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The Child Development Agency (CDA) has embarked on a programme to upgrade the skills of persons working within public and private childcare institutions. The first phase of the programme commenced in December 2005 with the training of nurse aides attached to childcare institutions, and will end in December 2006. Funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) at a cost...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has described the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the government-owned Harmonization Limited and private developer Tavistock Group for the negotiation of plans for the development of the Harmony Cove Resort in Trelawny, as evidence of the success of the policies implemented by the government to attract investments to the island. Speaking at the handing...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is providing $4.9 million for the construction of a basic school in the Springfield community in southwest Clarendon. "The Jamaica Social Investment Fund signed a contract with the Gimme-me-Bit/ Rocky Point/Springfield Seventh Day Benevolent Society, on January 27 for the construction of the basic school," informed Ayanna Mitchell, Community Driven Development Coordinator at JSIF....

The historic Holland Bamboo Avenue in St. Elizabeth is being given a face-lift, by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Ministry of Agriculture and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). Hurricane Ivan, which lashed the island in 2004, seriously damaged the bamboo trees, as did a number of illicit bush fires, resulting in a marked decline of the plants....

The St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation (SEHF) will be constructing a multi-skills youth training centre in Santa Cruz, and the government has committed to lease the organization some 16 hectares (40 acres) of land for the project. Member of Parliament for North Eastern St. Elizabeth and Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke and executive members of the SEHF recently toured the site, which...

The Roads and Works Committee of the Clarendon Parish Council, yesterday (January 26), approved a $27 million emergency repair programme to restore 13 roads in the parish damaged by floodwaters. This is part of a $300 million allocation announced by the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sports in December 2005, to repair roads across the island, which have...

The Government is to develop a national housing policy, with a number of key components, including a new-look joint venture housing plan. Water and Housing Minister, Donald Buchanan made the announcement on January 25, while speaking at the launch of FirstCaribbean International Building Society's international hard currency mortgage product, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. Mr. Buchanan said the...

Approximately 85 hectares of tree crops such as ackee, sour sop, breadfruit and june plum were planted in Hanover last year, under the Ministry of Agriculture's Fruit Tree Crop Programme. Parish manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority's (RADA) Hanover office, Bernard Goffe, told JIS News that although the farmers fell short of the target of 90 hectares, the "project...

The Portmore Municipal Council is reporting success in its Better Neighbourhood Development and beautification programme launched in 2005, which is aimed at improving the aesthetic and environmental conditions within the municipality. Mayor of Portmore George Lee told JIS News that during last year, the Council embarked on the creation of some eight parks and the beautification and landscaping of areas...

The roadway from the Mandela Highway to Braeton Parkway in Portmore, St. Catherine, commonly known as 'I-95', will be officially named the Municipal Boulevard. An unveiling ceremony and the erection of a road sign will take place in early February on site. Mayor of Portmore, George Lee, told JIS News that the selection of the name was done by a...

Cabinet has approved the award of a contract for repair work to be carried out at the May Pen Hospital in Clarendon. Economic Maintenance Products Limited has been contracted to rectify defects at the hospital over a 12-week period, at a cost of some $58.4 million. Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman, who gave details of the contract at yesterday's (January...

Cabinet has given its approval for the compulsory acquisition of parcels of land at 2 and 4 Love Lane in Central Kingston for the development of the Simon Bolivar Cultural District. Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman, who made the disclosure to journalists at yesterday's (Jan. 23) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, explained that the cultural district was being...