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The Government is offering two wireless cable licences to service providers to afford consumers wider choices. This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Information and Telecommunications, Hon. Daryl Vaz, during his presentation in the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate, at Gordon House, yesterday (July 22). "As the communication and information technologies evolve...

Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Kingston, Ronald Thwaites, has called for the Government and Opposition to form a "Government of national unity." He made the call during his contribution to the 2009/2010 Sectoral Debate in the House, on July 22. Mr. Thwaites said it required a sustained and institutional partnership to meet today's challenges, rather than collaboration only when...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has set up a team to make recommendations to help the government improve the administration of children's homes throughout Jamaica. The team is to report its findings to him by the end of August. At a meeting with heads of both private and state run agencies, earlier this week at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister said,...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security plans to extend its Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) to western Jamaica to reach more children with mental and physical disabilities. "This early stimulation programme is important and is vital to their survival and we are thinking of setting up another (facility) in western Jamaica for those parents, who can't get into Kingston with...

The Ministry of Education is looking to put a School Improvement Act in place to support the Centre of Excellence project, which is aimed at achieving high standards in the secondary education system. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, speaking in the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21), said that all new schools will operate...

The facility for the rearing of the Anagyrus wasp, which is a natural enemy of the pink hibiscus mealy bug (PHMB), was officially opened yesterday (July 22) at the Veterinary Services Division in Kingston, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries steps up efforts to rid the island of the pest. The facility, which was refurbished at a cost of...

The Ministry of Energy and Mining is proposing the creation of a comprehensive township development plan, incorporating the use of rehabilitated mined-out bauxite lands. State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Laurence Broderick, in his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday (July 21), said that the move would help to address the demand for housing solutions, especially...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, has signed a Ministerial Order paving the way for the taxing of non-reimbursable allowances paid to employees, effective Saturday, August 1, 2009.The measure provides for the removal of personal income tax on perquisites such as benefits from accommodation, gratuities, uniform and laundry allowances. In a release today (Thursday, July 23),...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Hon. Daryl Vaz, says that a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy will be tabled in Parliament, soon. Mr. Vaz said that the policy will speak to a regulatory framework that is appropriate for a fully liberalised environment, and should bolster investor...

Russian alumina conglomerate, UC Rusal, which owns 52 per cent of local alumina production, has reaffirmed its commitment to continue operating in Jamaica, Minister of State in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Hon. Laurence Broderick, has confirmed. "They have successfully negotiated debt rescheduling arrangements with a consortium of Russian and western banks amounting to US$11.9 billion, out of a...

Education Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, is calling on the private sector and civic organisations to join the Government in its national thrust to eliminate illiteracy by the time students reach Grade Six in primary school. Speaking at today's (July 22), post-Cabinet press briefing, at Jamaica House, Mr. Holness noted that literacy is a very emotional topic, with many Governments before...

The Government will need to undertake a major programme of construction in order to remove the shift system, reduce overcrowding at the secondary level and provide education up to Grade 11. Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, making his Sectoral presentation in the House of Representatives on July 21, said that Government will have to build, refurbish and replace at...