The Government is to partner with local fertiliser manufacturer, Newport Fersan (Jamaica) Limited, to establish 186 gardens in public schools across the island. This was disclosed by Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson, during a tour of the company’s Wherry Wharf complex at Newport East, in Kingston on June 14. He...

The Government will be conducting a review of the 2013 Micro, Small and Medium-size Enterprises (MSME) and Entrepreneurship Policy. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, said the review will be undertaken over the next three months. Among the objectives are to update the policy, create a standard definition of MSMEs in order to improve reporting of...

The Long Pond Sugar Factory in Trelawny has produced 327 tonnes of sugar since resuming operations three weeks ago. This follows the Government’s temporary takeover of the operations of the Clark’s Town-based factory earlier this year, beginning with repairs totalling $180 million. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, said the intervention has “rescued the livelihood of...

Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Mike Henry, says that mined-out bauxite lands across the island will be returned to productive use, especially in the area of agriculture. During a tour of two water harvesting and greenhouse cluster projects in St. Ann on June 2, Mr. Henry said he is determined to ensure that the lands are returned to the people...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has urged farmers in western Jamaica to re-enter the cattle industry, in an effort to reduce imports and improve the country’s position in beef and milk production. Speaking at the relaunch of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Savanna-la-Mar Methodist Church Hall on June 4, Mr. Samuda...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government has no intention of abandoning the local sugar industry. Addressing a ceremony in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, on June 4 to relaunch the parish’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minister said that abandoning the sugar industry would be a retrograde step, and would negatively impact thousands of workers...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government is focused on expanding the agricultural sector in order to reduce food imports and grow the economy. “In setting our goals for growth and prosperity, we recognise we can never really grow and be the masters of our own destiny unless we can expand on those things...