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Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has called on funding agencies and the private sector to help the Ministry finance its $6 billion bill for the rehabilitation of health facilities across the island, which were damaged during Hurricane Dean. "This amount covers the cost for replacing equipment at health facilities in the four regions. The Government cannot foot this...

Generating Genius, the United Kingdom-based charity behind the summer programme that introduces boys in the UK and Jamaica to careers in the sciences, engineering and business, is bringing the Gap Year programme to Jamaica this August. The organization will be introducing a three-week project called Jamtech, where pre-university students, age 16 to 18, will travel to Jamaica to learn about...

The Ministry of Agriculture is utilizing cutting edge technology to protect and ensure the replenishment of the country's lobster stock. Under the Lobster Casita Project, man-made lobster shelters called condominiums are placed on the sea bed to increase the underdeveloped lobsters' chances of survival to maturity. The project will provide for the redevelopment of the stock, and give small scale...

The National Minimum Wage has been increased by 17 per cent from $3,200 per 40-hour work week to $3,700. The increase, which takes effect next Monday (Jan. 28), will also see the minimum wage for industrial security guards going up from $4,700 to $5,500. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, who made the announcement in the House of...

Government is pursuing several initiatives aimed at facilitating growth within the local business sector, particularly among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Industry, Commerce, and Investment Minister, Karl Samuda, said that these initiatives include the establishment of a monitoring unit and development council in the Office of the Prime Minister, which were aimed at significantly curtailing bureaucracy and other challenges...

The National Water Commission's (NWC) case for seeking a 44 per cent tariff increase was presented to residents of St. Mary, during a public forum sponsored by the Office of Utilities Regulation at the Port Maria Civic Centre on January 17. The main presenter was the NWC's Corporate Public Relations Manager, Charles Buchanan. In arguing the case for the increase,...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Charles Sinclair, has called on society to provide greater protection for the country's youth, many of whom, he said, are being lured into criminality. "It is quite clear that we must take a stand for our youth at this point in time, when they are being deceived and captured by a system of criminality that...

Work is underway to rehabilitate the Bellevue Hospital in Kingston, which was damaged during Hurricane Dean last August. The rehabilitation project, which is being undertaken through a $34.3 million (350,000 Euro) grant from the European Union, was launched on (Jan. 22) by the Ministry of Health and Environment and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) on the hospital grounds. It is...

The Proclamation officially declaring February Reggae Month will be read by His Excellency, Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, Governor General of Jamaica at Kings House on Thursday, 24th January 2008. The announcement has come from the Honourable Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports. The Prime Minister, the Honourable Bruce Golding announced on 9th January 2008 that the...

Canada's Secretary for State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Honourable Helena Guergis, has said that she expects positive outcomes as Jamaica and Canada deepen their co-operation on matters pertaining to Sports. Ways that Canada and Jamaica can co-operate in the development of Sports in the two countries were discussed when the Honourable Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Minister of Information,...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising the public that high winds and corresponding high tides continue to deposit sea water and debris onto the Palisadoes Road which leads to the Norman Manley International Airport. Motorists should continue to exercise due caution when traveling along the Palisadoes Road. The ODPEM continues to monitor the situation.

Hundreds of physicians and health care professionals from North America and the Caribbean are expected to converge at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios next month for the second annual 'Advancements in Medicine' conference. The event, which will be held from February 20 to 24, is organized by the Minnesota-based Organization for Strategic Development of Jamaica (OSDJ) and...