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The Government has granted a bauxite levy concession to Russian-based aluminum company UC Rusal, which will ensure, among other things, that the 600 local jobs are maintained at the Ewarton Works refinery in St. Catherine. This was revealed by Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell on Tuesday (October 2) in a statement to Parliament. He informed...

Two contracts, valued at approximately $217.9 million, were approved by Cabinet for infrastructure works in St. Thomas and Trelawny under the Sugar Transformation Project. Providing details at the Jamaica House press briefing, Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, disclosed that a $158 million contract was awarded to Alcar Construction and Haulage Company for civil works at...

A grand cultural concert will highlight a short list of activities being staged by the government in partnership with the private sector, in honour of the country's athletes. The celebratory events, slated to take place during the upcoming Heroes weekend, are to recognise the achievements of the 50 Olympians and 3 Paralympians, who made the country proud at the London...

Cabinet has instructed the Ministry of Justice to ensure that priority is given to the passage of legislation such as the DNA Bill and regulations to accompany the Sexual Offences Act. This follows extensive discussions on the recent spate of sexual offences against women and children. Speaking at the Jamaica House press briefing on October 3, 2012, Minister with responsibility...

Transport, Works and Housing Minister, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, says the Government has commenced action to address the findings of the forensic report conducted on two major infrastructure projects. The audit was undertaken by Kroll Consultants Inc., on the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) and the Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Works Project (Palisadoes project). In a statement to Parliament...

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, says that a forensic audit conducted on two major infrastructure projects implemented by the former administration, has revealed "a host of occurrences, which demonstrate complete disregard for normal and well established government practices." The projects reviewed are the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) and the Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation...

The Portmore New Testament Church of God, in partnership with churches in St Catherine and the Corporate Area, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and the Portmore Municipal Council, will present a Jamaica 50 celebratory event highlighting the contribution of the Christian church to nation building throughout Jamaica’s 50 years of Independence. The event titled ‘The Church On A Mission:...

Sixth form student of Clarendon College in Chapelton, Francina Francis, has topped 26 other fifth and sixth form students across the island to win the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade’s (MFAFT) 50th anniversary essay competition. For her victory, Francina will receive a one week all-expense paid trip to New York City, United States, to participate with the Jamaican...

Jamaica's Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie, has concluded his three-month chairmanship of the OAS Permanent Council. At a ceremony held on Monday (Oct. 1) at the OAS headquarters in Washington DC., the Jamaican envoy handed over chairmanship to Ambassador Joel Antonio Hernández García of Mexico. Ambassador Vasciannie described his term at the helm...

Work is to commence shortly on a replacement for the Kintyre Bridge in Eastern St. Andrew. Speaking to journalists during a tour of the structure on October 2, Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Richard Azan, assured that work will begin as soon as the weather permits and the water pressure has been reduced....

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, said the government is of the view that political affiliation should not bar anyone from public service or from serving on a public sector board. He stated that the primary consideration should be competence, honesty, integrity and other such principles. In fact, he said, many of the boards that now exist; have...

Government Senator, Floyd Morris, is proposing that a levy of approximately five per cent is placed on all remittances entering the island as an additional source of funding for the education sector. "This is likely to yield US$100 million or JA$9 billion. The proceeds must be used to fund educational activities being implemented by the National Education Trust (NET)," he...