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Some 200 local companies have now officially signed on to the Jamaica Cluster Competitive Project (JCCP), which is poised to take the country into new and profitable frontiers by leveraging its world-famous brands and culture, thereby making local firms more internationally competitive and fostering economic growth. In an interview with JIS News, former Mission Director of the United States Agency...

Primary school children, their teachers and parents will soon reap the rewards of improved efficiency from school Principals as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture seeks to enhance the capabilities of school administrations. This is being pursued through the post-graduate Principals' Diploma Training Programme, which is open to all primary school principals. The training programme, which began in May...

Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell said that the final draft of the Consumer Protection Act, designed to protect the public from unfair trading practices, has been completed and is to be shortly sent to the Legislation Committee of Parliament for review. He said, "with the promulgation of the Act, legislative sanctions will be applied where consumers continue...

Students in the community of Victoria in Northwest Clarendon are the beneficiaries of new basic school, which has been constructed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The school, which was built at a cost of some $3.45 million, was officially handed over to the community at a ceremony held in Victoria on October 1. Operations Manager at JSIF, Omar...

Two Jamaicans emerged victorious in the provincial election, which took place in Ontario, Canada on October 2, as their party scored a landslide victory and will now form the next government. Alvin Curling who contested the constituency of Scarborough-Rouge River retained his seat, which he has held since 1985, while Mary Anne Chambers in the constituency of Scarborough East, is...

The Senate on Friday (October 3), closed the debate on a Motion moved by Government Senator and President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Norman Grant, calling on Jamaicans to support local farmers.At the end of the deliberations, members on both sides of the Upper House gave full support to the Motion. In closing the debate, Senator Grant said that...

Forty high schools from across the island are scheduled to participate in this year's Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Heritage Debate Competition. This represents a 34 per cent increase, or 11 more than the number of participants in the competition last year. The 2003 competition will have its official launch next Monday, October 6 at the Mount Alvernia High School in...

Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell, has reminded Jamaican producers about the effects of globalisation and increased competition, urging them to enhance efficiency and put key marketing strategies in place, in order to remain viable in the marketplace. "Jamaican goods and services are going to be under increased competition. It doesn't matter which market you are trying to...

The Airports (Economic Regulations) (Licence) Regulations, 2003 has been approved by the House of Representatives unopposed, and is to take effect from September 30, 2003. The Regulations provide the framework for the application of airport charges at Sangster International in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International in Kingston, as well as the general commercial terms governing these charges. State Minister...

Minister of Water and Housing, Donald Buchanan has challenged rural communities to actively participate with government, in the construction and development of their own water supply systems as the public sector could not by itself unable to sustain the level of investment required to fund water supply and sanitation systems. He was speaking at the recent opening of the Rural...

A National Minerals Policy is currently being developed to look at all the country's mineral wealth and the mechanisms to develop these resources. It is expected that with the formulation of the policy there will be a single official document outlining government's approach to the development of the minerals sector. In an interview with JIS News, Oral Rainford, Director of...

Walkerswood Caribbean Foods Limited, a pioneer in the export of jerk seasoning from Jamaica, has acquired Sorrel Chutney (original and spicy) and Sorrel Pepper Jelly from the Scientific Research Council (SRC), at a cost of $100,000 and $80,000 respectively. The signing of the agreement took place on Tuesday (Sept. 30) at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), building in Kingston....