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The Haitian disaster has put the region in an earthquake awareness mode and renewed interest in a National Building Code for Jamaica, says President of the Jamaican Institute of Architects, Christopher Whyms-Stone. Speaking with JIS News, Mr. Whyms-Stone said that while the Institute mourned the tremendous loss of life and destruction of property in Haiti caused by the earthquake on...

In response to concerns regarding the Bank of Jamaica's (BOJ) net financing of $20.6 billion to Government in the October-December, 2009 quarter, the Bank has reiterated its policy position that it will not be a source of deficit funding for the Government going forward. BOJ Governor Brian Wynter, during the monetary policy report for the quarter on Wednesday (February 10),...

Human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), says it is "very pleased" with the continuous attempts to weed out corruption within the Jamaican police force. JFJ was reacting to news that a senior policeman was detained and questioned at the Lucea Police Station, Hanover, on Thursday (February 11) in connection with a major motor vehicle racket where, it is alleged...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says the Credit Reporting Bill that was approved by the House on February 9, will enable farmers to be integrated into a network that allows their track record to determine their credit worthiness. "This is an extremely positive development for the sector," Dr. Tufton remarked, in his contribution to the debate...

Final year seafaring students and graduates of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), with certificates of competency from the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), will have the opportunity to expand their skills through the introduction of a new course, 'Mastering Yacht Life'. The course, offered through the collaboration of the CMI, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, HEART Trust/NTA's Enterprise Based Training...

Arrangements have been made to accommodate all persons who wish to attend the official funeral of the late Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor the Hon. Ralston 'Rex' Nettleford, to be held at the University Chapel, Mona campus in Kingston on Tuesday, February 16, starting at 10:00 a.m. In an interview with JIS News...

Executive Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Mr. Michael Tucker, is contending that drug abuse must be treated as more than a health challenge, in order to prevent it from hindering Jamaica's growth and development as a nation. Speaking at a JIS 'Think Tank', at the Agency's Half-Way Tree Road head office, in St. Andrew, today (February...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, has called on the banking sector to take a more holistic approach in facilitating borrowers to be more successful in repaying their loans. "There is the practice in the banking community where if you owe money to a lending institution, to go to another to secure a loan to consolidate all...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Senator the Hon. Arthur Williams, has emphasised that the social partnership required to achieve national transformation, will only be realised when there is "true and genuine" communication among stakeholders. Speaking at a conference for communication professionals in the public sector, held at the Office of the Prime Minister,...

Persons, who damage national monuments and heritage sites, could soon be slapped with stiffer penalties. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) is in the process of revising the Jamaica National Heritage Act, which governs the protection of the island's heritage, to, among other things, adjust the outdated fines prescribed for breaches. Legal Officer of the JNHT, Ms. Lisa Grant said...

A Government delegation, led by Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, recently staged a successful five-day mission to China, which included several high level meetings, as well as the signing of major infrastructure development agreements, as the Government seeks to lay a platform to build on economic relations with that country. Mr. Golding and his delegation, which included Deputy Prime...

Six of Jamaica's major fishing beaches are to be rehabilitated, over the next three years, at a cost of $19 million, under the tripartite Improving Jamaica's Agricultural Productivity (IJAP) programme. IJAP involves the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It comprises two components, focussing on expanding...