The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) acknowledges the information presented by Carreras Ltd. at its recent press event. Several issues must be taken into consideration when assessing the current impact the illicit trade is having on revenue: 1) The advent of several additional players in the tobacco market (two local manufacturers and new importers) and the impact this is having on...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Rocky Meade, noting that he is very knowledgeable for the task. Mr. Holness, who was addressing the swearing-in ceremony at King’s House, on December 1, said Major General Meade will ensure continuation of the fine tradition of the army. The ceremony was presided...

The Ministry of National Security is providing training for police personnel in conflict resolution in order to better enable them to recognise, deal with and respond to domestic violence. This is in light of statistics, which show that approximately 37 per cent of murders committed in Jamaica stem from domestic incidents. Speaking at a domestic violence/conflict resolution training session at...

Persons are being urged to take care in responding to advertised jobs, as human traffickers are using this as a scheme to lure persons into exploitation. According to Manager of the Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, Keshia West, traffickers are using local newspapers to offer jobs that don’t exist, and the public must be aware of the dangers that they might...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is urging citizens to be vigilant in their activities during the festive season. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Head of the JCF Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, said criminals are using the busy shopping season to commit crimes. She noted that the police are seeing an increase in cybercrimes and is...

Government entities charged with protecting the country’s borders are looking to make greater use of high-level technology in carrying out their operations. At a recent conference on ‘Leveraging Technology for Effective Border Security’, held at the National Police College in St. Catherine, entities such as the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF),...

The Government plans to establish a security polytechnic institution, which will enable security personnel to earn certification that will put them on a path for higher learning. National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, said beneficiaries will include members of the Jamaica Constabulary Fore (JCF), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), immigration and correctional officers, and security guards. He said the training and...