Dr Suzanne Soares-Wynter (right), clinical nutritionist, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies, has the attention of Deborah Chen (left), executive director of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica; Dr Andrene Chung (second right), consultant cardiologist, Heart Foundation; and Dr Tamu Davidson, director of the Non-Communicable Disease Unit of the Ministry of Health, [...]

The country’s Net International Reserves (NIR) now stand at US$3.2 billion, putting the country in a better position to withstand external shocks. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw, during the 13th Jamaica Stock Exchange Investments and Capital Markets Conference yesterday. Shaw said approximately 80 per cent of the NIR is in non-borrowed reserves, noting [...]

St Christopher's School for the Deaf Principal Donna Harris describing the problems being experienced by the school during yesterday's Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. Beside her is Stacy-Ann Dockery, vice-principal at the school. (Photo: Naphtali Junior) IT now appears likely that St Christopher's School for the Deaf will not have to close its doors. Yesterday, Sagicor [...]

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF), Karl Samuda, says government is reviewing use of the mother and satellite farming methods to protect local agriculture from vulnerability to natural disasters, after a projected four per cent decline last year. In a statement in the House of Representatives yesterday, in which he confirmed the decline [...]

Ingrid Card, executive director of Sagicor Foundation, gesticulates while speaking about the 2018 staging of Sigma Corporate Run at this week's Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. Beside her is race director and principal of Running Events Ltd Alfred Francis. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) SAGICOR Group Jamaica has created a number of ways to facilitate donations to the [...]

Blockchain , the technology behind cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, has the potential to disrupt the financial services industry. Although popular and business media tend to focus almost exclusively on cryptocurrencies, this is just one application of blockchain. That narrow focus on cryptocurrencies has detracted from other far-reaching potential applications of the technology. Some of those [...]

Alcohol not only harms your liver in the long run, but it also causes what is known as 'brain fog'. Brain fog refers to a feeling of mental confusion, like a cloud that impacts your ability to think clearly. Several studies show that alcohol abuse can lead to brain damage, difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred [...]

My recent comments about the takeover of school cafeterias by fast-food franchises have elicited responses from some of the affected companies defending the practice. When something goes against your profits, you are forced to counter it even if it results in your actions causing direct harm to your clients. So cigarette companies will pour funds [...]

Amid uproar among minority owners of Guardian stock regarding pricing and a previously undisclosed deal between key shareholders and NCB Financial Group, the Trinidad & Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) says it is monitoring NCB's bid for a larger stake in the insurance conglomerate. NCB aims to double its stake in Guardian Holdings Limited [...]