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Cabinet has approved the implementation of a National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC). The Commission will be established with the support of the Ministry of Education to spearhead the implementation of the National Parenting Policy, currently being developed through the Early Childhood Commission. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing, held at Jamaica House, yesterday (June 4), Permanent Secretary in the Information...

The Ministry of Water and Housing has entered into a contract with the University of Technology (UTech), for the preparation of a National Housing Policy. "This revolutionary arrangement sees the coming together of a consortium of some of the brightest minds from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica; a mix of policy...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding says that he is seeking the assistance of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in preparing Jamaica to make its contribution to a special high level meeting involving several key international figures. The meeting is slated for New York in September, to discuss the prevailing global food and fuel crisis.This comes against the background of what...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda told his audience at the Jamaica Business Expo, last Friday (May 30), that the Government is starting programmes to offer low cost loans to micro-businesses across the island. There would also be training in business techniques and marketing assistance and financing incentives to lure the interest of small business owners. According...

The Rent Restriction Act is being amended to ensure that the rights of landlords and tenants are equally protected, and to provide the mechanism to enable speedy resolution of disputes. This was disclosed by Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, during his presentation in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, yesterday (June 4). Dr. Chang...

Cabinet has approved a recommendation for the maximum number of Judges of the Court of Appeal to be increased to 10. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing, yesterday (June 4), at Jamaica House, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, noted that this measure would increase the capacity of the Appeal Court to address, in a timely manner,...

The Technical Services Unit of the Ministry of Water and Housing is currently looking at new models, to resolve the chronic inner city decay. "The unit has demonstrated its capacity to design solutions to facilitate urban renewal and they will be working closely with the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC) on this effort," Dr. Horace Chang, Minister of Water and...

Steps are now being taken to re-brand and reposition the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC). In this regard, its name is to be changed and it will be re-organized in order to increase its technical capabilities and efficiency. "The new Board has commissioned the preparation of a three-year strategic plan and it is envisaged that by the financial year 2010/11,...

Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang has emphasised that the Government, would be adopting a zero tolerance approach to squatting. "This means that from here on in, once we identify new structures going up, they will be demolished," Dr. Chang said, as he made his presentation in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, yesterday (June...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer has outlined interventions in relation to tobacco that are to be undertaken to safe-guard the health and well-being of Jamaicans. Speaking at the Post-Sectoral press briefing today (June 4), at the Ministry's downtown Kingston offices, Mr. Spencer informed that the Tobacco Control Legislation will reflect the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and address...

Cabinet has approved the implementation of a Special Youth Employment and Training Project (SYEAT) to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in collaboration with several other agencies and institutions. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing, held at Jamaica House today, (June 4), Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, said that the project has...

The Ministry of Agriculture's National Quarantine Station at Plumb Point, Palisadoes, will be closed to facilitate major repairs on Monday, June 9th, 2008. The renovation is expected to be completed within a five to six month timeframe. Based on this, although all live animal being imported into the island by law, are quarantined for a minimum of 14 days, due...