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With the Sixth World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference, called the Doha Development Round, underway in Hong Kong, China, CARICOM Heads of Government and other interests from small developing states are disgruntled with the apparent relegation of the development aspect of the negotiations. They are also pointing to power asymmetries skewed in favour of the developed countries and large developing...

A pictorial exhibition, depicting the development of tourism in Jamaica over the past 50 years, opened yesterday (Dec.15) at the Montego Bay Civic Centre in St. James. The exhibition was mounted by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) as part of activities to mark its 50th anniversary, which began on April 1 and would continue through to March 31, 2006. The...

Jamaica's hotel room inventory is on a growth path following unprecedented levels of investment in the tourism industry.The number of hotel rooms is to be increased to approximately 30,000 by 2009, up from 17,000. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Dennis Morrison outlined a number of projects and investments, which will increase...

Several companies across the island have been invited by Jamalco bauxite and alumina company to provide goods and services for its refinery expansion project in Clarendon. The project should result in the plant doubling its refining capacity, moving from the current 1.25 million tonnes of alumina per year to 2.8 million tonnes. The companies attended a 'Goods and Services Expo',...

The Export Division of the Ministry of Agriculture held its first annual awards dinner last night (Dec.15) with 12 members of staff honoured for long and dedicated service totalling more than 300 years.Rising to thunderous applause was longest serving member Vernal Rodgers, who had notched 42 years of unbroken service. Other staff awarded for dedicated employment that spanned between 20...

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator A.J. Nicholson has said that a Code of Ethics for the conduct and governance of Justices of the Peace (JPs) would be produced by the Ministry early in 2006. "Next year, things are going to be different because the Code of Ethics is almost here. The plan is that by the first quarter...

Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Carlton Davis, is calling for a wider view of governance so that the public could begin to request of the other players in society, the same sort of transparency and accountability it demanded of the state. He was speaking at a panel discussion on 'Good Governance: Perception versus reality' held recently at Jamaica House. Other members of...

A 'Sending Money Home?' Jamaica leaflet, which provides information on money transfers from the United Kingdom to the island, was launched on Thursday (Dec.15) at the High Commission in London.The leaflet, prepared by Profile Business Intelligence, came out of a survey financed by the British Government through the Department for International Development (DFID). Managing Director of Profile Business, Atam Sandhu...

The Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology, in collaboration with JAMPRO and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC) will launch a publication titled, "Renewable Energies Potential in Jamaica" and host a panel discussion involving industry experts on Friday, December 16, 2005 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel. The publication follows the visit of a...

The decades of physical and psychological harm occasioned under the apartheid system in South Africa was one of, if not the most acts against one's fellowman during the Twentieth century. Yet, it appeared, man's capacity for bloodshed remained unabated. In 1994, when South Africans were close to eliminating apartheid from their system of governance, the Hutus in Rwanda carried out...

Dr. Herbert Thompson, President of the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), has said that good governance entailed being responsive to present and future needs of society, ensuring that corruption was minimized, that the views of minorities were taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society were recognized. Dr. Thompson, who was contributing to the panel discussion...

Olive Senior, one of Jamaica's leading women in Literature, was on Wednesday (Dec.14) awarded the Musgrave Gold Medal for her contribution to the field. State Minister for Education, Youth and Culture, Dr. Donald Rhodd, who presented the medal to Miss Senior at a ceremony held at the Institute of Jamaica's downtown Kingston headquarters, pointed out that her skill, talent and...