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The Government has enlisted the assistance of the Jamaica Defence Force's (JDF) engineering unit to expedite the construction of some 500 houses for residents, whose homes were destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Sandy, by Christmas Day (December 25). Speaking at the weekly Jamaica House press briefing on Thursday (December 6), Minister with responsibility for  Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy,...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Julian Robinson, says increased efforts will be made to speed up Parliamentary deliberations on the Cybercrimes Act. The State Minister told JIS News that a proposal will be made to House Leader, Hon. Phillip Paulwell and his Opposition counterpart,  Delroy Chuck, for the establishment of a...

The operational capabilities of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has been enhanced with the employment of advanced stealth communications equipment, and the establishment of a language training centre, courtesy of the British Government. Consisting of over 100 Personal Role Radio (PRR) sets, with spares, and a Fixed Base Force Protection System (mobile re-broadcast equipment), the communications equipment isexpected to significantly improve...

The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-World Customs Organisation (WCO) Container Control Programme that is expected to result in improved security at the nation’s ports. "This MoU establishes and recognises that a funded and enhanced partnership now exists between the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministries of Finance,...

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is to receive advanced stealth communications equipment and a language laboratory from the British Government. British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Howard Drake, will make the presentation to National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting and Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Antony Anderson, at a handing over ceremony on November 27, at the British...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has informed that the first draft of a Bill dealing with the lottery scam should be ready by the end of November. "I have been told by the persons working on that draft that I will have a first draft by the end of November. That would be a major achievement if...

Some $1 billion was spent under the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) last year on interventions to benefit young people in volatile communities across the island. Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, made the disclosure, as he addressed a scholarship award ceremony held recently in Mount Salem, St. James. He commended the CSJP for the role it has...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting a 9.56 per cent decline in major crimes between January and September this year, relative to the corresponding period last year. Speaking at the Institute’s quarterly media briefing at its New Kingston offices on Tuesday (Nov. 20), Programme Director for the PIOJ’s Plan Development Unit, Richard Lumsden, disclosed that some 276 major...

Head of the Area 3 Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Derrick Cochrane, is cautioning persons in Manchester and St. Elizabeth, to exercise caution when renting premises. He said that lotto scammers are on the run from their regular bases and seeking to hide in unsuspecting locations. “What we find manifesting is the migrating nature of criminals…as we put...

The police are reporting that major crimes in the parish of St. Elizabeth have continued to trend downwards since the start of the year, in comparison to the similar period last year. “Overall, there has been a reduction of 2 per cent in major crimes. We have had reduction in murders, and reduction in break-ins. This year we have 160...

Holders of licenced firearms are being urged to renew their licences or permits as they become due, or face being charged for having an illegal weapon in their possession. Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, issued the warning as he officially opened the Firearm Licencing Authority’s (FLA) Montego Bay Regional Office on Thursday (Nov. 15) at Bogue City Centre....

Government has taken steps to abolish whipping as a penalty for certain criminal offences, with the tabling of several legislations in the Senate, on November 16. The Bills, which were tabled by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, will support Jamaica’s adherence to modern trends in human rights jurisprudence in relation to corporal punishment. To this end, the...