Jamaica became the seventh Caribbean country to enhance access to published works for persons with disabilities by acceding to the Marrakesh Treaty, recently. This landmark international agreement, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), facilitates the production and exchange of copyrighted materials, such as books, in accessible formats like braille, large print, and audiobooks. By joining St. Vincent and...

Jamaica’s economy expanded by an estimated 0.1 per cent during the April to June 2024 quarter, compared to the corresponding period last year. Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, presented the preliminary findings during the agency’s quarterly media briefing on Wednesday (September 4), shedding light on the various factors influencing the nation's economic trajectory....

Jamaica has taken a significant step towards inclusivity with the recent amendment to the Copyright Act, prior to the country's accession to the Marrakesh Treaty on August 28, 2024. The treaty, designed to facilitate access to published works for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled, marks a critical advancement in addressing the long-standing issue of the...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will host a four-day workshop titled ‘The Perfect Finish: Metal Meets Wood’, at its Incubator & Resource Centre every Saturday in October. Each session will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., offering participants a unique opportunity to acquire advanced jewellery-making techniques, with a special emphasis on merging metal and wood. The workshop is...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), Velma Ricketts Walker, says the JCA has instituted several mechanisms and implemented several strategic initiatives that have further heralded the entity’s modernisation and transformation agenda. This, she said, is underpinned by the World Customs Organization (WCO) Revised Arusha Declaration, the leading guiding principles for integrity development within customs administrations. Mrs....

Jamaica marked a momentous occasion on Wednesday, August 28, when the nation officially acceded to the Marrakesh Treaty. The Treaty, which was adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2013, is a pivotal international agreement designed to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. Speaking during a Jamaica Information...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is encouraging persons to use its price enquiry tool as a resource to obtain valuable information to assist in textbook purchases, in their back-to-school preparation. Persons can access the price enquiry tool on the Commission’s website, cac.gov.jm. Between July 29 and August 2024, the Commission visited 64 bookstores across the island and received results from...

Private-sector stakeholders are being encouraged to seize growth opportunities in Jamaica. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, made the call while addressing the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Partners’ Circle Meeting at the entity’s head office in Kingston on Friday (August 23). He emphasised the potential for economic growth through strategic partnerships and innovative...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, is encouraging students to seize the academic opportunities available to them, emphasising the importance of education in shaping their future. “Apply for a scholarship… access education. The institutions are there [and] there are opportunities [for] young people,” Councillor Vernon said. He was speaking during the Howard Ward Benefit Foundation Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon...