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Prospects for increased trade between Jamaica and Minnesota in the United States (US) have been significantly enhanced, with the staging of a trade and investment seminar in Minneapolis on Monday (Jan. 23). The event was organized by the Jamaica Minnesota Organization (JMO) in collaboration with the Minnesota Trade Office and was designed to acquaint businesses in Minneapolis and the neigbouring...

The roadway from the Mandela Highway to Braeton Parkway in Portmore, St. Catherine, commonly known as 'I-95', will be officially named the Municipal Boulevard. An unveiling ceremony and the erection of a road sign will take place in early February on site. Mayor of Portmore, George Lee, told JIS News that the selection of the name was done by a...

Plans are in high gear for the 19th staging of the St. Mary Agri Expo, which is slated for April 16 and 17 at James Bond Beach. The annual show, which is sponsored by the St. Mary branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), is designed to showcase the best of agricultural production in the parish. Among the major attractions...

The government is seeking to establish a National Intelligence Agency (NIA), which would provide intelligence to inform state decision-making on strategic or policy issues that go beyond supporting planned operations. As proposed, the NIA will be an independent civilian state agency mandated to gather strategic information, process it into strategic intelligence and provide the government with timely advice on matters...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has announced that Professor Kenneth Hall, Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, will be sworn in as the new Governor-General on Wednesday, February 15, when His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke demits that office. Mr. Patterson, who was addressing journalists at a post Cabinet press...

More than 200 students participated in a presentation on Restorative Justice, yesterday (January 23), at the Holy Trinity High School in Kingston. The event was staged as part of the initiative by the Ministry of Justice to educate students about the principles of restorative justice. The Ministry is employing a strategy of zoning high schools, which are in close proximity...

Cabinet has approved the award of a contract for repair work to be carried out at the May Pen Hospital in Clarendon. Economic Maintenance Products Limited has been contracted to rectify defects at the hospital over a 12-week period, at a cost of some $58.4 million. Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman, who gave details of the contract at yesterday's (January...

In an effort to promote greater awareness and understanding about the importance of family life for the healthy development and protection of children, the Child Development Agency (CDA), has launched a national poster contest for children between the age of 6 and 12 years, under the theme: 'Family is Love'. Director of Policy, Planning and Evaluation at the CDA, Audrey...

Work is proceeding smoothly on the Pedro Plains irrigation project in St. Elizabeth for which Prime Minister P.J. Patterson broke ground in January of 2005. The project forms part of the government's National Irrigation Development Master Plan (NIDP), which is being piloted by the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), with a view to increase farmer participation in the agricultural sector. The...

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, in a response to a letter from Opposition Leader Mr. Bruce Golding, said that the Constitutional requirement for the appointment of the new Governor-General was met. He said that the procedure requires that the proposal for the appointment should be tendered to Her Majesty by the Prime Minister and Her Ministers in Jamaica, that is,...

Cabinet has received an interim report on the Kennedy Grove Housing Development in Clarendon, which was inundated with rising water levels, following unprecedented rainfall in October of last year.This was announced by Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman, at the weekly post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, yesterday (January 23). The Minister pointed out that the interim report resulted from...

Jamaica's Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, has assured Jamaicans living in Canada that the police are committed to winning the war on crime. Speaking on Friday, Jan. 20 to more than 300 Jamaicans at the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) Centre in Toronto, Canada, Commissioner Thomas said that despite the large number of homicides in 2005, the police force did record...