Adoption of the Blue Ocean Strategy has the potential to revolutionise Jamaica's tourism industry in ways that will differentiate the island from its regional competitors, says Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. He said that implementation of the strategy will not only stimulate economic growth by attracting new investments and increasing visitor spending but will, in turn, create employment opportunities...

Eighty secondary and tertiary students in Clarendon and Manchester will receive scholarships valued just over $14 million for the 2023/24 academic year under bauxite and mining company Jamalco’s Education Assistance Programme. Commitment letters were presented to the students during a ceremony at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Clarendon on Wednesday (August 16). Later this month, another 300 students attending...

Citizens are being encouraged to report activities that can cause an increase in persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). These include, but are not limited to, open burning, improper use and/or disposal of agrochemicals and industrial chemicals, elevated temperatures and combustion processes, and unwanted by-products of industrial processes or combustion. Reporting these activities to...

The National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) is urging hunters who will participate in the 2023 Game Bird Hunting Season to abide by the guidelines under the Wildlife Protection Act. The season opens on Saturday, August 19 and runs for six weekends until Sunday, September 24. Environmental Coordinator for Fauna at NEPA, Ricardo Miller, told JIS News that there are four...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is projecting a fall in the poverty rate from 16.7 per cent to which it rose in 2021, representing a 5.7 percentage point increase relative to 2019. Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, notes that the out-turn reflected the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on household incomes and consumption, which “is in keeping with...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi Country Office in Jamaica says that registration is now open for its third annual ‘Ready Set Great’ youth in development conference. The conference will tackle youth poverty on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, commemorated globally on October 17 each year. Persons interested in attending the conference may register at www.readysetgreatja.com. The...

The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising that on Saturday, August 19, 2023, the traffic signals at the Howard Cooke Boulevard and Market Street intersection in St. James will be taken out of operation to facilitate the relocation of a mast arm pole. The signal will be out of operation between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Community Relations Officer at...