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Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has welcomed the harmonious industrial relations climate, which the country has been enjoying in recent years. In his inaugural address as Chairman of the Labour Advisory Council (LAC), at that body's first meeting for 2012, at the Ministry, in downtown Kingston, last week,  Mr. Kellier noted that Jamaica’s industrial relations landscape had...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has been carrying out several monitoring exercises at the Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios Marine Parks, under the Climate Change Adaptation for Disaster and Risk Reduction Project. These parks comprise ecological structures such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, sandy shores, rocky shores, and mangrove forests. Speaking with JIS, on a tour of...

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Peter Phillips, and his team briefed the Cabinet on the meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and players in the private financial markets. He told Cabinet that the meetings were sober but positive.  There was a general understanding of the extremely difficult economic condition that...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the Government has received a US$15.1 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to assist in financing the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP). Addressing the Christiana Potato Growers’ Co-operative Association’s annual general meeting  in Manchester, on February 16, Mr. Clarke said the ACP, to be implemented by the Ministry through the Agro-Investment...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, has commended students of Howard Cooke Primary School in Montego Bay for achieving academic excellence in the recent Grade Four Literacy Test. “I want to congratulate you all for doing very well in the Grade Four examinations last year, as when the national average for mastery in literacy was about 70 per cent,...

Minister with responsibility for Sports, Natalie Neita-Headley has given her assurance to improve the physical condition of the Leila Robinson Netball Court at the National Arena in Kingston. “For netball to develop we must ensure that the facility for play meet respectable standard…I will be moving to see how quickly this government can move to assist in improving the condition...

The Coffee Industry Board (CIB), in collaboration with stakeholders (farmers, the  coffee growers association and coffee dealers),  has set up a Task Force  to aggressively fight the Coffee Berry Borer, which poses a serious threat to the industry. The Coffee Berry Borer is a microscopic beetle that invades the coffee berry in its early stage, eventually destroying the berry.   Speaking...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has reiterated that there will be no changes to the no user fee policy at public hospitals before there is a Government health card in place. This is said, as the administration is determined to offer universal primary healthcare to persons who use primary public health facilities. The Minister was addressing staff and...

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has opened its first satellite centre in the eastern parish of St. Thomas in an effort to increase access to its services. The centre, which is located at the Coke Methodist Church in Morant Bay, will be open every Friday at 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to facilitate residents of the parish who may...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says conditions at the Riverton Landfill and disposal site, in Kingston, are back to normal, noting that the government’s response to the problem has been successful. Speaking at a press briefing, on February 17, at Jamaica House, the Minister informed journalists that the Ministry is further working to meet its...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has announced that some companies have responded favourably to her call to play a greater role in the creation of employment for the jobless in the country. Addressing members of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM), at its first Speakers’ Forum Luncheon, held at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort and...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, said that the new agreement to be negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will provide a measure of confidence to the business community, while offering hope for the Jamaican people. She was addressing the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM) Speaker’s Forum Luncheon 2012, which was held Thursday Feb. 16...