Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is encouraging parents and guardians to converse with their children and monitor their activities, to prevent what he describes as a possible substance-abuse crisis. He was addressing a joint press conference with the Ministry of Education and Youth at the Health Ministry in Kingston, on Thursday (September 1).   Dr....

Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of the St. James Community Safety and Security Branch, Angela McIntosh-Gayle, says the unit is in a state of readiness for the new school year, which begins on Monday, September 5.  In an interview with JIS News, Mrs. McIntosh-Gayle said the police will be out in their numbers from as early as 6:30 a.m. to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.   Additionally, she indicated...

Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne, is warning criminals to “cease and desist” from staging attacks on members of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).   In recent weeks, there have been two reported attacks by gunmen on the Department’s vehicles, which, at the time, were transporting staff. In both instances, the officers, who...

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) has been approved for the acquisition of eight new modules to the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World, as the Agency seeks to improve its services. These include eCommerce Cargo, Integration with Postal Services, Small and Pleasure Craft Processing, Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) Data and Manifest Selectivity.     ASYCUDA is a...

Students at primary, secondary and tertiary learning institutions will have an opportunity to express their views on Jamaica‘s most outstanding achievements since gaining Independence, through essays and visual arts. The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) is encouraging students to enter its annual Heritage Competition, which provides an avenue to engage in national discussions and to widen their knowledge about Jamaica’s Heritage....

The Government will be making changes to the ban on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene to counter practices being carried out by persons that are outside of the regulations. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, said “persons will look at ways around the regulations where they run afoul with...

Queen’s Counsel, Carolyn Reid-Cameron, was on Thursday (September 1), sworn in as Public Defender during a ceremony at King’s House. Mrs. Reid-Cameron, who was sworn in by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, succeeds Attorney-at-Law, Arlene Harrison Henry, who retired in April. Mrs. Reid-Cameron who is the second woman to be appointed to the post, previously...