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The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) building in downtown Kingston, is to be renamed in honour of the late Mayor and Minister of Local Government, Ralph Brown. Making the announcement at the KSAC's monthly press briefing yesterday (January 11), Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie said the official rededication and renaming of the building would take place in early...

The Kingston and St.Andrew Corporation (KSAC) will be going ahead with its plan to remove illegal billboards from downtown Kingston this weekend."When a lot of persons turn up to open their business places on Monday morning, many of them will not have any signs because we will be removing all of them this weekend and the place will look so...

The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) is to resume its clamp down on illegal garage operations in sections of the Corporate Area, this time without warning. Announcing the decision at the monthly press briefing yesterday (January 11), held downtown, Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Councillor Desmond McKenzie said this time the public would not be advised as to...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has warned that Jamaica was not adequately prepared for a major earthquake.Speaking at an Earthquake Awareness Week panel discussion at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, yesterday (January 10), Director General of the ODPEM, Dr. Barbara Carby said, "we do not do enough systemic vulnerability analysis programmes. We are not prepared...

The Port Authority of Jamaica has acquired four new ship-to-shore gantry cranes valued at US$23 million, to improve efficiency at the island's main port in Kingston. The cranes, which were made in China, arrived in the island on Tuesday (Jan.11) and should become operational in the next eight weeks. Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill and Noel Hylton, President...

Business operators and prospective entrepreneurs have another chance to learn more about Chinese customs, business practices and other cultural aspects of China at a sensitisation seminar and workshop, which will be held on Thursday, January 13. The event, which is being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy and the Port...

The House of Representatives has passed the Early Childhood Act, to provide a comprehensive framework for all aspects of early childhood development, including regulations, policies and standards to govern early childhood institutions. Piloting the Bill in the House yesterday (January 11), Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, Maxine Henry-Wilson described the legislation as another aspect of the early childhood regulatory...

Kings and Carnival Basic Schools on Seaga Boulevard in Tivoli Gardens, Kingston, were recently upgraded at a cost of almost $2 million donated by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund. Some $801,624 was spent at Kings Basic School to refurbish sections of the building; replace old benches with chairs and tables for the students; buy a refrigerator...

Jamaica's performance in the tourism industry during 2004, has shown an increase in visitor arrivals despite a very active hurricane season, with the January to April 2004 period being described as the best winter season the island has ever experienced. According to Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook, the January to April period saw a 9.5 per cent increase in visitor...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has extended his personal appreciation to Opposition Leader Edward Seaga for his contribution to Jamaica and has accorded him his best wishes as he demits office to take up research and academic duties at the University of the West Indies. Mr. Patterson made the remarks during a courtesy call paid on him by the Opposition Leader...

The discovery of the only known portrait of Jamaican-born nurse, Mary Seacole, is making headlines across the United Kingdom (UK). Mary Seacole, who last year was voted the greatest black Briton in history, was a contemporary of Florence Nightingale and was revered for her feats in the Crimean War. The oil painting of the Jamaican-born nurse (9.5 inches by 7...

Beginning next month, public sector pensioners will receive an increase in their pensions. According to Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman the pension increase will cost the government some $200 million, and will benefit several categories of former government employees. Minister Whiteman, who was speaking at the year's first post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday (January 10), revealed that beneficiaries...