The Banana Board is urging farmers across the island not to accept plant material known to be sourced overseas. This, in light of the deadly Tropical Race Four (TR4) Disease, which can wipe out Jamaica’s entire banana and plantain cultivations, reportedly surfacing in at least one country. Against this background, the Board is encouraging farmers to be vigilant. General Manager,...

The National Housing Trust (NHT) is inviting applications for its Special Home Improvement Loan from persons whose houses sustained damage during Hurricane Beryl’s passage on July 3. Funding of up to $1.5 million can be accessed, which can be used for various reasons. These include repairing damaged roofs and rectifying structural issues or other home-related challenges. Applications for the facility,...

Banana and plantain farmers experiencing crop pest infestation are being urged to contact the Banana Board for assistance in eradicating these parasites. General Manager, Janet Conie, says bananas are affected by several pests and disease agents that affect different sections of the plant. One of the most prevalent is the borer weevil, also known as the banana borer, which eats...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has informed that financing is being put in place to construct six science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) schools across the country. He made the disclosure during the annual Primary Exit Profile (PEP) awards function, held at Banquet Hall, Jamaica House, on Thursday (August 29). “These schools will not be run under the...

The upgrade of the National Stadium’s lighting infrastructure to meet world-class standard is estimated to cost more than US$4 million. Recently, a total of $75 million was released by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for urgent remedial work at the Stadium to address the lighting system. General Manager for Independence Park Limited (IPL), Major Desmon Brown, told...

Jamaica’s youth are being encouraged to position themselves, as future leaders, at the forefront of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution that is rapidly evolving across all sectors globally. The charge came from Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information, Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, who said students...

Public-sector workers who wish to apply for tertiary grants for their children have until 5:00 p.m. on August 30 to do so. The grants, which cover tuition only up to $150,000 for the current academic year, are made available to public-sector workers who are permanently appointed or temporarily employed with at least two years’ continuous service and contract workers with...