CRITICISED FOR its failure to adequately communicate its policies and programmes to the Jamaican people, the 15-month-old Bruce Golding administration will, early in 2009, appoint a new CEO to effectively steer its key communication arm.

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) is to receive a new CEO early next month, according to Olivia Grange, minister of information culture, youth and sports.

Grange told The Gleaner yesterday that the Government would be moving to strengthen the information agency and review its structure.

Process well advanced

She said the process to select a new head of the agency was well advanced and that the Public Service Commission was conducting interviews to appoint a new CEO.

Two months ago, head of the agency's public relations department, Donna-Marie Rowe, was installed as acting CEO after former head of the JIS, Huntley Medley, was dismissed by the Public Service Commission.

Grange said at the time that she was not pleased with Medley's performance, adding that there was no political consideration in the decision to end the former CEO's two-year contract with the agency.

Meanwhile, early in the new year, the agency will have a new home. JIS staff at its 37 Arnold Road television offices and its editorial and radio units at 58A Half-Way Tree Road will move to 5 South Odeon Avenue.

The information minister said the JIS would be relocated to the former Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation facility, which is now occupied by the government-run Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ).

According to Grange, the JIS will be working closely with the PBCJ and, in some instances, will share equipment and facilities.