STATEMENT FROM PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND CULTURE ON ISSUES RAISED AT THE HUMAN RESOURCE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT   The Ministry of Youth and Culture was invited to the sitting of the Human Resource and Social Development Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 to provide members with a full understanding of the...

‘Youth Civic Engagement’ Message from the Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, MP In Recognition of International Youth Day August 12, 2015   Today, Jamaica joins the global community in observing International Youth Day (IYD) under the theme ‘Youth Civic Engagement’. IYD was established by the United Nations in 2000 as a means of bringing attention to issues...

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.   My fellow Jamaicans:   Today we celebrate One Hundred and Eighty One years of Emancipation.  We celebrate today the struggle of our forefathers and mothers who were displaced, mistreated – whipped, chained raped and bludgeoned. Often they screamed out in pain. Yet, year after...

Statement by the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, ON, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica, to the Security Council Debate on the Peace and Security Challenges of Small Island Developing States 30thJuly, 2015     Mr. President Mr. Secretary-General Heads of State and Government Ministers Excellencies Ladies and gentlemen   It is an honour to address the Security Council on the...

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce is advanced in its preparation of the Special Economic Zone Policy Framework. Today, I will lay before this Honourable House the White Paper on Special Economic Zones.   1.      Background The Ministry developed a policy paper on the SEZ regimewhich was approved by Cabinet on January 5, 2015. The SEZ Policy...

Mr Speaker, in a ministry paper to be tabled in the House today, I have outlined guidelines for the purchase of textbooks for the 2015/2016 academic year. The Ministry of Education provides textbooks annually for students in the primary and secondary schools. This year it will cost the Ministry $775 Million to procure these books. These textbooks reflect the content...

Mr Speaker, I am pleased to update the House on the status of application for transfers from students placed by the 2015 Grade Six Achievement Test. The data collected so far is showing a 10% increase over last year to date. To date the Ministry has received a total of 1143 requests for transfers and has accepted 822, with 568...