Chairperson for the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP), Carol Palmer, says the improvement in Jamaica’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) ranking, is an acknowledgment of the important steps being made by the country in the fight against the scourge. Jamaica has been upgraded to Tier 2 from the Tier 2 Watch List, in the United States (US) Department...

Persons involved in the theft of agricultural produce could soon face stiff penalties under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his Budget Debate presentation in May, said that an amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Act, to include praedial larceny, is among legislative measures to be given priority this fiscal year. Head...

‘Operation Hope’, a faith-based initiative undertaken by the Clarendon Police to reduce crime and violence across the parish, has been yielding notable successes. Its implementation over five weeks, from May 29 to June 7, focused on alleviating hopelessness, despair, and spiritual and material needs affecting several communities by offering residents, particularly young men, alternatives to a life of crime. The...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed Exercise Tradewinds 2016 as being successful in building the country and region’s capacity to conduct counter-transnational organised crime operations. He was addressing the closing ceremony for Phase II of the Exercise hosted in Jamaica jointly by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the United States Southern Command (US SOUTHCOM) from June...

The Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET) will launch a cyber-security awareness campaign in July. The public-education campaign will seek to inform about the dangers online and highlight safe practices to adopt while using the Internet. Minister of  Science, Energy and Technology,  Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, addressing a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on June 22, said the goal of...

During the long summer months, children will be spending much of their time at home. To safeguard against mishaps, the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) and the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) are recommending simple practices that guardians can adopt to ensure children’s safety during this holiday period. Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NPSC, Andre Miller, tells JIS News that...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says 87 new district constables will be deployed to the resort areas of Montego Bay and Negril on July 19. This is among measures being put in place to underwrite the safety and security component of the Destination Assurance agenda, which is being crafted in collaboration with stakeholders across the industry. In a meeting...