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Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has advised that the Government hopes to reach an agreement with the Brazilian company, Infinity Bio-Energy, to take over ownership of the five state-owned sugar estates shortly. A clause in the Heads of Agreement, that was signed in June, has had to be activated, which allows for a three-month extension if an agreement was...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that the current public sector pension programme is to be reformed to make it a contributory scheme, for all public sector workers, including Parliamentarians. "As of now it is not a contributory scheme, but I have to indicate that in due course we are going to have to reform...

Eighty-six additional police constables will shortly be deployed across the island, to strengthen the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), which is currently operating below its required staff compliment. The constables, which include 61 males and 25 females, graduated on Wednesday (October 1), at a ceremony at the JCF's Twickenham Park Training facility in St. Catherine. Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel...

Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, has informed that as part of measures to reduce accidents on the nation's roads, a new traffic ticketing system would be implemented on a phased basis, starting July 1, 2009. He also reported that parallel activities at the Ministry of Justice and the Island Traffic Authority are progressing well. "Activities include staff...

Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, has expressed delight at the decision by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), to name Olympic cyclist, Ricardo Lynch, as the face of their Energy Conservation Campaign. "We are very happy to have Ricardo as the face of conservation and energy, he epitomises what we need in this country, and he epitomises the fact that...

Sixty-two residents of St. Catherine, were presented with land titles on Wednesday (October 1), as part of the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP), of the Government. The presentation, which took place at the Point Hill Baptist Church in St. Catherine, saw persons from Point Hill, Kitson Town and several other neighbouring districts, being presented with titles, which had eluded...

Prime Minister Golding left Washington this morning for home, following a hectic 10 day visit which saw him addressing the 63rd United Nations General Assembly, meeting and holding high level discussions with the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the Organisation of American States and other US Government officials. One of the highlights of PM Golding's visit saw him meeting...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has emphasised that there is an inextricable link between oral health and chronic diseases. "Diseases such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and cancer can cause oral health problems," the Minister said, adding that taking care of one's teeth could combat implications and complications of diabetes and reduce inflammation throughout the body, associated with...

Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Henry, has informed that the Ministry would be moving to improve the integrity of the motor vehicle inspection service. "There will be the automation of the motor vehicle inspection service. New equipment and methods of testing, using even newer technologies, will be introduced. Efforts will be made to reduce, as much as possible, the...

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, with responsibility for Women's Affairs and Gender Issues, Olivia Grange, is urging individuals and communities to take a stand against violence of all forms being committed in the society, especially against children. Miss Grange's appeal comes against the background of reports surfacing within recent weeks of acts of violence committed against children. The...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has ended his visit to the US Capital, Washington D.C, with a commitment from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to provide a US$50-million infrastructure and rehabilitation loan. The funds will enable the government to undertake critical repairs following the damage caused by Tropical Storm Gustav. The loan agreement is expected to be signed in Washington within...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has warned that some countries within the region are in danger of being left behind because they do not have the capacity to take advantages of globalization and he has called on the Organisation of American States (OAS) to take a careful look at how best it can assist in rectifying this situation. Prime Minister Golding...