Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, says that another 13,000 persons are being targeted to receive benefits under the Social Pension Programme. Approximately 7,000 persons have registered, so far, under the initiative. The Governor-General was delivering the Throne Speech to mark the ceremonial opening of the 2022/23 Parliamentary Year in the House of Representatives on February...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, says the strategic investments that have been made in the security infrastructure of the country have had a significant impact on major crimes. “The overall incidence of major crimes declined by 51 per cent from 10,711 in 2011 to 5,222 in 2021,” he said, while noting that the homicide rate remains...

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says despite the numbers still being very high, coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and hospitalisations are beginning to decrease in some member countries. Speaking during PAHO’s weekly COVID-19 digital media briefing on Wednesday (February 9), Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, said cases decreased by 31 per cent relative to the previous week. Conversely, however, she said deaths...

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, said the Government continues to invest heavily in protecting citizens against the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19). “The Government has invested billions of dollars in the protection of citizens, with investments in the healthcare sector…[and] in the procurement of vaccines,” he said. Minister Morgan...

Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr., says work is under way by researchers to develop a universal or ‘super’ coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. It is anticipated that the proposed vaccine will be very effective against all COVID-19 variants and provide permanent protection against the disease. “We have several candidates [undertaking this research],...

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) has forecast that the drought conditions being experienced over central parishes, is likely to be alleviated by the predicted rainfall for the next few months. The most recent rainfall data from across the island show that the central parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary, St. Catherine, Clarendon and Manchester are experiencing a meteorological...

Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams (right), holds a laptop as José Martí Technical School student Nadian Flemmings (second right), turns on the device. Occasion was a handover ceremony at the school on Wednesday (February 8). Head of Community at Tropical Sun Foods and Central Food Packers, Paul Harrison (second left), and Principal (Ag) of the school, Michelle...