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Programmes aimed at enabling persons to use technology available at the island’s 182 community access points (CAPS) are to be developed for implementation by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. State Minister, Hon. Julian Robinson, says that in addition to enabling persons residing in the communities where the centres are located to “earn money legitimately,” they will provide...

Six special education schools are to benefit from a $33 million project earmarked for implementation this year by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. The institutions are: the Lister Mair-Gilby School for the Deaf, Salvation Army School for the Blind, Randolph Lopez School of Hope, and Carberry Court Special School, in Kingston and St. Andrew, as well as...

Attorney-at-law, Kingsley Cooper, has been reappointed to serve as Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board, which falls under the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment. Mr. Cooper will head the Board for another two years, from May 2014 to May 2016. His appointment, which was approved by Cabinet, is outlined in a Ministry Paper tabled in  the House of Representatives on...

Implementation of the proposed number portability system by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, has been pushed back to May 2015. State Minister, Hon. Julian Robinson, says this is to facilitate the completion of several activities and engagements that will enable its full establishment, which was initially set for May 2014. The State Minister made the announcement during...

A total of 371 public institutions have been connected to the broadband communications network, being rolled out across the island by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining (MSTEM). The network is being implemented through the Universal Service Fund (USF). The institutions include: 206 of 207 targetted educational institutions; 67 of 77 post offices; 57 of 60 hospitals and...

The Government has undertaken a number of preparatory activities, as it readies for the roll out of the $1.4 billion Tablets in Schools pilot project for the new academic year. State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, informed that schools and parents have been sensitized in the use and care of tablets; a Tablet in Schools...

A three-year contract valued at $53 million has been awarded to TP Systems Ltd. for the provision of a Child Case Management System (CCMS) for the Child Development Agency (CDA). The software is being introduced to allow the CDA to better manage data pertaining to children and families who interface with, or come into the child protection system. Details of...

Passage of the Banking Services Act has paved the way for commercial banks and other deposit taking institutions to begin using agents to offer banking services to the Jamaican population. This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House...

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is to coordinate six innovation hubs under the Caribbean Mobile Innovation Project. This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 11. “These hubs are specialized business incubation...

The Ministries of Tourism and Entertainment, and Education, have partnered in an engagement that will see several high schools being utilised as performing arts centres. Arising from this, an initial four institutions - Jamaica College and St. Andrew High School in St. Andrew; Guys Hill High School, St. Catherine; and Manchester High School, Manchester - have been selected for improvement...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, is proposing that a mandatory pension system be established in a bid to offset expenses at retirement for Jamaicans. He bemoaned that decades of tax incentives on pension savings have failed to encourage Jamaicans to save for retirement. “Enticement does not work, Jamaicans need a push.  Privatized,...

Residents in East Rural St. Andrew are benefitting from a 10-year programme of educational development, which should see each household gaining three Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects, and at least one professional over time. Providing details of the plan during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on June 10, State Minister for Tourism and...