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Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw on (April 17) suggested a number of measures to reduce the debt burden, including placing constitutional limits on annual borrowing. "While caps must have some flexibility and are not capable of totally solving the problem, they will serve as an important benchmark and impose an additional layer of oversight into the borrowing process," Mr....

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke has said that with the surge of interest in ethanol, there has been a renewed interest in the privatisation of the local sugar industry. This interest in ethanol, he noted, was brought about by the recent policy by the United States Government to reduce dependence on foreign oil imports. Mr. Clarke made these...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is in the process of establishing a catastrophe fund for the banana sector. Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke, who made the announcement during his contribution to the 2007/08 Budget Debate in Gordon House today (April 18), said that the fund will be financed through a $31 million grant, in addition to a...

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke said today (April 18) that the sustained challenges by the Latin American producers of Jamaica's trading arrangement with Europe has underscored the necessity of increasing the quality and productivity of banana farmers. In his contribution to the 2007/08 Budget debate today (April 18) , the Minister said that if the banana industry was...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Landswill be undertaking a study of the cocoa industry with the aim of increasing production in this sector. Minister Roger Clarke, who was contributing to the 2007/08 budget debate today (April 18) in Gordon House, said that the United States Agency for International Development has offered to fund approximately 75 per cent of the cost...

Fourteen residents of St. Mary, who have given freely of their time and talents in service to the parish, were recently honoured by the Voluntary Association of Jamaica. At a ceremony held at the Port Maria Civic Centre, certificates of appreciation were presented to: Hyacinth Anglin, Adolph Murdoch, Cislon Campbell, Carlos Walker, and Trevor Stoddart for contribution to community development;...

Patrons will get a chance to get up close and personal with Jamaican music, culture and cuisine this weekend at the 2007 Houston International Festival (Ifest) in Texas. Returning to the event after a two year absence, Brand Jamaica will be a featured entertainment zone at the festival, which opens in the bustling downtown Houston metropolis in the area of...

Education and Youth Minister, Maxine Henry-Wilson, will deliver the keynote address at the Philadelphia Branch Committee of the American Association of University Women's (AAUW) panel discussion slated for April 19. The theme for the function, which will be held at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, is: 'Science as a career goal for women.' According to the chairman of...

Parish Manager for the St. Ann Branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Dennis Steele is appealing to the farmers in that parish to participate in the activities which have been planned to observe Farmers' Month (April). He emphasized that farmers could benefit from training, which is aimed at helping them to upgrade their agricultural skills. "The parish is presently...

Since the inception of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) in 2001, much has been achieved in the 15 inner-city communities across Kingston that are currently participating under the Community Action component of the CSJP. Community Action Programme Co-ordinator, Orville Simmonds tells JIS News that the programme, which is spearheaded by the Ministry of National Security, is aimed at...

Food for the Poor, one of Jamaica's leading charity organisations, has been named winner of the 2007 Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award. The award will be presented at the Jamaican-America Friendship Award Association's Banquet at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston on Saturday, April 28, under the patronage of the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Kenneth Hall and the...

Several Jamaican organizations and individuals will be presented with awards at a charity gala to be held on Friday, April 27, at the Hibachi Restaurant at Penns Landing, 325 Columbus Boulevard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The awards will be given for their contribution to the development of sports in Jamaica, and will coincide with the 113th running of the Penn Relays...