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  Jamaica’s fisheries sector is set to benefit from some US$400,000 ($36 million) in grant funding and technical support under the United Kingdom-based Department for International Development (DFID)-funded Caribbean Fish Sanctuary Partnership Initiative (C-FISH). The initiative is a four year £2. 1 million ($302 million) project, which will support the operations of fish sanctuaries in Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica,...

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie, has underscored strong the “ownership rights” which Caribbean countries have of the territorial waters which they encircle. He emphasized this point while delivering the keynote address at a lecture held at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in the US Capital, Washington, D.C., last Thursday (Nov. 8), on the topic: “Who...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) wishes to advise the public that the stationary front currently affecting the island has produced heavy rains resulting in flooding within the parish of St. Mary. The areas affected include: -Port Maria -Oracabessa -Sections of Junction in the vicinity of Georgia Emergency response agencies have been alerted and are currently reporting...

Both Houses of Parliament have now given the nod of approval for prospective developers of approved integrated resorts in Jamaica to apply for licenses to operate casinos within these establishments. This, following the Senate’s passage, on Friday (Nov. 9), of the legislations which will govern the process: the Casino Gaming (Prescribed Games) Regulations, 2012, and the Casino Gaming (Application for...

Education Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, has hinted at a possible review of the provisions of Jamaica’s Education Code of Regulations, commencing next year. The code outlines a series of procedures, which must be followed for disciplinary procedures, addressing issues such as natural justice, and the right of representation and appeal, for the process to be completed. Speaking at...

Education Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, says progress has been made in discussions between the Ministry and the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) on the proposed Jamaica Teaching Council Bill. The Bill, which the Minister is working to have tabled in the House of Representatives during the current 2012/13 parliamentary year, seeks to provide for the establishment of a governing...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says improving energy efficiency is imperative if Jamaica is to realize savings in energy costs, which is estimated at US$10.4 million per month. He was speaking at the official launch of the ‘Developing an Energy Services Company (ESCO) in Jamaica’ project yesterday (November 8), at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New...

The latest report on Internet saturation across the Caribbean indicates that over half of Jamaica’s 2.87 million people or about 55.1 per cent, are using or has access to the internet. This places Jamaica at an impressive fourth place in the Caribbean, bettered only by the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico.  The survey, conducted by Internet World Stats, a...

A pioneering treatment for high blood sugar and high blood pressure, created by a team from the University of the West Indies (UWI), has won the Minister’s Innovation Awards for 2012. The entry, titled: ‘A Novel Treatment Against Hyperglycemia and Hypertension,’ was adjudged as likely to be the most significant in its effect on the scientific and technological world. It...

Hundreds of farmers from Lititz and surrounding communities in South St. Elizabeth are to benefit from a small-scale irrigation system set up by the Government, through the National Irrigation Commission Limited (NIC), at a cost of  $6.5 million. The system, deemed necessary due to the historical pattern of low rainfall in the area, is supported by rainwater harvesting facilities. There are...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has received $13 Million from China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), towards assisting persons and schools badly affected by Hurricane Sandy. The funds were presented on Friday (November 9) by CHEC’s General Manager for the Caribbean and Latin American region, Zhongdong Tang, at a media briefing held at ODPEM’s head office...

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, has underscored the critical need for Jamaican students to be fluent in English Language, noting that this is critical for the country’s progress. He said that the English is the language of professionalism, scientific discovery, and commerce, and the Ministry in promoting literacy in the language. “There can absolutely be no compromise about this,...