Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Operations at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Charlton McFarlane, says it is important that civil registration and identity management are viewed within a developmental context. Civil registration includes vital information on the citizens of the country, such as birth, death, marriage and adoption, that is collected and stored. “At the international level...

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Fi Wi Jamaica Project, has joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to sensitize 1,000 persons about trafficking in persons over the next year. Country Director of  the USAID, Denise Herbol, said the drive is necessary as “not enough people know about human trafficking.” According to the International Labour Organization (ILO)...

Persons charged with human trafficking in Jamaica will soon be tried without a jury. This was stated by Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, at the launch of ‘Operation Uplift’, a new strategy to fight human trafficking in Jamaica, at the Police Officers’ Club on May 6. Mr. Chuck pointed out that the recommendation for trial by judge only was...

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, is calling on public servants to commit to service above self. “We must be mindful of the communities we serve and that the public’s interest takes precedence over everything else,” she said. Ms. Llewellyn was addressing the Trelawny Association of Lay Magistrates’ awards ceremony held recently, at the New Testament Church of God...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness says the Government will be sparing no effort in the fight against crime and violence in the country. He was speaking in an interview with JIS News, during a tour of sections of St. James, including a visit to the Charles Gordon Market on April 23, where three persons were killed on Friday,...

The Government has allocated $5 million towards the Community Empowerment and Transformation (COMET) project, Phase II. This is contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on April 14. The project seeks to strengthen community and civil society organisations to be active managers and leaders in their communities and to increase citizen participation, cooperation and...

A sum of $145.58 million has been allocated to the Justice, Security, Accountability and Transparency (JSAT) project in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project seeks to improve the standard of living and quality of life of Jamaican citizens by strengthening governance and oversight, with particular regard to the functioning of the justice system....