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The Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA) today (February 4), launched its website, www.ocajamaica.com, which will serve as an additional public education and advocacy tool. Speaking at the launch, which was held at the Institute of Jamaica, in downtown, Kingston, Children's Advocate, Mrs. Mary Clarke, explained that the website, designed and constructed with funding and technical assistance from the United...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Major Richard Reece, has charged graduates of a course under the Community Security Initiative (CSI) to "prove to the world that all you needed was an opportunity to succeed". He told the 28 graduates during a ceremony, Thursday (January 28), at the Excelsior Community College, where the computer repairs course was delivered,...

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has commended the Jamaica Customs Department for working closely with the Ministry, in cleaning up the local scrap metal trade. Speaking at a stakeholders' symposium, hosted by Customs at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston on Wednesday (January 27), Mr. Stern said that the Ministry will continue to support...

The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund handed $1.8 million worth of furniture over to the Early Childhood Institute computer lab at Shortwood Teachers' College in Kingston, on Thursday (January 14), continuing its commitment to early childhood education. Speaking at a ceremony at the school, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CHASE Fund, Billy Heaven, said the furnishing...

The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), will shortly commence a 3-year study of wind and solar to enhance the country's renewable energy options. The study is being funded to the tune of just over US$1 million, through a US$750,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), as well as provisions...

With the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Technology in Agriculture (CEATA) now a reality, persons can begin benefitting from its work immediately, through the use of its official website. The CEATA, launched by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding last March, was created to serve as a coordinating agency to address research and training in the agricultural sector. As part...

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson, has stated that the General Consumption Tax, (GCT) to be applied to electricity as part of the Government's latest tax package will not be retroactive and will be applied effective in March. The Minister's statement follows the announcement by the Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, in December that GCT would be...

The Government wishes to make it clear that there will be no retroactivity in the application of the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity. A statement from the Ministry of Finance notes that there was never any intention to apply the special GCT rate of 10% to bills issued in January, since the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) bills its...

Computer services at the Oracabessa Branch Library, St. Mary, have been restored with the presentation of two new computers to the facility by Member of Parliament for Western St. Mary, Hon. Robert Montague. Mr. Montague, who is the Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister, made the presentation during a brief ceremony...

The Cybercrimes Act, with sanctions for the misuse of computer systems or data and to facilitate investigation and prosecution of such crimes, was passed on Friday (December18) in the Senate. Leader of Government Business and Attorney General, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, explained that the Act provides criminal sanctions for unauthorised access to and use of computer systems and data...

Minister with responsibility for Information and Telecommunication Daryl Vaz, has emphasised that the Government must lead by maximizing the use of technology. Speaking at a recent Digicel Business Seminar in Kingston, Mr. Vaz said one of the ways that the Government of Jamaica must lead is, "making ready our public institutions to maximise the use of new technologies to deliver...

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) has boosted its power-generating capacity with the re-opening of the Constant Spring Hydroelectric Power Plant, which had been out of service since 2001. The plant is powered by the Hermitage Dam and the Wag Water and Boar Rivers and will allow the JPS to add 0.77 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, which...