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Given the growing needs of the region, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) should be systematically transformed, in order to make the kind of targeted and effective contribution which is relevant to the countries at this time. This was emphasized by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, while delivering the opening remarks at the 36th Annual Meeting of the...

In preparation for the second National Diaspora Conference to be held in Kingston in June, delegates from Southeast USA met last Saturday (May 13), in Lauderhill, to discuss issues on the conference agenda as they relate to Florida. Diaspora Advisory Board member, Dahlia Walker-Huntington, encouraged delegates to participate and collaborate in the panel discussions designed to highlight the interests of...

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wesley Hughes, has said that the economy grew by 1.4 per cent for the January to March quarter, with agriculture, transport, storage and communication being the main growth sectors. This brings real growth for the 2005/06 fiscal year to about 1.8 per cent, with the services sector estimated to have...

Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell, announced today (May 16) that Government would allow a three-month waiver of the 15 per cent tariff on cement imported into Jamaica, to meet the current shortfall in the construction sector. Mr. Paulwell's announcement is part of the Ministry's on-going efforts to address the cement shortage currently affecting the island and...

The Government is currently in the process of finalising a shipment schedule for the delivery of 72,000 tonnes of bagged and bulk cement from Cuba. Information and Development Minister, Senator Colin Campbell, said based on a report from a delegation, led by Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Development, Dennis Morrison, that had visited Cuba over the weekend, negotiations...

Cabinet yesterday (May 15), gave approval for 10 civil works contracts totalling some $1 billion, for routine maintenance of roads to be undertaken in the parishes of Westmoreland, Manchester, St. Catherine, St. Thomas and Portland. Information and Development Minister, Senator Colin Campbell, made this disclosure at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House. According to the Minister, the...

The Government, through Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited, has reached an agreement with Century Aluminium Company and China Min Metals Aluminium Company Limited, to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of an alumina plant at Lydford in St. Ann. This was announced yesterday (May 15), by Information and Development Minister, Senator Colin Campbell, at a post-Cabinet press briefing held at...

Cabinet yesterday (May 15), approved a $25.5 million (US$390,000) contract to Management Control Systems Limited for the supply of 400 desktop computers to the Ministry of Education and Youth. Information and Development Minister, Senator Colin Campbell, said the acquisition of the computers would assist in the upgrading process of the Education and Youth Ministry's information and technology (IT) capacity. Senator...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Hanover is once again inviting applications for entry into its 'Gardening Techniques' course, which is being implemented in collaboration with Heart Trust/NTA. The six-week course, which should have been offered last February, was postponed because of the lack of enough applicants. In a report to the Hanover Parish Council recently, the RADA Parish...

Some 20 children attached to the Learning, Earning, Activity Programme (LEAP), will be among many persons who will participate in beautifying the play area at the headquarters of the Voluntary Organisation for the Upliftment of Children (VOUCH) at National Heroes Circle, on Action Day, May 19. Designated as the national activity to observe the special day for Child's Month, the...

Jamaica's Consul General to Toronto, Anne-Marie Bonner, has challenged members of the Ruseas's Old Students Association (ROSA), Canada, to develop a mentorship programme for the current students. "Young people need positive role models to emulate and be the beacon that leads them to achievement," Mrs. Bonner told ROSA members at their 18th Annual Dinner/Dance held on May 13 in Toronto,...

The Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James and the Annotto Bay Hospital in St. Mary are to be renovated at a combined cost of some $60.4 million. Cabinet yesterday (May 15), approved two contracts for repairs to be carried out at the two medical institutions. Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Information and Development Minister, Senator...