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Several communities across the island served by the National Water Commission (NWC) are soon to benefit from improved water supply and sewerage services with the receipt of some US$2.5 million worth of pipes and equipment from China under the Jamaica Water Systems Rehabilitation and Extension Project. Water and Housing Minister Donald Buchanan speaking at the official unloading and reception ceremony...

The parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland are fine-tuning activities for Earthquake Awareness Week, which will be observed from January 8 to 16 under the theme: 'Prepare Now! Don't Wait.Be ready for the next Earthquake'. During that period there will be visits to schools, businesses and hotels in the two parishes to give talks on earthquake awareness, and to carry out...

Jamaican jerk pork and chicken have been voted on the list of 'The 50 things to eat before you die'. The list was the focus of a special BBC television programme that was hosted by noted television Chef, Ainsley Harriot, and shown over the Christmas season. Television viewers had been asked to vote for the top 50 things everyone should...

When the region signs the official documents to implement the CARICOM Single Market (CSM) later this month, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will become the newest trade bloc, joining the approximately 194 other trade blocs in the fight to ensure market survival. Prime Minister P. J. Patterson has hailed the institution, noting that it would serve to deepen regional cooperation and...

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson participated in a number of ground-breaking ceremonies for several major resorts across the island during 2005. Among the most recent was the ground-breaking for construction of the Bahia Principe Resort in St. Ann by Grupo Pinero of Spain, in October. The project, which consists of a 1,918-room hotel and villa resort, represents an investment of...

The increase in the National Housing Trust's loan limits was one of the agency's major achievements for 2005. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who announced the increases in the House of Representatives on July 20, said that serviced lot loans would be increased from $450,000 to $600,000 per single applicant and from $700,000 to $800,000 for co-applicants; while home improvement loans...

The Office of the Prime Minister played an integral role in international relations in 2005, forging closer ties between Jamaica and its neighbours and trading partners through a number of agreements as well as major summits and meetings across the globe. JAMAICA/CHINA AGREEMENTS Ties between Jamaica and China increased during 2005 with the signing of four bi-lateral Agreements between both...

As Jamaica and the rest of the region prepares to host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Prime Minister Patterson in January broke ground for the upgrading of Sabina Park in Kingston. At that time, he described the government's decision to partner in the renovation and expansion of the Sabina Park cricket ground as a necessary and timely investment in...

The signing of an energy agreement between Jamaica and Venezuela under the Venezuelan PetroCaribe Initiative was without doubt, one of the major highlights of 2005 for the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Among other things, the co-operation agreement included the supply of 21,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the Petrojam refinery on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston....

The Office of the Prime Minister continued to place great emphasis on the construction of Highway 2000 in 2005, one highlight of which was new developments emerging over the construction of the Portmore leg of the Highway. After viewing a presentation from the operators of Highway 2000, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson charged a team, comprising the National Road Operating and...

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson continued lobbying efforts on behalf of Jamaica and the rest of the developing world last year, with the highlight of his activities being his attendance at the Heads of Government Commonwealth Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta in November. The Prime Minister, who spoke on matters relating to non-market access, tariff reductions and technical barriers to trade,...

2005 was a difficult year for us as a nation. Before we were able to recover from the ravages of Hurricane Ivan in October 2004, we were hit with Dennis and Emily in July. Many families have not been able to put their lives back together, some having lost their homes, others their source of livelihood. Much of our infrastructure...