More

The Government of Jamaica will be providing $2.6 billion for Hurricane Dean recovery and reconstruction activities for the remainder of the 2007/08 fiscal year. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, in his first statement as Minister in the House of Representatives on (Oct. 2), said that financing for the recovery effort will comprise a mix of resources,...

Minister of Transport and Works, Mike Henry, has said that the Ministry will be reviewing certain logistics pertaining to the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre, and seeking Cabinet support on a number of issues, before the bus terminal, which is ready for handing over, can be opened. "Basically, we're going to sit and review, re-look, reassess," he told the press during a...

Cabinet is to conduct a review of the public service staff orders, which allow the Attorney-General's Department to charge fees for legal work and advice to government companies and statutory bodies. Attorney-General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who made the announcement at the (Oct. 2) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said that the move comes against the background of reports, which...

A committee headed by Minister of Industry, Commerce and Investment, Karl Samuda, will be established to carry out a review of the Trelawny multi-purpose stadium, to see how best the facility can become a viable entity in the short and medium-term. Mr. Samuda, who made the disclosure at the (Oct. 2) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said that the...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, on (Oct. 2) said that Cabinet has approved the establishment of a negotiating team to evaluate tender proposals from eight companies that have been short-listed to bid for the five public sector sugar factories. The team is comprised of, Aubyn Hill, Chairman of the Sugar Cane Enterprise Team; Ian Persaud, Vice Chairman of Jamaica...

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has received and is installing a new, state-of-the-art Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN) switch, which will be commissioned into service this month. The switch, which includes a modern pilot briefing system and an aircraft billing system, is expected to enhance the country's air traffic services, enabling the CAA to accurately capture revenue from airplanes that...

Beaches and popular tourist areas in Manchester and St. Elizabeth were cleaned and beautified on the weekend, as residents and volunteers participated in the post-Hurricane Dean clean-up exercise. When JIS News visited Alligator Pond in Manchester on Saturday (Sept. 29), a number of persons including small children were busy removing debris from areas of the fishing community. Heavy equipment such...

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Investment, Karl Samuda, has said that some 5000 tonnes of cement should arrive in the island from Cuba within the next two weeks, to ease the current shortage. A team consisting of representatives from the Ministry, the Airports Authority of Jamaica and the Port Authority of Jamaica visited Cuba on Thursday (Sept. 27) to finalize...

The observance of World Habitat Day on the first Monday of October each year has become a notable fixture on the calendar of important global events. Jamaica joins with the rest of the world as this year's observance continues throughout today. This year's theme "A Safe City is a Just City" has profound relevance to both developed and developing countries...

The post-Hurricane Dean Clean-up exercise has been extended to Sunday (Oct. 7), to facilitate the further removal of all debris from communities in the corporate area. "There are still a number of areas where debris is on the sidewalks, areas such as Vineyard Town and a number of areas uptown," said Co-coordinator of the project, Kingsley Thomas. Mr. Thomas, who...

Permanent Secretary in the former Ministry of Local Government, Devon Rowe, has said that more property owners were paying their taxes. Addressing a meeting of government revenue collectors involved in the Property Tax Special Project, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, on (Sept. 28), Mr. Rowe pointed out that he has observed a notable increase of $400 million in collections for...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that consideration is being given to the establishment of special unit, which will focus on the development of low cost greenhouses for the country's farmers. Dr. Tufton, who spoke to JIS News while on a tour of greenhouse facilities in Manchester and St. Elizabeth recently, said he is "totally committed to the...