Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), Major Richard Reese, has expressed confidence that the 38th annual conference of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC), being hosted in the country, will be a success. Major Reese was addressing the opening ceremony for the five-day conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston yesterday (May 17). The conference,...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, has announced that there will be a reduction in the cess on local conch from US$0.75 cents to US$0.50 cents per pound, this year. He made the announcement during a press conference following a tour of the Rainforest Seafoods plant on Slipe Road in Kingston, on Friday, May 6. Mr. Samuda...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has announced that the 2016 Jamaica 4-H Clubs’ Boy and Girl of the Year will each receive $1 million as part of their prize. He said the award is intended to serve as an incentive for more young people to pursue careers in the agricultural sector, including establishing their own businesses,...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will stage its annual Small Business Exposition and Conference on Thursday (May 12), at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. The event, which is in its ninth year, will be held under the theme: ‘Opening the Door to Financing Opportunities’. Corporate Communications Manager at the JBDC, Suzette Campbell, said focus will be placed...

The Government will be appointing a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Review Commission, aimed at positioning the country to take full advantage of benefits under the organisation. This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, today (April 27), at the unveiling ceremony for new equipment installed at International Biscuits Limited (IBL), in St. Andrew. “I think the time has...

More marketing opportunities are expected to open up for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in food processing this fiscal year, with a boost of $180 million. The money has been provided in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure under the Economic Partnership Agreement II (EPA II) Capacity Building Project, which aims to support the Government of Jamaica in addressing...

The Research and Development Plant Health laboratory at the Bodles Agricultural Research Station, in St. Catherine, is to be refurbished this fiscal year, with an allocation of $465.7 million. To be disbursed under the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme, the money, which is  contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, will also be used to refurbish quarantine facilities at two Veterinary Services Division...