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...

Custos of Westmoreland, Hon. The Very Reverend, Cannon Hartley Perrin, has come out in support of the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) declared in Southern Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland, noting that it will help to curtail the escalating crime and violence in the parish. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a virtual press conference on Sunday, January 16, had...

Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, says improvements in the intelligence capabilities of the security forces have resulted in the apprehension of international criminals and suspects who are seeking refuge in Jamaica. He was responding to questions posed during a virtual press conference on Sunday, January 16, following the recent apprehension of two persons allegedly linked to the assassination...