing a timeline to show the process followed...

Jamaica will, over the next four months, supply Venezuela with some 100,000 tonnes of clinker, valued at approximately US$8.5 million, for the latter’s utilization in the production of cement. The provision, which is being facilitated under the Trade Compensation Mechanism of the PetroCaribe Agreement between both countries, will commence this month and last until April 2014. Under the arrangement, Carib...

Local and overseas investors will now find it easier to do business in Jamaica following the passage of the Companies (Amendment) Act on December 19 in the Senate. The Bill, which was passed in the Lower House on December 17, amends the Companies Act to authorise the use of a single business registration form in order to improve the ease...

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is expressing satisfaction with the progress of infrastructure work being undertaken in Ocho Rios. He said that the extensive renovation works, being undertaken on the Turtle River Road and Cruise Ship Terminal will transform the resort town. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the Port Authority of Jamaica are implementing the...

Come January 2, persons can begin to register their collateral, including non-traditional assets, with the Security Interests in Personal Property (SIPP) Registry and also access the super form for ease of business transactions. Both instruments are being implemented by the Government through the Companies’ Office of Jamaica (CoJ). They form part of the Government’s business reform agenda, designed to enhance...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, has welcomed the growth of overseas-owned franchises in Jamaica, particularly entities partnering with local stakeholders. Such development, she said, is testament of the “attractiveness” of Jamaica’s market, and is a “positive signal to prospective investors, who may be considering Jamaica as a destination for other investments.” Mrs. Ffolkes-Abrahams was speaking...