Registration for the seventh Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean has been extended to October 20. The Regional Platform is a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) biennial event that is hosted in partnership with countries from the region. The seventh Regional Platform is being hosted by Jamaica from November 1 to...

Pregnant women are being encouraged to get vaccinated, following an increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) hospital admissions of these women. The call was made by Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, during a virtual COVID Conversations press briefing by the Ministry of Health and Wellness on October 14. Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie said while there is a decrease in child hospitalisations, the...

The Director-General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Nari Williams-Singh, has been elected to chair the Technical Stream on Safety Issues and Objectives of a High Level International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) conference on COVID-19. Deputy Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Transport, Mr. Kevin Shum, will act as Vice-Chair. The conference is being held virtually October 12 –...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says that the Government is investing heavily in social intervention programmes targeting the youth population, particularly young men, to create opportunities for them to achieve their goals. He noted that the objective is to positively engage the youth as a critical element in reducing crime and violence in Jamaica. The Minister said...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says every effort must be made to reduce the incidents of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as these beset too many Jamaicans. He pointed out that the coronavirus (COVID-19) has increased the vulnerability of persons to poor health outcomes, while presenting a significant challenge to the economy. Approximately 15 per cent of...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, visited the Redemption Faith Church vaccination centre in Calderwood and the Alexandria Community Hospital, both in St. Ann, on Thursday (October 14). In a subsequent press briefing, Mr. Holness noted that a high level of COVID-19 vaccinations is necessary for the island to return to normal. “The population needs to have our health...

With the emergence of innovations in agriculture, State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, anticipates that there will be new careers in the field. “Innovation has always played an important role in agriculture… . As agriculture and industry transform due to innovation in technology, so will the agriculture-related jobs. The scope of agriculture-related job creation...