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The introduction of a flexi-hour working week is still a priority of government, and Labour and Social Security Minister, Derrick Kellier, has pledged to give the matter his "full attention" this legislative year. Minister Kellier, who was addressing a Jamaica Employer's Federation forum held at the group's headquarters in Kingston yesterday (April 26), said that "the Joint Select Committee of...

'Outstanding Legal Issues in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)', will be the discussion topic at tomorrow's (April 28) Friday Policy Forum hosted by the Management Institute for National Development (MIND). The forum will be held at the Institute's Old Hope Road campus from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., with Head of the Legal Unit in the Ministry of...

As part of intensive preparations for the upcoming New Kingston Earthquake Drill on June 7, Jamaica Property Company has commenced training workshops for Safety Wardens in the New Kingston community. The first in a series of collaborative workshops with officials from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), was held on April 25 at the Penthouse Suite in...

The development plan for the Old Harbour fishing village is expected to go before the St. Catherine Parish Council by month-end. Secretary/Manager at the Council, Michael Morris, told JIS News that a draft plan had been presented to the many stakeholders in the parish and in Central Government at the beginning of April, for their comments. The plan, with inputs...

Farmers in the parish of Portland are to benefit from a technological centre, which is being set up by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) at its Harbour Street offices in Port Antonio. The facility will serve to improve the competitiveness of farmers, by allowing them greater access to local and international markets, in addition to providing information on the latest...

Young people from more than 650 4-H clubs across the island will be participating at the movement's National Achievement Day, which will be held this Friday, April 28, at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon. Lenworth Fulton, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, told JIS News that this year's event, which will be held under the theme: 'Creating Wealth...

A tree-planting project, aimed at improving soil conservation, rehabilitating and managing watershed communities, in Yallahs, St. Thomas, was officially launched yesterday (April 26), in that community. President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant, launched the project at the quarterly meeting of the Yallahs Development Area Committee (YDAC), which was attended by community leaders and residents from 20...

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, has announced that no new taxes would be levied by the government for the 2006/07 fiscal year, which has a budget of $358.2 billion. Opening the 2006/07 Budget Debate in the House today (April 27), the Minister said: "We have presented a budget which will be financed with no new taxation", stressing that...

As of June 1, a number of agricultural items will once again be zero-rated from General Consumption Tax (GCT). The zero-rated items include animal feed, machetes, planting material, including cereals and seeds, fishing apparatus, fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides. Making the announcement at the opening of the 2006/07 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives today (April 27), Finance and Planning...

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, has said that despite hitches in negotiations to arrive at a second public sector Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), "the administration was confident they will be overcome and a successor agreement entered into". "There are some challenges and this is a natural expectation in a democratic society, but the administration is very confident that...

Brazilian ethanol consultant, Alfred Szcwarc has said that Jamaica stood to benefit from improved air quality and job creation with the increased use of ethanol as an alternative energy source. Mr. Szwarc, who was addressing a Petrojam-sponsored seminar entitled: 'Ethanol in Gasolene' today (April 27) at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston, said that in addition to diversifying the country's...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Honourable, Professor Kenneth Hall, has emphasized the critical roles which Custodes and Justices of the Peace play in the maintenance of law and order, and the constitutional way of life in the country. He also bemoaned the fact that very little was reported about the work being carried out in the areas of health, education...