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Minister of National Security, Senator Trevor MacMillan, has said that with 80 per cent of all crimes in Jamaica related to gang activity, the idea of criminalizing gang membership should be considered a priority in the fight against crime. "Gangs are a major contributor to murders and shootings, accounting for over 40 per cent of murders. There are many murders...

The Portland Fire Brigade, recently carried out inspections of several homes in the parish, to ensure compliance with fire safety measures and procedures. The inspections, which were conducted at households in the districts of Cascade, Tranquility, Spring Hill, Windsor Forest and surrounding areas, were part of activities to mark Fire Awareness Week, from October 26 to November 1 under the...

Six Crane trucks were recently commissioned by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), for use in its clean-up activities. The vehicles are specialised units and will be dispatched to all the regional offices of the Authority, according to Managing Director, Joan Gordon Webley. These new units will be integrally involved in the National Community Clean-Up exercise, which commenced on...

Jamaica and the United Kingdom (UK), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is expected to boost the country's capacity to rehabilitate and reintegrate local offenders and deported persons in society. According to the Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, some 2.9 million Pounds Sterling is attached to the MoU, which will span three years. "Through the...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has issued a policy directive to the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), that it should seek to divest assets that it has already developed, and which are no longer strategically important to its role. The proceeds from such divestments, he said, should be used to finance new developments in other areas. Mr. Golding was responding to a...

The National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) is observing November as Youth Month, under the theme: 'I Can, We Can ,Youth Can, Achieve Greatness'. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank yesterday (Nov. 4), Director of Youth Policy and Programme Development at the NCYD, Robertha Ellis, outlined that the month encompasses a series of premi

Pastor of the Fellowship Tabernacle Church in Mandeville, Manchester, Morton Waugh, has called on parents to be responsible in the upbringing of their children. Delivering the sermon at the Ministry of Education's, Region 5 church service, on November 2, to mark the beginning of Parent Month, Mr. Waugh emphasised that young children are not equipped to feed or direct themselves,...

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Local Government, Robert Montague, has announced a new Government initiative to establish food gardens at state-run homes. The move comes against rising food costs worldwide and the need to ensure food security locally. "Just under $2 million has been pumped into a project to expand agricultural production...

Cabinet has approved the appointment of a new Board for the Urban Development Corporation (UDC). This was announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in the House of Representatives, yesterday (November 4). The Board members are: Businessman and Chairman of Superplus Food Stores, Wayne Chen (Chairman); Managing Director of Paymaster Jamaica, Audrey Marks (Deputy Chairman); Managing Director of Ammars Limited, Michael...

Some 31 sanitation workers were honoured recently, by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), for exemplary service to the organisation and its customers. The winners and runners up were chosen from all four regions and awarded prizes under the 'Get the Cash' Competition, an initiative of Executive Director of the NSWMA, Joan Gordon-Webley, who firmly believes in recognising exceptional...

The Urban Development Corporation UDC), is to purchase the property at Ferry, in St. Catherine, on which the Hydell Group of schools is housed, and will enter into a lease agreement with Hydell. Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, who made the announcement in the House of Representatives, yesterday (November 4), explained the rationale for the arrangement. He said the Government had...

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, has said that consideration is to be given to amending the Copyright Act, to lengthen the amount of time that royalties are paid on artistic works after the death of an artiste. "At present, royalties may be paid for up to 50 years after the death of an artiste. This period...