The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) says the economy grew by an estimated 1.8 per cent for the April to June 2018 quarter, relative to the corresponding period last year. Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, said the out-turn, the largest since July to September 2016, reflected improved weather conditions which facilitated improved outputs in industries, such as agriculture; the positive...

The National Identification Systems (NIDS) Project has committed significant investments to the system upgrade and strengthening of the Registrar General’s Department’s (RGD) national civil registry, in preparation for its roll-out. The RGD is being revamped as the National Identification and Registration Authority to carry out the management of the NIDS, in addition to civil registration. Project Coordinator for the RGD...

Financial institutions are looking forward to the implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS), which is expected to improve their ability to identify consumers and reduce associated risks. Programme Director for the NIDS, Warren Vernon, said the NIDS implementation team has been in dialogue with a number of financial institutions that have indicated their support of the programme, which aims...

As promised, the Government has reviewed the longstanding practice of prohibiting women wearing sleeveless attire, from entry into government buildings. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has formally given instructions for the suspension of the no-sleeveless policy and instructed a full review of government dress code practices. It has been found, that while the practice exists to prohibit persons who wear sleeveless...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has stressed that there must be a speedier process of bureaucracy in Jamaica in keeping with Government policies and procedures. Speaking at the official opening of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Head office in Jamaica yesterday (August 9), Prime Minister Holness said while the country grapples with the notion that the process of service must take...

Public comment will be invited on the regulations being developed for the National Identification and Registration Act, which was passed in Parliament last November. “The regulations will go on the National Identification System (NIDS) project website for the public and media to provide feedback. It will then be finalised for submission to Parliament,” explained Chief Technical Director in the Office...

The state-owned oil refinery Petrojam is seeking to reassure Jamaicans that the increase in fuel prices is unrelated to matters in Jamaica. Petrojam says, the local prices are based on the price for which the commodity is purchased on the international market. The prices are adjusted weekly. The management of Petrojam says petrol prices have largely remained stable since the...