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The Jamaican High Commission in South Africa will be staging a seminar next Tuesday (February 28) to examine the role of reggae music in the African liberation struggle. The seminar, to be held at the Ditsong National Cultural History Museum in Pretoria, is part of activities by the mission to mark Reggae Month and celebrate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence....

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, says moving the banana industry forward is a top priority of the Government, with two major goals being an increase in local consumption and exporting  the fruit to neighbouring countries, such as the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. He said the Ministry is in the final stage of discussions...

Police Commissioner, Owen Ellington, continues to enjoy the Government’s full support and confidence, as Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). This assurance came from National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, at a press briefing at Jamaica House on February 21. The Minister expressed satisfaction with the Commissioner’s performance in the drive which has resulted in a reduction in crime,...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the Government is committed to moving agriculture forward, by reviving the traditional crops, such as sugar, banana, coffee, cocoa and citrus. Citing the great economic potential that exists in sugar cane production, the Minister said that currently, there is $658 million in the Cane Expansion Fund, and the Government would increase...

Commercial bank credit to the private sector has increased by 6.2 per cent in the December quarter, over the previous quarter, with 7.3 per cent of the loans going to businesses.   This was disclosed by Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ), Brian Wynter as he presented the Quarterly Monetary Policy Report (QMPR) of the Bank at its Nethersole...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has embarked on a bold new low-cost strategy to reduce the risk of landslides and the threat to life and property posed to persons living in hillside communities that are so affected. Over the past 20 years, local disasters resulted in cumulative costs of more than US$1 billion. Among the various...

A new Chief Executive Officer is expected to be appointed soon for the National Works Agency (NWA). This was disclosed by Minister of Transport, Works and Housing the Hon. Dr Omar Davies in a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday Feb. 21. He informed that the response from qualified persons for the post, which became vacant in 2011,...

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, on February 21, announced a slew of  projects, totalling $1.18 billion, which are to be rolled out under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). Tabling a Ministry Paper in the House of Representatives outlining the initiatives, Dr. Davies noted that the first phase of JEEP is to be rolled out...

Minister with responsibility for Sports, Natalie Neita-Headley, is calling on service clubs to partner with the Government in revitalising the country’s community and social systems. She noted that much of the country’s social infrastructure is in need of rehabilitation and “it is a task that government cannot do alone and so I want to invite organisations like the Kiwanis movement...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has signalled his commitment to work to strengthen the capabilities of the National Public Health Laboratory. “My task as Minister… is to help to facilitate your programmes and to recognise your work and your worth. You have in me as your Minister… one who recognises the need to strengthen your institution,” the Minister told...

Police Commissioner, Owen Ellington, has welcomed an announcement by National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, to advance the proposed Anti-Gang Legislation and amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). Mr. Bunting, in addressing security matters Friday Feb. 21 Jamaica House press briefing, said that the Ministry will be revisiting the proposed anti-gang law, to ensure that “it has all...

National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, says the Government is moving to reduce the incidence of murders in Jamaica to less than one per day, by the year 2017. Addressing a Jamaica House press briefing on Tuesday (Feb. 21), Mr. Bunting noted that significant gains had been made over the last two years in reducing the number of murders. Statistics...