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The Government will be adding two years of compulsory education for students, who have not gained the required academic qualifications after five years of secondary schooling. Education Minister, Andrew Holness, speaking at the opening of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Research Day on the Mona campus this morning (Jan. 24), said the move is to reduce the number...

Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA), Professor Barry Chevannes, is urging corporate Jamaica to come out and support the Peace March and Rally that will be held on Peace Day, March 4. The event will be the major activity to bring Peace Month, which will be observed from February 6 to March 4, to a...

Director of the Road Safety Unit, Paul Clemetson, is reporting that the 'Drive for Life' workshops have been a success so far. These islandwide workshops are part of the Unit's initiative to change the behaviour of drivers and to instill the importance of proper road use. Speaking with JIS News, Mr. Clemetson said that the feedback from the drivers who...

It is now official. As of February first 2008, the month of February will be recognised annually in Jamaica as 'Reggae Month'. Governor General, Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, this morning officially proclaimed February Reggae Month at a special ceremony held at King's House, attended by many of the movers and shakers in the music and entertainment industry. The function was...

The Dennis Brown Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to four persons whose contributions best reflect the ideals of the late reggae recording star. They are Hon. Dr. Una S.T. Clarke, community leader/politician; Winston 'Merritone' Blake, musicologist; Tony Ryan, Entrepreneur/musicologist and Ken Williams, Entrepreneur/broadcaster. The awards will be presented at the Dennis Brown Memorial Organization's Third Annual Scholarship &...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force is reporting that based on its heightened surveillance activities and intelligence, a significant dent has been made in the number of drug mules smuggling narcotics out of the country. Statistics from the Narcotics Division show that the number of drug mules arrested last year fell by 19 per cent when compared with the figure for 2006....

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has announced plans to institute a compulsory national identification registration system as part of measures to reduce crime. Speaking on (Jan. 23) at a media briefing at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister said that Cabinet has taken a decision to initiate the introduction of a national identification system, commencing in the 2008/09 fiscal year. "It will...

No child will be allowed to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) unless he/she is certified as literate and numerate, said Minister of Education, Andrew Holness. He said that students, who fail the Grade Four Literacy Test, will be promoted to grade five, while teachers continue to work with them to advance their literacy skills. If they again fail...

When the Vale Royal talks with the opposition resume next week Wednesday (January 30) , one of the first issues to be discussed will be the resuscitation of the Partnership for Progress programme. Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the programme, which has been a subject of dialogue for a considerable time will involve the government, private sector, and the trade...

The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) will pay tribute to a number of distinguished scholars and professional luminaries of Caribbean heritage, at its 11th annual benefit gala slated for Monday (Jan. 28) at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Noted human rights activist, Dr. Harry Belafonte, who is best known for bringing Caribbean folklore...

The final of the town hall meetings to discuss the review of Jamaica's libel and slander laws gets underway Thursday, January 24, at 6:00 p.m. at the Holy Cross Church Hall on Half-Way Tree Road. Prime Minister Bruce Golding has established a committee, under the chairmanship of Justice Hugh Small, to review Jamaica's libel and slander laws and to make...

Minister of Finance and Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that the Government intends to amend Section 68 of the Securities Act to include a provision requiring unregistered investment schemes to comply with the laws of the Act. The amendments, Mr. Shaw informed, will empower the Financial Services Commission (FSC) to make arrangements pursuant to a cease and desist order,...