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Persons with disabilities who have entered a local tertiary institution to pursue a first degree or diploma may now apply for the Margaret Moody Bequest Scholarships, offered by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities. Speaking with JIS News, Chairman of the Margaret Moody Trust Fund, Dr. Gordon Cowan, noted that the scholarship is open to persons who are registered...

The South-Eastern Regional Office of the Registrar General's Department (RGD) has outgrown its current location at 4 Trevennion Park Road and will be relocated to Shops 26 and 27 Kingston Mall, Ocean Boulevard as of August 2. Speaking with JIS News, Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the RGD, Yvette Scott noted that the move forms part of the agency's...

Events such as births, deaths, and marriages have a significant impact on a nation and as such the records of these events, referred to as vital statistics, are kept under Government authority. Registration of deaths, births and marriages are done at the Registrar General's Department (RGD), with the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Unit responsible for collating this crucial information....

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke has said that Jamaica has made significant strides in relation to the implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures for the protection of human, animal and plant health in keeping with the World Trade Organisation Agreement requirements. In keeping with the country's compliance record, a new food safety import/export one-stop shop will soon...

The importance of a good relationship between the Police and citizens to reduce crime was emphasised at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting held in Bonny Gate, St. Mary on July 25. Giving the main address, Inspector Michael Garrick of the Port Maria Police, said members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) was fully committed to working with the citizens of the...

The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has received commendation from the Citizens Action for Free and Fair Election (CAFFE), for its role in ensuring a fair election on August 27. Expressing high praise for their work, Chairman, Dr. Lloyd Barnett said that, "a lot of improvements have been implemented and the EOJ has done a very good job." In fact,...

The Police Civilian Oversight Authority is beginning to gain traction, as it seeks to carry out its mandate of monitoring the operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and its auxiliaries, thus playing an integral role in enhancing the efficiency of the Force, and its relationship with the general public. In an interview with JIS News, Chairman of the Authority,...

The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is encouraging farmers to join the Excel Farmers Insurance Plus plan. Thomas Mayne, Regional Manager of the JAS, told JIS News that the requirement of a minimum of 500 farmers who are needed to activate the scheme has been reduced to 300, as the farmers have been slow in joining the plan. Mr. Mayne informed...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Jamaica, Mike Conway is confident that the national carrier's 38-year loss cycle will be broken by 2009. This, he says, is achievable under the airline's current fleet and route rationalization programme. The CEO tells JIS News in an exclusive interview that the exercise involves using more reliable aircraft and focusing on more profitable new...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is reporting that some 1,234 hectares of the projected 1,700 hectares of fruit trees have been planted since the implementation of the Fruit Tree Crop project in 2003. Speaking with JIS News, Director of Projects at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Harold Spaulding, pointed out that the Ministry saw the need to encourage...

Jamaica's agricultural sector is reporting remarkable recovery following the devastation caused by four hurricanes in a two-year period and severe drought prior to that. The sector grew by 19 per cent in the 2006/2007 financial year, reaching its highest output level since 2003. This was an even better result than the impressive 15.9 per cent growth, which was posted for...

More than 50,000 diabetics who are registered with the National Health Fund (NHF) are to receive an additional benefit with the introduction of the Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test kits, which will be available at doctors' offices and laboratories at a reduced rate. The HbA1c test, considered 'the gold standard' measurement, is used to monitor the blood glucose levels in diabetics...