More

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier has urged self-employed persons to participate in the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), in order to access loans under the National Insurance Fund Credit Facility. "Jamaica, like other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America has a situation where large segments of the population are without social security coverage because of the high...

Residents of St. Thomas are putting plans in place to clean up and beautify the Rudolph Elder Recreational Park in Morant Bay and the Paul Bogle Shrine in Stony Gut, on Thursday November 18, as part of activities to highlight Local Government MonthLuther Cummings, Field Services Manager for the Social Development Commission with responsibility for St Thomas, told JIS News...

Jamaican-born Dr. G. Raymond Chang was officially installed as the third Chancellor of Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, on November 2. The installation ceremony took place during the university's Fall Convocation and after receiving his ceremonial robe and hat, and pledging to carry out the duties and responsibilities of his office, the new Chancellor presided over his first graduation exercise....

The Senate on (November 3), approved a Bill to amend the Registration of Business Names Act, following its passage in the House in October. This Bill seeks to provide for, among other things, the disposal of records and closed files, the recognition of electronic registration of a business name that has not been prior assigned to a company, increased penalties...

Thirty three persons were presented with Certificates of Title under the Land Settlement Programme, at an official handing-over ceremony held on November 1, at the Spaldings United Church in Clarendon. The recipients are from the parishes of Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, and are part of a scheme managed by the Estate Management Division of the National Land Agency, which sells...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Kenneth Hall, has lauded Jamaicans, who continue to make significant contributions at the community and parish levels. Professor Hall, who was speaking at yesterday's (Nov. 2) Governor-General's Achievement Awards (GGAA) pinning ceremony at King's House, said he was especially heartened by the contribution of the youth to the country, noting that, "Jamaica's youth...

The Harbour Street and Old Fort craft markets in Montego Bay are to benefit from extensive rehabilitation and upgrading works at a total cost of $26.2 million, with the work to be completed in time for the staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007. Minister of State for Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, who toured the...

Minister of Health, Horace Dalley, has said that a review of the regional health authorities was being undertaken, to assess whether they were serving the purposes for which they were created, including the reduction of bureaucracy within the health service. Mr. Dalley, who was speaking to JIS News, said that while he supported the decentralization of the health services, he...

Agriculture and Lands Minister, Roger Clarke, has called on persons with capital to invest in sustainable agricultural ventures. The Minister, who was addressing the Ministry's road shows on 'Profit-making ventures in agriculture' on November 1 at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, noted that while some persons may have capital, they preferred to place it in fixed deposit accounts and...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has re-opened the Canoe Valley Interpretive Centre in Clarendon. The facility is an information centre, which provides data on the flora and fauna of the Canoe Valley area, popularly known as Manatee Hole. Speaking at the re-opening ceremony held on Wednesday (Nov.1), Chief Executive Officer of NEPA, Dr. Leary Myers, emphasized the importance...

The government's fight against HIV/AIDS is being boosted through support from the City of Kingston Cooperative (COK) Credit Union, which is providing grants to organizations, which carry out prevention, care and education programmes. General Manager of COK, Brenda Cuthbert, told JIS News that up to $500,000 is granted per year under the COK HIV/AIDS Fund. "It may be awarded to...

The Rural Water Programme is currently hosting training activities in St. Elizabeth, as part of the overall capacity building of its Project Implementation Unit. Community Development and Outreach Consultant of the Rural Water Programme in the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Audrey Rose, informed JIS News that, "we are currently conducting training in St. Elizabeth with the Five...