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The banana industry should be fully recovered from the devastation sustained during the passage of Hurricane Dean by the end of Summer, says Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jamaica Producers Group, Jeffrey Hall. He tells JIS News that export of banana chips has already commenced. "While export of fresh bananas have not really started in real volumes as yet, over...

The Farmer Registration Programme, introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture last year to combat praedial larceny, has been intensified in the parish of St. James, with some 4,700 farmers registered to date. According to the Parish Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Wentworth Mitchell, the percentage of farmers seeking registration has seen a sharp increase due to the...

Come July 1, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), will begin operating a cashless system on all its premium buses, which are the large luxury units which ply the out-of-city routes. Speaking today (June 24) at a JIS 'Think Tank', Marketing and Sales Manager at the JUTC, Lenworth Simms, explained that this cashless system means that, "only Smart Cards will...

The Ministry of Agriculture's, Fruit Tree Crop Project, is going well in St. James, with approximately 100 farmers involved in the initiative. "So far, over 50 hectares of fruit trees such as avocado, otaheite apple, june plum, ackee, guava, mango, naseberry, soursop, among others have been established across the parish with more and more farmers coming on board," said Rural...

A full implementation schedule is being developed for recommendations contained in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Strategic Plan, which is being targeted for roll-out over a three year period. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of National Security, Dr. Ann Marie Barnes, said that over the next few weeks, a cost attached to the plan would also be submitted to...

Funds are now available at a subsidized interest rate of three per cent, through the European Investment Bank (EIB), for investments in renewable energy. Speaking at the opening of First Caribbean International Bank's 13th branch in Liguanea on June 22, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw informed that there are funds available through several channels, including the...

Government Senator Hyacinth Bennett has called for a moral rearmament campaign to be put in place, so as to address the decline in morals and fundamental values in the society. Senator Bennett, who opened the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (June 21), said that too many of the country's disruptive citizens suffer from the "hole...

Five classrooms are being constructed at the St. Thomas Technical High School in Golden Grove in an effort to ease the shortage of space at the institution. Work on three of the classrooms is being undertaken by the Ministry of Education, while the others are being built through the school's Parent Teachers Association and funds garnered from fundraising activities put...

Energy Minister, Clive Mullings, has stressed the need for innovative ideas and action in addressing the country's energy challenge. Speaking at the national finals of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) schools science and technology expo at the Hilton Kingston Hotel on Friday (June 20), Mr. Mullings said that too much time was being spent talking about problems and plans to...

Jamaica is vulnerable to natural and human related disasters, such as earthquakes, fires and hurricanes, and their impact on the social and economic fabric of the society can be devastating. As a result of this, the hazard management programme in the country had been response-driven. Today, however, the programme has evolved to ensure that measures are put in place to...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, is looking to revitalize Irish potato production, as rising food prices world-wide increases concerns about food security. Speaking at the opening of First Caribbean International Bank's 13th branch in Liguanea yesterday (June 22), Minister Shaw said the suitability of Manchester and about five other parishes in central Jamaica for growing potatoes...

The May Day High School in Manchester on Saturday (June 21) honoured several of its teachers, ancillary staff and key stakeholders for up to 33 years of service to the institution. The function, dubbed 'Celebrating Excellence and Expressing Gratitude,' was held at the Mandeville Hotel. Several persons from the business community, the education sector and political representatives, commended the honorees...