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Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, has said that the loss in alumina production, which had been preliminarily estimated at 130,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes could be reduced by the end of the fiscal year. Making his presentation on rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Ivan, Mr. Patterson said various plants were at different operational levels but most were expected to be back...

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will be assessing secondary and tertiary level institutions in the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover and St. James to determine the level of damage to those institutions as a result of Hurricane Ivan. Prime Minister, P. J. Patterson, who made the announcement in Parliament yesterday (Sept. 21) said that Cabinet had charged...

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies has assured that in spite of Hurricane Ivan, the economy would record positive growth in both the calendar and fiscal years. He was speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday (September 21) on the impact which the hurricane would have on the current macro-economic programme. Dr. Davies said that although preliminary estimates...

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture is exploring options to avoid relocating students of some 63 schools. These schools remain closed due to the passage of Hurricane Ivan. Director of Communications in the Ministry, Dorrett Campbell, told JIS News that the Ministry was examining the implications carefully before coming to a final decision. "The Ministry does not want to...

The House of Representatives yesterday (September 21), began debate on a consumer protection Bill entitled, 'An Act to provide for the promotion and protection of consumer interests, in relation to the supply of goods and the provision of services in order to ensure protection of life, health and safety of consumers and others, the establishment of a Consumer Affairs Commission...

Hundreds of Jamaicans in the United Kingdom (UK) turned out at the Church of St. Martin in the Fields in Trafalgar Square, London last Saturday (Sept. 18) for a memorial service for late former Prime Minister Hugh Shearer. Among those in attendance were family members, trade union leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.Mr. Shearer, who died on July 4,...

Some 12 Children's Homes and Places of Safety in the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon were the hardest hit by Hurricane Ivan on September 10. Alison Anderson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Child Development Agency (CDA), told JIS News that the Southern Region, which has some 12 institutions, was the "hardest hit" out of the three other...

The World Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Awards will be presented for the first time at the 5th World Conference of TPOs to be held in Malta, October 1 and 2. Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Jamaica's investment and promotions agency is being nominated for one of the major awards. The awards are being offered in five categories to give all TPOs...

The Government has established hotlines for consumers to report any market abnormalities, including price gouging and tied sales or the "marrying" of goods.Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell has pointed out that a survey conducted by the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), indicated that while price gouging was not found to a significant degree in the formal sector, extensive price...

The Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), including Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Danville Walker, will meet with President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant, by the end of this week. Communications Liaison in the ONR, Tracey Hamilton said that the team would meet together to determine the way forward for the agricultural sector. Speaking with JIS News, Senator...

A team from the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR) is now carrying out assessments of damage to schools and public buildings islandwide. It is expected that this assessment exercise will be concluded within the next two weeks. Speaking with JIS News, the ONR Communications Liaison, Tracey Hamilton said that the ONR was still very much in the assistance stage of...

Cabinet has approved amendments to the Coroners Act, to speed up the disposition of cases, give coroners greater control over the system as well as expand and formalize the existing procedures for the attendance of observers at post mortem examinations. Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman who made the disclosure at yesterday's (September 20) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House,...