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The International Labour Organization (ILO) has pledged assistance to Jamaica in a number of areas aimed at improving labour and productivity, including HIV/AIDS in the workplace. “As far as HIV/AIDS is concerned we have targeted Jamaica, because there are resources, which will be made available through the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)”, said ILO Representative, Giovanni di Cola. “We...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Sandrea Falconer, swiftly intervened this morning on the treatment of local journalists during the visit of Prince Harry. Minister Falconer said that no local media person will be required to carry his or her own safety vest when covering events at the Norman Manley International Airport because safety vests will be provided for them. A...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator Sandrea Falconer, said that selection of persons to serve as board chairmen and heads of agencies is based on qualification. She was responding to questions on February 29 at the Jamaica House press briefing, about the appointment of supporters of the ruling People’s National Party to posts within the public service. “The government is...

The National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB) Committee and the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) have donated $650,000 to the Glenhope Place of Safety towards the institution’s rebuilding effort. The donation was in keeping with a commitment from the committee, at the staging of its 32nd annual prayer breakfast on January 19 that all the proceeds from the event would go...

The latest key indicators of national well-being: ‘health status; education status and labour force quality’ under the Vision 2030 Jamaica - National Development Plan’, has revealed that tertiary level enrolment for 2011 recorded a 3.1 per cent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile,thelabour force quality quarterly survey, showed a 2 per cent improvement, while immunization coverage for children showed a...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, is encouraging service clubs to adopt modern methods as part of their programme offerings in order to attract more young people. He noted that while the principles being imparted will always be relevant, it is important that programmes are delivered within the context of contemporary realities. “And so we (have to)...

Grandson of The Queen, His Royal Highness, Prince Henry of Wales (always known as Prince Harry), will visit Jamaica from March 5 to 8 on behalf of  The Queen. The four-day visit is in commemoration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – her 60th year since accession. Prince Harry’s visit to Jamaica is the final stop in his visits to Commonwealth...

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, said that the government is committed to addressing the issue of ethics in business. Speaking at a panel discussion held at the Old Hope Road campus of the University of Technology (UTech) on Thursday February 23, Mrs. Ffolkes Abrahams said the move is critical in promoting good corporate governance...

A Poverty Reduction Coordinating Unit is to be established as government places focus on ensuring social protection for the country’s most vulnerable. This was disclosed by Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Gladstone Hutchinson on February 23, during hisreview of the country’s economic performance for the October to December 2011 quarter, at a media briefing at...

Cabinet has established a Committee, which will examine the recommendations in the public sector master rationalisation plan, and oversee its implementation. Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, says Cabinet has acknowledged the “superior” work done by the Public Sector Transformation Unit. She was addressing journalists at the weekly Jamaica House press briefing, at the Office of...

Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has given an undertaking to re-commit the Labour Advisory Council (LAC) to the mission of being part of the country’s governance process. This, he says, is to ensure that significant accruable benefits are generated, which will redound to the national interest. Making his inaugural address as LAC Chairman, at its first meeting...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says efforts are ongoing to make improvements to the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB). He adds personnel is being boosted with the inclusion of 100 new trainees, while another 120 are in training and are set to graduate soon. “So, we expect a much improved service while we try to finance...