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The central task of effective local governance is to ensure that there is strong community participation in the governance process, as well as to ensure a strong economic base, said Chairman of the Social Development Commission, Robert Bryan. According to Mr. Bryan, the process requires an active local government authority, as well as the establishment of appropriate community structures to...

Blue Cross of Jamaica, the exclusive provider of insurance benefits for public sector workers, has launched a critical illness policy, which Vice President for Marketing and Customer Service, David Garel pointed out, would help to ease the burden on the state from having to absorb the financial cost of persons suffering from long term, chronic illnesses. "The state in most...

Three students from schools in South Florida will shortly be awarded as winners of this year's annual Jamaica Independence Essay Competition in that state. They are eight year-old Tomlinson Spencer, residing in Miami, 11 year-old Jalyn Antoinette Delancy, also of Miami, and 13 year- old Karisa McKenzie of Miramar. The competition now in its sixth year is organized by the...

A new community centre has been opened to facilitate activities of the Treasure Beach Women's Group Benevolent Society in South Western St. Elizabeth. "This is one of the first women's group that I established after returning from Canada to Jamaica and over the years, they have grown significantly from a few to many and now today they have this wonderful...

Come September, Jamaicans, who suffer from severe eye problems, will be able to access treatment in Cuba or Venezuela free of cost under the Cuba/Venezuela 'Sandino Commitment'. Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, who made the disclosure at a press briefing held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Rose Hall early Wednesday morning (Aug. 24), said that the initiative was part of...

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government, who are signatories to the PetroCaribe Agreement, will meet in Montego Bay on September 6, to commemorate the legacy and vision of South American Liberator Simon Bolivar. Prime Minister P.J Patterson, who made the announcement during a press briefing at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Rose Hall early Wednesday morning (Aug. 24), after a...

The Jamaican and Venezuelan governments have signed an energy cooperation agreement under the Venezuelan PetroCaribe Initiative, for the supply of 21,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the Petrojam Refinery. Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed the relevant documents at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Rose Hall yesterday (Aug. 23) after a series of...

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Government of Jamaica, CONSIDERING the creation of PETROCARIBE, 29th June 2005, as a body aimed at facilitating the development of energy policies and plans for the integration of the nations of the Caribbean through the sovereign use of natural energy resources to directly benefit their citizens; REAFFIRMING the close ties...

Commerce, Science and Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell has expressed satisfaction with the terms of the energy cooperation agreement signed between Jamaica and Venezuela, noting that Jamaica stood to benefit greatly from the initiative. "One of the benefits from this agreement will mean that Jamaica would not have to pay out in foreign exchange up front up to 40 per cent...

Phase two of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme, a project introduced by the government of Jamaica in 1999 to address developmental needs in rural towns and inner-city communities, is set to get underway soon. Under the second phase, which is expected to end in 2008, special emphasis will be placed on areas such as job creation, income support, project quality...

Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke is scheduled to sign an agreement on Friday, August 26, which will see more than $401,000 worth of farm irrigation equipment, being handed over to farmers in St. Elizabeth. The signing ceremony will be held at the United Farmers' Multi-purpose Co-operative Limited, at Elim in St. Elizabeth and should commence at 10:00 a.m. The Agreement,...

With schools set to reopen within the next two weeks, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has launched a comprehensive website geared towards increasing awareness of children rights in Jamaica and the rest of the world. The website, www.unicef.org/jamaica/, encapsulates a wide range of issues affecting children worldwide and particularly in Jamaica. These include HIV/AIDS, violence, poverty, immunization, emergency preparedness...