Local and international investors are being encouraged to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that are available in Jamaica’s medicinal cannabis industry. Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Manager, Logistics and Infrastructure, Don Gittens, said opportunities are available in research and development, retail, and exporting the services of Jamaican professionals. He was speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank Session...

The Government is embarking on a US$5.3-million project to build the country’s resilience to climate change. Dubbed the North Eastern Coastal Resilience Building project, it is one of three components under the Enhancing the Resilience of the Agricultural Sector and Coastal Areas to Protect Livelihoods and Improve Food Security Programme. It is being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica...

Owner and Operator of Salisbury Cosmeceuticals, Carol Robinson, is hoping that participation in the 2019 Tourism Linkages Speed Networking Event will earn her a share of the more than US$600 billion, for which wellness and health tourism is estimated. The industry, according to data from the Global Wellness Institute, is forecast to grow at a rate of 7.5 per cent...

The Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) is calling for a mindset change as it relates to land titling, as houses should only be built on certified lots. Since 2012, the HAJ has embarked on a national project to regularise informal land settlements by providing eligible residents with land titles. However, the agency is reporting it is facing challenges, as some...

The Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) globe-topping performance and success in 2018 is, to a great extent, being attributed to ongoing strengthening and consolidation of the country’s macroeconomic environment. Bloomberg Businessweek, in a January 18 article titled: ‘Welcome to Jamaica, Home of the World’s Best Performing Stock Market’, notes that the value of JSE’s main index [in U.S. Dollars] rose by...

The Government has recorded significant progress under the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), since its launch in 2013. The Programme, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Health under a GOJ-European Union (EU) bilateral agreement with funding support of approximately €22 million, aims to combat infant and maternal mortality by improving five focus areas. These are...

The National Water Commission (NWC) will shortly complete and officially commission into service several major water-supply systems as part of its drive to better serve communities across the island. Key among them is the Essex Valley water system in St. Elizabeth for which just under $100 million has been expended over a four-year period. Making the disclosure during an interview...

In 2015, Lorna and Michael Lawrence decided to become foster-parents to a four-year-old boy who was placed in the childcare and protection system. The couple, from Islington, St. Mary, wanted to provide a nurturing home environment for the youngster. They had just returned to the island after living in the United States (US) for some 40 years, where they had...

The Universal Service Fund (USF) will be setting up more Community Access Points (CAP) across the island this year. Director of Projects at the agency, Kwan Wilson, tells JIS News that St. James and Portland are among rural areas being targeted for new sites. He says that the Fund will also be looking at increasing the number of free Wi-Fi...