The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) will be seeking to facilitate an increase in the production of regulated agricultural commodities (RACs) by at least 20 per cent in the 20024/25 fiscal year. This is contained in the Jamaica Public Bodies Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending March 2025. The increased production is expected to fill supply...

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, says the Government is committed to executing digital transformation the “RITE” way. RITE is an acronym for Respect, Inclusion, Trust and Efficiency. Addressing Thursday’s (April 18) Microsoft Black Partner Growth Initiative (BPGI) Innovation Round-Table Forum at...

The role of technology in higher education has become more crucial now than ever, says Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams. Addressing the opening ceremony for St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College’s Research Day 2024 in Kingston on Tuesday (April 16), Mrs. Williams said it is critical for educators in training to embrace digital tools and platforms to enhance the...

eLearning Jamaica Company Limited (e-LJAM) has partnered with local educational technology company, STEAMHouse, in hosting this year’s Crea+her Girls in ICT Hackathon, which began on April 11 and will end on April 16. The virtual hackathon seeks to empower Caribbean girls aged 13 to 18 years to become leaders and accomplished professionals in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)...

Minister of Education and Youth and St. Andrew Eastern Member of Parliament, Hon. Fayval Williams (second left), and Chief Executive Officer, Universal Service Fund (USF), Dr. Daniel Dawes (centre), point to the Chambers Lane Wi-Fi sign during the launch of the service in the community on Wednesday (March 27). Others (from left) are Councillor for the Mona Division, Gary Gordon;...

Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Catherine South East Robert Miller, is encouraging the responsible use of the internet by individuals. Mr. Miller noted that with increased access to the internet, and as the Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to roll-out free Wi-Fi across the country, persons should exercise care when posting information online. “There are certain Acts in place...

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) is introducing a smart chatbot to improve customer interaction and ease of doing business. The move is part of the agency’s “digitally bold” transformation initiative, introduced since 2020, to bring more of its products and services online to increase efficiency and reduce transaction costs. These include applications for birth, death and marriage certificates. Director of...

Student entrepreneurs are being encouraged to seek support from the Scientific Research Council (SRC). “We want students to see the SRC as a critical resource, and we want students to take up the opportunities that exist through the SRC,” Executive Director of the entity, Dr. Charah Watson, told JIS News. One of the ways the SRC offers support is through...

Jamaica is receiving technical support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to support the implementation of the country’s National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STI) Policy. Under the organisation’s Global Observatory of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Instruments (GO-SPIN) methodology, reliable and relevant information about Jamaica’s STI landscape is being generated to monitor and evaluate performance...