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KINGSTON — Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ), Cordell Green is encouraging Jamaicans to utilise the opportunities which exist through Public Access Television and the Internet to broadcast their views and creative expressions. “We have required, as a regulator, on cable in particular, that cable stations must reserve a channel that is for a public access channel,”...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Basic Education Project, which seeks to increase literacy fluency and foundation mathematics skills among grades one to three students, has received a boost of $173.71 million in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. The allocation will go towards initiatives aimed at achieving a 90 per cent early grade reading fluency in...

KINGSTON — The Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU) is set to receive a cash injection of $74.6 million to carry out its work this fiscal year. This is set out in the 2011/2012 Estimates and Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. With funding support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the United...

KINGSTON — Some $21 million has been allotted to the Animal Breeding and Husbandry project in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project is concerned with research activities focusing on improving the quality of livestock and animal products. The bulk of the figure, $6.9 million will go towards the Cattle Rescue Programme which seeks...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has signaled its intention to accept the majority of the recommendations on the restructuring of the public sector contained in the master rationalisation plan. The move follows a detailed review of proposed changes to the respective ministries, departments and agencies under the plan. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Project, Hon. Daryl Vaz, addressing yesterday...

KINGSTON — Disasters are unpredictable and can occur at any time. As such, it is imperative that preparedness mechanisms be implemented to cushion the impact and damage. Across the globe, discussions are still ongoing about the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that occurred in Japan, causing widespread deaths, injury and property damage. The disaster resulted in many countries re-examining their preparedness...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, on April 19 unveiled a draft voluntary code of conduct for banking/financial institutions. The code, which is being put forward for consideration for banks and other stakeholders, sets out standards of good practice that should serve as a guide for banks to follow when dealing with persons who are,...

Tourism Minister, Ed Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica welcomed over 20,000 visitors to its shores yesterday, Wednesday April 20, 2011. Tourism Minister, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica welcomed over 20,000 visitors to its shores yesterday, Wednesday April 20, 2011. Speaking during the closing session of the 4th annual Tourism Outlook Seminar at the Half Moon Conference Centre...

KINGSTON — The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have agreed on the implementation of a business management and customer service software project, which will allow small businesses to engage in proper accounting, human resource and sales practices. “These are crucial areas within the small business sector…we want to assure (the IDB) that their...

KINGSTON — Attorney for the commission enquiring into the FINSAC issue and those representing the Jamaican Redevelopment Foundation (JRF) Inc., clashed verbally on Tuesday April 19 over the cross examination of witnesses. The conflict was triggered by the Commission’s attorney, Judith Clarke’s decision to cross examine former National Commercial Bank (NCB) managing director, Jeffrey Cobham, at the end of his...

KINGSTON — The Youth Development Programme, which facilitates the transition of unattached youth to adulthood and the world of work, through training, on the job experience, information dissemination, labour intermediation services and sector management have been boosted by an allocation of $205 million in the 2011/12 Budget. Up to February 2011, the programme had achieved procurement of consultants for three...

KINGSTON — The Government will continue to collaborate with the United Nation’s International Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF) to increase youth access to quality information, skills and services to reduce the risk of HIV infection in 2011/12. The effort will be financed through an allocation of $16.7 million to the Youth Empowerment and Participation Programme in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure,...