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Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, accompanied by Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, and other members of rescue and emergency agencies, are now on their way to Haiti. The delegation will determine the immediate assistance to be rendered by Jamaica in conjunction with international partners in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake which...

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, issued the following statement on Jamaica today: "IMF staff and the Jamaican authorities today reached agreement, subject to final approval by the IMF Executive Board, on an economic programme supported by an SDR 802.5 million (about US$1.25 billion) loan under a 27-month Stand-By Arrangement. The programme could go to the...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is leading Jamaica's response to Haiti's earthquake disaster of January 12. The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will transport supplies to the Haitian Capital departing at midnight January 13 and will serve as a base for the Prime Minister's visit tomorrow (Jan 14) and medical support thereafter. The ship will contain relief...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding told the nation on Wednesday (Jan 13) night that the way forward for Jamaica is exciting, although it will not be without challenges. Speaking in a national broadcast in which he outlined new economic initiatives to reduce the debt and the budget deficit and widen the social safety net for the poor, Mr. Golding,...

Jamaica has agreed to an intensive and extensive programme of monitoring and surveillance by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to ensure that it meets the targets of the new loan agreement, Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding said Wednesday night (January 13). "There is data that we will have to transmit on a daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis. We...

Holders of domestic Government bonds are to be formally invited this morning (January 14) to exchange them for new bonds that will carry much lower interest rates and extended maturities. Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding told the nation Wednesday night (January 13) that the offer, which will be launched at the Bank of Jamaica auditorium in downtown Kingston as...

Exporters of quality Brand Jamaica products are being encouraged to participate in what is expected to be the largest trade expo in world history, Expo Shanghai 2010, scheduled for Shanghai, China, May 1 to October 31. National Co-ordinator for the event and manager of Jamaica Trade and Invest's (JTI) Caribbean, Latin America and Emerging Markets Regional Office, Dr. Dana Morris,...

Jamaica will be relying heavily on the local branches of international charity organisations, such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, to help in co-ordinating its aid efforts to Haiti. At a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston on Wednesday (January 13), Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Daryl Vaz, stated that with communications hampered and the...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh in a letter to his Haitian counterpart, Her Excellency Marie-Michele Rey today (Wednesday Jan 13), expressed his deep regret and sadness to the Haitian Government and people for the suffering caused by the devastating earthquake that rocked that country. Dr. Baugh said that Jamaica stands...

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply distressed and shocked by the enormous loss of life and devastation wrought on its Member State, Haiti and in particular the capital, Port-au-Prince, by the powerful earthquake of Tuesday 12 January 2010. This latest setback to the development of the country will truly test the resilience of the Haitian people. Their tremendous resolve and...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising that given our limited storage capacity and other resource constraints we can only accept cash donations to assist with relief for Haiti at this time. Cash donations can be deposited at any National Commercial Bank (NCB) branch, account number 212387304. Persons who have other items they wish to donate...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, will lead a delegation, which will include the Leader of the Opposition the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, to Haiti today (Jan. 14). The delegation will assess the nature of immediate assistance, which can be rendered by Jamaica in conjunction with international partners following the January 12 earthquake, which has devastated that country. Yesterday...