More

A new look National Advisory Council (NAC) is to be launched by the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sports next week. It will be chaired by outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Rex Nettleford. The planned relaunch of the NAC on January 20 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, has been identified by the...

President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), Harry Maragh has said that the country's transshipment business not only facilitated trade between Caribbean neighbours and major players in the international arena, but it also created opportunities and financial viability in all other sectors of the society. Speaking at a maritime security seminar hosted by the SAJ, the Port Authority of...

A single lane Bailey Bridge is being erected in Black River, St. Elizabeth, to allow for the refurbishing of the old bridge by the National Works Agency (NWA). Communications Manager at the NWA, Vando Palmer, told JIS News that the bridge was being assembled on the instruction of Minister of State for Transport and Works, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, and should...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (Jan. 13) approved a Government of Jamaica guarantee under the provisions of the Approved Organizations and Authorities Act to secure a loan of US$75 million from Wachovia Bank to the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC). The government guarantee for the loan which will secure the financing for the completion of Phase...

Security measures that have been and are being put in place at the ports, would impact significantly on drug trafficking and the trade in illegal weapons, Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill said today (January 13). He was speaking at a maritime security seminar hosted by the Shipping Association of Jamaica, in collaboration with the Port Authority of Jamaica...

Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson has said that the government was exploring a number of options to further bring down interest rates to "friendly levels" for the business sector, and to facilitate a reduction in the Budget deficit. In a national broadcast on Sunday (January 11), the Prime Minister explained that interest rates went up last year mainly because of the...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has said that he was pleased that all sectors of the society were coming together in partnership for sustainable economic development as Jamaica continued to strengthen its international alliances and explore every avenue that would lead to economic growth. Mr. Patterson was speaking during a national broadcast on Sunday (Jan. 11), which was recorded before his...

CARICOM Heads at a meeting with Chilean President Ricardo Largos on Monday (Jan. 12) have mandated an early meeting of the CARICOM/CHILE Joint Commission to examine new avenues for further bilateral cooperation between Chile and the countries of the region. CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson noted that while there have been some accomplishments arising from the work of the...

We enter this New Year facing our fair share of challenges and opportunities. At times like these, it is the quality of our nation's leadership at every level and the attitude of all our citizens that determine how well we do and the progress that we make. Throughout our history we Jamaicans have displayed remarkable strength of character, determination, and...

CARICOM territories seem poised to benefit from international alliances with Britain and the United States, that are geared towards enhancing security initiatives in the Caribbean region. This was disclosed by Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips as he officially opened the first ever meeting of the Ministerial Sub-Committee of Attorneys General and Ministers of National Security of the Caribbean...

The Pye River Cemetery in Montego Bay has come in for much needed attention from the St. James Parish Council with some $250,000 being spent to enhance its aesthetic beauty and ambience. Commercial Services Manager at the Council, Hayden Marks has said that beautification work, inclusive of the bushing of heavily overgrown areas, was presently underway at the location in...

Twenty-six year old Michelle was elated. She was about to join her husband in the United States. All that was left was the results from the medical test. But her joy soon turned to sorrow as her medical showed that she was HIV positive. “When I went to pick up my medical and I was told that I was HIV...