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State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Dr. Donald Rhodd has emphasized the government's commitment to entrepreneurship, in particular, the involvement of young persons in the sector. Speaking at the signing of the Jamaica Social Policy Evaluation (JASPEV) Youth Inclusion Charters of Collaboration on Entrepreneurship, Continuing Education, and Police/Youth Relations on February 1, at the Jamaica Employers'...

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) yesterday (Feb. 2) signed a $16 million contract with Stresscon Jamaica Limited for phase one works on the new Port Antonio Courthouse in Boundbrook, Portland. The project, for which ground was broken in mid-2005, will also involve the rehabilitation of the existing courthouse to establish a NCB branch. Speaking at the signing held at the...

Key persons in the Ministry of Social Security met yesterday (Feb. 2) at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel to develop a list of hazardous occupations prohibited to children and adolescents under the age of 18. Under the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Convention No.182, each member state is required to host consultations to identify where hazardous work exist. The aim is to...

Mayor of Portmore, Councillor George Lee, is calling on residents of the municipality to pay their property taxes, noting that the funds went towards the provision of critical services. "Property taxes are needed to pay for the services and certain community developmental projects and when we clean the drains for example, communities need to ensure that they are kept clean...

The St. James branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) has distributed approximately 1,000 vegetable seedlings to six schools in the parish, to assist their preparations for the JAS' School Garden Competition. President of the St. James Association of Branch Societies, Glendon Harris, yesterday (Feb. 2) made the presentations to Bogue, Sudbury, Lottery, Sunderland, Bickersteth and Anchovy All-age schools. The...

In keeping with government's efforts to strengthen financial management and audit practices, the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) will host an Internal Audit Conference on February 15, 2006. MIND has partnered with the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Jamaica Chapter and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) to organize the conference,...

Container traffic at the Kingston Container Terminal increased by almost 26 per cent last year as a result of the completion of fourth phase expansion works at the facility by the Port Authority of Jamaica. "Between January and November 2005, 1.394 million TEUs were handled by the port compared to 1.1 million TEUs during the same period in 2004. This...

As celebration activities for Black History Month (February) get underway, Jamaica's Consul General to the Southeast United States (US), Ricardo Allicock, has reminded students of the significant contributions, which Caribbean nationals continue to play in the development of the US. Addressing students at the Zora Neale Hurston Elementary School in Miami on February 1, Mr. Allicock traced the inter-connectedness of...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has announced a number of new benefits that are to be made available to contributors of the National Housing Trust (NHT) effective April 1. The new benefits include a 100 per cent increase in the loan limit under the scheme, open market and build on own land housing programmes from $1.5 Million to $3 Million per...

University of the West Indies philosophy lecturer, Dr. Oswald Harding's interest in near-death experiences, has led him to write a theoretical explanation on the subject called, 'Near-Death Experience: A Holographic Explanation'. The author, accompanied by his publishers - husband and wife, Mike and Dawn Henry of LMH Publishing - today (February 2), presented a copy of the book to Governor...

Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas yesterday (Jan. 31) unveiled an eight-point action plan designed to reduce the country's murder rate by five per cent by the end of the calendar year. The Commissioner, who spoke to journalists at a press conference held at the Police Officers Club on Hope Road, explained that the murder reduction plan was devised following discussions...

Portmore's Mayor Councillor George Lee has said he was pleased with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's commitment to look into getting the municipality connected to the first phase of the Soapberry wastewater treatment plant. The Prime Minister gave his commitment while delivering his address at the official ground breaking ceremony for the US$50.3 million plant in St. Catherine on January 31....