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One of the most difficult challenges facing Jamaicans with disabilities is finding employment, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is determined to help them overcome this hurdle by funding projects that make them less dependent. Approximately 10 per cent of the population, or close to 300,000 Jamaicans, have a disability. However, only a small fraction are employed in...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, has lauded the Jamaican-owned food production and distribution company, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill for creating its own niche market and becoming a household name in Jamaica, the Caribbean and internationally. "This is a phenomenal achievement for any company and one for which you should be justifiably proud," the Prime Minister said in...

The Hanbury Home for Children in Manchester has received an upgraded library, with computers and other educational items, from the Davis Projects for Peace, a United States-based foundation. The updated $900,000 (US$10,000) facility was made possible through a recommendation made by Jamaican born academic at Howard University, Dr. Grace Virtue. She encouraged two of her students to seek funding from...

Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding has congratulated the staff and management of Jamalco for the teamwork that is allowing the company to maintain viability and break production records during a global economic downturn. "Not only is Jamalco still in operation, but you are breaking levels and achieving levels of performance that even in less stressful times you did not achieve....

The Old Harbour Disaster Management Zonal Committee has been re-launched, providing the town and adjoining districts, with an effective body to supervise its disaster management. "This means that we have now established an interim zonal committee, where the representatives from each community will ensure that a disaster plan is in place for the various communities, especially those that are high...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding has lauded the workers at the Jamalco alumina plant in Clarendon for their contribution to keeping the operations going. "The workers made an enormous contribution to that effort, and must share in the success and recognition that must be given," Mr. Golding told a workforce recognition function on Friday (August 28) at the refinery...

Executive Director of the Construction Resource and Development Centre (CRDC), Carmen Griffiths, wants Jamaicans, especially female heads of households, to acquire the requisite knowledge, to ensure that their houses are constructed to resist natural disasters, such as hurricanes. In this regard, she said the CRDC has produced the 'Safe Roof Booklet', used all over Jamaica as the guide to safe...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding has said that, despite many criticisms, his Government remains committed to the abolition of user fees in hospitals. He said that those who can afford to pay, should pay what they can afford. But, the problem has always been that the country was never able to develop an appropriate means to determine whether a...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding officially commissioned into operation a new rope conveyor system, at Jamalco's Mount Oliphant mining operation in Manchester, on Friday (August 28). Mr. Golding used the opportunity to laud the efforts that the company has been making to keep its mining operation running. He said that investment in technology was one of the main things...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will be instituting a special programme in two communities of Portland, as part of an islandwide initiative, aimed at mitigating the effects of disasters. This initiative, which is being carried out in 28 vulnerable communities across the country, will involve the training of community members in disaster mitigation and emergency response;...

Some $60 million will be spent this year to improve the island's ability to withstand natural disasters. The funds, which will be provided by the Department for International Development (DFID), forms part of the Tropical Storm Gustav Recovery Programme and will be used to train 300 community artisans on safer building practices. It will also go towards retrofitting 1,500 houses...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of assessment organisation, Extended DISC Caribbean, Trevor Smith, has argued that Jamaica's pursuit of global competitiveness must be accompanied by structured culture change initiatives, which include behaviour-based re-training of leadership and supervisory personnel. "Globally, more attention is being paid to the 'people' component of competitiveness, as increasingly companies and countries are realising that if you are...