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Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, has endorsed the move to establish a National Statistical System (NSS), noting that it will, undoubtedly, support the government’s thrust towards data-driven and evidence-based policy making. Mr. Hylton said he hopes this model will also be replicated throughout the region with the eventual establishment of a regional statistical system, which would...

Director General of the Jamaica Library Service, Patricia Roberts, has emphasised the critical role of an informed and literate populace to the process of national development. Speaking on April 27 at an exposition and panel discussion on, ‘Libraries, contributing to national development’, staged by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the Special Libraries Section of the Library and Information...

The Government has decided to take the necessary steps towards the implementation of three major infrastructure works, which are critical to the country's future development. The three projects are the North-South link of Highway 2000; the Gordon Cay Container Transshipment Hub; and the Fort Augusta Terminal. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, made the disclosure in...

With just 100 days since taking office, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. A.J. Nicholson has already made notable strides in the areas of regional cohesiveness, international partnership and foreign trade policy review. His first major assignment following being sworn in as Minister on January 6 was the 7th UK/Caribbean Forum, held in St. Georges, Grenada...

The competencies of 40 community health aides (CHAs) have been significantly enhanced with their successful completion of the Ministry of Health’s training/certification programme. Implemented at a cost of over $8 million, the project sought to improve the CHA’s contribution to the nation’s primary health care system. Sixteen assessors/trainers also completed the programme. The participants were presented with their certificates on...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says he is pleased with the progress of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), having successfully reached its 46th Anniversary. “We recognise and salute those who were instrumental in the development of this scheme 46 years ago, and also those who continued the journey, which over the years, has benefitted thousands of...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, says the policy of the government, since assuming office on January 5,   is to ensure that its communication is open, timely, clear, effectively managed and responsive to the needs of the people. In order to promote a government that is visible, accessible and accountable to the public, communicators from all...

"Trashable to Cashable" was the focus of Friday's (April 20) Earth Day Exhibition, which was staged by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) at the Hope Zoo in Kingston. Chairman of the EFJ, Professor Dale Webber explained that the exhibition challenged schools from across Jamaica to showcase innovative ways of positively contributing to the environment, through methods such as: recycling,...

Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Dr. Wesley Hughes, has underscored the need for inclusiveness in the implementation of the National Development Plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica, to ensure the country’s timely and sustainable progression towards developed country status within 18 years. He warns that failure to include all stakeholders, whom the plan will impact, could derail the efforts towards...

Financial Secretary, Dr. Wesley Hughes, has underscored the need for citizens to pay their taxes and for these resources to be prudently managed, in ensuring attainment of the goals and provisions of the country’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica. The fulfillment of statutory obligations by the citizenry, he argued, as well as fiscal prudence at the administrative level, will...

More than 150 stakeholders will, over the next two days, participate in a country assessment and national prioritisation workshop on the National Development Plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica. The participants include members of the public and private sectors, civil society, academia and the international development community. Slated for the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston from April 11 to 12, the forum...

As Jamaica strives to strengthen its social safety net, the Registrar General's Department (RGD) continues to play a vital role in this thrust, by providing civil registration documents to vulnerable households, through several birth registration initiatives islandwide. One of the initiatives is the PATH Beneficiary Identification System, an agreement between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) and the...