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The Government has suspended the Common External Tariff (CET) on 16 energy saving items. Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, made the announcement on Tuesday, February 19, in the House of Representatives. He said Cabinet approved an amendment to the Customs Act to reflect CET exemptions previously granted by CARICOM’s Council for Trade and Economic Development...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says that Government will be placing greater focus on developing those skills that will foster job creation and grow the economy. As such, he said, young people will be encouraged to move towards subjects such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as “this is our bread and butter”. Minister Paulwell...

The Judicature (Resident Magistrates) Act (Increase in Jurisdiction) Order, 2013 was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 5. The Order was tabled by Leader of Government Business in the House and Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell. Section 129A of the Judicature (Resident Magistrates) Act empowers the Minister by Order, subject to affirmative...

State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Julian Robinson, is challenging public and private sector companies to invest in human resources, by providing work experience for university graduates. He said this will enable them to transition into the world of work, as many students leaving universities have a hard time finding a job, due to their lack...

Students are being cautioned against posting inappropriate comments and pictures online, as these postings could affect their future job prospects. Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ), Cordel Green, issued the warning while speaking to students and teachers of the St. Andrew Technical High School in Kingston on Friday (February 1) in the school’s auditorium. “The photographs, the...

The Eastwood Park Computer Resource Centre has been renovated at a cost of $3.2 million by the Universal Service Fund, formerly Universal Access Fund. The facility, located at the Eastwood Park Road New Testament Church of God in Kingston, has been outfitted with 18 computers, a server and two printers. The Fund has also provided furniture for the centre. Addressing...

The Government is to embark on a major Information and Communications Technology (ICT) initiative in March, aimed at improving the efficiency levels within the administration. Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, made the disclosure during a ceremony to officially open the Eastwood Park Computer Resource Centre in Kingston, on January 28. “There is going to be...

The Jamaica Customs Department is looking to implement a new international Information Technology (IT) system to automate custom processes and compile accurate trade statistics. The programme, the Asycuda World Information System, is currently used in over 85 countries. Commissioner of Customs, Major Richard Reese, made the announcement at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Thank’, held on January 23. Major...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) capacity to effectively investigate property theft using synthetic Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology has been boosted with the donation of equipment valued at approximately $1 million by telecommunications firm, Digicel. Some 50 kits, manufactured by British company, Selectamark Security Systems, under its SelectaDNA brand, were presented to Police Commissioner, Owen Ellington, during Tuesday’s (January 22) launch...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, is encouraging members of the private sector to partner with the Government for the construction of office space, especially in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. “We see a number of investors coming to Jamaica to say, ‘they want to now shift location and Jamaica is the best place’...our...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Phillip Paulwell, has reiterated the Government’s commitment to establish a single regulatory body to effectively monitor the telecommunications sector. Minister Paulwell was speaking during a recent interview on the Jamaica Information Service’s (JIS) ‘Issues and Answers’ programme with Ian Boyne. “We do intend to now have a single regulator for all...

The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) is currently testing a new system, which is expected to shorten the waiting period for outgoing passengers on some airlines. The procedure, which integrates passenger information from airlines with PICA’s immigration system, will allow travellers on certain airlines to bypass outgoing immigration booths. Speaking at a recent press briefing held at the Ministry...