More

Over the next few months the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) expects to utilise Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping in the fight against crime. This according to Deputy Commissioner of Police in Charge of Crime, Mark Shields, who said the JCF would soon be in a position to discern via mapping where "every single murder occurs, where every shooting occurs, where...

Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman has informed of a project to join the standards bodies of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago to form the core of a regional accreditation agency. The Information Minister said this body would apply International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines within Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago and ultimately within the rest of CARICOM. Senator Whiteman was...

Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas has said that the response by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to criminal activities has been quick and decisive, "a sure and certain indication that the Police Force will never surrender, will never retreat and will never submit to tyranny". "To date, 40 of our colleagues have died in service with 18 paying...

The Hampstead domestic water supply and all-age school rehabilitation projects, which were completed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) at cost of $29.5 million, were handed over to the St. Mary community on November 24. Of the amount spent, $21.9 million came from JSIF's Poverty Reduction Programme, which is funded by the European Union, with the community providing the...

Under the free movement clause of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), skilled persons are entitled to move and work freely throughout the region. These include university graduates, media practitioners, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, managers, technical and supervisory staff attached to a company or a self-employed person. But while university graduates only need to show their degrees to be granted...

Jamaicans are being encouraged to take advantage of the CARICOM Skills Recognition Certificate, which will allow them the freedom to live and work in another CARICOM member state. Though the Ministry of Labour and Social Security issued the first Skills Certificate in 1997, the first Jamaican applicant at the Ministry did not surface until 2004. To date, the Ministry has...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has expressed confidence in the continued role of the Commonwealth of Nations as an important vehicle through which its diverse membership of 53 countries comprising 1.8 billion peoples and spanning all continents of the world could achieve global prosperity by advancing democracy, good governance, poverty alleviation and development. Mr. Patterson made these remarks at the closing...

As oil prices skyrocket to record highs around the world, local experts have once again called for extensive research into alternate sources of energy such as ethanol, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydropower, to reduce Jamaica's dependence on imported oil for its electricity and transportation needs. Speaking at the 19th annual conference on Science and Technology held recently at the...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has told Heads of Government attending the Commonwealth Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta, that a strong and clear message should emanate from the meeting as to the urgent need for a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Round. Mr. Patterson, in making his contribution to the retreat of Heads on day two of the CHOGM, said the...

History was created this week when the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) collected a record 233 units of blood at a drive held at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. The blood drive, which spanned two days (November 22 to 23), goes on record as not only the largest collection of blood at a single drive but also...

The Ministry of Transport and Works is taking an innovative approach to the further development of the nation's road network by developing a National Road Master Plan. "In another six to eight months, we would have developed a National Road Master Plan that really would speak to the integration of our road development and maintenance activities along with environmental considerations,...

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Valletta, Malta, has provided a platform for developing countries to secure a positive and meaningful consensus on multilateral trade from their counterparts in the developed world. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson who has responsibility for External Negotiations within CARICOM, said the achievement was an important milestone for the region as; "we...