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Approximately 23,500 tonnes of cement will be available for distribution this week. This figure was released yesterday (July 24), by the Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce (MITEC), in conjunction with the Incorporated Master Builders Association, the Hardware Merchants Association, and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce. At a joint meeting at the Ministry in Kingston, the entities reported that...

Plans are in high gear for the internationally acclaimed Emancipation Jubilee 2006, at the Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann's Bay, St. Ann from July 31 to August 1. The event will highlight traditional and oral culture in an invigorating form, and is expected to attract thousands of locals as well as visitors to the island. "This year promises to...

At 19 years-old Kamala LaTouche thought she had it all figured out. The self-described "unfocussed and wayward" teen felt she could make life on her own without help from anyone. But, her all-age school principal thought otherwise, and felt Kamala needed the structure, training and life coping skills that a programme, such as the National Youth Service's (NYS) Customer Care...

A Bill to establish the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other health professions was approved by the Senate on July 21. Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Senator Noel Monteith, who piloted the Bill, said the need for a regional accreditation body came about after the United Kingdom government confirmed its intention to...

Parents play an integral role in the development of children. Not only do they provide care, support and discipline, but are also the major agents of socialization for their children. With the role of the parents being so important, there are calls in Jamaica for them to become more involved in the education system, in terms of participating in decision-making...

As the campaign to build a permanent monument to Jamaican born heroine Mary Seacole gains momentum, another honour has been bestowed on her, with a major landmark in Salford dedicated to inter-professional teaching and research in UK health and social care, now named in her honour. The

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing $6.7 million for the construction of cutting edge slaughtering and poultry housing facilities aimed at increasing backyard poultry production in Jamaica. Agriculture and Lands Minister, Roger Clarke, who made the announcement at the opening of the FAO's Regional Backyard Development Workshop today (July 24) at the Hotel Four Seasons, informed that the...

A new era is dawning for mental health care in Jamaica as the Bellevue Hospital moves to decentralise the delivery of its services and expand patient care to include the country's four Health Regions. The hospital, which is currently celebrating its 145th anniversary, is now in the midst of a transition process, and officials at the institution say that the...

Despite the promising boom for the country's micro and small business sector, many entrepreneurs are still faced with the challenges of sustaining and maintaining their small enterprises, due to a lack of capital, technical and management assistance and business education and training. In light of these challenges, the government has decided to establish small business incubators to minimise the risk...

A survey to assess the prevalence of gangs in 10 schools across the island is currently being conducted by the Safe Schools Secretariat. The survey, which began in June, is being carried out by the School Resource Officers (SROs), in collaboration with Principals and Guidance Counsellors. In an interview with JIS News, Co-ordinator for the Police in the Safe Schools...

A five-member committee has been formed in Linstead, St. Catherine to plan business strategies, so that residents in that town can capitalize on opportunities which will result from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. Addressing a Cricket World Cup community meeting at the St. Helens Catholic Church Hall in Linstead on July 20, Field Services Manager for the Social Development...

An ecumenical Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, July 30 and the Grand Independence Ball on Saturday, August 12, are among several events planned to celebrate the country's 44th anniversary of independence in New York. The church service will be held at the historic Riverside Church, at 490 Riverside Drive, Harlem, commencing at 4:00 p.m. Bishop Dr. Cecil G. Riley, senior pastor...