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The Ministry of Transport and Works has allocated some $500 million to effect road surface and drain maintenance works in nine parishes, in preparation for the upcoming 2008 hurricane season, portfolio Minister, Mike Henry has advised. Making his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on May 28, Mr. Henry said that this sum was part of the...

An Association of Regional Local Government Administrators is in the making, as a result of discussions being held at the Regional Local Government Consultation and Conference taking place in Montego Bay. This was announced today (May 29), by Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government matters, Robert Montague, at the five-day conference,...

For the 2008/09 fiscal year, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, in collaboration with the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) and the HEART Trust/NTA, will seek to expand the output of Jamaican seafarers with a view to supplying crew for the global shipping fleet. "The project is still at a preliminary developmental stage, but it is to gradually include the CMI's role...

The link between proper nourishment and academic success has long been articulated by many nutritionists and with the renewed focus on literacy by the Ministry of Education, a child's diet is seen as a key component in the learning process. Proper nourishment is important for the physical, social and mental development of an individual. For children, this is very essential,...

The Honourable Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports (MICYS) has told Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Olympic Games Organizing Committee, that he can be assured of whatever support Jamaica can give as the United Kingdom prepares for the Olympic Games of 2012. Mr. Coe, a champion British Olympic athlete of the 1980s making his...

A National Parenting Policy (NPP) as well as a National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) will be coming on stream soon. This is outlined in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives last week by Minister of Education, Andrew Holness. Funded by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the NPP should be at the 'Green Paper' stage by June/July...

The process of eliminating the shift system from primary and secondary schools has begun. Many negative reports, both social and educational, have emanated from the implementation of this system. As a result, among the important recommendations in the Task Force on Education Report are the elimination of the shift system, reduction of class sizes, the addition of one year at...

The Education sector will be further boosted by the National Education Trust (NET), which will be established as a medium of providing sustainable financial funding to engender the long-term development of the sector. As outlined in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives last week by Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, the concept of the NET was born...

The Government is seeking to achieve a more equitable balance in the distribution of public funds to the education system, and to specifically release funds for early childhood and primary education. As obtained in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives last week by the Education Minister, Andrew Holness, the University of the West Indies was allocated 13.57...

The Overseas Examination Commission (OEC) has successfully overseen the implementation of electronic registration of all secondary level candidates in all schools in Jamaica using software developed by the examining bodies. This has, for the first time in 2008, included the electronic capture of coursework grades. This is contained in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives last week...

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Anthony Johnson, has commended the Gleaner Company for its continued support of the Spelling Bee Competition and the sponsorship of Jamaica's entry in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition, now underway in Washington, D.C. "The Gleaner's commitment speaks volume to the development of our country's youth," said Ambassador Johnson. Welcoming Jamaica's Spelling Bee participant...

A total of 100 secondary schools will be provided with hand-held metal detectors, to screen for offensive weapons, which is in keeping with the Ministry of Education's on-going programme to improve security in schools. As contained in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives recently by the Education Minister, Andrew Holness, these metal detectors have been procured, guidelines...