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The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is encouraging all sectors of the society to put emergency plans in place to mitigate the effects of an earthquake. "We are encouraging businesses, schools and even families to have plans in place because we recognise that the island is vulnerable to not only earthquakes but to several hazards such as...

January 9 to 15 is Earthquake Awareness Week and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has planned a number of activities to mark the occasion. Nadene Newsome, Director of Information and Training at ODPEM, told JIS News that the week of activities was being held to engender public awareness about the dangers and consequences of earthquakes and...

Despite setbacks from hurricanes last year, the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is still committed to assisting farmers in marketing their produce through its recently launched Central Marketing System and will, within the next few months, intensify the collection of produce for distribution to entities. "Right now we are buying and we are selling but within the next three to four...

Out-going Commissioner of Police, Francis Forbes, has said that one of the most significant achievements in his eight-year tenure was the launching of a Corporate Strategy, which paved the way for the modernization and reform of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). The Commissioner, who held his last press briefing in that capacity on Tuesday, January 4, told high ranking officers...

The Canadian Friends - St. Thomas Healthcare Organization (CFSTH) is pledging to do more in 2005 for the visually challenged in Jamaica. The charitable organization, which usually takes Canadian eye-care professionals to Jamaica, will be involved in at least two medical visits in 2005 and will also provide optometry equipment to furnish a second examination room at the Princess Margaret...

There was a smooth re-opening of schools this week in the Ministry of Education's Region Four, which covers the parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland. Only three schools - Petersville All-Age in Westmoreland, Askenish All-Age in Hanover and Orange Hill Primary in St. James - are still facing difficulties from the effects of Hurricane Ivan, and have to be...

A programme entitled, 'Smart Jamaica', aimed at increasing access to computer education in Primary, All-Age and Secondary schools will be officially launched on January 12, at the Portsmouth Primary School in Portmore, St. Catherine. Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell and Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Adelle Brown, who will represent Minister...

The government of Jamaica has granted two licences for the construction and operation of two submarine fibre optic networks, which will link Jamaica to North America, and the rest of the world. The licencees are Fibralink Jamaica Limited and Trans-Caribbean Cable Company Limited (TCCCL), which are expected to make a total investment of $5 billion in the creation of undersea...

The staging of the China-Caribbean Trade Forum and Trade Fair in Kingston must be seen as an opportunity to foster economic development in Jamaica, and by extension the entire region, said Christopher Denny, Regional Manager, Retail Banking Division at the National Commercial Bank (NCB). He is encouraging the private sector to get involved in the events for which the NCB...

Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the Manufacturing and Processing sector was estimated to have increased by 2 per cent for the July to September quarter last year, compared to the corresponding period of 2003. The survey of selected manufactured commodities, undertaken by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), revealed that the higher levels of production of beverage products and...

TransJamaican Highway Limited operators of Highway 2000, should begin charging commuters who travel between May Pen and Spanish Town a special concessionary rate as of next month. The company is also expected to outline concessions for frequent users of the highway in another two months. These decisions were taken this morning (Jan. 5) at a meeting convened by Prime Minister...

Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) military attach