History-making Jamaican women’s wear fashion designer, Donald Mirander, is about to embark on a journey that will enable him to contribute to more local designers creating a history of their own. The 2020 Chevening scholar is heading to the United Kingdom (UK) to pursue a one-year Master of Arts in Fashion Business Management at the University of Westminster, London. He...

As the country prepares for the start of the new school year next month, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is ensuring that various stakeholders are equipped to meet the challenges brought on by the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. School plants were closed on March 13, just days after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in...

As Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, prepares to name the rest of his new Cabinet, business leaders are encouraging him to consider appointing more women and young people to Ministerial positions, once they meet the criteria. Making such appointments, they contend, will ensure that there is greater dynamism in decision-making by the Executive. An increased number of women...

Having attended a non-traditional high school, and being appointed a Principal at the age of 32, Nahalia Lynch, who heads the St. Elizabeth-based Morningside Primary and Infant School, believes strongly that students can succeed at all educational institutions. The young principal, who obtained her secondary education at the then BB Coke Comprehensive High School (now BB Coke High School) in...

Several business leaders remain optimistic that Jamaica can and will achieve higher levels of macroeconomic stability, fiscal consolidation, and far-reaching sustainable inclusive growth. This, they say, even as the country negotiates the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has impacted the economy since the onset of the local outbreak in March, when the first positive case was confirmed. Their optimism is based...

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has embarked on the implementation of a new product, the Innovation Grant Fund, to provide financial support for medium-sized companies looking to introduce or expand innovative processes, products, and/or services. General Manager for Strategic Services at the DBJ, Christopher Brown, tells JIS News that the facility aims to assist entities fulfilling the eligibility criteria...

Stakeholders in Jamaica’s development minerals industry have expressed gratitude for the provision of grants totalling €51,000 (approximately J$9 million) to 12 small-scale artisans and miners, to support their businesses and fund emergency responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The grants were provided under phase two of the African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) Development Minerals Programme, being jointly implemented locally...

As the Government’s business development agency that assists with the creation and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) offers technical and other services that move a client from one concept all the way up to the market. “So, persons who have an idea to start a business come to us, persons who...

The Social Development Commission (SDC) has been using research, data sharing and community mobilisation to support the Government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The agency has also been heavily involved in sensitising the public about the risks of the disease and how persons can protect themselves from contracting it. In an interview with JIS News, Executive Director of the...