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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller says the church must reassert itself in the society noting this was an even more urgent task given the pain, suffering, despair and injustice that pervades the world. “The church is a critical institution in the life of the nation and while Government might be charged with steering the process of economic...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley, has dismissed speculation that the Government has plans to remove the 20 per cent duty concession on motor vehicles, from which public sector travelling officers now benefit. Mr. Dalley, who has responsibility for the Public Service, said that fuelled by speculation surrounding commitments under the agreement with...

The National Works Agency (NWA) in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Mines & Geology Division of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy & Mining (MSTEM) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is advising road users that Geotechnical investigative works will be carried out along sections of Gordon Town Road in St. Andrew and the...

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller departed the island on Tuesday, July 2, for Trinidad and Tobago for the Thirty-fourth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, which will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from July 3-6, 2013. The CARICOM Heads Meeting will be convened under the chairmanship of...

The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment is proposing the introduction of parish extension committees to hear and grant extensions on entertainment permits. The Ministry is working on amendments to the Noise Abatement Act to contain the provision. The process involves collaboration with the Ministries of National Security, Local Government and Community Development, and Youth and Culture. In his contribution to...

Having successfully reduced the airport processing time for persons flying out of the island, the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment is currently moving to do the same for travellers coming into the country. Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says a special Committee, which spearheaded efforts to reduce the processing time, particularly at the Sangster International Airport, in...

The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment is moving to provide protection for one of the island’s foremost indigenous music forms, reggae. State Minister, Hon. Damion Crawford, said the Ministry is working with the Ministries of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Youth and Culture, and the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), in preparing a Cabinet submission towards that objective. Mr. Crawford, who...

Hotels with up to 200 rooms are set to benefit from a $50 million Small and Medium Hotel Energy Efficiency Programme, to be implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment. The initiative is expected to lower energy cost for these properties, so as to enhance their competitiveness. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, who made the announcement during his...

The Government is exploring the option of upgrading existing performing arts venues to provide more space to accommodate audiences as well as technical equipment and personnel. State Minister for Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, made the disclosure on Tuesday, July 2, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. He said that while it...

The Government has completed the health sector reclassification, which is to be implemented over three years, at a cost of $7 billion. This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning (with responsibility for the Public Service), Hon. Horace Dalley, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House on July 2. “This...

Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says the prospects are bright for stopover visitor arrivals to Jamaica for the 2013 summer tourist season. This, he says, is based on market research conducted as well as airlift and forward bookings information available. “We have already had growth in stopover arrivals in May of 2.3 per cent and June of...

Ground is scheduled to be broken on July 11, for the construction of anew city/business hotel in Kingston. This was disclosed by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 2. The Minister informed that the Courtyard Marriott, which is being developed by a...