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Cabinet will be locked in a two-day retreat at Jamaica House beginning Thursday Feb. 2, where members will discuss, among other things, the economic programme, the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) and details of the Jamaica Employ Programme. Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Sandrea Falconer, told journalists on Feb. 1 Jamaica House briefing, said the discussions on the economic...

Sally-Kay Porteous was installed as the new Custos Rotulorum for the parish of Manchester yesterday Feb. 1. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, presided over the ceremony, which was held at King's House in Kingston. In his remarks, Sir Patrick urged Ms. Porteous to use her office to safeguard the procedures and processes by which Justices of...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, on January 31, toured the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), in Kingston, to familiarise himself with the work of the agency. During the tour, led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEPA, Peter Knight, a detailed outline was given on the work of the agency and its role...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, has said that while Jamaica respects its trade agreements, as a small, vulnerable economy, the country must also be able to benefit from these arrangements. “This means increasing exports; otherwise, free trade agreements will only lead to the accumulation of more debt by encouraging imports. This administration will...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, says that as a small developing state, Jamaica requires increased production and exports, through new investments, to achieve robust economic growth and to reduce the country’s debt burden. “A major priority for Jamaica must, therefore, be the production of goods and services for export, and making imports contribute...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, is to meet with the management of the six parish councils cited for breaches of government guidelines by the Auditor General, on Wednesday (February 1). The six councils are also being requested to take along with them supporting documentation and provide the Minister with the appropriate responses to the incidents...

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, said the Government will be seeking to implement a number of remedial steps to improve numeracy and literacy skills at the primary level, which will come on stream in September. The Minister made the announcement at a press conference held at his National Heroes Circle offices on Jan. 31 to reveal the results of...

A second community, Melbrook Heights in St. Andrew, has been identified by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to benefit from low-cost landslide mitigation strategies and training under the World Bank-funded Community-Based Landslide Risk Reduction Project (CBLRRP). Melbrook Heights has demonstrated the key characteristics of a community for intervention, having met the criteria of a compact settlement,...

The Webster Memorial United Church on Half-Way-Tree Road was alive with the colours and sounds of Jamaica on Sunday (Jan. 29), as the country’s leaders, clerics, dignitaries and congregants came together to praise the Almighty for 50 years of nationhood. The event was part of the year-long ‘Jamaica 50’ celebration, to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s Independence this...

With thousands of tourists and locals visiting the parish of Trelawny weekly, particularly the town of Falmouth, to conduct business or to have fun, there have been calls for more attractions to be opened in the parish. Millions of dollars have been invested in the area in infrastructure, particularly access roads and the cruise ship pier in Falmouth, where thousands...

Jamaica is ready to work with all its partners in the international community, in order to assist in the effective reform of  governance structures that reflect global realities. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, gave this commitment at a meeting with 63 members of the Diplomatic Corps, at Jamaica House, yesterday January 31, as...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said that an audit is to be conducted on the island's sole mental health institution, the Bellevue Hospital in East Kingston. This audit, he explained, is to determine the extent of intervention needed to reform and restructure the facility, including upgrading of infrastructure, in order to improve operations and the quality of service to...