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The Bill establishing a civilian oversight authority to monitor the operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and its auxiliaries has been approved by the Upper House. Information Minister Senator Burchell Whiteman who piloted the provision said the authority would provide a mechanism external to, and independent of the Force, to ensure accountability, adherence to policy guidelines and observance of...

New Contractor General, Greg Christie, has pledged to carry out his new task with "unbridled integrity, impartiality, transparency, and forthrightness" noting that, "high ethical conduct would be the moral cornerstone of the office of the Contractor General during my tenure". Mr. Christie, who was sworn into office by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Howard Cooke at King's...

The Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBS) which will be used by the ballistics section of the Forensics Services Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is expected to be in the Island by February 2006. Cabinet's approval for the contract was approved in September 2005 for signing in October 2005. IBIS, which costs just over US$1.9 million, was procured with...

A report submitted to Cabinet has identified obesity and its related conditions as the leading cause of death and poor health among Caribbean nationals. This was noted by Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, yesterday (May 30). The Minister told journalists that Cabinet was furnished with a presentation detailing the risks...

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Directors of Information Forum will provide an opportunity for the sharing of ideas on collaborative measures, and developing a methodology for strengthening Government Information Services (GISs) in the region. Technical Co-ordinator of the CARICOM Secretariat's Technical Action Services Unit, Yvonne Holder says the Forum, which will take place at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica...

Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman has pointed out that the function of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) was different from that of the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ). He explained that the JIS provided government information, while the PBCJ, when it comes on stream in August, would produce programmes of a more general national interest. Senator Whiteman was responding...

Cabinet has approved in principle, an option under which the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) will be able to provide public service broadcasting by collaborating with Aerotel, through the use of frequencies now fully controlled by KOOL FM 97. Making the announcement at yesterday’s (January 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman explained that...

As a result of the overwhelming response by the general public to the amnesty now on at the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC), Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell has announced an extension of the amnesty to January 28, 2005. In a statement to JIS News, Minister Paulwell explained that the ORC had received tremendous response...

As the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) prepares for the implementation of the new Companies Act on February 1, 2005, it has installed a Help Line to provide support to company directors, business operators, lawyers, accountants and other stakeholders. The Help Line will be operational for at least the first quarter of 2005, informed Simonie Barrett, Restoration and...

Senior Director for Communications and Change Management in the Cabinet Office Mrs. Sandra Graham has assumed duties as Press Secretary to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. A statement issued by Jamaica House on Friday (Oct. 29) said Mrs. Graham has been seconded to head the Communication and Public Relations Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister effective September 20th 2004....

More than 450 persons converged on the Port Antonio Primary School in Portland yesterday (May 12), to participate in the Registrar General's Department (RGD) special outreach, to educate persons about the birth registration process. The second in a series of outreaches organized in observance of Child Month, the outreach yielded 375 applications, the majority being birth applications. On hand to...

Effective Wednesday, March 31, the Metropolitan Transport Holdings Limited (MMTH) will cease to operate and its commercial functions will be incorporated within other public sector entities. Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman made the disclosure on Monday (March 29) at the weekly post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House. Outlining the reason for the winding-up of the government entity, Senator Whiteman...