Effective August 23, exporters applying to the Trade Board Limited (TBL) for Certificates of Origin (COO) will be required to do so online. This is in keeping with the decision to transition from the existing manual process to an electronic service to obtain certificates. The online process will also satisfy the requirements under the respective free trade agreements, while facilitating...

There has been an increased demand for local cannabis in the global market space, as buyers from various countries seek to acquire the product for medicinal and research purposes. The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) is reporting that since the start of the year, 19 export authorisations have been issued to allow companies to ship cannabis overseas and another 21 requests...

For almost three decades, Jamaicans have been playing an important role in owning the results of conflicts through the work of the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF). The DRF is a private voluntary foundation to establish and encourage the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) techniques throughout Jamaica and in the Caribbean. Manager of Mediation Training and Network Services at the...

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools islandwide, one of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s largest organisations, the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) was called into action. The JLS was to expand its services to facilitate the nation’s students receiving adequate support in a virtual learning environment. Through a donation of JM $27.5 million from the Culture,...

The 144 students at the Pell River Primary School in Hanover have benefited from much-needed supplies for the start of the new academic year in September. Specially packed school bags containing various items to meet the students’ grade-level needs were handed over during a coronavirus (COVID-19) safe back-to-school event organised by the Sandals Foundation at the institution recently. The items...

Growing up, Frederick Haughton had dreams of joining the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to become a soldier, but after working as a teaching assistant on leaving high school, he fell madly in love with the profession and decided to stick with it. The 65-year-old son of Wales Pond, St. James, who went on to serve in the public education system...

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 4.2 million deaths occur each year as a result of exposure to ambient air pollution with low- and middle-income countries experiencing the highest burden from this type of pollution. Some pollutants are emitted into the air and others are formed in the air from chemical reactions to the emissions. Of great concern is...

Budding coder, Jevon Josephs, harbours the ambitious aspiration of becoming the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jamaica’s next successful Software Development Company. At just 22 years, Jevon has taken a surefooted path to achieving his goal, having joined the second cohort of 50 new coders now being trained under a pilot programme being offered through the recently launched Amber /HEART...

The Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) soldiers are giving back to society through engagement in outreach projects to benefit the community, particularly vulnerable groups. The objective is to make a positive impact through service. The ninth JNSC intake, which graduated in June 4, hosted two blood-donation drives during their one-year training period, contributing 250 units of the potentially life-saving commodity,...