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The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) is working assiduously to implement a strategy to ensure that a number of Jamaican laboratories are accredited according to the standard required by food exporters to the United States by 2013. "This requires the utmost urgency as currently, there is no accredited food testing laboratory in Jamaica," said State Ministerin the Ministry of...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Hanover office has stepped up its production of plant seedlings to meet the needs of the approximately 6,000 registered farmers in the parish. According to Western Zonal Director with RADA, Bernard Goffe, the aim is to maintain the consistent increase in domestic crop output recorded since 2006. Farmers produced 4,590 tons of food last...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller signed a two-year cooperation agreement with the Chairman of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Mr. Zhou Jichang, for undertaking exploration of infrastructure development projects in Jamaica.   In her remarks at the signing at Jamaica House on Saturday (July 21), the Prime Minister said that “projects which will flow from this agreement must bring mutual economic benefit, deliver value for...

The Committal Proceedings Bill, which seeks to abolish preliminary enquiries, has been sent to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament for further deliberations.        Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, who opened the debate on the Bill in the Senate, on July 20, said that the legislation sought to alleviate or reduce problems related to inordinate delay, high legal...

Some 250 students from several secondary and tertiary institutions across the island have benefitted from 14 sensitisation sessions as the Government continues to promote a culture of productivity among the youth. The sessions were held under phase two of the Jamaica Productivity Centre's (JPC) 'Be Productive Campaign,' which got underway in March. Some of the participating schools include: Seaforth High...

A one-day exhibition highlighting aspects of Jamaica's rich cultural history as well as the country's technological achievements, was staged by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. Dubbed 'Festoramma', the event, which opened on Friday July 20 at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium in New Kingston showcases the work of a number of agencies under the Ministry’s...

A contract valued at approximately $21 million was signed between the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) for rehabilitation of the Sandy Bay Health Centre in Hanover. The signing took place on Thursday (July 19) on the grounds of the health centre. Work on the four-month project, is scheduled to begin immediately, and includes...

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, says the Government is working towards the development of an effective Services Growth and Expansion Plan, in an effort to further advance the services sector. Mrs. Ffolkes-Abrahams said the initiative forms an integral part of the Vision 2030 National Development Plan, which is also in support of...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, says she is pursuing plans to open a branch of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) at a location in her West Central St. James constituency. "This will provide training for young people in the maritime field and link into the broader vision of the Ministry and Jamaica to become a...

Cabinet has approved an $84 million contract to Coast to Coast Quarries Limited for the supply and delivery of boulders for revetment works at Roselle, St. Thomas. The supply and delivery of boulders fall under the Inter-American Development Bank transportation infrastructure rehabilitation programme. Speaking at the Jamaica House media briefing on July 18, Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, has said that she has dedicated $1 million of her Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards land titling in her West Central St. James constituency. The State Minister, who was making her contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 18), informed that the process...

The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, through the Bureau of Standards (BSJ), continues to work on a number of initiatives to assist local firms to become compliant with the requirements of the recently amended Food Safety Modernisation Act, says State Minister, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams. Among the initiatives was a course of study approved by the United States Food and...