The Joint Select Committee reviewing the Cybercrimes Act is recommending harsher penalties for offences against a child. “The Committee supports the recommendation that there should be harsher penalties in relation to offences against children and that there should be a distinction between the penalties for offences committed against children by children and adult offenders,” said Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications...

The Manchester-based Huntley Primary and Infant School, and Huntley Library, have together received five desktop computers from the Universal Service Fund (USF). The handover of the machines during a recent ceremony underscores the USF’s commitment to enhancing educational and community development islandwide. “Our goal is to ensure that every Jamaican, regardless of their location, has access to modern communications and...

The National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica (EXIM Bank) approved and disbursed loans valued at $1.93 billion to operators of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs), as of July 2023. This was disclosed by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during a recent interview with JIS News. The Minister informed that there were 303 beneficiaries. “This is how tourism is inclusive...

Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi, presents a citation to former Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan, Her Excellency Claudia Cecile Barnes. Occasion was a ceremony for the conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, on Ambassador Barnes, at the official residence of the Ambassador of Japan in St. Andrew on September 20....

The Government will be spending $150 million to increase Irish potato production and $80 million to assist onion farmers as part of its strategy to boost the yield of specific crops, to ensure food security. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said one of the objectives is to increase Irish potato production by 20 tons per hectare...

The Ministry of Justice is looking to employ the use of mediation to assist in settling estate matters at the Administrator-General’s Department (AGD). The move is expected to go a far way in enabling the entity to close the files on more than $50 billion in real estate under its management. “I will be assisting the AGD, over the next...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says all case backlogs in the courts are expected to be cleared within 18 months. He further indicated that “the vast majority of cases will be completed within nine months”, while noting that “the court sector is doing very well”. Mr. Chuck was addressing a Justices of the Peace (JP) sensitisation session on Wednesday (September...