KINGSTON, Jamaica— Cabinet has given approval for the US$25-million Modernisation of the Agriculture Sector Programme (MASP) to be included in the public sector investment programme. The initiative is a five-year project that will be executed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and financed by a US$25-million loan from the

Severe weather conditions over the past month along with challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic has caused vegetable prices across Jamaica to rise by an average 50 per cent in one week, November 14 to 21. Xavier Charvis, marketing officer at Rural Agricultural Development Authority, RADA, is advising consumers to brace

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has commenced the pilot of antigen testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) at nine public health facilities islandwide. The month-long exercise, which got under way on Monday, is being conducted at the Kingston Public Hospital, Bustamante Hospital for Children, and Comprehensive Health Centre in the

increase within the range of 13.0 per cent to 15.0 per cent, which is much higher than the 9.0 per cent recorded over the past year. The BOJ said the worsening unemployment condition is predicated on the adverse impact of the novel coronavirus. The BOJ's projections are contained in its

Remittance flows to Jamaica have risen nearly 40 per cent in the September quarter, a spike that is being attributed in part to changing travel patterns, as well as crisis support since the pandemic, according to Bank of Jamaica Governor Richard Byles. With fewer persons flying into Jamaica, persons who

Job losses arising from the COVID-19 fallout are worse than the previous crisis in 2008, but recovery should happen four times as fast, according to Planning Institute of Jamaica, PIOJ, Director General Dr Wayne Henry. That’s due to the improved macroeconomy, he said, while addressing his quarterly briefing held online.

Mark Chisholm, executive vice-president, Sagicor Life Jamaica – Individual Life Division, hands over gift baskets to Diane Buckley-Smith (centre), departmental nurse manager, and Debby-Ann McKenzie-Cooke, deputy director of nursing services, Kingston Public Hospital, in appreciation of their excellent work. Sagicor Life also donated lunch bags for the nursing staff as

The insurance industry, though initially challenged, has not, up to now, fared as badly from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as the sector and regulatory authorities had been bracing for. That’s the assessment from the new president of the Insurance Association of Jamaica, IAJ, Oliver Tomlinson. Still,