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The House of Representatives yesterday (July 19) approved the Defence (Retired Pay, Pensions and Other Grants) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 to permit certain regulations under the Defence Act to be made with retrospective effect. The amendments will provide a special definition of pay and for special allowances to be included as pensionable allowance for members of the Jamaica Defence Force. State...

The Agricultural Unit of the West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) will be staging its annual Farmer's Sale Day on Saturday, July 23 at PRC Traders in Moneague, St. Ann. Assistant Coordinator for the event, Camille Henlon, told JIS News that the sale day has proven to be a success over the years. "This event is organized not only to provide...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Hanover, is putting plans in place to address the shortage of qualified Gardeners in the parish. In an interview with JIS News, Agricultural Manager with RADA in the parish, Bernard Goffe said that the shortage of persons with gardening skills was evident in all of western Jamaica, but more pronounced in the parish...

Five of the Bills listed as priority security and justice legislation are to be brought before the Houses of Parliament before July 31, 2005. Making the disclosure at yesterday's post cabinet press briefing Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman said the final report on the Bills had been presented to Cabinet and were now ready for tabling. The Bills are: the...

As part of its 110th anniversary celebrations, the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) will be having for the first time at the Denbigh Agricultural Show, an invitational Chefs Competition on Sunday, July 31 at the Denbigh showgrounds in Clarendon. The competition, which is by invitation only, will see Sous Chefs from various hotels across the island competing for the JAS 110th...

The Jamaican Organization of New Jersey (JON-J), has announced plans for the celebration of Jamaica's 43rd anniversary of independence from July 27 to August 7, 2005. These include a flag-raising ceremony and civic reception on the steps of the East Orange City Hall building on Wednesday, July 27, at 7:00 p.m. A concert recital with noted soprano Dawn Marie Virtue,...

The Transport Authority is promising greater efficiency in the processing of licence applications with the introduction of a new licensing management system. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Joan Fletcher disclosed that the Authority had, over the years been grappling with backlogs and other challenges in the licensing exercise, but this latest initiative...

The Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sport today (July 19), signed a contract valued at $2.174 million for the refurbishing of the Savanna-la-Mar fire station in Westmoreland. This represents the first of six fire stations to be refurbished during the 2005/06 financial year. Invitation for tender has been issued for the York Park fire station, and the tender...

Ground is to be broken next month for the construction of a new courthouse in Port Antonio, Portland. The Ministry of Justice is to benefit from the project, which will be undertaken by sponsor, National Commercial Bank (NCB), who has assumed responsibility for technical planning and project management. Assistant General Manager, Projects and Administration Services at NCB Major Ffrench Campbell...

With assessment of the damage to the island by Hurricane Emily already underway, preliminary estimates by the Planning Institute of Jamaica on the damage caused by Hurricane Dennis has been placed at $1.928 billion with $1.1 billion for infrastructure and the remainder for agriculture and other impacted areas. Information Minister Senator Burchell Whiteman provided an update on the status of...

The Disaster Preparedness teams of Manchester and St. Elizabeth are busy conducting assessments and delivering temporary supplies to communities affected by the passage of Hurricane Emily in those parishes. In St. Elizabeth, the worst hit parish, a number of houses have been flooded and several roads are still impassable, resulting in some residents being marooned in the communities of Big...

Five of the National Water Commission (NWC) plants in St. Elizabeth were damaged by flood waters last week-end, as a result of Hurricane Emily.These include the Hounslow, Siloah, Little Park and Benlomonds plants and the New Forrest pumping station. Water is being trucked to residents in the affected areas, working with the Rapid Response Unit in the Ministry of Water...