The Government is to provide Jamaicans with the opportunity of owning a stake in the Jamalco alumina refinery in Clarendon, upon completion of the incorporation process. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, who said the Government’s vision is to go public with its stake in the newly formulated entity. He...

The Government has allocated $1 million to each Member of Parliament to support resilience building efforts in constituencies across Jamaica. Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the disclosure during the sitting of the House of Representatives on November 30. He said that the Ministry will be working with all Members of Parliament...

Cabinet has approved the US$274.51-million expenditure for the Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure at Wednesday’s (December 1) virtual post-Cabinet press briefing. The project, for which a contract was signed on November 24, involves construction of the Montego Bay Bypass road, rehabilitation of Barnett Street and West Green Avenue, construction...

Carnival Cruise Line, on December 1, joined Aida Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Holland America as vessels to have made stops in at least two Jamaican ports since the resumption of cruise shipping to the island. Carnival’s other stop was in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, while both Aida and MSC Cruises have visited Falmouth and Ocho Rios. Holland America has made...

Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the Ministry has completed surveys of informal settlements in eight parishes. He made the disclosure during the sitting of the House of Representatives on November 30. The comprehensive national exercise is aimed at accurately ascertaining the extent of squatting in the country. The data obtained will...

Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne, says the entity has been in touch with Health Ministers of Member countries to share details about the new coronavirus (COVID-19) variant – Omicron – and will continue to provide updates and guidance when available. Omicron has been designated a variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO)....

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has announced plans to increase its staff complement through the addition of new positions in upcoming fiscal years. Speaking with JIS News, JFB Commissioner, Stewart Beckford, said the JFB’s staff complement of uniformed and non-uniformed personnel stands at approximately 2,164, with the number of uniformed firefighters hovering at 1,868. “We are currently undertaking a restructuring...