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The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has boosted its capacity to deliver social services to vulnerable Jamaicans through the acquisition of 13 Toyota Hilux Pick-up Trucks, valued at $38.5 million. The vehicles, which were handed over to portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier on Wednesday (November 28) at his 1F North Street office, will enhance service delivery to 400,000 beneficiaries...

Several infrastructural projects are in progress across the island, with many being undertaken through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). These projects include, but are not limited to: road repairs; bushing of roads; bridge repairs; and the cleaning and maintenance of drains and gullies. The National Works Agency (NWA) has been instrumental in overseeing the projects and has employed numerous...

A new parish office of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is to be constructed in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann, at a cost of some $270 million. This was announced by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, when he toured the office and addressed the staff on November 21. “We have advertised for architectural services...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that 18,000 new persons were employed as at July this year, to bring the total number (of persons employed) to 1,094,700, an increase of 11,100 persons, relative to the similar period last year.  Speaking at the PIOJ’s quarterly press briefing at the Institute’s New Kingston offices on November  20, Director General, Dr....

The Government of Jamaica has disbursed some $21 million in economic empowerment grants to 62 persons with disabilities between November 2008 and October 2012. Additionally, more than $12 million in assistive aids were paid out to some 144 persons from April 2008 to October 2012. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, outlined the figures at an economic...

Executive Director, Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, has cited the need for a partnership involving “an accountable and transparent political mechanism and empowered and responsible civil society stakeholders”, in order for Jamaica to achieve good and effective governance. Speaking at the second SDC Parish/Town Hall Meeting, in May Pen, Clarendon, recently, Dr. Vernon noted that in a number...

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, says the agency is seeking to position itself to further assist in bolstering self-help activities in communities islandwide. Speaking at the second SDC Parish/Town Hall meeting, in May Pen, Clarendon, last week,  Dr. Vernon pointed out that the Commission’s  “core outputs” are focused on fostering strong community governance mechanisms,...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, says the Government is in the process of rolling out the country’s Local Economic Development (LED) programme, which will facilitate the creation of new enterprises, jobs, and income, for beneficiary stakeholders. He made the announcement on Wednesday (Oct. 31), at the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) second Parish/Town Hall Meeting held in...

The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) will be staging its 8th Annual Public Lecture and Exposition on Thursday (November 1) at Emancipation Park, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event is being held in collaboration with the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) under the topic: ‘Raising a Jamaican Child with Disabilities: 50 Years of Progress?' It will begin with an...

The Jamaica Red Cross has so far provided assistance to over 400 families across the island  who were affected by the passage of Hurricane Sandy, on October 24. "We have distributed already, enough food for 400 families and we do the packages, assuming it will be mother, father and three children. So, hopefully what we give them will last for...

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) is looking to reach more Jamaicans with disabilities so that the Government can adequately cater to their educational, economic, and social development. Through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Council will be seeking to locate and register more persons across the island. The aim is to create a reliable database...

  The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is currently conducting assessments to determine the level of assistance to be provided to persons, who have been seriously dislocated by Hurricane Sandy, which affected the island on October 24. Acting Director of Social Security in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe, told JIS News that two categories of assessments are being undertaken. The...