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Howard Pitterson has always wanted to do something positive for Jamaica and when a ruptured Achilles tendon short-circuited his dream of becoming the Jamaican version of Russia's classical ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, he turned to writing instead. The result is the first of a two-book set titled 'Spectre of Seven', depicting life in British colonial Jamaica before the 'Bob Marley'...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has said that Jamaican farmers stood to benefit from the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), as a wider regional market would be provided for the sale of local produce. The Prime Minister, who was addressing the closing of the three-day Denbigh Agricultural Show in May Pen on August 1, said that farmers must take advantage...

President of the Northern Caribbean University, Dr. Herbert Thompson, has urged Jamaicans to value the country's achievements since Emancipation and to "stop beating up on ourselves and making ourselves look as if we are no good, and we are not heading anywhere". Dr. Thompson, who was delivering the main address at the National Emancipation vigil in Mandeville, Manchester on July...

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is reporting a marginal decrease in the number of road traffic accidents involving its buses over the last financial year. Speaking at today's (August 3) JIS Think Tank, President of the JUTC, Patrick McIntosh noted "over the last year, 04/05, we have seen a small reduction in the number of accidents, about 6 per...

Regular traffic flow has returned to Portland with the opening of the rail bridge in St. Margaret's Bay on Saturday (July 30). The bridge, which was rehabilitated at a cost of $26 million, is being used as an alternative to the Rio Grande overpass, which was taken out of service due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Dennis. The opening...

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has applied for an increase in bus fares, which if approved, would take effect within the next few weeks. JUTC president Patrick McIntosh, addressing a JIS Think Tank this morning (Aug. 3), said the increase was necessary for the bus company to remain in operation and to continue to serve passengers in the Kingston...

Sandra Scott has been appointed the new Regional Director for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in Canada, effective July 18. She replaces Pat Samuels, who is leaving Toronto after nearly four years to become the JTB's European Regional Director, based in Berlin, Germany. Miss Scott, a Jamaican by birth, comes to the JTB with over 25 years of experience in...

The Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C., is in the final stages of preparation for its slate of activities to commemorate the country's 43rd independence anniversary. The events, which have been dubbed: 'A Capital Celebration of Jamaica's 43rd', will be staged over a two-day period and will have major entertainment as well as religious and cultural components, all designed to...

All across Canada, Jamaicans are taking part in activities to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the country's independence. Jamaican organizations in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver have planned independence events, which include flag-raising ceremonies, banquets, fun days and church services. In Toronto, the Canadian city, which is home to the largest number of Jamaican nationals, 'Jamaica Day' was observed...

On Emancipation Day, August 1, the lawns of the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Hope Road will be transformed back to a time, when fairs and not clubs, ruled the social scene. Indeed, many Jamaicans, who desire to recapture these days of old, turn out in droves to attend the annual Augus' Fair/Jamaica Nite, a family fixture on the annual...

The Correctional Services Department has received five new computers and software to boost its automated pharmaceutical inventory unit, and to assist with documentation and record-keeping on the health of inmates. The software also has the capability of linking five of the department's healthcare facilities to the Medical Unit's Central Registry, to enhance the management of the pharmaceutical storage and dispensation...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, has said that the government would be examining the implications of the recent ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has deemed illegal, the new banana regime being proposed by the European Union (EU). "We are now actively examining what are the implications of that ruling and have already initiated a process of diplomatic action...