Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, is reminding Jamaicans that pretesting for the coronavirus (COVID-19) is not required before vaccination. “However, we are advising persons [who] have been exposed [and] have tested positive for the infection to wait until they have recovered from the acute illness [to be vaccinated],” she said. She said that these persons must also meet the...

The Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) is reminding persons that the deadline to apply for the Jump-Start Scholarship is September 30, 2021. The free scholarship provides students with $300,000 to assist with tuition and other school-related expenses.  It is not a student loan and, therefore, does not require repayment. SLB Jump-Start is designed to assist financially challenged students leaving secondary school...

The National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica (EXIM Bank) is encouraging exporters to take advantage of its Trade Credit Insurance (TCI) facility to protect their goods and services. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Manager, Business Origination at EXIM Bank, Allan Thomas, explained that TCI is a tool that an exporter or supplier can use to protect his/her business against...

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, says adequate supplies of medical oxygen are available for the treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19) patients. “Coming out of the weekend of [August 27 and 28) we had about 84,000 litres of oxygen that were brought in to supplement the 50-60 litres that IGL Limited could produce in-country. This week we [received] the same amount...

Regional planning for forest-cover protection is important, says Principal Director, Forest Science and Technology Services Division, Forestry Department, Donna Lowe. Speaking in a recent interview with JIS News about the country’s hosting of the 32nd meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission (LACFC), Ms. Lowe explained why such a meeting is important for both Jamaica and the region...

A High Alert has been activated for 12-year-old Travis Folkes of Cane River district, 9 Miles, Bull Bay, St. Andrew who has been missing since Thursday, September 9. He is of brown complexion, stout build and about 149 centimetres ( 4 feet 11 inches) tall. Reports from the Bull Bay Police are that about 7:00 p.m., Travis was last seen...

Several young Jamaicans are entering the agricultural sector through the Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP). The RYEEP is an entrepreneurial training programme organised by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, in partnership with the HEART/NSTA Trust. Providing an update on the initiative recently, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, said more than 700 youth have been trained through the...