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The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is reporting that it does not foresee an extensive shortage of vegetables and pulses, in light of the recent rains, which has caused problems in the agricultural sector. As a result, the JAS is urging supermarket chains not to rush to import agricultural produce. Speaking with JIS News, President of the JAS, Senator Norman Grant...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), in its preliminary release, has reported that crops valued at $9.37 million were destroyed as a result of the recent heavy rains and flooding. While the northern parishes were not as badly affected as the southern, the parishes of Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Elizabeth, Manchester and Westmoreland were most affected....

The Senate on Friday (Oct. 28.) approved the Finger Prints (Taking, Use, Maintenance and Destruction) Rules Resolution, 2005. Outlining the Rules that govern the Resolution, Leader of Government Business and Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman pointed out that the various elements of the Rules sought to protect the rights of persons whose fingerprints were being taken. Rule Three of the...

Children in the community of Springfield in South West Clarendon will be the beneficiaries of a Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) project, under which a new basic school is to be constructed. The contract for the basic school is valued at J$5 million and was approved at the October sitting of the Board of JSIF, where a total of J$48.8...

After extensive debate over several weeks, the Upper House gave its approval to the Maintenance Bill, with eight amendments, at yesterday's (Oct. 28) sitting. The approval of the legislation followed intense debate from both sides of the Upper House, with arguments centred on whether a public consultation should have been facilitated to gauge opinion on the law before it was...

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie has said that the projected cost to clear and rehabilitate total damage caused by Hurricane Wilma in Kingston and St Andrew stands at $871.6 million. Speaking at a meeting to discuss the effects of Hurricane Wilma on the corporate Area and a report of the Council's task force findings at the Kingston and St...

As the island recovers from heavy rains associated with Hurricane Wilma, Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie has said there are 10 critical link roads in the corporate area that are in need of immediate rehabilitation. "This rehabilitation work will cost $37 million to fund and we need the intervention of central government to assist us," Mayor McKenzie informed. He...

Director of Enforcement and Compliance at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Ann-Marie Rodriquez has assured that the Authority is working to restore normalcy to its residential waste collection operations. Speaking with JIS News, Ms. Rodriquez confirmed that the NSWMA had doubled its efforts and had instituted night collection, which should last for two weeks. This is being done...

As of November 1, beneficiaries of the National Health Fund (NHF) will pay less for medications and diabetic monitoring supplies following an 80 per cent increase in the subsidy paid by the NHF. Chief Executive Officer of the NHF, Rae Barrett who made the announcement at a press breakfast at the Terra Nova Hotel in today also outlined that there...

The Upper House gave its approval to the Early Childhood Regulations, Resolutions 2005 at yesterday's (Oct. 28) sitting at Gordon House. Recommendations came from both sides of the Upper House on how to best to make the Regulations more comprehensive to recognise disabled children, as well as to give an extension on the stipulated time for pupil teachers to gain...

Thirty ward assistants and technicians at the May Pen Hospital have been honoured by that institution for their service to the health sector. They were recognized at a ceremony held on the grounds of the hospital, yesterday (October 27).In her address at the function, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Nadia Howe commended the ward assistants for the quality...

Even while many Jamaicans are of the opinion that imported goods are of better quality than local products, there are others who strongly believe in and are supporting the "Buy Jamaican: Build Jamaica" concept. Small Business Operator, Jessie Duffus-Thomas, seeks to play her part in promoting things Jamaican, through her production and marketing of 'Jessie's Jamaican Fruit and Rum Cake'....