The Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch is one step closer to completing the process of modernising the Plant Quarantine Act, to make it more comprehensive in dealing with protection and quarantine issues. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, said this amendment will result in Jamaica having a modern Plant Health Act, in accordance with international standards. “The draft...

Members of the public are being urged to practise water conservation, in light of limited supply of the commodity. Information from the National Water Commission (NWC) indicates that continued drought conditions have impacted inflows to several surface water sources. The current water level at the Hermitage Dam is 63.5 per cent, and the Mona Reservoir is at 76 per cent....

Newly installed University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica Chancellor, Lloyd Carney, has committed to ensuring that the institution facilitates persons desirous of accessing quality higher education for their advancement. Mr. Carney outlined three main focus areas which he said will help in achieving this goal, while speaking during the installation ceremony at the institution’s campus in Papine, St. Andrew, on February...

Budding and established writers, and lovers of literature are being invited to participate in the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition and Exhibition Workshops. The six-day virtual workshops, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), are slated for February 21, 23, 24 and 28, and March 2 and 3. Topics to be discussed include poetry, novel and short story writing, as...

The Transport Authority (TA) is urging persons to use its online portal to submit applications for the 2023/2024 licensing period. The Authority commenced accepting applications for new and renewal of road licences for public passenger vehicles (PPV) and commercial carriers on February 13. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Friday (Feb.17), the Authority’s Managing Director, Ralston Smith, said that...

The organisers of the World Travel AwardsTM (WTA) have announced the creation of a special Global Resilience Award. The announcement coincided with activities for the inaugural celebration of Global Tourism Resilience Day, which were hosted by Jamaica on February 17. WTA Managing Director, Justin Cooke, made the disclosure during Friday’s (February 17) commemorative ceremony at the University of the West...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be increasing engagement with parents and other key stakeholders as part of measures to eliminate child labour in Jamaica. “We are trying to rid the country of this ...abuse of our children, where they are used as factors of production,” said portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda. He was delivering the keynote address...