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Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation, Sharonmae Shirley.

JANAAC Extends Period for Free Pre-Assessment

Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley, is encouraging local inspection bodies for goods and services to take advantage of the extended period for free pre-assessment being offered by the organisation. She said that entities now...

Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown.

Jamaicans Encouraged to Support National Quality Policy

Custos of St. Andrew, Hon. Dr. Patricia Dunwell (centre), with Ideator of 2030 Youth Jamaica, Ockino A. Leslie (left) and Associate Executive Director of 2030 Youth Jamaica, Kadesha Croney, at the launch of the youth organisation, at the Mona Campus of the University of West Indies, on March 3.

Custos Calls for Revival of Uniformed Groups in More Schools

Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (left) listens attentively to International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) Chair and Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Professor Peter Gluckman, on the first day of a two-day INGSA Caribbean Capacity Building workshop at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on February 20.

Draft STI Policy to Be Placed Before Cabinet

Modernisation Specialist in the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Division, Office of the Cabinet, Michele Gordon Somers.

All Ministries Must Have Customer Service Improvement Plans by April

8 years ago Budget 2018/2019DevelopmentVision 2030

$602.6 Million Allocated to Poverty Reduction Programme IV

The Government is continuing work this year under phase four of the Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP IV) for which an additional $602.6 million has been allocated in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which commenced in November 2014, aims to empower residents of volatile communities to achieve their fullest potential, thereby contributing to...

8 years ago Budget 2018/2019Governor GeneralHousingVision 2030

NHT to Deliver Over 11,000 Houses; Create 8,000 New Loans

The National Housing Trust (NHT) will deliver 11,103 houses to the market for fiscal year 2018/19. The number comprises 6,369 housing starts and 4,734 housing completions. In addition, 8,000 new loans will be created. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure while delivering the Throne Speech to open the new parliamentary year in Gordon House...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (left); and Chairman, Water Resources Authority (WRA), Dr. Parris Lyew-Ayee (right) observe as Senior Hyrdologist, WRA, Michael Wilson, highlights the features of a water-level sensor. Occasion was a press conference at the WRA’s Hope Gardens headquarters on February 7, to announce the payment of water abstraction fees effective April 1.

8 years ago Economic Growth & Infrastructure DevelopmentVision 2030Water

Water Abstractors to Begin Paying Fees April 1

Effective April 1, some 159 licensed water abstractors will begin paying water abstraction charges/volume-based fees (WAC/VBF). The fee is applicable to all persons who have a license to abstract and use water, and is being applied under the Water Resources (Water Abstraction Charges) Regulations, 2017. The charges are calculated based on the amount of water that the applicant is licensed...

Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left) is about to place an empty plastic bottle in a recycling bin, during the launch of the Environmental Wardens Programme in schools on February 1 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. From right are State Minister for Education, Hon. Floyd Green (right); Environmental Warden, Ricardo Gouldbourne; Chairman of Recycling Partners of Jamaica Limited (RPJL), Lucille Brodber; and Environmental Warden, Samantha Wilson.

8 years ago EducationEnvironmentInformationVision 2030Youth

50 Environmental Wardens to Be Placed in Primary Schools

Fifty environmental wardens are to be placed in primary schools in Clarendon and Manchester under a pilot programme involving the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, and Recycling Partners of Jamaica Limited (RPJL). The wardens, who have already been trained, will have responsibility for managing the collection of plastic bottles in the institution they have been assigned. Education Minister, Senator...

Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (second left), congratulates winner of an inverter refrigerator in the Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) ‘Energy Matters Competition’, Albert Chin (second right), during the awards ceremony on February 2, at ATL’s showroom in Kingston. Observing (from left) are Managing Director of ATL, Danville Walker; and ATL’s Marketing Manager, Tanya Russell. The competition forms part of the Government’s World Bank-funded public education thrust to increase awareness of the Energy Security and Efficiency Enhancement Project (ESEEP) and other energy-related developments in Jamaica.

8 years ago EnergyScienceTechnologyVision 2030

Government Saves $150 Million through ESEEP

Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says the Government realised savings of $150 million last year through the Energy Security and Efficiency Enhancement Project (ESEEP). “That frees up money for other social programmes and to offset other expenses of the Government,” the Minister said. He was speaking at the Award of Prizes for the ‘Energy Matters...

Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon Audley Shaw (left), greets Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) General Manager, Country Department, Caribbean Group, Therese Turner-Jones, during Thursday’s (February 1) signing ceremony for €9.17 million (US$10 million) in grant funding under the European Union-Caribbean Investment Facility (EU-CIF) for the Government’s energy management and efficiency project. The signing took place at the Ministry in Kingston. At centre is Director-General for International Cooperation and Development in the European Commission, Stefano Manservisi.

8 years ago EnergyFinance & Public ServiceVision 2030

Additional Funding for Energy Efficiency Programme

The Government has received additional funding support for its Energy Management and Efficiency Programme (EMEP) through a €9.17-million (US$10-million) grant from the European Union (EU). This is being allocated through the European Union-Caribbean Investment Fund Facility (EU-CIF) and will serve to promote more efficient use of energy resources by the State that would free up public funds through the reduction...

Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), converses with Chief Technical Director, Financial Investigations Division (FID), Robin Sykes, during Wednesday’s (January 31) opening ceremony of the FID’s two-day conference held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

8 years ago Finance & Public ServiceVision 2030

Gov’t Working to Take Profit Out of Crime

Finance and the Public Service Minister, Audley Shaw, says the Government is undertaking measures to combat acquisitive crimes, where the offender derives material gain from the criminal activity. The measures include revisions to the Companies Act to incorporate the retention of beneficial ownership information; the designation of certain professions as reporting entities under the Terrorism Prevention Act; passage of the...