More

WASHINGTON - Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie, is slated to deliver the keynote address at an awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 19 which will culminate a series of year-long series activities staged in that city to mark Jamaica's 50th Independence Anniversary. The function, which is scheduled for the Atlanta City Hall Atrium, will...

Long-time educator and advisor to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Burchell Whiteman, has been honoured by the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) for his pioneering work in the development of institutions across the island. He was one of four educators recognised at a function held on Wednesday (January 9), at the Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, St. Ann....

The nation’s leaders will come together and pray for more love among Jamaicans when they meet for the 33rd annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB) on January 17. The theme for this year’s breakfast is: ‘Love That Transforms’,  and Chairman of the NLPB Committee, Rev. Dr. Peter Garth, said the event presents an opportunity to bring a message of peace...

As at September, 2012, some 57.5 per cent of children in State care were in Living in Family Environment (LIFE) Programmes, which are alternatives to placing children in child care facilities. CEO of the Child Development Agency, Carla Francis Edie, said the agency is on an intense drive to increase the number of children in LIFE programmes this year. LIFE...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is inviting proposals for short-term social intervention programmes under its Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP). The initiative, now in its third phase, is jointly funded by the European Union (EU) and the Government of Jamaica. JSIF hassuccessfully implemented phases one and two of the programme and in this third segment, which focuses on a number...

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of Jamaicans and friends turned out at a church in  Decatour, Georgia, on January 5, to celebrate the lives of Ainsworth and Jacqueline Mallett and son Drew, the Georgia-based Jamaican family, who perished in a traffic accident on December 27. Formerly of Stone Mountain, Georgia, the Malletts owned and operated the Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill...

Some 186 of the 500 houses promised to Jamaicans who lost their homes during the passage of Hurricane Sandy in October, have been delivered to persons in eastern parishes, Project Director for the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), Lucille Brodber, has said. In a recent interview with JIS News, she also noted that work is on-going to deliver the remaining...

Cabinet has approved the implementation of a prescribed annual fee to replace the existing customs duty, customs user fee, environment levy, and General Consumption Tax (GCT) charges on Jamaican registered yachts. Speaking at Wednesday’s (December 19) Jamaica House Media Briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, said the...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, has advised that some 158 houses, which are being constructed for victims of Hurricane Sandy, in Portland, St. Mary and St. Thomas, are at various stages of completion. Additionally, she said 20 bases have been completed and are ready for the installation of houses. The Minister was speaking at the...

Approximately 86 senior citizens in St. James, including two centenarians, were feted by the St. James National Council for Senior Citizens, at a Christmas dinner, held in Greenwood, on December 17. The two centenarians, Jane Thomas and Euplin Parlane, turned 100 years of age in February and November this year, respectively. Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris, who addressed...

Homeowners are being advised to get a licenced electrician to check their house wiring before putting up decorative lights, in order to prevent fires. The warning came from Assistant Superintendent in charge of Communication at the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Emilio Ebanks, as he addressed a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank.   He said that house wiring that...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) advises that effective January 1, 2013, the requirement  for persons residing or operating from overseas to have a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) to transact business with the tax authority in Jamaica will be fully enforced. This mandatory TRN requirement will impact individuals and companies, particularly persons processing transactions such as land transfers and mortgages through the...