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Stories by Jovan Johnson

Jamaica needs clearer squatting policies - IDB report

Published:Friday | April 8, 2016 | 1:54 PMJovan Johnson

With almost 20 per cent of Jamaica's population living in squatter settlements, a new international report says that the Jamaican Government needs a "clear and definitive" policy for fixing the squatting problem.The report titled The State of Social...

Jamaican scientists among international experts getting Zika training

Published:Wednesday | April 6, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Scientists from Jamaica are among several regional experts assembled in Vienna, Austria this week for specialist training on how to rapidly detect cases of Zika the mosquito-borne virus that has been declared a global public health...

Scamming on 'decline' but West remains 'epicentre' of activities

Published:Thursday | April 7, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Lottery scamming activity is 'declining' in western Jamaica, but that section of the island remains the "epicentre" of the deadly multimillion-dollar illicit business in the island.That is the assertion by Sergeant Kevin Watson, public relations...

'I'm being targeted' - Burke claims Hanna misguided as no-confidence motion brought to NEC

Published:Sunday | April 3, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Claiming that he's being "targeted", Paul Burke, the embattled People's National Party (PNP) general secretary, says a motion of no confidence brought against him yesterday by Region One Chairman Lisa Hanna is misguided for reasons he is refusing to...

'Unemployment gonna skyrocket' - 33% minimum wage hike unfeasible, say business groups

Published:Sunday | April 3, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

The headaches pounding the Andrew Holness administration over its income tax plan could get worse as two national business associations - representing more than 250,000 members - say job cuts will be certain if the pre-election minimum wage proposal...

200,000-strong business group wants Shaw to 'come clean'

Published:Sunday | April 3, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

The 200,000-strong Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Alliance says Finance Minister Audley Shaw should "come clean" and apologise for giving the country the impression he was not aware the money collected from a special tax on fuel was...

Small business association welcomes decision to save Junior Stock Exchange

Published:Friday | April 1, 2016 | 4:24 PMJovan Johnson

The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) has welcomed the decision of the Andrew Holness administration to maintain the incentives for companies enlisting on the Junior Stock Exchange.The incentives were scheduled to expire yesterday, but...

Seprod sugar permit unfair, says marketer - JCPS lashes Government for allowing Company to market its own product

Published:Thursday | March 31, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Jamaica Cane Products Sales (JCPS) is accusing the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) of acting "unfairly" in awarding a permit to the Seprod-operated Golden Grove Sugar Company in St Thomas to market its own output.The JCPS is the marketing arm of the...

Major sugar players agree former Gov't took too long to rescue failing factories

Published:Wednesday | March 30, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Some major players in the sugar industry have agreed that if the previous Government had acted sooner, there would possibly be no need for the current administration to intervene in rescuing private sugar companies from failure.On Tuesday, Karl...

Rescue job! - Government to temporarily operate divested sugar estates

Published:Tuesday | March 29, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Almost six years after divesting Jamaica's burdensome sugar assets, the Government is re-entering the sector in an attempt to rescue several factories from failing.Minister of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture Karl Samuda told the House of...

Don't rush it! - JCTU warns Holness administration about tax policy

Published:Monday | March 28, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

One of the country's major trade union blocs is warning the Andrew Holness administration not to allow commitments to an election campaign promise to force it to implement income tax relief without addressing all concerns about the policy.Helene...

Principals laud high school reform programme

Published:Wednesday | March 23, 2016 | 5:40 PMJovan Johnson

Scores of high-school leaders have given their approval to the Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education initiative which the Government believes will "reposition secondary education as inclusive, customised, diverse, relevant, equitable and...

Civil servants vow to have gov't foot cost of using new highway

Published:Tuesday | March 22, 2016 | 4:35 PMJovan Johnson

Approximately 12,500 government workers represented by the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) have vowed to only use the North-South Link of Highway 2000 on official business to ensure that toll charges are covered by the public purse and not...

No ban on streaming in schools, gov't launches new intiative to reform high school

Published:Wednesday | March 23, 2016 | 5:37 PMJovan Johnson

Although launching a new initiative - Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education (APSE) geared at serving the needs of all students in high school, the education ministry says that it is not ready to implement a policy banning streaming in schools...

Unfair! - Civil servants take issue with new mandate to earn promotions

Published:Sunday | March 20, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Withdraw it! That's the demand from the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA), which is branding as an "imposition" a recent order by the Office of the Services Commissions mandating that civil servants must demonstrate compliance with certain...

Opposition says PM 'hiding' environment portfolio at OPM

Published:Thursday | March 10, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

The Opposition People's National Party (PNP) says it is not pleased that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has disbanded the environment and climate change ministry and is instead "hiding" it in his office.Holness has been facing backlash from...

First-time MPs greeted with insults

Published:Thursday | March 10, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

THREE first-time members of parliament were yesterday greeted by insults hurled at them by supporters of the People's National (PNP), who had gathered on Duke Street in Kingston to watch the opening of the new parliament.The MPs-Fayval Williams,...

New House speaker gets sympathy, support from predecessor

Published:Wednesday | March 9, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

"My sympathy and support."Those were the words from Michael Peart, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, to his successor, who, as of today, will preside over a House which, for the first time in Jamaica's parliamentary history, will...

'PNP pastor' stripped of post - Harvey removed from NCU post after appearance at political meeting

Published:Thursday | March 3, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Dr Michael Harvey, vice-president of the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), has been stripped of his position as a senior pastor at the institution.The move comes after his appearance on a People's National Party (PNP) platform during the recent...

22 chartered JUTC buses damaged by JLP supporters, says Roper

Published:Monday | February 22, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is reporting that 22 of the buses chartered by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for its rally in Half-Way Tree yesterday were damaged while a driver was injured in an alleged gang feud on one of the units...

Holness open house - JLP leader says he funded Beverly Hills home - from savings, salary, suppliers' credit and loans

Published:Monday | February 15, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has provided details on the funding of his multimillion-dollar house in Beverly Hills, St Andrew, in an attempt to respond to a smear campaign he says the People's National Party (PNP) is waging against him in the...

'PNP' pastor pulled from pulpit - Adventists send Harvey on leave for appearing on political platform

Published:Thursday | February 4, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson

Adventist pastor Dr Michael Harvey says he is now cleaving to prayers, after his church leadership sanctioned him for appearing on a People's National Party (PNP) platform, urging Jamaicans to stick with the governing party in upcoming polls.Harvey...

Adventist pastor sent on leave after appearing on PNP platform

Published:Thursday | February 4, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson, Gleaner Writer

Seventh-day Adventist pastor, Dr Michael Harvey says he is now cleaving to prayers, after his church leadership sent him on administrative leave following his appearance on a People's National Party (PNP) platform, urging Jamaicans to stick...

Linstead Problems Pushing Police

Published:Wednesday | February 3, 2016 | 1:25 PMJovan Johnson

Linstead, described as a town 'bursting at its seams', is pushing the police there to make an appeal for help to buy bicycles to efficiently navigate the town's congested streets and enforce law and order.The police's call for help follows one from...

Anthony Hylton calls Edward Seaga an armchair politician

Published:Tuesday | February 2, 2016 | 12:00 AMJovan Johnson, Gleaner Writer

Deputy chairman of the People's National Party (PNP) Anthony Hylton, has labelled Edward Seaga an 'armchair politician' after the retired MP asserted that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) would have 'wiped out' the PNP if the...

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