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Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson, has announced that work would commence soon, on the construction of housing developments catering to Jamaican residents abroad, who are interested in returning home to retire. Addressing yesterday's (March 27) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister said that the government was collaborating with the private sector for the implementation of the housing initiative,...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has announced that within the next two years, a university will be opened in St. James, catering to residents living in the western parishes of the island. Cabinet yesterday (March 27), gave its approval to the conceptualisation and development of the University of Western Jamaica. Speaking at the post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, the Prime...

Arrangements have been put in place to accommodate some 6,000 persons, who have been invited to the historic inauguration ceremony for Jamaica's first female Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller.The ceremony will be held on the lawns of King's House on Thursday, March 30. But, even while organizers have catered for 6,000 persons, there will be contingencies in place to accommodate...

An impressive list of international dignitaries, to include a number of heads of government from the region, have already confirmed their attendance at the historic inauguration ceremony of Portia Simpson Miller as Jamaica's first female Prime Minister, to be held on Thursday (March 30) on the lawns of King's House. Chairman of the Inauguration Committee, Minister of Commerce, Science and...

Outgoing Prime Minister P.J. Patterson will make his farewell address to the country tonight (March 29), during a national broadcast at 8:00 p.m. The Prime Minister's address will be aired on all radio stations at 8:00 p.m., Television Jamaica (TVJ) at 8:00 p.m., Love TV at 8:00 p.m. and CVM at 9:00 p.m. Mr. Patterson will speak on his stewardship...

Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman, heads the list of 17 Jamaicans who have been conferred with National Honours and Awards by special appointment, with effect from Wednesday, March 29. Senator Whiteman has received the Order of Jamaica (OJ) for outstanding contribution to Education and the Legislature. Others conferred with the Order of Jamaica are: Byron St. Michael Hylton, Q.C.,...

Petrojam and a Canadian based company, SNC Lavalin Engineers and Constructors Inc., signed an agreement today (March 28), to undertake the first phase of the refinery's upgrade and expansion programme. Following a competitive tendering process, SNC Lavalin was awarded the contract to carry out the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study for the full scope of the refinery engineering design....

The police has implemented a traffic management plan to control the flow of vehicular traffic in the King's House vicinity for the March 30 swearing in ceremony of Portia Simpson Miller as Jamaica's first female and seventh Prime Minister. Acting Deputy Commissioner (ACP) of Police, Linval Bailey, told journalists at a press briefing held at Jamaica House earlier today (March...

The project for the national certification of agricultural produce has been extended to June.The pilot project, which is aimed at reducing pesticide residue in agricultural produce, commenced in January of 2004 and was scheduled for completion last year. However, its progress was hampered due to heavy rains, droughts and hurricanes. Addressing the weekly JIS Think Thank, Inspector at the Pesticides...

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) is reporting that its programme to register sellers of restricted pesticides has significantly reduced public access to toxic chemicals. According to Inspector at the PCA, Kerry Helligar, the programme has been for the most part, successful in its aim to keep toxic chemicals out of the hands of those not equipped to use them. In...

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) has reported that its inspectors have been finding pesticide residue on imported strawberries. In fact, samples tested from three consecutive shipments, have consistently shown some form of chemical residue, said Hyacinth Chin Sue, Registrar of the Pesticides Control Authority. "The number one problem right now is strawberries.without any question," Mrs. Chin Sue said at a...

I am extremely privileged and honoured to be afforded the opportunity to address the topic "CARICOM Current Status and Future Prospects". CARICOM today is at an important cross-road in its evolution over the past thirty-three years. On January 6, 2006 six member states signed a declaration to inaugurate the Single Market. This represents the culmination of a journey towards Caribbean...