Welcome to Impacting Jamaica
SHARING THE LOVE: Violence prevention events in Barbican
Five-minute feature on acts of kindness by local or overseas based non-government individuals and organisations that have benefitted Jamaicans.
Written and produced by the Radio Department of the Jamaica Information Service
News for Week of December 25, 2022
We are here to inspire, motivate and uplift.
OCT-DEC 2022
Census data collection period extended
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is extending data collection for the 2022 Population and Housing Census previously scheduled to end this December. It is being extended into the first quarter of 2023 to ensure maximum coverage of the Jamaican population.
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Data collection started in September on a phased basis. Since then, census takers have been deployed islandwide; however, there are more persons to be counted.
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The Population and Housing Census, which is conducted every ten years, is one of the most important sources of data in a country. It provides benchmark estimates about the size of the population as well as important demographic and socio-economic indicators for policy planning and decision making by the Government, private sector, and other key stakeholders.
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In keeping with the 2022 Census tagline, Yuh Count, Mi Count, All a Wi Count! STATIN is encouraging everyone to corporate with the census takers as the Institute completes this important national exercise.
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MAY-JUN 2022
Insurance scheme coming for entertainers
Members of the local entertainment and cultural industries will soon have a dedicated health insurance scheme. This is according to the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange.
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She said that local actuarial consulting firm, Eckler Limited, has been engaged to assist in the tender process.
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The Culture Minister said the establishment of the scheme will provide critical assistance to practitioners who have made significant contributions to the development of brand Jamaica.
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“Wherever you go in the world they speak about our music, and I felt it was important that as part of our Jamaica 60 legacy… we ensure that we introduce insurance coverage for our artists, our writers, our cultural practitioners, to ensure that they benefit from what they have provided to this country,” said the minister.
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Big winter tourist season for Jamaica
For this winter season, more than 1.4 million visitors are expected in Jamaica, generating close to US$1.5 billion in revenue.
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The winter tourist season will last from December 15, 2022, to April 30, 2023.
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“We are at 97 per cent at this time, but our earnings [are] significantly higher than anticipated and I am very proud to say that at this moment, Jamaica has earned US$3.64 billion from tourism during this difficult year when we are now able to say we have recovered,” said Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.
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Bartlett said that the Norman Manley International Airport’s (NMIA) expanded service offerings attract diverse travelers; and that the Government’s strategic vision of creating greater interconnectivity of the tourism infrastructure has assisted in enhanced visitor experience and recovery of the industry.
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He pointed out that the figures are showing that as of December 18, some 697,000 passengers have come through the Kingston airport, including 381,000 tourists and 304,000 diaspora, local and business travelers.
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More time to apply for small grants
Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) now have up to Friday, January 6, 2023, to submit applications for the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) Innovation Grant for New Ideas to Entrepreneurship programme.
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The DBJ extended the original deadline from December 16, citing demand as the reason.
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“The decision to extend the deadline was set against the background of the numerous requests received from entrepreneurs and small business owners requesting an extension,” said Christopher Brown, the manager for Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem programme. “Considering the Christmas holiday is fast approaching, and it is one of the busiest times for their businesses, we readily agreed to a three-week extension.”
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The grant programme is to assist small entrepreneurs to scale and grow their businesses.
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The DBJ is looking for novel and innovative business ideas in the areas of tourism and creatives; agriculture and manufacturing; technology; climate change, and gender. Registered Jamaican businesses can access up to $7 million under the programme; they are being encouraged to apply within the stated deadline.
Couple gives to Black River Hospital
Owners of the Treasure Beach Inn and Bar in St. Elizabeth, Ernie and Jacqueline Muirhead, have donated $1 million in equipment and medical supplies to the Black River Hospital.
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The overseas-based couple made the donation recently, fulfilling a commitment they made after seeing that there was a shortage of critical medical equipment at the south coast hospital.
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“In July 2022, my wife and I made a promise on behalf of Treasure Beach Inn and Bar to assist the Black River Hospital with the purchase of a patient vitals and monitoring machine. We were able to get the funds from my wife’s birthday party along with other combined efforts and fundraising projects,” said Muirhead.
“We are proud to have been able to keep that promise with our donation of two machines, several medical devices, and others to the Black River Hospital, he said. “We will continue our efforts to help in any way and to encourage our community in general to also assist. This is a very worthy cause for the main public health centre in the parish of St. Elizabeth.”
Too much gloom and doom?
By Willem H. Buiter
NEW YORK – Nouriel Roubini thinks the global economy is “lurching toward an unprecedented confluence of economic, financial, and debt crises, following the explosion of deficits, borrowing, and leverage in recent decades.” Is he right?
At the risk of sounding Panglossian, I do not regard such a disaster scenario as inevitable, or even as the most likely outcome. Turkey and a few other countries afflicted with severe macroeconomic and regulatory mismanagement will almost certainly suffer the fate Roubini describes, but most economies can still avoid a financial disaster and a deep recession.
