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National Works Agency Logo.

Multi-Million Dollar Road Repairs for Stettin to Highgate Hall main road in Southern Trelawny

A major repair effort is now underway along sections of the Stettin to Highgate Hall main road in Southern Trelawny. Through this undertaking, several retaining walls are being built, while others are being repaired along the corridor, which is one...
Communications Officer, Universal Service Fund (USF), Timothy Simmonds, is joined by (from left), Field Supervisor, Social Development Commission (SDC), Jeremy Jones; Member of Parliament, St. Catherine North Central, Natalie Neita-Garvey and Caretaker/Councillor, Above Rocks Division, Desmond Chambers, in front of the USF’s Community Wi-Fi sign, at the launch of the service held on January 25 in Harker’s Hall, St. Catherine.
Communications Officer, Universal Service Fund (USF), Timothy Simmonds, is joined by (from left), Field Supervisor, Social Development Commission (SDC), Jeremy Jones; Member of Parliament, St. Catherine North Central, Natalie Neita-Garvey and Caretaker/Councillor, Above Rocks Division, Desmond Chambers, in front of the USF’s Community Wi-Fi sign, at the launch of the service held on January 25 in Harker’s Hall, St. Catherine.

PHOTOS: Harker’s Hall Gets Free Wi-Fi
Member of Parliament, St. Catherine North Central, Natalie Neita-Garvey (centre), is surrounded by students of the Springvale Primary, Harker’s Hall Basic, and Giblatore Primary schools during the Universal Service Fund (USF) Community Wi-Fi launch ceremony in Springvale, St. Catherine, on January 25.
Member of Parliament, St. Catherine North Central, Natalie Neita-Garvey (centre), is surrounded by students of the Springvale Primary, Harker’s Hall Basic, and Giblatore Primary schools during the Universal Service Fund (USF) Community Wi-Fi launch ceremony in Springvale, St. Catherine, on January 25.

PHOTOS: USF Launches Wi-Fi Service in Springvale
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill (left) and Permanent Secretary, Sancia Bennett Templer, display the Ministry’s new name plaque, during a Rebranding and Quality Recognition ceremony held at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston recently.
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill (left) and Permanent Secretary, Sancia Bennett Templer, display the Ministry’s new name plaque, during a Rebranding and Quality Recognition ceremony held at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston recently.

Industry Ministry and Seven Portfolio Entities ISO Certified
Damhead is among three communities in St. Catherine, where free secured Wi Fi service was commissioned by the Universal Service Fund (USF) on Wednesday (January 25). Pictured in front on the community WI-FI sign (from left) are Vice Principal, Little Crescent Primary School, Karian Patterson; Member of Parliament, St. Catherine North Central, Natalie Neita- Garvey; Principal, Angels Primary, Nero Christian and Vice Principal, Angels Primary School, Brenda McGaw.
Damhead is among three communities in St. Catherine, where free secured Wi Fi service was commissioned by the Universal Service Fund (USF) on Wednesday (January 25). Pictured in front on the community WI-FI sign (from left) are Vice Principal, Little Crescent Primary School, Karian Patterson; Member of Parliament, St. Catherine North Central, Natalie Neita- Garvey; Principal, Angels Primary, Nero Christian and Vice Principal, Angels Primary School, Brenda McGaw.

PHOTOS: Damhead Community Gets Free Wi-Fi Service

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The Government will be moving to improve social conditions in communities such as Kingston Central utilising the Housing Act, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. Speaking at the handover of a three-bedroom social housing unit, on Tower Street, in Kingston Central, on January 25, the Prime Minister said the area is one of the oldest residential communities in the island, with many of the houses built over 70 years ago. He added that the houses are deteriorating, and a transformation programme is being worked on for such communities. Mr. Holness said it is challenging to embark on the upgrading programme, because of ownership issues, where people have abandoned lands in the areas, owners cannot be located, and in some cases, persons have taken them over and “are using them for criminal activities”. “We will intervene. We are working on a programme that will use power under the Housing Act to get these lands that are now abandoned and unutilised,” he said, noting that the conditions in such communities cause people not to feel good about their surroundings, so the Government will be improving the infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister reported that since the recent imposition of a State of Emergency (SOE) in Central Kingston, the murder rate and other violent crime rates have dropped, and residents are pleased for the “reprieve that they are able to enjoy”. Mr. Holness said he is satisfied that the State can assist in the provision of improved dwellings under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) for “those living under terrible conditions”. (more) Social conditions…2 For his part, Member of Parliament for Kingston Central, Donovan Williams, said he is giving priority to the improvement of the housing stock in the constituency, and described the NSHP as a “wonderful programme”. In the meantime, beneficiary of the housing unit, Keisha Hind, whose previous dwelling was destroyed by fire in 2012, said the $7 million unit is “a life changing gesture”. “I want you to know that what you have given us is not just a structure but pride of joy and a sense of belonging,” she added. The NSHP, established by the Prime Minister in 2018, operates under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment Programme (HOPE), through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The initiative aims to improve the housing conditions of Jamaica
Housing

