Latest

Chairman of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Joseph Matalon, addresses the media launch of the fifth annual Caribbean Micro Finance Forum, at the Bank’s Oxford Road offices in Kingston, on August 19). Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones (seated left), and Charge d’Affaires, Delegation of the European Union, Cesar Valor Arge (right), also brought greetings at the launch.

DBJ Disburses $1.2 Billion to MSME Sector in 2012

Last year the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) committed and disbursed over $1.2 billion to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector, covering 200 small and medium sized business loans. The Bank’s funding activities have helped to establish nine...

Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (centre), along with Minister without Portfolio, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley (right); and National Water Commission (NWC) Chairman, Dr. Leary Myers (left), during Friday’s (August 16) groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of the $200 million Mason River water supply upgrading project in Clarendon. Minister Dalley is Member of Parliament for North Clarendon, where the project and beneficiaries are located. Looking on, in the background, is Clarendon Parish Council Chairman and Mayor of may pen, Councillor Scean Barnswell.

7,000 More Rural Residents to Benefit from Better Water Supply

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency, Stephen Vascianne, delivers the keynote address at the Jamaica Independence Celebration Foundation Independence Ball to mark Jamaica’s 51st Year of Independence at the Hylton Hotel, Manhattan, NY, on August 17.

Ambassador Vascianne Expresses Concern Over Number of Deportations

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy (Right) presents resident of the Barrett Hall Housing Development, Sudar Buckall with her registered title during a presentation ceremony held at Barrett Hall in St. James on Friday (August 16). Twenty-nine new land owners received titles during the ceremony.

Housing Ministry Pushing To Deliver 5,000 Land Titles This Financial Year

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (at podium) addresses attendees at a ceremony to publicly roll out the Extending Financial Services Directly to Rural Jamaican Farmers (Direct2Client) Project at the Whispering Bamboo Cove in Morant Bay, St. Thomas on Friday (August 16). The Minister was representing the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller at the function. Pictured at the head table (from left) are: General Manager of the St. Thomas Cooperative Credit Union, Hopeton Morrison; President of the credit union, Rev. Lennox Kirby; Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones; and Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Thomas and Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson.

$48 Million Project To Assist Small Farmers

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, addresses participants during the Ministry of Labour and Social Security

13 years ago Labour

Labour Ministry Hosts Retirement Seminar in St. Ann

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security through the National Council for Senior Citizens officially launched its second annual series of retirement planning seminars at the Cardiff Hall Hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann on Thursday, August 15. The seminars to be carried out island wide from August 16 to 22 under the theme, “Retire is a process, not an...

: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (left), listens keenly as Rastafari Millennium Council International Ambassador, Queen Mother Moses (right), makes a point, during the closing ceremony of the Kingston-leg of the Rastafari Studies Conference and General Assembly 2013, held on the campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on August 15. At centre is Director, Centre for Gender and Development Studies: Regional Co-ordinating Unit, University of the West Indies, Professor Verene Shepherd.

13 years ago CultureOffice of the Prime Minister

Special Team to Meet With Elders of Rastafarian Community

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says a special team will be appointed to meet with elders of the Rastafarian community, to discuss the tragic Coral Gardens incident which took place some 50 years ago. “As a responsible government, regardless of which party was in power at that time, I know you’re looking to my administration to help...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott (second left), in conversation with (from left), Deputy Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Barbara Scott; Member of Parliament, West Kingston, Desmond McKenzie; and Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Angela Brown Burke, at the Community Stakeholder Consultation Forum for the implementation of Phase 1 of the Community Renewal Programme, at the Jamaica Conference Centre on August 14.

13 years ago Local Government

Successful CRP Could Boost GDP – Minister Arscott

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, says that if the Community Renewal Programme (CRP) is successful, the country could see a three per cent growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Mr. Arscott was addressing the Community Stakeholder Consultation Forum towards the implementation of Phase 1 of the Community Renewal Programme, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson (centre), is greeted by Associate Dean, Caribbean School of Nursing, University of Technology, Professor Hermi Hewitt, at the first biennial nursing and midwifery research conference, which began on August 15, at the Knutsford Court Hotel. It is being held under the theme: ‘Utilizing research for best practices in nursing and Midwifery’. Looking on is Lecturer, University of Technology, Dr. Adella Campbell.

13 years ago Health & Wellness

Consultations on Tobacco Control Regulations End

The Ministry of Health has received some 20 submissions from a wide range of interest groups, as the public consultations on the tobacco control regulations closed on Tuesday, August 13. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, at the first biennial nursing and midwifery research conference, which began on August 15, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, in...

President of the Jamaica Government Pensioners Association, Charles Jones (right), in discussion with (from left) Secretary of the association, Lucy Flash O’Sullivan ; First Vice President of the entity, Leebert Brown; Consultant for Government Business, Sagicor, Rupertia Smith; and Tanisha Weir-Grant of the Accountant General’s Department. Occasion was the association’s 47th annual general meeting, held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, on August 14.

13 years ago Labour

Gov’t Pensioners Association on Drive to Recruit New Members

President of the Jamaica Government Pensioners Association, Charles Jones, is encouraging more persons to join the organization, as it seeks to extend its reach to assist more retirees. “We are on a drive this year to start new chapters and to get new members to increase our income, because we have to do our part,” he told JIS News during the...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding (centre), listens to a point being made by Permanent Secretary in his Ministry, Carol Palmer (second left). Also pictured (from left) are: Director of Implementation for Restorative Justice and Child Justice Reform, Ruth Carey; Deputy Representative in Jamaica, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Deirdre Kiernan; and Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon-Harrison . Occasion was a consultation for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on the Draft National Child Diversion Policy at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, on August 15.

13 years ago CultureJustice

Cabinet Approves Amendment to Law to Protect Children

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has informed that Cabinet, on August 12, approved the drafting of an amendment to the Child Care and Protection Act. This has been done, Mr. Golding said, so that so-called “uncontrollable” children cannot be sent to correctional facilities, “even if their parents wish it.” The Minister was addressing the opening of a...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (centre), congratulates Guardian Life Limited Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarship recipients, Michae Bradshaw (left) and Nethaneel Campbell, during Wednesday’s (August 14) awards luncheon at the company’s offices in New Kingston.

13 years ago Education

Guardian Life Awards Outstanding GSAT Students

Michae Bradshaw and Nethaneel Campbell are this year’s recipients of the Guardian Life Limited Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarships. Both students, who performed outstandingly in this year’s GSAT examinations, will each receive $50,000 annually for five years to finance their secondary education. The tenure of the scholarship is subject to the awardees maintaining at least a ‘B’ average each...