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KINGSTON — To promote self sufficiency among working-age beneficiaries under its Programme of Advancement Through Heath and Education (PATH), the Government has made $70 million available in grants to assist persons with various micro-business ventures. The grants, which were approved by the Government in January this year, is expected to benefit at least 1,000 clients, with each receiving a maximum...

KINGSTON — Fifty four beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) have received $3 million in Government grants, to assist with micro-business ventures. They were handed their cheques at a ceremony at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston on Wednesday June 22. The funds were provided under the $70 million Entrepreneurship Grant Initiative of PATH’s Steps-to-Work...

KINGSTON — Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles says there will be changes in the methods of  payment to pensioners. He pointed out that some of the options currently being considered include: direct deposits to pensioners’ bank accounts; monthly payments instead of fortnightly payments; and payments with cheques, instead of pension vouchers. Addressing  the House of Representatives...

KINGSTON — For centuries, children worldwide have been experiencing some form of child labour and, in worse case scenarios, forced to work in even hazardous conditions. Child Labour, a form of abuse, constitutes any work done by children which is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous, harmful to them and interferes with their schooling. In Jamaica, under the Child Care...

KINGSTON — Giving children from inner city communities an opportunity for a solid educational and developmental base has been the mission of the Voluntary Organisation for the Upliftment of Children (VOUCH) for the past 32 years. A non-governmental agency, VOUCH, which was created in 1979 with the merger of two children's organizations - the Child Welfare Association and the Jamaica...

KINGSTON — Residents of Brandon Hill and Belair in West Rural St. Andrew are to benefit from a bridge and road rehabilitation project, which will be undertaken through $18.04 million in funding from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). Officers from JSIF and the Brandon Hill/Belair/Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) sponsoring group, on May 25 signed the contract for the project...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is to receive a draft copy of a Bill to protect the rights of the disabled community, by the end of May. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, made the disclosure during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 24). Mr. Charles said the promulgation...

The Stimulation Plus Early Childhood Development Centre, downtown Kingston is receiving a much needed facelift on May 23 as members from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security have come out to clean and beautify the surroundings, and put in play equipment. The work being done at the centre, which was selected by the Ministry as its Labour Day project...

KINGSTON — The Stimulation Plus Early Childhood Development Centre has received a boost, with the donation of $100,000 by the Early Childhood Development Foundation. Chairman of the foundation and wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Lorna Golding, handed over the cheque on May 23, as she participated in the Labour Day project at the facility. Mrs. Golding, who is also...

KINGSTON — Over $3 billion were disbursed to beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), during the 2010/11 fiscal year, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon Andrew Gallimore, has disclosed He said that the figure represents an 18 per cent increase over the amount disbursed in 2009/10. Speaking at the...

KINGSTON — Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Representative in Jamaica, Ancile Brewster, says the agency has expressed a willingness to extend its support for the Government's social safety net initiative, the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH). The Bank’s input included a US$15 million loan, which the government secured in 2009 to assist with social protection, in the face...

KINGSTON — Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has called for the restoration of community parenting and family development, in order to safeguard the welfare of the nation’s children. Speaking at the launch of activities for Workers’ Week and Labour Day at Devon House, in St. Andrew, last week, Mr. Charles, while noting the significance and relevance of...