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The European Union and CARIFORUM states, under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), have agreed to continue to consider steps towards deeper integration in the field of intellectual property rights in their respective regions. This process is expected to cover further harmonization of intellectual property laws and regulations, progress towards regional management and enforcement of national intellectual property rights, as well...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has called on commercial banks to revisit their role in the development of the country by providing more loans for the productive sector. "I think we have reached the point where our commercial banking sector needs to aggressively reassess its own role in the economic development or prospects for our country,"...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has rejected the suggestion made by an officer of the Ministry of Health that the Government should tax prostitutes as a legitimate source of revenue, describing the proposal as ludicrous, ill-informed and unauthorized. Such a proposal, he said, has never been considered by the Government and will not be entertained. The Prime Minister said that the...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Friday (June 20) presented ten new computers to the Mt. Industry Primary School in St. Catherine, to help boost the school's education programme and enhance the learning experience for the children. Mr. Golding told the students that computers could now bring all the libraries of the world to them at the click of a button...

Legendary Jamaican singer Alton Ellis arrived in Jamaica today from London for his appearance at the Get Ready to Rocksteady concert and documentary filming at the National Indoor Sports Centre this Wednesday. Ellis who has been battling illness in recent times looked a picture of health as he told journalists at a press conference held at the Norman Manley International...

The recently formed Jamaica Early Childhood Development Foundation, (JECDF) has partnered with the Educational Foundation for Children's Care Inc (Jamaica), to help provide care and financial assistance for Jamaica's children in need. The JECDF through its founder and patron. Mrs. Lorna Golding, wife of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, last night announced a $100,000 donation to the EFCCI. Mrs. Golding made...

As the Sectoral Debate for the 2008/2009 Parliamentary year enters its seventh week, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government, Robert Montague will make his presentation, at tomorrow's sitting (Tuesday June 24). Opposition spokesman on Information and Member of Parliament for South East St. Ann, Ms. Lisa Hanna, will also make her...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says he is not satisfied with the returns that government is getting on its annual expenditure of $57-billion on education. Of that amount he said some $50-billion represents grants that go directly to the schools. However he noted that while there is need to spend more, he is not satisfied that value was being received for...

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, has said that greater collaboration between the Government and the private sector is essential in ensuring food safety. "For the successful accomplishment of optimum food safety standards, teamwork and collaboration with private sector organizations (food and food-related industries) as well as other related government support agencies, is...

The Government is now working on a pilot project to demonstrate the potential of cassava as a local substitute for imported starches such as rice and flour. The project will be undertaken by two government agencies, over seven years. Investment Officer for the Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) in the Agriculture Ministry and Co-ordinator for this initiative, Dean Passard, explains...

An Act to amend the Mortgage Insurance Act was passed in the Upper House yesterday (June 20). The Act expands the definition of 'lender' to include financial institutions licensed under the Financial Institutions Act and reduces the portion of insurance fees to be paid into the mortgage insurance fund from four-fifths to three-fifths. The Bill further seeks to clarify the...

With the observance of National Food Safety Week (June 15-20) having ended yesterday the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is urging consumers to ensure that their food supplies are clean and safe. Speaking with JIS News, Communication Specialist at the CAC, Dorothy Campbell pointed out that "the whole idea of observing the week, was to bring about awareness and sensitization to...