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Students, who participated in the National Youth Service's (NYS) inaugural Success Camp, have come away with some invaluable lessons, among them the importance of staying in school and resolving conflict without violence. And, with schools reopening within two weeks of the camp, which closes today (August 29), students should be better adjusted and better prepared to take on the challenges...

Fifty-two parish champions vying for honours in the 2005 National Reading Competition will be recognized for their efforts and receive awards at the annual luncheon hosted by the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) tomorrow (August 30). These awards will be in the age categories six to eight, nine to11, 12 to 14 and adult. Participants will receive their awards then go...

For the period January to March of this year, real gross domestic product (GDP) for the manufacturing and processing sector is estimated to have increased by 2.1 per cent over the corresponding quarter for 2004. As stated in the Planning Institute of Jamaica's Economic Update and Outlook for the period January to March 2005, the growth resulted from higher levels...

Infrastructure work is now well underway in three of the project areas identified as Hurricane Ivan relocation sites, namely Rocky Point, Clarendon; Portland Cottage, Clarendon; and Bourkesfield, St. Catherine. According to a monthly progress report from the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), work on the roads, site clearance, drainage and marl pads in the Rocky Point area commenced on May...

Six small farmers from North-east St. Elizabeth, who are members of the Elim United Farmer's Multipurpose Cooperative, have benefited from modern irrigation equipment valued at $400,000, from the Ministry of Agriculture, through its subsidiary agency, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). Each irrigation system consists of a five-horsepower gas pump equipped with a foot valve and suction hose valued at...

On June the 29th, I signed with other Caribbean Heads the PetroCaribe Agreement with Venezuela. Between then and last Tuesday in Montego Bay, when President Chavez and I signed the first Bilateral Agreement to trigger the benefits which will flow from PetroCaribe, you would have heard a lot. But I think it is my duty to outline to the nation,...

The National Housing Trust (NHT) is advising that the one to two per cent reduction in interest rates will be available to current mortgagers by this October.Senior General Manager of Finance and Operations at the NHT, Hugh Reid told JIS News that the reduction in interest rates would be introduced in two phases. He said under the arrangement, new mortgagers...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has collected more than 5,000 used lead acid batteries under the national campaign for the removal of the batteries from public places. Kingston and St. Andrew accounts for the majority of batteries collected so far, with good rates of return in Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland. Director of Enforcement...

In a fast-paced world of flashy lifestyles, quick cash, and emerging new careers, especially in the area of information technology, many young persons may not see the agricultural sector as an attractive or even profitable profession. As the world shrinks into one global village and food security becomes an increasingly critical issue for many nations, particularly developing ones, the Ministry...

Given the region's increased vulnerability to natural disasters due to the effects of climate change, and the threat this places on agricultural production and food security, Executive Director of the Caribbean Agriculture and Research Development Institute (CARDI), Dr. Wendel Parham, is calling for an action plan to protect Caribbean food systems, with research targeted at the areas under threat. The...

Bee farmers, who qualify under the Beekeeping Revolving Loan Programme, will begin receiving the funds as early as the next two weeks. Under the programme, established bee farmers will receive a maximum of about $250,000 to commercialize their operations, which will include increasing beehives and purchasing additional equipment in a bid to boost honey production. The money will provide for...

The Ministry of Agriculture has implemented a US$1.3 million Pig Industry Development Project (PIDP) to improve the supply of pork locally. The project, which is a joint initiative involving the Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) and Newport Mills, involves the importation of purebred pigs from a genetics company in Canada for interbreeding with local varieties. Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, in...