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Tertiary scholarship recipients Derval Reid (left) and Aneka Gardner at the awards luncheon held at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston on Wednesday (May 18). They are two of 10 wards of the State to benefit from scholarships from Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO).
Tertiary scholarship recipients Derval Reid (left) and Aneka Gardner at the awards luncheon held at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston on Wednesday (May 18). They are two of 10 wards of the State to benefit from scholarships from Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO).

10 Wards Of The State Get Tertiary Scholarships

Ten wards of the State, who are pursuing tertiary-level studies, have been awarded scholarships by the New York-based Jamaican charity, Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO). The recipients, who were selected based on their academic record and financial need, are Megais...
Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, addresses the 10th Annual General Meeting for the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations (CFPWA), at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny, on May 11.
Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, addresses the 10th Annual General Meeting for the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations (CFPWA), at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny, on May 11.

No Plans To Merge JCF And JDF – Minister Chang
Logo of the Firearm Licensing Authority
Logo of the Firearm Licensing Authority

FLA To Focus On Early-Childhood Institutions Labour Day
Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, addresses the 10th Annual General Meeting for the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations (CFPWA), at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny, on May 11.
Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, addresses the 10th Annual General Meeting for the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations (CFPWA), at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny, on May 11.

Welfare Of Police Personnel A Priority – Minister
The Government has spent more than $50 billion over the past six years to improve the capability and capacity of the country’s security architecture. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Courtney Williams, said that the figure represents about two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). He said that the investment will not only strengthen the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) but also the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), which remains a critical part of the overall crime-fighting architecture. “We cannot strengthen one arm of the security architecture and not strengthen the other,” he noted. Mr. Williams was speaking at the recent signing of a $117-million contract with Synergy International Systems for the supply of an electronic jail management system for the DCS. The signing took place at the Ministry in St. Andrew. The $117-million investment involves partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The new system is expected to allow for more efficient tracking of inmates, easier sharing of information to other stakeholders, such as the JCF and the courts, and provide for real-time capturing and analysis of information. It is also expected to eliminate the paper-based Jail Management System used by DCS, and improve data integrity and reports, while providing seamless integration among the DCS, the JCF and other agencies of the Ministry of National Security.
The Government has spent more than $50 billion over the past six years to improve the capability and capacity of the country’s security architecture. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Courtney Williams, said that the figure represents about two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). He said that the investment will not only strengthen the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) but also the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), which remains a critical part of the overall crime-fighting architecture. “We cannot strengthen one arm of the security architecture and not strengthen the other,” he noted. Mr. Williams was speaking at the recent signing of a $117-million contract with Synergy International Systems for the supply of an electronic jail management system for the DCS. The signing took place at the Ministry in St. Andrew. The $117-million investment involves partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The new system is expected to allow for more efficient tracking of inmates, easier sharing of information to other stakeholders, such as the JCF and the courts, and provide for real-time capturing and analysis of information. It is also expected to eliminate the paper-based Jail Management System used by DCS, and improve data integrity and reports, while providing seamless integration among the DCS, the JCF and other agencies of the Ministry of National Security.

Gov’t Has Invested Over $50 Billion In National Security

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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Courtney Williams (right) and Chief Executive Officer, Synergy International Systems Inc, Dr. Ashot Hovanesian display a copy of the contract for the implementation of an electronic jail management system for the Department of Correctional Services, during a ceremony held recently at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston.
National SecurityTechnology

Department Of Correctional Services To Implement Electronic Jail Management System

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is set to benefit from the implementation of an electronic Jail Management System, under the Ministry of National Security’s Security Strengthening Project (SSP). The $117 million investment is being undertaken through a partnership involving the DCS, Synergy International Systems, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Ministry of National Security. The new system is expected...
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Patrons at the Ministry of National Security’s Social Services Fair receive blood pressure checks at the Donald Quarrie High School in St. Andrew.
National Security

Great Support For Social Services Fairs

Scores of residents have been supporting the Ministry of National Security’s Social Services Fairs, being staged across the country. The fairs, which are done in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Youth; Health and Wellness, and Labour and Social Security, are geared at providing the most sought-after government services directly to the most vulnerable areas. The Ministry has, so...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses recent confrontations between the security forces and residents of Denham Town, during a ceremony for the hand over of a housing unit under the social housing programme in August Town, St. Andrew, on Friday (May 6).
National SecurityPrime Minister

Gov’t Committed To Ensuring Security Forces Respect Citizens’ Rights – PM

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to ensuring that the security forces respect the rights of citizens in communities where Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) have been implemented. The Prime Minister said that the ZOSOs are structured as peace-building operations, where the security forces safeguard communities, while showing the “highest respect and regard for...
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The newly opened Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) Northern Regional Office, at Lot 60, Dairy Road, in Discovery Bay, St. Ann.
National Security

New Firearms Bill To Improve Vetting Process – Minister

The application and issuing of firearm licences will be made easier under the new Firearms Bill, which has been tabled in Parliament, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. Speaking at the official opening of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) Northern Regional Office at Lot 60, Dairy Road in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, on...
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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Courtney Williams (right), participates in the official signing of the Seaport Cooperation Project (SEACOP) Memorandum of Understanding between the European Union and the Ministry of National Security, on Tuesday (April 26). Also signing (from left) are Director, Intelligence, Jamaica Customs Agency, Kalista Powell; Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson; Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman; and Director of the Seaport Cooperation Project, Dominique Bucas. The project aims to contribute to the fight against illicit maritime trade and associated criminal networks in targeted countries of the Caribbean, such as Jamaica.
National Security

PHOTOS: SEACOP MOU Signing

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Courtney Williams (right), participates in the official signing of the Seaport Cooperation Project (SEACOP) Memorandum of Understanding between the European Union and the Ministry of National Security, on Tuesday (April 26). Also signing (from left) are Director, Intelligence, Jamaica Customs Agency, Kalista Powell; Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson; Chief of Defence...
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Minister of National Security , Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (centre), comforts Kamoill Williams Sr. (right), the grieving father of three-year-old Kamoill Williams Jr., of Cascade in Hanover. Occasion was a visit by the Minister to the families of Kamoill and 27-year-old Tavares Stevens, on Saturday (April 23). Both were slain in a drive-by shooting incident on April 20. Looking on is Head of the Area One Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Clifford Chambers.
National Security

Strategies To Be Developed To Deal With Contract Killings

The leadership of the security forces is aware of the increase in contract killings on the island and will be developing various tactical approaches to remedy the worrying trend, says Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. “It is a relatively new phenomenon in terms of its use,” Dr. Chang said, while speaking at a press briefing after he...
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