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Despite formidable competition, the parish of Westmoreland defended and retained the position of overall Parish Champion at the just concluded Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show. For its victory, the parish was awarded the coveted Percival Broderick Trophy for the 16th time in a row. Bold attempts were made to wrest the title from Westmoreland by St. Catherine and St. James,...

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has described the late Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley (Miss Lou), as a preeminent Jamaican cultural ambassador who "represented Jamaica's finest traditions." Lauding Miss Lou's contribution to the Jamaican image, the Prime Minister said, "her artistic output was a mirror revealing to us an authentic Jamaican self with all its strengths and contradictions. She never downplayed...

The new Competency Standards for Healthcare Assistants, formerly called practical nurses, will be implemented as of September in most institutions offering training in practical nursing. The competency standards were developed by the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Molly McGann, Officer in...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Kenneth Hall has lauded the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), for its continued efforts in advancing agriculture and rural development. In his address at the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in May Pen, Clarendon on August 6, the Governor-General said that the JAS, through the staging of the Denbigh show, has transformed the agricultural...

A research team from the Ministry of Housing, Transport Water and Works is undertaking a socioeconomic survey at Galleon Beach in St. Elizabeth, to determine the suitability of providing government housing for some 200 families, who have informally settled on 33.36 hectares (83.4 acres) of land in the area. Senior Director in the Ministry, Doreen Prendergast, told JIS News that...

Farmers of the Thetford Co-operative in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, are experiencing more than 100 per cent increase in their production, as a result of the assistance from the Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) Fund. Secretary of the Co-operative, Ewart Blackwood, told JIS News that since the introduction of the ASSP, cucumber production has moved from 22,500 kilograms to 45,000...

Former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding has expressed support for the Stanford 20/20 cricket tournament, which is currently winding down in Antigua. The revolutionary tournament, which is the brainchild of Texan billionaire, R. Allen Stanford, offers an abbreviated form of the cricket game, with 20 overs being played by each side. In addition, the participating players wear colourful uniforms,...

A flag-raising ceremony in the Port Antonio town square on Monday, August 7 was the major event held in Portland to celebrate the country's 44th anniversary of Independence. The function, which was organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), was attended by several leaders, including Custos of Portland, Hon. Roy Thompson; and Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Rupert Kelly;...

Condolence books for the late Jamaican folklorist and cultural icon, Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley (Miss Lou), will be opened in two other United Kingdom (UK) cities, Birmingham and Manchester. A condolence book was opened at the Jamaican High Commission in London on August 8 and 9. In Birmingham, the condolence book will be at the Afro Caribbean Millennium Centre at...

Consul General in New York, Dr. Basil K. Bryan, has urged Jamaicans in the Diaspora to continue the search for solutions to the many challenges facing the country at this time."In the spirit of unity and partnership, let us find solutions to whatever challenges that still confront us. Let this moment in our history cause us to consolidate and focus...

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through its Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), is looking to provide funding for a number of projects being undertaken by the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC), which are aimed at providing support for the small business sector. According to Executive Director of the JBDC, Harold Davis, the commitment came out of a meeting with Winsome J....

The Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley, preeminent Jamaican cultural Ambassador, representing our finest traditions, was truly loved and will be surely missed. On behalf of the Jamaican government and people, I extend condolences to the family members and friends of this illustrious daughter of Jamaica. We pray that you will be comforted by the tremendous outpouring of love. A true Jamaican, "Miss...