Social Conditions In Communities to be Improved Utilising Housing Act – PM

The Government will be moving to improve social conditions in communities such as Kingston Central utilising the Housing Act, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. Speaking at the handover of a three-bedroom social housing unit, on Tower Street, in Kingston Central, on January 25, the Prime Minister said the area is one of the oldest residential communities in...
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Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (centre, front); National Coordinator, Governor-General Programme for Excellence (GGPE), Abrahim Simmonds (left, front) and Secretary General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) National Commission, Everton Hannam (right, front), share with winners in the inaugural Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Essay Competition, at the awards ceremony held on January 25 at King’s House.
EducationYouth

Winners of ‘I Belive’ Media and Information Literacy Essay Competition Awarded

Winners of the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Essay Competition under the Governor-General’s ‘I Believe’ Initiative were recognised at a ceremony held on Wednesday (January 25) at King’s House. His Excellency, The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, was on hand to share in the presentation of awards and prizes to the 12 parish winners and the national winner and runners-up,...
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Director General at the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Peter Thompson.
AgricultureIndustry

JACRA Wants More Certified Coffee Testers

The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) is encouraging more persons to take advantage of instruction offered through its Coffee Training Institute to become certified to evaluate coffee quality. The institute, which certifies regulatory cup testers, was established in 2019. During a recent interview with JIS News, JACRA’s General Director, Peter Thompson, shared that three staff members, who have been...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., leads a discussion at the 18th Jamaica Stock Exchange Investment and Capital Markets Conference, on January 25, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
Fisheries

Greater Enforcement and Monitoring to Tackle Overfishing

Jamaicans should see an increase in enforcement and monitoring to curb the unethical practice of overfishing, this year. This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., during his presentation at the 18th Jamaica Stock Exchange Investment and Capital Markets Conference, on January 25, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The Minister informed that...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right) hands over the keys to a newly built three-bedroom house to beneficiary, Judith Noble (second left), during a ribbon cutting ceremony held in Callaloo Mews on January 25. The unit was built under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) at a cost of approximately $5.4 million. Others looking on (from left) are Chairperson, Oversight Committee, NSHP, Judith Robb Walters and Member of Parliament, St. Andrew Western, Anthony Hylton.
HousingPrime Minister

PHOTOS: PM Hands Over House in Callaloo Mews

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right) hands over the keys to a newly built three-bedroom house to beneficiary, Judith Noble (second left), during a ribbon cutting ceremony held in Callaloo Mews on January 25. The unit was built under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) at a cost of approximately $5.4 million. Others looking on (from left)...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right) cuts the ribbon to officially hand over a new three-bedroom house in Rosemary Castle, St. Catherine to Moveta Clarke (second left) on Wednesday (Jan. 25). The house was constructed at a cost of $6.5 million under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Sharing the moment (from left) are Chairperson for the Oversight Committee, NSHP, Judith Robb Walters, and Member of Parliament, St. Catherine East Central, Hon. Alando Terrelonge.
HousingPrime Minister

Stroke Survivor Gets New Home

Tears streamed down Moveta Clarke’s cheeks as she prepared to receive the keys to her new home in Rosemary Castle, St. Catherine, from Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness on Wednesday (Jan. 25). The tears were a tangible expression of the joy, relief and gratitude she felt at finally having safe shelter for her family, which includes her 21-year...
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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, delivering a Financial Sector Regulation Policy Address at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in downtown Kingston, on Monday (January 23).
Finance & Public Service

Gov’t Pursuing Twin Peaks Regulatory Model for Financial Sector

The Government is pursuing the creation of a “twin peaks model” of financial sector supervision and regulation, which is being programmed for implementation within 18 to 24 months. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, who made the disclosure, said that the model is intended to modify the existing sector-by-sector-based regulatory approach, which sees the...
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