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Forty five outstanding young persons were recognised on March 24 at the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards for Excellence, an initiative which highlights the achievements of young Jamaicans between 15 and 24 years of age. The event, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), a department of the Ministry of Youth and Culture, was held at Emancipation Park in Kingston,...

Development of the proposed global transshipment and logistics hub is one several potential investment opportunities being promoted among American investors by Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Professor Stephen Vasciannie. The hub’s development is being spearheaded by the Government of Jamaica to position the country to take advantage of an anticipated increase in maritime activities, consequent on the...

The HEART Trust/National Training Agency (NTA) has re-named the campus for its academy at Junction in south east St. Elizabeth, the Derrick Rochester Campus, in honour of the former parliamentarian who represented the area. The academy, the Southwest Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Institute, offers courses in engineering, furniture making, website designing, agro processing, and the creative arts. A...

The complement of ambulances in the public health system is being boosted by the provision of US$884,323 by the National Health Fund (NHF), to purchase 17 additional units. A contract for the allocation was signed by Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, NHF executives, and representatives of Toyota Jamaica Limited, during a brief ceremony on Wednesday, March 20, at the...

Cabinet met at Jamaica House today for the start of its meeting focusing on the economy, the 2013/2014 Budget and the Growth Agenda. It received a briefing on the status of the IMF discussions and noted specifically that Jamaica has successfully completed all prior actions required by the Fund. Jamaica now awaits a report from the Fund regarding its discussions...

MONTEGO BAY - The New Roads community water tank in Westmoreland, which serves over 2000 residents, has been rehabilitated at a cost of just over $1 million. Funding for the project was jointly provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister...

MONTEGO BAY - Ground was, on Friday (March 22), broken to commence construction of a 47-bed female ward at the St. Ann's Bay Hospital, St. Ann, which forms part of improvement works being carried out at a cost of $83 million.   The project is being undertaken at a cost of $73 million with funds provided by the National Health...

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) has concluded its schedule of schools outreach programmes and activities for the 2012/13 financial year, which ends on March 31. Over 4000 primary and high school students islandwide participated in a series of digital presentations, delivered over the past year by the Commission, which plans to embark on another phase shortly. The sessions were...

Jamaica has the potential to earn significantly through the United Nations’ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation -plus (REDD+) programme, by speeding up its schedule of greenhouse gas reducing projects. This according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Arun Kashyapwho said … “predictions are that (global) financial flows for (implementing) greenhouse gas emission reductions...

MONTEGO BAY - The Ministry of Health is on a drive to improve oral health services across the island especially in underserved rural communities. Among the plans are the development of a relevant and modern legal framework to govern and regulate oral health care, and the creation of partnerships to enhance service delivery, said portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson....

A Bill to empower Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, to write off arrears of taxes as well as penalties determined to be uncollectable, was approved by the Senate on March 21.   The Bill, titled the Tax Collection Amendment Act, also provides for regulations empowering the Minister to provide a tax debt arrears management system,...

MONTEGO BAY - Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, has assured residents of Shrewsbury, Westmoreland where three men were allegedly killed by the police, that the incident would be thoroughly investigated.   The Minister toured the area yesterday (March 21), where there have been days of protests, following the March 15 incident, which resulted in the death of 29-year...