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The reputable New York-based sovereign risk analysts, Bear Stearns, yesterday (July 20) issued another upbeat report on Jamaica's economy, noting that "fiscal results for April and May were in line with expectations, and are on track to meet the Government's balanced budget goal of fiscal year 2005-2006". Bear Stearns expressed the view that tax revenues would show "greater increases in...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is undertaking a series of projects and programmes to improve its supply capacity. Minister of State for Water and Housing, Harry Douglas in his contribution to the 2005/06 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 21, informed that the programmes included the procurement and installation of new production or source meters to accurately...

The Rapid Response Unit is projecting to earn $156.97 million this fiscal year, which is 10 per cent more than the $142.7 million earned in 2004/05. Minister of State for Water and Housing, Harry Douglas made this disclosure during his contribution to the 2005/06 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 20. He noted that the increased earnings...

Carib Engineering Corporation Limited has made significant strides in improving the provision of potable water to small communities across the island. Minister of State for Water and Housing, Harry Douglas, in his contribution to the 2005/06 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on July 20, pointed to a number of projects now underway to improve availability of water supplies. He informed, that...

Existing mortgagors of the National Housing Trust (NHT) will pay less, as a result of the revised interest rate the Trust now offers. At a press conference held today (July 21), at the Four Seasons Hotel in Kingston, Earl Samuels, Managing Director of the NHT explained that, "all existing mortgagers will benefit as their interest rates will also be reduced"....

Despite the effects of two major hurricanes in addition to harsh drought conditions this year, the nation's farmers are optimistic about the 53rd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show, which will be held in May Pen, Clarendon from July 30 to August 1. Regional Manager of the Jamaica Agricultural Society's (JAS) Region Two, Thelma Williams, told JIS News...

Effective August 15 this year, loan applicants to the National Housing Trust (NHT) will benefit from increases in loan limits, reduced interest rates and adjusted income bands.The adjustment will see the limit for non-homeowners increased from $1 million to $1.5 million for single applicants and from $2 million to $3 million for co-applicants for purchasing on the open market, build-on-own-land...

Acting Manager of the St. Thomas branch of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Thomas Amin Fagan has said that at least 1,000 persons in St. Thomas have been assessed for damage suffered as a result of hurricanes Dennis and Emily. Mr. Fagan told JIS News recently that the department was currently carrying out assessments in the "most devastated"...

Many farmers in Westmoreland who suffered losses due to Hurricanes Dennis and Emily on July 7 and July 16, respectively, are currently struggling to get their fields back into production. Parish Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), in Westmoreland, Alva Clarke, told JIS News that vegetable farmers, particularly those in the Silver Springs, Shafton, New Works and Bogg...

State Minister in the Ministry of Water and Housing and Member of Parliament for South East St. Mary, Harry Douglas has called for an increase in the budgetary allocation to Members of Parliament under the Social and Economic Support Programme (SESP), of not less than $20 million beginning in the 2006/07 fiscal year. Mr. Douglas who was making his contribution...

Approximately 100 families from Manchester and 150 from St. Elizabeth who were affected by Hurricanes Dennis and Emily, have received relief supplies from the Welfare Committees of both parishes. For the past three days, the committees, consisting of personnel from the Ministries of Labour and Social Security, and Health, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the Salvation Army, Red...

More than 200 children from four communities in St. James are benefiting from the annual summer school operated by the parish's Police Community Relations Department. Classes for the two-week programme began on July 11 at the Albion Lane, Rose Heights, First Step and Flanker Basic School in addition to the Flanker Peace Centre. The children, who range in age from...