The Government is prioritising critical pieces of legislation to advance efforts towards improving public order and safety and reducing crime and violence. These include amendments to the Fingerprints Act and the Immigration Restriction (Commonwealth Citizens) Act and Aliens Act, Review of the Corrections Act, and amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) (to include Unexplained Wealth). Governor-General, His Excellency...

The Government will be establishing a new National Cybersecurity Authority that will develop national cybersecurity policies, monitor cyberthreats, provide skills training, and develop human capital. This will be facilitated with funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure during...

School attendance is returning to pre-COVID levels as the Government makes progress in bridging the digital divide and implementing the recommendations of the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC). This was noted by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, while delivering the Throne Speech at the 2023/24 ceremonial opening of Parliament at Gordon House, today (February 14). He...

Phase-two modernisation of the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine will be done by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at a cost of approximately J$6 billion. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the funds have been allocated for the works, which are slated to commence shortly and be implemented over six years. He advised that the phase will...

One hundred and fifty persons who work with at-risk youth are benefiting from a series of regional workshops geared towards building their knowledge and skills in preventing crime and violence among young people. The capacity-building training, being held at various locations across the island this week, is being undertaken by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in partnership with the...

During the financial year 2023/2024, the Government will be investing $6 billion in the health sector, to include expansion work on the Spanish Town Hospital in St. Catherine. Work will also continue on the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St. James and the Western Children and Adolescent Hospital, in the parish, and the upgrading of the University Hospital of...

The Ministry of Justice will be focusing on delivering alternative services through the recently established Social Justice Division during the upcoming 2023/24 fiscal year. The Government will also continue to deliver services in the areas of legal aid, expungement of criminal records, minister’s marriage licences, and the processing of applications for persons to be appointed as Justices of the Peace....