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The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) secured more than $30.51 million in refunds and compensation on behalf of aggrieved consumers, during the 2013/14 financial year. For the same period, the CAC also handled a total of 1,499 consumer complaints.  Of that number, 1,229 cases were settled, giving an average resolution rate of 82 per cent. This was disclosed by State Minister...

Scores of youth in West Central St. James are being trained in entrepreneurship by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), with financing from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Last year 88 young persons were trained in business management, ethics, and marketing. Another 50 are slated to be trained this year. An unused building in Mount Salem is being renovated and...

The country’s export market access capacity has been strengthened with the accreditation of six laboratories by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC). The agency has awarded eight accreditation certificates to the six laboratories, four of which provide food testing services for the domestic and export markets, such as North and South America, and Europe, among other regions. This was...

A road rehabilitation project, valued $1.3 billion, will get underway shortly in the parish of Clarendon. The agreement, which was formalised on June 19 between the Government and Asphaltic Concrete Enterprise, and General Paving Company, will see approximately 10.5 kilometres of roadway, from Soursop Turn to Chapleton, being reconstructed and straightened. This was disclosed by Minister of Transport, Works, and...

Attorney General and Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, Hon. Patrick Atkinson, says there are plans in place to spruce up the town of Falmouth. Among the initiatives which will be undertaken are the Streetscape Enhancement project, which will involve: traffic management; proper signage to assist tourists; overhead lighting on decorative light posts; hanging plant baskets; major façade improvements; and...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is reporting a 41 per cent increase in the number of enforcement actions taken against companies and individuals in breach of the various environmental and planning laws. The number moves from 633 enforcement actions in fiscal year 2012/13 to 893 for the period 2013/14, which included Cessation Orders; Enforcement Notices; Stop Notices; and...

Attorney General, Hon. Patrick Atkinson, Q.C., says increased focus will be placed on agriculture, education, and sport in the constituency of North Trelawny. Mr. Atkinson, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for that constituency, said the money will be taken from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support these areas. He was making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral...

Attorney General, Hon. Patrick Atkinson, Q.C., is advocating for an increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation made available to Members of Parliament. “Our job is hard enough as it is, and less than $15 million is woefully inadequate. We are elected by the people and our work is long and hard,” he said in his presentation in the...

A Beach Management Policy is to be submitted to Cabinet shortly, followed by public consultations, which will influence the final document. State Minister in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Ian Hayles made the announcement on Tuesday, June 17 as he made his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. Outlining the...

The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, has implemented its Watershed Area Management Mechanism (Watershed Model), in 11 of the island’s 26 Watershed Management Units. These include the Swift River, Oracabessa/Paggee, and White River/Rio Bueno in the North Eastern Region; Negril, Martha Brae, Great River and Lucea River in the Western Region; St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, and Gut Alligator...

The staff of the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers is being lauded for the quality of their work in administering the legal affairs of the Government and, by extension, Jamaica. The staff’s work was highlighted by Attorney General, Hon. Patrick Atkinson, Q.C., during his 2014/15 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 18. Mr. Atkinson noted that...

More than 247,000 residents in 10 parishes will benefit from improved potable water supplies and wastewater management services over the next two years, as the National Water Commission (NWC) undertakes infrastructure improvement projects valued just over $1 billion. State Minister for Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Ian Hayles, says phased project implementation is slated to begin during the...