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The country's hotel-room count has increased by 123 per cent over the last 20 years, with the figure reaching 19, 550 in 2006. "Ten years ago, there were only 14, 502 hotel rooms and 20 years ago, only 8, 779. In order words, Jamaica's hotel room-count has increased by 123 per cent between 1986 and 2006," said Minister of Information...

Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan, has said that the Harmony Cove development, once completed, will place Jamaica firmly in the ultra luxury tourism market. "It will offer not only rooms, but an experience that will change the face of our hospitality industry and related enterprises forever," Mr. Buchanan stated during his contribution to the 2007/08 Sectoral Debate in...

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS), this financial year, will concentrate on enhancing communication between government and the public by introducing mechanisms to capture and reflect the views of citizens of the country. Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan in his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (June 5), said the intent is to ensure...

I am indebted to a number of persons whose support enables me to address this Honourable House today and to report on the stewardship of the Government in the area of Information and Development. The Most Honourable Prime Minister, for the confidence she has invested in me, entrusting to my care and leadership, this vital portfolioMy colleagues in the Government...

More than 230,000 passengers have flown with Air Jamaica since the airline resumed flying between Jamaica and Canada in April 2004. Air Jamaica's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, George de Mercado, revealed this figure recently at the Air Jamaica annual travel agents awards luncheon, held in Toronto, Canada, to recognize outstanding sales performance by Canadian travel agencies in 2006....

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is to meet with the National Disaster Committee on Wednesday, June 6 at Jamaica House. The meeting will be used to discuss all aspects of Jamaica's preparedness for the 2007 Hurricane Season, which officially began on Friday, June 1. This was noted yesterday (June 4), by Information and Development Minister, Donald Buchanan at the weekly...

Budgetary support of $1.5 billion will be provided in 2007/08 for the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC), for the completion of 16 Operation PRIDE projects. Details of the provision were given in a document tabled in the House last week by Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Robert Pickersgill, during his contribution to the 2007/08 Sectoral Debate. The projects...

The regional communication framework for avian and human pandemic influenza will be strengthened with the development of a media guide and associated training for journalists. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative for the Eastern Caribbean, Tom Olsen, has informed that the media guide is being developed jointly by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization...

Cabinet has directed the Leader of Government Business in the House of Representative, Dr. Peter Philips, to table in the House of Representatives, a Green Paper outlining a programme of constitutional reform in Jamaica. Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan, who made the announcement at (June 4) post Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House, said that the aim...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has said that recent events, such as the staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC), have served to enhance the national response mechanism, with improvements made in the training and equipping of emergency teams. "I am very encouraged by the level of preparedness of our teams," said Acting Director General...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Jamaica, Michael Conway, has dismissed claims that the national airline is not supportive of proposed co-operation between regional carriers. Speaking at a press briefing on Air Jamaica's Code Sharing Agreement with Virgin Atlantic for service to London at the Ministry of Finance and Planning on June 1, Mr. Conway indicated that, "not only is...

Forty-five National Youth Service (NYS) volunteers in Portland have received certificates after successfully completing a one month training course in clerical and administrative work. The graduation ceremony was held at the Methodist Church Hall in Port Antonio on Friday, June 1. The course, which was conducted throughout May, had as it main objective, the sharpening of the preparedness of the...