Residents of St. James are to be the first beneficiaries of an Integrated Social Intervention Strategy and Action Plan, as part of the Government’s crime-prevention strategy. This strategy will be pursued by the application of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. The CPTED strategy is to be developed during the 2018/19 financial year. Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr....

The Government will be moving with deliberate effort to advance reform of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Making his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 12, National Security Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, said the reform will not only entail technological improvements or a simple name change but will be about establishing a...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) will introduce online tracking for firearm applications during this financial year. Dr. Chang made the announcement during his presentation in the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 12). “Additionally, the agency will acquire a BulletTrax marking machine to improve the Authority’s...

Work is apace on the development of a policy proposal and road map for the sustainable implementation of a National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) for Jamaica. The proposal will address elements relating to the benefits package, which includes levels and sources of financing, legislative changes, provider network, and the requisite administrative and organisational structures. This is contained in a Ministry...

Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, is inviting stakeholder input on the 15-point plan to overhaul the transport sector, which he presented in his 2018/19 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives. Mr. Montague said a six-month window of opportunity is being opened to enable persons to make additional suggestions to his proposals, in an effort to instil...

The Ministry of Health has established a Medicinal Cannabis Unit (MCU) as part of measures to facilitate the medical marijuana industry’s development in Jamaica. This was disclosed in a Ministry Paper tabled by Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, in the House of Representatives on June 5. To date, the MCU has registered approximately 61 medicinal cannabis products, manufactured...

A cohort of 18 nurses and five educators/supervisors will depart for the People’s Republic of China later this month to participate in a Nurses Training Exchange Programme. Another group is slated to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) to participate in a training programme in that country early next year. This was disclosed by Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher...