NEWS ON THE GO

The Road Safety Unit says pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and pillion passengers account for 54 per cent of road users killed to date.

A total of 150 persons have been killed in 127 fatal crashes since January of this year. The casualties consist of 31 pedestrians, 11 pedal cyclists, 32 motorcyclists, seven pillion passengers, four public passenger vehicle passengers, 27 private motor car passengers, five commercial motor car passengers, two public passenger vehicle drivers, 29 private motor car drivers and two commercial motor car drivers.

Kenute Hare, director of the Road Safety Unit, is cautioning that safety in the road environment should not only be the responsibility of drivers/motorists but that pedestrians and other vulnerable road users should also be equally concerned and cautious.

"We recognise that many persons mistakenly place the responsibility of safety in the traffic space on persons who operate motor vehicles. This should not be. Pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, such as the elderly and children, should operate in such a way that motorists are able to see them easily as they go about on the roads."

Jamaica's borrowing relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could end when the country's US$1.6-billion precautionary Stand-By Arrangement concludes in September 2019.

Dr Nigel Clarke, the minister of finance, said the Government and Fund are of the view that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, "Jamaica will be able to graduate from an IMF (borrowing arrangement) programme.

"It just requires steadfast and faithful implementation of a series of economic reforms that we have already committed to, and getting those done on time...," the minister said.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw has urged employers to focus more on helping to develop their employees in order to increase productivity in the workplace.

Addressing the 36th annual Business and Workplace Convention and Expo of the Jamaica Employers Federation at Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios on Thursday, Shaw said this would help to stem Jamaica's declining productivity rate.

"I urge employers to commit to start working in earnest with your employee, ah beg yuh, start taking an interest in their personal development," Shaw said.

"When you have on-the-job training, when you help in personal development, it might not come back to you immediately, within a week or within a month but believe me, within a six-month to a one-year period you are going to begin to see the incremental return in increased employee productivity in your organisation."