The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) is encouraging food certification bodies to get accredited under its new accreditation scheme – the United States Food and Drug Administration Accredited Third-Party Certification Programme (FDA TPP). This will facilitate market access for regional manufacturers, especially small and medium-sized entities producing food for export to the United States (US). The new scheme follows...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that the unemployment rate for July 2022 was 6.6 per cent. This was a 1.9 percentage-point decline compared to the corresponding period last year. Director General, Carol Coy, says the data show that in July 2022, there were 89,700 unemployed persons, 22,800 fewer compared to July 2021. She said the number of...

Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams (centre), Chief Education Officer (Acting), Dr. Kasan Troupe (fourth right) and Permanent Secretary (Acting) in the Ministry, Maureen Dwyer (fourth left), are engaged in discussion with education stakeholders, during a meeting with United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children, Dr. Najat Maalla M’Jid (third right). The meeting...

Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week has been officially launched, with a focus on persons with disabilities (PwDs). The Week will be observed from October 23 to 29, under the theme ‘Preserving the Nation through Life Safety and Fire Prevention’. This year, the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) will be targeting the vulnerable community of persons with disabilities for partnership in...

Member of the Jamaica Character Education Task Force and Founding Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, Dr. Avis Glaze (left) greets Principal of Rousseau Primary School, Viviene Anderson (right), during her visit to the institution in Kingston on Tuesday, (October 18). Looking on is National Coordinator for Character Education, Simone Foster.

Chair, National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Courtney Williams (right), converses with (from left) Political and Regional Team Lead, and NATFATIP Representative, United States (US) Embassy in Jamaica, Scott Winton, and Project Director, Jamaica-US Child Protection Compact (CPC) Project, Nasolo Thompson. Occasion was the closing out ceremony for Winrock...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (right), dances with (from left) Founder of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), Dr. Ephraim Martin; United States (US) Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Nick Perry; and President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, His Imperial Highness, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie and his wife, Princess Saba Kebede. Occasion...