Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has called on leaders in the Caribbean and in other parts of the developing world to come together and speak with a unified voice, in all international fora, about vaccine inequality. He said that equitable access to coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines is critical in ensuring the economic recovery of developing countries, particularly those that are tourism-dependent....

The Senate has approved amendments to the Standing Orders to allow members to join and participate in formal sittings virtually, due to the restrictions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Standing Orders are the rules that govern the proceedings, actions and conduct of members in the Chamber. Piloting the motion during the sitting of the Upper House on May...

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information officially launched the pilot Coding in Schools programme during a virtual ceremony on Friday (May 7). The initiative, which involves partnership with Amber Innovations Group Limited, will promote the teaching and learning of coding in public educational institutions across Jamaica. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the delivery of the programme was signed...

The COVID-19 positivity rate for tourists returning to the United States of America (USA) is less than one per cent. This was noted by President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Clifton Reader, in an online forum today (May 7). He pointed out that before a guest can return to the USA, they must do an Antigen test,...

Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Region five Director, Dr. Nadine Leachman, says that educators in the parishes of Manchester and St. Elizabeth are anticipating positive outcomes from Read Across Jamaica Day activities on Tuesday (May 4). She told JIS News that the virtual staging of the event, which saw members of society reading to and engaging with students, is...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is reiterating that the AstraZeneca vaccine cannot give someone the SARS-CoV 2 virus that causes COVID-19. In an interview with JIS News, Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Melody Ennis, pointed out that the virus is not in the vaccine. “This vaccine does not have the live...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Everald Warmington, is reporting that over 50,000 residents in St. Elizabeth are now benefiting from new water projects. Making his contribution to the 2021/2022 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 5, Mr. Warmington said the projects were undertaken by the National Water Commission (NWC)....