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The House of Representatives yesterday (Feb. 6) approved amendments to the Minimum Wage Act, which will provide for increases in fines and penalties for those who did not comply with the minimum wage law. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier, who piloted the Bill, said that investigations have showed that while many employers have been complying with the...

A Bill to amend the Employment Agencies Regulation Act of 1957, was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday (February 6). Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier who piloted the Bill, said it sought to revise the fees, fines and penalties under the Act, in order to align them with current economic realities. "At present, a breach of...

Several roads in the Rio Grande Valley area of Portland are currently being rehabilitated under the Special Flood Damage Repair Programme of the National Works Agency (NWA). In an interview with JIS News, Collin Morrison, Senior Communications Officer at the NWA, said the work began in November of last year and included the roads from Alligator Church Bridge to Belleview,...

The information technology training programme at the Fair Prospect Primary School in Portland has received a boost with the presentation of three refurbished computers to the institution by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo). Wilf Talbot, Regional Director for the company's eastern region recently made the presentation to school Principal Julie Bailey on the school grounds.The donation, which was made...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Honourable Professor Kenneth Hall, has urged organizations to promote the pursuit of excellence among young people by acknowledging and rewarding their achievement. "I have often stressed the important position that young people hold in Jamaica and certainly, across the world.it is for this reason that I launched the Governor-General's Youth Award of Excellence in 2006,...

Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of the Caricom sub-committee on the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), Owen Arthur, is expressing confidence that the region is on track for implementation of the single economy in 2008. Speaking yesterday (February 6), at a press briefing, following the joint meeting of the Caricom Prime Ministerial sub-committees on External Negotiations and the...

Executive Director of the Mona School of Business at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Neville Ying has emphasized that it was important for all to educate themselves about the roots of the Caribbean Single Market and the Economy (CSME), in particular, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Professor Ying said such knowledge was critical to meaningful discussions on...

A draft document, highlighting the need for strong governance within the Caribbean and which provides clear-cut instructions for the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) to continue its work with the European and North American trading partners, will be forwarded to the CARICOM Heads of government for consideration and adoption. An endorsement for a conference on the Caribbean, which is slated to...

Executive Director of the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), Dr. Ethley London, has said that the Council plays an internal role in the fee movement of persons throughout the region, by facilitating access to the CARICOM skills certificate. Noting that many persons were not aware of the role of the UCJ in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), Dr....

The musical based on the classic Jamaican film, 'The Harder They Come', has returned to the Theatre Royal Stratford East for a second run. The musical broke the Theatre Royal's box office record last year, becoming the Theatre's best-selling musical with the show running at an average of 94 per cent capacity. The Theatre Royal Stratford said the musical was...

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Hon. Roger Clarke has given details of the US$44 million loan disbursed to the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ), by the Ministry of Finance and Planning from the Petro Caribe Fund. Responding to questions about the use of loan funds to the SCJ, put forward by Opposition Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Central, Pearnel...

The House of Representatives yesterday (Feb. 6) approved amendments to the Minimum Wage Act, which will provide for increases in fines and penalties for those who did not comply with the minimum wage law. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier, who piloted the Bill, said that investigations have showed that while many employers have been complying with the...