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In a release issued Monday (August 10), the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has offered the following precautions: As dry conditions worsen across the island, the ODPEM is strongly urging all Jamaicans to conserve on their use of water. The Meteorological Service has advised that the worst affected parishes so far are Westmoreland and St. Mary. The...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has summoned an emergency meeting for Tuesday morning (August 11) at the Ministry in Kingston, to discuss the current demonstration by registered nurses at public health facilities. The Ministry of Labour confirmed today that Mr. Charles has summoned the parties - the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) and the Ministry of...

Youth, Sports and Culture Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, has stressed the need for Jamaica's athletes to educate themselves on the list of substances which have been banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Her comment comes in the wake of the five athletes testing positive for traces of a stimulant, which was found in their systems, following Jamaica's...

The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), is accepting entries for its 'Spruce Up Jamaica, Nice Up Yuh Self' Essay competition, which is geared at exposing young Jamaicans to Brand Jamaica and the offerings of the tourism sector. Speaking with JIS News, Spruce Up Jamaica Co-ordinator, Marline Stephenson-Dalley, explained that the competition would "engage young people to start thinking about this...

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) is placing much emphasis on loans for agricultural projects. According to General Manager for Approved Financial Institutions (AFI), Emmy Lewars, "in all our credit lines, we have put agriculture in them to facilitate softer interest rates for agricultural projects. And at this time, we should emphasise 'grow what we eat, and eat what we...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has approved $5.8 million for Cultural Animation in ICBSP (Inner-City Basic Services Project) communities. Additionally, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will contribute some $1million in kind to operate the programme. Social Services Coordinator at the ICBSP, Grace Ann Scarlet, told JIS News that the programme, which was introduced to the communities some time...

Youth, Sports and Culture Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, is defending the administration's decision to stage Emancipation and Independence celebrations this year, despite calls from some persons for their postponement, in the face of the global economic downturn. This year's celebrations, which were staged under the theme: 'I Believe in Jamaica', and which started as far back as May, with the...

Jamaicans, today (Aug. 8) paid their final respects to late Lady Gladys Bustamante, at an official funeral service, held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Liguanea. People started filling up the pews from as early as 11:00 am, despite the heat, and waited patiently until the shiny, black Cadillac from Roman's Funeral Parlour arrived, shortly before...

Lady Gladys Bustamante, the 97-year-old female icon of Jamaica's political and labour struggles was laid to rest at National Heroes Park downtown, Kingston on Saturday evening (Aug. 8). The casket bearing her remains was buried in the same mausoleum as her late husband, National Hero, political and labour leader, the Rt. Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante, who died 32 years ago,...

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Olivia Grange, has cited the need for Jamaicans, particularly those in the Diaspora, to "take control" of the country's cultural products which have figured prominently, globally, particularly in developed countries. Noting that music is Jamaica's most "dynamic and far-reaching export", Miss Grange said the product has penetrated all corners of the globe,...

From as early as 10 a.m. Friday (August 7), after members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) placed the casket with the mortal remains of Lady Bustamante inside the National Indoor Sports Centre, members of the public started to arrive to pay their final respects and to honour her memory. Prime Minister Bruce Golding was on hand as the body...

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, cried as he got his first chance to view the body of the late Lady Gladys Bustamante Friday (August 7) at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston. Asked why he cried, Mr. Seaga told JIS News, "You would, if you knew her for 50 years." Mr. Seaga, who had...