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Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese, informed JIS News today (Oct. 24) that the Department of Correctional Services has begun training persons to operate the monitoring of offenders system. "The first set of persons to be trained were the instructors. We are currently training the taggers and the monitors. Once that is completed then we will begin the field testing...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has emphasised that persons should take a holistic approach to healthy living, and adopt lifestyle practices that are positive. Addressing the launch of a Health, Home and Garden Expo, at the National Arena on Thursday, October 23, the Minister said the launch comes at a very critical point in time, as people tend to...

The Manchester Parish Council is seeking to have mined out bauxite lands brought back into agricultural production. On a recent tour of mined out areas in the parish by the Mayor of Mandeville, Councillor Brenda Ramsay, other Council members and officials from Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART), the Mayor told JIS News that, "we want to come to an arrangement...

St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) recently saluted the country's National Heroes at a heritage celebration held, on the grounds of the institution. The function saw a parade of the society's various ethnic groups and performances in traditional folk dance and music from students and teachers at the school. There were also various presentations in memory of the country's National...

The Commonwealth Women's Antarctic Expedition, has selected two Jamaican women to bid for a place on an all-female expedition skiing to the South Pole next year. Kim-Marie Spence and Alecia Maragh, have been chosen to go on to the next selection phase, a two-week training camp in Scandinavia, to take place at the end of February next year. Some 25...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that the debt overhang, which has been put at over a trillion dollars, is having a serious effect on the country. "The debt overhang is a problem, as it robs us of the ability to adequately finance education and health care, road repairs and other infrastructure. It just robs...

For decades, tax reform has been a sought-after strategy to enhance economic growth. In fact, it is a major plank in the Government's thrust to maintain macro-economic stability, namely low inflation, a stable exchange rate, and competitive interest rates. Tax reform is said to be the process of changing the way taxes are collected and managed by Government, both in...

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has reported that the sector is experiencing growth and improved performance despite the economic downturn of its major markets. He noted that figures indicate that as at the end of August, there were approximately two million visitors to the island, generating more than US$1.47 billion in revenues. Minister Bartlett pointed out that the revenue earned...

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton has called on stakeholders to recognise the critical need to begin building local capacity to ensure the long-term viability of the sector. He stated that given what is taking place globally, there is a critical need for local farmers to take stock and begin building capacity in the sector. Dr. Tufton was addressing a European...

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Government for establishing the national task force to explore and recommend short and long term initiatives to curtail and reduce violence against children in Jamaica. Prime Minister, Bruce Golding established the committee more than two weeks ago, following concerns raised by various private and public sector interests over the alarming increase...

Plans are currently underway to improve the efficiency of the water supply system in the parish of Clarendon. According to Mayor of May Pen, Milton Brown, while the parish is rapidly developing, this development is accompanied by an inadequate water supply system, which, at best, cannot sustain the level of commercial and residential development, presently taking place. "One of the...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has announced that during the next fiscal year, the proposed Public Accountancy Inspectorate will be in place within the Ministry, to act as "the eyes and ears of the Minister" with respect to the provision of critical oversight of the implementation of the budget. The Minister was addressing the Opening Ceremony...