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The country made progress in a number of key areas in 2010, as the Government remained focused on meeting the targets of Vision 2030 Jamaica, the national development plan. Vision 2030 Jamaica, including the Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) 2009-2012, which were tabled by Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding in the House of Representatives in May 2009, provides...

During 2009/2010, 708 charitable organizations took advantage of a six-month amnesty offered by the Companies Office of Jamaica's (COJ) to file outstanding documents. As contained in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce's performance report for its agencies up to May 2010, Cabinet gave approval for the COJ to partially waive fees for the filing of certain documents by non-profit...

Westmoreland has been making steady strides in the area of culture, chalking up numerous awards, especially at the annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Festival of the Performing Arts level and rated fifth among the parishes. The force behind this milestone achievement is Karen Knott Banhan, a daughter of the soil of Westmoreland. A teacher by profession, she is creative,...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding reaffirmed his intention to aggressively pursue the redevelopment of the downtown Kingston commercial area in 2010. The initiative, which is being spearheaded by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), is geared towards the refurbishing and upgrading of buildings and facilities in the commercial district. This plan has already seen the restoration of the St. William...

In his first public assignment for 2011, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that the National Housing Trust (NHT) must continue to find ways to make housing more available to contributors. Mr. Golding was delivering the keynote address at the Trust's 35th anniversary re-dedication and flag raising ceremony at Emancipation Park on January 3. Speaking to long-serving staff and senior officials...

The Transport Authority has recalled road licences from some rural stage carriage operators with routes terminating in downtown Kingston. The licences will be reprinted to reflect the new terminal points for downtown Kingston, to meet the January 15 opening of the new transport centre facilities. Affected carriage operators include those from Portland, St. Mary, St. Thomas, route taxis in the...

Director of the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Kenute Hare says males between 21 and 40 years of age will be targeted more in 2011, as they accounted for more than 90 per cent of fatal accidents that occurred in 2010. "We have to reach out to them more; we have to get them to...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding in his New Year's message to the nation implored Jamaicans to begin the New Year with renewed hope. "We have been through some tough times. We have had to endure the worst global economic crisis in 80 years but the worst has passed and we have used the time to put in place measures that will...

In his New Year's Message, Prime Minister Bruce Golding gave his assurance that job creation will be the focus of Government for 2011. He said that consultations on policy direction had already started with the private sector and trade unions. "Our focus must now be on stimulating growth and creating jobs through investment and expansion. This, of course, must be...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says the Government of Jamaica continues to take several initiatives to improve governance and that some of these are either before Parliament for approval or will shortly be submitted. Several of these commitments include: prime ministerial term limits, impeachment provisions, a special prosecutor to deal with corruption, whistleblower protection, tighter procedures for the award of government...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says there will be a major boost to tourism with the opening next week of two new facilities. In his New Year Message, Mr. Golding said the Port of Falmouth will receive its first cruise ship on January 7 and the Montego Bay Convention Centre will be officially declared open. "Construction of the new Port of...

A new Cruise Liner, 'Thompson Dream', with about 1,700 passengers from the United Kingdom, made its inaugural trip to Jamaica docking at the Montego Bay Freeport's shipping pier on Thursday (December 30). Director General in the Ministry of Tourism, Carrole Guntley, led a team of officials from the Ministry and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), to welcome the crew and...