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The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM and the European Union must address problems being faced by cultural practitioners in the region, who are seeking to export their services to Europe. Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Hon. Olivia Grange, made the request at a two-day forum on culture and civil society, as they relate to the EPA, which opened...

Festival activities to be staged in western Jamaica by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), were launched today (July 21), at the Wexford Hotel, in Montego Bay, St. James. The events, which will take place in St. James, Hanover, Trelawny and Westmoreland, from July 25 to August 6, include Emancipation vigils, Independence thanksgiving church services, street gala and dance, civic...

Twenty three year-old teacher, Kamesha Turner, from St. Ann, is the 2009 Miss Jamaica Festival Queen. Miss Turner, who is also a CARICOM Youth Ambassador, was crowned at the national coronation show, held at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, on Hope Road, in Kingston, on July 18. Tamara Dickens, a 25 year-old attorney-at-law, who represented Kingston and St. Andrew, was...

Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Ian Neita, has given the assurance that the Fund will continue to lend its support to the Rio Nuevo Battle Site Museum to ensure its viability. Mr. Neita was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett at the official opening of the museum on yesterday (July 18). "It...

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, has said that Jamaica and the People's Republic of China were strengthening ties through the exchange of cultures. She said that the visit to the island of the Folk Music Group of the Tianjin Song and Dance Theatre was a symbol of the growing friendship and co-operation between the two countries....

A Jamaican Maroon group will soon be re-tracing the footsteps of their ancestors in a Canadian city, to which they were banished by the British colonial government more than 200 years ago. The Charles Town Maroon Drummers, under the leadership of Colonel Frank Lumsden, will be visiting Canada from July 30 to August 10, as part of the Jamaican High...

Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz has made a personal donation of $100,000.00 to assist the children of the Rio Grande Valley truck crash victims. He also called for more donations to be made by members of the public and private organizations. Mr. Vaz was...

Store owners and operators of public and private sector entities, are being encouraged to decorate shop windows, business places and town centres in the national colours for the period of Emancipation and Independence celebrations from July 30 to August 6. At a Think Thank at the JIS' Half Way Tree Road headquarters on Wednesday (July 15), Executive Director of the...

The Ministry of Health is considering a proposal from the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) to abolish user fees for children, up to the age of 12 years, who use that institution. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Ruddy Spencer, said this has become necessary, as a study conducted after the abolition of user fees in public hospitals on April 1,...

Guardians and parents of the 41 Portland children left behind after the Rio Grande truck tragedy of December 2008, today (July 16) received commitment letters for the funding of their education. At the handing over ceremony in Port Antonio this morning, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Hon. Daryl Vaz, thanked businesses and members of...

Plans are well advanced for the hosting of this year's Independence and Emancipation celebrations. This was announced today (July 15), by Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Delroy Gordon, at a JIS Think Tank. The events, organised by the JCDC under the theme: 'I believe in Jamaica', will take place from July 30 to Independence Day, August...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, is reminding the public that Emancipation Day will be celebrated on August 1, as is customary. Mr. Charles said that the reminder has become necessary because of numerous calls to his Ministry from employers and the general public seeking clarification of the issue, as August 1, 2009 falls on a Saturday....