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The need for strong and effective regulation to guard against exploitation of the country's mineral resources was stressed during consultations on the development of a National Minerals Policy, held at the St. Theresa Catholic Church Hall in St. Mary on Monday (Dec. 8). The forum, organized by the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications was part of a series of islandwide...

A total of 20 inmates, who have committed minor offences, but were incarcerated due to their inability to pay the required fines, will be released in time to spend Christmas with their families. The release of the inmates, who are from institutions in Kingston, St. Catherine and St. Mary, is made possible by Food for the Poor (FFP), through its...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) has secured a total of $12.5 million on behalf of aggrieved consumers since the start of the 2008/09 financial year in April, Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Affairs Commission, Dolsie Allen has disclosed. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank session held at the agency's offices on Half Way Tree Road on Tuesday (Dec. 9),...

Energy Minister, Clive Mullings, is reporting a significant increase in the demand for E10 fuel by motorists locally. Speaking at the launch of the Jamaica Automobile Association's (JAA) 'Make Cars Green' global initiative at its Kingston office on Wednesday (Dec. 10), Mr. Mullings said that since the introduction of the 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent 87 gasolene...

Food for the Poor, today (Dec.10), handed over two tractors, valued upwards of $4 million, to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, at the Ministry's headquarters in Kingston. The tractors, which will benefit small farmers in St. Elizabeth and Manchester, were donated as part of Food for the Poor's Rural Economic Agricultural Programme (REAP). Director of REAP, George Thompson,...

Legislation to establish the Jamaica Dairy Development Board, which will be charged with putting programmes in place for the growth and regulation of the dairy sector and connected matters, was passed in the House of Representatives yesterday (Dec. 9). Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, who piloted the Jamaica Dairy Development Board Act, explained that the move is in response...

The Government's move to promulgate regulations governing public sector procurement procedures, will set legally binding and uniformed rules for procurement in all public sector entities, so as to enhance the regulatory framework and improve enforcement. This is according to a Ministry Paper tabled by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw in the House of Representatives yesterday (Dec....

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that while the Jamaican economy is being severely challenged by the global financial turmoil, the country is not in crisis, nor is in panic mode. The Minister, who was addressing a joint press conference with the Managing Director of the IMF, Dominique Straus-Khan today (Dec.10), at the Hilton Kingston...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, has reiterated the government's commitment to the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights even while paying attention to the protection of civil and political rights. Minister Baugh was declaring open this morning (Wednesday) at the Foreign Ministry, an exhibition to commemorate the 60th Anniversary...

2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and at this important juncture Jamaica, like other countries, faces unprecedented challenges. Although sixty years have passed, the tenets in the Universal Declaration are as relevant today, if not more so. Crimes such as trafficking in firearms, terrorism, and trafficking in persons, threaten the very...

The Minister of Education wishes to commend the Police in its effort to tackle the problems of truancy, possession of offensive weapons and contraband, violence and disorder facing our school system. The Ministry recognizes that these challenges are as much education management issues as they are security issues. The multi-faceted nature of the problem requires a multi-sectoral response from the...

The United States-based charity, Jamaica Women of Washington (JWOW), has donated US$2,500 towards the Tropical Storm Gustav Recovery Fund. The cheque was presented to the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, by JWOW President, Dr. Jacqueline Watson, at the organisation's 'Give5' fundraising holiday reception, held recently at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, DC. Dr. Watson stated...