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The Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) yesterday (Aug.15) officially opened its $25 million National Volunteer Centre on Camp Road in Kingston, which will offer capacity support to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The facility, which is the first of its kind in the island, will offer short-term courses to NGOs in areas such as proposal writing, project management, advocacy and networking,...

The administration of the St. Ann's Bay Hospital has been commended for the excellent performance of the institution, by the Minister of Health, Horace Dalley. "The government does not run a hospital; the hospital is run by a Director of Nursing Services, the Chief Executive Officer and by the Senior Medical Officer. The face of the hospital are the workers...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has called a meeting of the National Disaster Committee for tomorrow, Friday, August 17, 2007, at Jamaica House. In making the announcement, Mrs. Simpson Miller said the meeting would receive status reports on the state of readiness of the various agencies and review the response strategy should the island be affected by Hurricane Dean. Mrs....

Cabinet has approved proposals for the appointment of Chairmen and members to the Municipal Service Commission and Parish Councils Services Commission to serve for a period of two years, effective July 31. This was announced by Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Tuesday (Aug. 14). The membership of the Municipal...

Cabinet has approved the award of a contract for the supply, installation and commissioning of five passenger boarding bridges at the Norman Manley International Airport, at a cost of US$2,137,250. This was disclosed by Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan, at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, held at Jamaica House, on (Aug.14). He informed that works under this contract,...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is to acquire 60 additional large compactor trucks by the end of the year, which will improve garbage collection and reduce the burning of garbage. In an interview with JIS News, Director of Operations at the NSWMA, Audley McLean, said that the units will go a long way in alleviating some of the...

Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Dennis Morrison, has said that "good things are happening in tourism," especially on the island's 'gold coast' from Rose Hall to Runaway Bay, which has seen unprecedented levels of growth in hotels and other related infrastructure. "As a result of what is happening in the investment side of the industry in this part...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Honourable Professor Kenneth Hall, is scheduled to be in New York on an official visit from August 16 to 20. Professor Hall will be attending the Grand Independence Ball to be hosted by the Consulate-General of Jamaica, in celebration of Jamaica's 45th anniversary of Independence. The function will be held at the New York Hilton...

The Jamaican High Commission in London has expressed sadness at the passing of Eric Irons, OBE, on August 3. "Mr. Irons was truly a stalwart of the Jamaican Community. A proud, hardworking man who never forgot the land of his birth, but who also battled to break down barriers and improve the quality of life in his adopted home," Community...

Cabinet has approved further amendments to the National Housing Trust's (NHT) Housing Benefits Policy, which will result in a reduction in interest rates on interim financed loans to seven (7) to 12 per cent from a range of eight (8) to 12 per cent. Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan, who made the announcement at the weekly post-Cabinet press...

In an effort to attract more young people to the cocoa sector, the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB) has established a young farmers project at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), in Portland. Manager of the Cocoa Industry Board, Naburn Nelson told JIS News that under this project, a demonstration plot has been established on the CASE campus which...

Jamaica will be the only English-speaking Caribbean country represented at an inaugural cultural festival to be held in Toronto, Canada. WorldFest 2007 will take place at Ontario Place from August 17-19 and will feature at least 30 countries showcasing their culture, history, music, foods and customs. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are the other Caribbean countries to be featured. The...