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Just one month after launching a toll free line for senior citizens, Executive Director of the National Council for Senior Citizens, Beverly Hall Taylor, is reporting overwhelming usage of service. "The toll free line was well needed and it is being used by seniors. It has been well utilised not only for complaints; some persons call just to say hello...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has disclosed that the Government has reviewed the motor vehicle import policy, and has decided to modify the limitations imposed on the 20 per cent motor vehicle duty concession to public sector travelling officers, which was included in the 2008/2009 budget. "The Government has reviewed that policy and we have decided...

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department, will be staging a Health Fair at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), western car park in downtown Kingston, on Saturday, September 13, to mark Caribbean Wellness Day. Under the theme, 'Love Your Body, Treat Your Body Right', the fair, which begins at 2:00 p.m., will feature...

Taking charge of the Ministry of Finance and Public Service in September 2007, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, highlighted his Government's five critical areas on which new emphasis would be placed, to ensure the financial stability of the country and increase its efficiency and competitiveness. Citing debt management, tax reform, a revised energy policy, reform of...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), will join consumer groups around the world in celebrating the inaugural observance of World Consumer Responsibility Day, on September 15. Speaking with JIS News, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CAC, Dolsie Allen, explained that Consumer International, the international consumer advocacy group, has pointed out that for a very long time, it has been promoting...

The Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, have formalised a partnership to add a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurship, to the range of business programmes currently being offered. Speaking with JIS News, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the JBDC, Valerie Veira, explained that the degree programme, which would be offered this...

Former Olympian, Byron LaBeach, an alternate member of Jamaica's 4x400m relay team, that won gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, is to donate a catalogue of his personal photographs to the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ). The disclosure was made by Valerie Francis, Head of Acquisitions at the NLJ, in an interview with JIS News. "It is priceless for...

The St. James Parish Council officially launched its Disaster Information Database System (DIDS), on September 11, at its monthly meeting in Montego Bay. It was created and established with the help of two United States Peace Corps volunteers, with the objective of improving the management of shelters and resources for disaster operations. The initiative was spearheaded by the St. James...

Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, has emphasised that whilst technology is essential in crime fighting, it should not replace human intelligence. "I know there is a lot of argument about technology, it is good, but we have to bring many of the things back to some very basic functions of the individual," he argued. The Commissioner was speaking...

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Robert Montague, will be spending a working day in St Thomas on September 15, to meet with Councillors and staff of the St. Thomas Parish Council. Addressing the monthly meeting of the St. Thomas Parish Council, Acting Secretary/Manager, Naudia Crosskill, said the State Minister...

Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, has disclosed that plans for the National Parenting Commission are far advanced, and that the legislation for its establishment should be passed by January of next year. "The parents themselves do not understand how to go about holding the school accountable and so we have decided to, and we are very far advanced in setting...

Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, has disclosed that all schools, except those that require significant repairs, should be fully re-opened by the end of October. He made this announcement during an interview with JIS News, on Wednesday (September 10), at the Ministry of Education's Head Office in Kingston. "We gave a directive that all schools should be opened as at...