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Opposition Leader, Bruce Golding, has suggested that the government increase the tax-free threshold for pensioners to $1 million per annum from $283,440, in light of the economic demands, with which they were faced. Delivering his presentation in the 2006/2007 Budget Debate at Gordon House, yesterday (May 4) Mr. Golding said pensioners "have the same needs that all of us have...

With this year's Labour Day focus directed at the beautification of town centres and community spaces, the Westmoreland Parish Council has decided to give a comprehensive face-lift to Norman Square and the Guy Ottey Park in Savanna-la-Mar, as the parish project. Labour Day will be observed on Tuesday, May 23, under the theme: 'Preserving Jamaica's beauty is our duty'.Co-chairman of...

I would like to congratulate all the volunteers at the national, parish and local levels for the thought and time you have already invested in planning Labour Day 2006. On behalf of the government and people of Jamaica, I say a big thank you to those private sector entities with a keen sense of corporate social responsibility. You know we...

Health Minister, Horace Dalley has expressed concern that backyard poultry farmers could be more vulnerable to Avian Influenza should the island become affected by the infectious bird disease. "At this point in time the government is concerned about the backyard farmers whose birds are not necessarily enclosed and therefore are significantly exposed to the possibility of contracting this disease should...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Land, Donovan Stanberry, has pointed out that the government's Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP), represented a key strategy through which the land titling process was being improved. He explained that under the Special Provisions Act that was passed in the Houses of Parliament, "the Land Minister has the power to declare...

Land and Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, has said that the Ministry would be moving to "rapidly and significantly increase the pace at which new parcels of land are brought under registration". To this end, he informed that the Ministry and the National Land Agency (NLA) "are finalizing arrangements to undertake a diagnostic look at the entire land titling process with...

Land and Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke yesterday (May 3) unveiled several strategies to enhance rural development, among them the implementation of a $700 million rural diversification programme. The Minister, who was making his contribution to the 2006/07 Budget Debate in Gordon House, said that the initiative, which is being funded by the European Union, would benefit some 10,000 displaced farmers...

By simply collecting and saving her Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus ticket, Denise Biggs has yielded far more than a comfortable ride from the bus company. The Maxfield Avenue resident has earned this week third place prize of $20,000 in the company's Big Money Prize Promotion. She is the first winner to be identified in the promotion, which started...

Superintendent Norman Heywood, coordinator of the police component of the Safe Schools Programme, is urging the government to enact legislation that would assist in getting students who should be in school, off the nation's streets. In an interview with JIS News, Superintendent Heywood pointed out that because the country does not have truancy legislation, the police have no jurisdiction over...

Jamaica will be featured this weekend at Flower Mart 2006, the premier outdoor festival for garden and floral enthusiasts from the mid-Atlantic United States region, which will be held from May 5 to 6 in Washington, D.C. The event, which will be staged on the grounds of the historic Washington National Cathedral, will be held under the theme: 'Flowers Around...

The Ocho Rios police station in St. Ann will be renovated on May 30, when some 32 members of the Jamaica Ex-Police Association, Florida chapter, will undertake this project. Supplies and equipment totaling US$2,000 have been donated for the project by the association members, to assist in the refurbishing work. This is the third annual effort organized by the Jamaica...

Dr. Carol Jacobs, Barbados' leading expert on HIV/AIDS, has been honoured with the Barbados' Gold Medal of Achievement, for her outstanding work in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the Caribbean country and across the globe. The Jamaican doctor is the first ever recipient of the award, which was introduced by the Barbadian government in 2001. Dr. Jacobs, who was unable...