Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says he has instructed the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) to establish a monitoring system to ensure that refined sugar imported for manufacturing purposes does not make its way into the retail trade. “Anyone found abusing the privilege of duty-free importation of refined sugar for the manufacturing sector, will suffer severe...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says that the Government is committed to providing opportunities for young people to pursue farming as a business. He said it is in support of this mission that the Ministry has completed a draft National Youth in Agriculture Policy and implementation plan to be submitted to Cabinet shortly. It will...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says he is looking to link small ganja farmers with large processors who have the ability to convert ganja into a range of medicinal products. “What I'm working on is a programme where all serious ganja farmers who want to plant the herb for the formal industry will have to...

The Knockalva Agricultural School is now a polytechnic college, providing greater access to tertiary education for persons in western Jamaica. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid,  noted that the rebranded institution, located in Hanover, will bring tertiary studies to the doorsteps of residents of the parish in addition to St. James and Westmoreland. “We cannot...

The island’s farmers are being encouraged to diversify agricultural production and grow more non-traditional crops for the export market. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, who made the call, said that crops such as caster beans, sorghum, cannabis, coconuts and industrial hemp are in high demand overseas. He disclosed that a major coconut farmer from Guyana is...

Jamaica is implementing a single window for trade, which will greatly enhance the way in which goods and services are imported into and exported out of the island. The Jamaica Electronic Single Window Project, which will be rolled out by the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) over the next 36 months, will provide one entry point for all import, export and...

Manufacturers who import white sugar will now be required to pay the duty up front and be reimbursed by the Government within 30 days. This was disclosed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, who said this change is necessary as the Government seeks to stem the illegal importation of the product. “There is no other...