More

KINGSTON — Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has challenged the legal fraternity to embark on programmes, aimed at improving the negative perception which the general public has of its members. Delivering the keynote address at the Norman Manley Law School’s Distinguished Lecture and Dinner, at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona,...

The Government will be spending $18 million on the Rural Water Supply project, in 2011/12. This is according to the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representative on Thursday (April 14). The Rural Water Supply Project aims to improve the basic sanitary/ health conditions, by increasing the coverage of potable water and sanitation services in poor rural...

KINGSTON — A Fiscal Systems Modernisation project, aimed at increased tax compliance, reduced costs and more efficiency in the public sector, is to be instituted this financial year. Some $550 million has been allotted in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representations, to implement the project. It involves reforming the Jamaica Tax Administration into a modern...

MONTEGO BAY — Chairman of the COMPLANT International Group, Li Zhimin, says his firm plans an extensive overhaul of the three sugar estates it acquired from the Government last July, to create a modern large scale sugar enterprise which is the leading in the region. “Rehabilitating the three sugar estates, as soon as possible, is a shared aspiration among the...

Miami — Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, says that the Diaspora has a unique contribution to make to Jamaica’s development. She was speaking at a community luncheon, hosted by the Caribbean Bar Association of Central Florida (CBACF) and the Jamaican American Association of Central Florida (JAACF), at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando on Monday April...

Miami — Tuesday, April 12, was designated Audrey P. Marks Day in North Miami, in recognition of the accomplishments of Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey P. Marks. Mayor of North Miami, Andre Pierre, presented a proclamation to the Ambassador, at the breakfast meeting of the Jamaica USA Chamber of Commerce (JAUSACC), in association with the Consulate...

KINGSTON — Former head of the defunct Eagle Group of Companies, Dr. Paul Chen Young, has accused the Financial Sector Adjustment Company (FINSAC) of abrogating its duty to protect locally owned businesses in the 1990s, resulting in the life insurance and banking institutions being sold out to overseas interests.  “The wholesale take-over of financial institutions by FINSAC was totally contrary...

KINGSTON — Forty Four-year-old contractor, Donovan White, was officially sworn in as a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Councillor in the Trelawny Parish Council on Thursday April 14. Mr. White has filled the vacancy in the Council created by the death of his father, Errol White, about two years ago. His official swearing by Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Collin Gager, brings...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Railway Corporation says the phased resumption of passenger train service could materialise within a month, after being dormant for nearly 20 years. JRC Chairman, Barry Bonitto, made this disclosure in an interview with JIS News following Saturday's April 16 test run of a reconditioned train between May Pen, Clarendon, and Linstead, St. Catherine. He said that...

KINGSTON — Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has underscored the need for partnership between the Government and other critical stakeholders, to enable Jamaica to achieve economic transformation and improvements in the social environment. Delivering the Throne Speech entitled ‘From Stabilisation to Growth' during the 2011/12 State Opening of Parliament at Gordon House on Thursday April 14,...

KINGSTON — The 2011/12 session of Parliament opened on April 14 at Gordon House with the ceremonial pomp and pageantry, highlighted by the delivery of the Throne Speech by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir. Patrick Allen. Proceedings began promptly at 10:30 a.m. with the arrival of the Guard of Honour led by the Jamaica Military Band, with...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Competitiveness Enhancement Programme is to receive $28.43 million in the new fiscal year to continue facilitating economic growth, by promoting specific reforms to reduce the cost of doing business. This will improve efficiency and the ability of businesses to compete in the global marketplace. The funds, which have been set aside in the 2011/2012 Estimates of...