The Black River Hospital (BRH) in St. Elizabeth has benefitted from donations aimed at improving healthcare in rural Jamaica. On Wednesday, January12, the hospital received two phototherapy lamps for its Paediatric Unit from District Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands and two bariatric wheelchairs for plus-sized patients from the We Care Social Outreach Development...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is offering tips to ensure a safer experience for persons who shop online. Speaking at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, Information Technology Manager CAC, Andrew Evelyn, said that consumers should use the “very latest web browser” when shopping online. “They keep updating your web browser with better security features which will protect...

Effective Wednesday (January 19, 2022), Jamaica’s public hospitals will be restricted to conducting emergency care services only. This comes as several of the island’s public hospitals face increased pressure due to the growing number of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases. There is also decreased staff coverage as many healthcare workers are out sick. Up to Sunday, there were some 682...

Jamaica generated calendar year export earnings of US$1.15 billion between January and September 2021. This out-turn represents a 26.3 per cent increase over the US$910.7 million recorded for the corresponding period in 2020. Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) Director General, Carol Coy, says the increase was mainly driven by higher exports of ‘Minerals Fuels’, which climbed by 96.8 per cent....

Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, says the sixth Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) declared in Parade Gardens in Kingston is yielding some progress. The ZOSO was declared by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on January 9. The security measure will be in place for 60 days. “Since then, the people of Parade Gardens have had some...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that three industries accounted for the largest increase in employment of 68.7 per cent, in October 2021. These, according to Director General, Carol Coy, are ‘Real Estate and Other Business Services’; ‘Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Other Services’ and ‘Construction’. She was speaking during STATIN’s digital quarterly media briefing on Monday (January 17)....

The country’s unemployment rate fell to a record low of 7.1 per cent for October 2021, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) Labour Force Survey for the month. This is 0.1 percentage point lower than the previous 7.2 per cent pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) out-turn recorded in October 2019. STATIN’s Director General, Carol Coy, said the October 2021 figure also...