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USF PROVIDES MILLIONS TO BOOST INTERNET ACCESS

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

The Universal Service Fund (USF) has provided millions of dollars in support to libraries and educational institutions as the entity continues to carry out its mandate to provide 100 per cent Internet penetration across Jamaica.

            Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Chief Executive Officer at the USF, Suzette Buchanan, told JIS News that the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) has received $13.9 million to boost Internet access for users.

RETRIEVING UNCLAIMED BANK BALANCES

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

Each year, the Government publishes information on unclaimed balances in financial institutions for people to come forward to retrieve these sums.

Sums that remain unclaimed after such publication are turned over to the Government.

According to the Banking Services Act, 2015, unclaimed balances refer to monies that remain dormant in the possession or control of a banking institution for a period of 15 years or more.

INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

            Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says since taking office, the Government has significantly increased its support for the poor and vulnerable.

Closing the 2017/18 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 22, Mr. Shaw said his views are supported by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), a well-respected think tank.

GOV’T EMBARKING ON RATIONALISATION OF PUBLIC BODIES

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

            Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Government has embarked on a comprehensive rationalisation of public bodies.

This, he said, will involve “a series of phased and sequenced actions over the next couple of fiscal years, whereby public bodies will, based on time-bound action plans, be merged, closed, privatised or reintegrated into the public sector”.

GCT ON GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE A DEDUCTIBLE EXPENSE FOR COMPANIES – SHAW

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

            Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says companies that pay the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on group health insurance on behalf of their workers will be able to treat the payment as a deductible expense.

Deductible expenses are those that can be subtracted from a company's income before it is subject to taxation.

JAMAICA CONSTANTLY ON ALERT – SECURITY MINISTER

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

            National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, says Jamaica is constantly on alert for terrorists at the country’s ports of entry by using a watch list provided by the international criminal police organisation, Interpol. 

            “Our immigration officers are on alert. We have the software and backup systems to check passengers before they land, and when they land we’re cued into Interpol,” he said.

LITERACY PROJECT REAPING SUCCESS

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

The Enrichment Initiative, which seeks to achieve 100 per cent literacy among primary-school students, has been handed over fully to the Ministry of Education.

The project was initiated in 2009 by the Education Ministry and the Digicel Foundation, which provided funding. In 2013, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) came on board with more funding.

Through the initiative, Jamaica’s literacy rate at the grade-four level reached 86.5 per cent in 2016, exceeding the Ministry’s target of 85 per cent.

JCF TAKES 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS TO MONTEGO BAY

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) continues its 150th anniversary celebrations with the staging of a concert in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, on Saturday, March 25.

The event is the third of six scheduled concerts to be staged, one for each police division.

Head of the Corporate Communications Unit, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, told JIS News that the event is part of the JCF’s community engagement initiative aimed at improving relations between the police and citizens.

INTEREST RATES ON NEW LOANS TRENDING DOWN

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

            Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says lending rates by banks on new loans as at December 2016 were trending down.

            Closing the 2017/18 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 22, the Minister pointed out that interest rates on new loans for large projects are now at 10.23 per cent, compared with 13 per cent in December 2015.

ECC FORMS PARTNERSHIP TO HELP EARLY-CHILDHOOD SCHOOLS

Jeudi, 23 Mars 2017

KINGSTON, March 23 (JIS):

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) recently formalised a partnership with Digicel Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide assistance to five early-childhood schools to become certified under the ECC’s 12 Operating Standards.

The schools are New Works Primary and Infant, Westmoreland; Upper Rock Spring All-Age and Infant School, Hanover; Pratville Infant Department, Manchester; Carisbrooke Infant Department, St. Elizabeth; and Cassava River Primary and Infant Department, St. Catherine.