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KINGSTON — The Ministry of Education has advised members of the public that the Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT) will be administered today, May 6. “Everything is in place for the examination and all the centres are ready.  Nine thousand six hundred and seventy five students are slated to sit the examination,” a release from the Ministry Thursday evening said.....

KINGSTON — Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry, has said that all the relevant information regarding the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) have been made accessible for perusal by the relevant groups, including opposition Members of Parliament. “They don’t have to even write to me,” he said at a post-Budget press briefing held yesterday at the Ministry’s Maxfield...

MANDEVILLE — Chairman of the Manchester-based Mount Olivet Boys' Home, Grace Campbell, says the work that the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) has been doing at the home over the past two years is commendable, and has contributed to the transformation of the residents there. “The board does appreciate the JIS coming… they are people, who give of their time to...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and United Nations (UN) agencies in Jamaica, on Wednesday (May 4), signed the second consecutive UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) to be implemented in Jamaica, at the PIOJ office, Oxford Road, New Kingston. The UNDAF, which will be executed between 2012 and 2016, will support implementation of Jamaica’s long term and medium strategic plans....

KINGSTON — Householders in six parishes are slated to benefit from the Backyard Garden and Master Gardener Training Programme, aimed at enhancing household food security, while promoting the consumption of locally produced foods. The programme, which was launched yesterday by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) Old Hope Road offices...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved three contracts for the procurement and distribution of textbooks and workbooks to 815 primary, all-age, primary and junior high schools across the island. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. An award of $74 million (£521,600) was made to...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved the issuing of drafting instructions to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to facilitate amendments to the Registration (Birth and Deaths) Act 1881. Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said the amendments will provide for the inclusion of the names of unmarried...

WASHINGTON — Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, has lauded Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) for its support of Jamaican athletes, who participate in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania each year. “I am pleased to salute Team Jamaica Bickle which, through its effort of giving back, has helped to touch the lives of our young athletes,...

KINGSTON — Former head of the defunct Horizon Merchant Bank, Elon Beckford, admitted Wednesday (May 4) that the bank's high interest rates contributed to the demise of creditors in the 1990s, including developers whose loans were, eventually, sold to the Jamaican Redevelopment Foundation Inc. (JRF) as bad debts. “If we knew these rates would have continued, we would not have...

KINGSTON — The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) has said that of 1,699 cases handled during the financial year 2008/09, 1,568 were resolved, a 92.28 per cent resolution rate. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunication and Special Project, Hon. Daryl Vaz, gave details of the annual report at yesterday's Post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. The Minister said that the...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved new boards for the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, the Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings Limited and the Sports Development Foundation (SDF). Details of the appointments were given by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, at a Post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, yesterday. For the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, the...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, has suggested the merging of some small businesses, to improve their competitiveness and efficiency. He said that this level of co-operation would greatly assist small business owners, who may be finding it difficult to survive on their own.  “Maybe if we start co-operating and, rather than...