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Cabinet has approved the establishment of an Independent Oversight Panel (IOP) to expand the framework for the monitoring of contracts. Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Professor Gordon Shirley will chair the body, and the other members are Retired Territory Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Everton McDonald; and businessman the Hon. R. Danny Williams....

The Government has decided to take the necessary steps towards the implementation of three major infrastructure works, which are critical to the country's future development. The three projects are the North-South link of Highway 2000; the Gordon Cay Container Transshipment Hub; and the Fort Augusta Terminal. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, made the disclosure in...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller who is currently on a visit to the United States of America on Wednesday held talks with senior executives of Alcoa on the company’s bauxite/alumina operations in Jamaica. The talks described by the Prime Minister as ‘fruitful’ ended with Alcoa expressing satisfaction that “a path had been established for the future viability...

The Government is going after some $2 billion it is owed in outstanding traffic fines over the next six months. The process will be facilitated through the Road Traffic (Temporary Ticket Amnesty) Act, 2012, which was passed on April 24 in the House of Representatives. Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, who opened the debate, said that because of...

Inclement weather could not dampen the atmosphere of fun and excitement at the Mount Olivet Boys' Home in Manchester recently as the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) staff joined the residents for a day of sports and games. The event dubbed: ‘Health and Fitness Day’ was part of the agency’s outreach to the home, which it adopted in 2009. Sounds of...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, has underscored the important role which genetic application must play in advancing Jamaica’s agricultural outputs. Speaking at a plant nutrition seminar at the Ministry’s research station at Bodles, St. Catherine, on April 24, Mr. Clarke said sector stakeholders are now cognisant of the fact that, increasingly, science and technology “must play a critical...

The continued rise in the cost of oil on the international market has triggered increases in the cost of locally produced energy, which has had a negative ‘domino’ effect on Jamaica’s development, the economy and the people’s way of life. With this in mind, the country’s newly elected Government has embarked on an almost ‘evangelical’ mission to find ways to...

The Government of Jamaica and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have entered into a five-year Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2012, valued at US$13.85 million or just over $1.2 billion in support of national efforts to improve the welfare of marginalised and vulnerable families and children. The grant was formalised during a signing ceremony on Thursday (April 24) at...

Executive Director of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), Carol Simpson, says the office continues to champion Brand Jamaica and protect the island’s unique products. She said that focus is being placed on the cultural industry. “We’ve been looking at traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, genetic resources, working with our young people (particularly from) Rastafarian and Maroon communities,” she said....

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, says the government will be taking a more integrated approach to youth development in an effort to maximise results and effectively utilise resources. This will involve pooling the resources of agencies and organisations with similar targets in order to ensure greater efficiency and reduce costs. “What we have to realise is that...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, says the Government remains committed to protecting the interests of the country’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) holders. “We continue, through the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), to provide Jamaican creators, investors and commercial enterprises as well as foreign rights holders, with modern and comprehensive procedures and facilities for the protection...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says that Jamaica has made significant strides towards attaining universal immunisation coverage for all children, with 100 per cent coverage of tuberculosis (BCG) last year. Also in 2011, the country achieved 92 per cent coverage for polio, diphtheria, pertussis or whooping cough and tetanus (DPT), hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B (HIB),...