More

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, A. J. Nicholson, has commended Justices of the Peace (JPs) for the role they were playing in the country's justice system, and exhorted them to use their influence to restore Jamaica to being a caring and respectful nation. Giving the main address at the re-dedication of the Gayle Court House in St. Mary on...

Eight students of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at the University of Technology (UTech), received five scholarships and three bursaries valued at over $1.7 million from Continental Baking Company Limited. The scholarship award exercise, which took place on Wednesday (Nov. 5) at the institution, is the second set of scholarships offered to that university by the baking company. Each...

An Act to Amend the Irrigation Act, 2003, was approved on Tuesday (Nov. 4) by the House of Representatives. The legislation, piloted by Minister of Water and Housing, Donald Buchanan, seeks to recognize the inclusion of the Water Users Associations in the management and operation of all new and all rehabilitated irrigation systems identified for construction under the National Irrigation...

The Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB) is aiming to have Jamaica accede to an agreement known as the Washington Accord, which would give locally registered engineers the recognition they need to work abroad. This was revealed by Leo Lawson, Chairman of the Registration Act Enforcement Committee of PERB and Head of the National Contracts Commission, at a JIS Think Tank...

A community exposition was held yesterday (November 5) in Old Harbour under the theme: 'Unity, Awareness and Action, the key to community development'. This was staged by the Old Harbour Development Area Committee (OHDAC), through the Social Development Commission (SDC). Chairman of the OHDAC, Dr. Joseph Lindsay, explained to JIS News that the exposition was held to allow residents in...

Water and Housing Minister, Donald Buchanan has said that the rates charged for irrigation water to the island's farmers are to be increased to $3.19 per cubic metre of farm up from $0.62 per cubic metre. The Minister made the announcement at Tuesday's (Nov. 5) sitting of the House. The increased cost, he said, would be phased in over the...

In a bid to fulfill its commitment of providing access to safe drinking water for all Jamaicans, the Government has launched the Water Resources Master Plan Project, valued at US$171,000, under the Ministry of Water and Housing. The plan is an improvement over the first master plan published in 1990. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Jamaican Government are...

CARICOM Leaders are slated to discuss the region's preparedness to host the Cricket World Cup in 2007 at a special meeting of Heads of Government scheduled for St. Lucia next week. This was disclosed by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at a meeting of the National Council on Sports (NCS) held at Jamaica House on Tuesday (Nov. 4). Mr. Patterson said...

The Government is seeking to foster the development of new and innovative industries through two financial packages that are to be made available to the small and micro business sector. Speaking at the annual conference of the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Wednesday (Nov. 5), Prime Minister P.J. Patterson disclosed that the Development Bank...

Minister of Industry and Tourism, Aloun Ndombet-Assamba has challenged Jamaican youth to take full advantage of their education in order to better their career opportunities later in life. Addressing students and other young persons at the launch of the National Centre for Youth Development's Youth Entrepreneurship seminar on Tuesday (Nov. 4) at the University of Technology (UTech), Minister Assamba advised...

Just under $700,000 has been donated by Jamaican community organizations in the United Kingdom (UK), to assist with cardiac surgeries for children at the Bustamante Hospital.The donations were presented to the UK-based Chain of Hope medical charity today (November 5), at a reception organised by the Jamaican High Commission in London. The charity will be making its fifth visit to...

Several public sector entities, which previously enjoyed exemption from stamp duty and income tax, among others, will now be required to pay these taxes. This, as the House of Representatives approved the Public Enterprises (Removal of Tax Concessions) Act, 2003, on Tuesday in Gordon House. Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, in piloting the Bill, said that the...