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Special ceremonies are being planned by the Jamaican High Commission in London, United Kingdom (UK), to recognise UK-born persons of Jamaican heritage, who take up Jamaican citizenship. High Commissioner to the UK, Her Excellency Aloun N’dombet Assamba, said the Mission has been encouraging the second, third and fourth generation UK-born Jamaicans to recognise their “Jamaicaness”. The ceremonies, she said, would...

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, says Jamaica has a comprehensive refugee policy, which incorporates International Human Rights standards, and provides a good framework for the treatment of asylum seekers in the country. He stated that the policy also provides a model that could be used in other CARICOM states. He was addressing participants in a seminar...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will once again welcome diplomats who are accredited to Jamaica, as it hosts its annual Diplomatic Week from February 3 to 8, 2013. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, January 31, at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices, Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson said the aim of Diplomatic Week is...

Some 23 non-resident Heads of Missions will arrive in the island this week for the 15th annual Diplomatic Week from February 3 to February 8. They will join resident ambassadors, high commissioners and charge d’ affaires for a busy schedule of activities which will include ministerial briefings and exposure to Jamaica’s culture and cuisine. Director of Protocol in the Ministry...

President of the World Federation of Consuls, Arnold Foote, says the organisation has cemented its presence in every region and is becoming a strong source of influence worldwide. Speaking at an awards dinner hosted by the Consular Corps of Jamaica for visiting Directors of the World Federation of Consuls, at the Wyndham Hotel in Kingston on January 25, Mr. Foote...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, has given the Government’s commitment to continue to work towards ensuring that more local companies can gain access to overseas markets. He made the comment during a tour of Rainforest Seafoods’ new state-of-the-art facilities on Friday (January 25) on Slipe Pen Road in Kingston, where he lauded the company’s efforts towards...

Ambassador to the United States (US), His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie and his wife, Lisa, were among over 200 diplomats who attended the inauguration ceremony for the US President, Barak Obama, on January 21. Ambassador Vasciannie told JIS News that he was deeply honoured to represent the people and government of Jamaica and to witness this moment in the history of...

The city of Montego Bay and by extension, western Jamaica, should benefit significantly from an international partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI), which was launched on January 17, at the Wexford Court Hotel, in Montego Bay. The primary objective of the initiative is to improve the quality of life in selected cities in...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, says Cuba has been and continues to be “a most valued and highly respected brother on the Latin American and Caribbean landscape and beyond”. He praised Cuba’s invaluable assistance and co-operation towards developing countries, despite the country’s difficulties and challenges. The Minister was speaking at a reception to...

While acknowledging that Jamaica started later than expected, the Government has taken measures to implement the tariff liberalization aspect of the CARIFORUM/EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. The tariff liberalization will be phased over 25 years with reductions occurring biennially until 2033. Cabinet gave approval for the necessary amendments to be made to...

WASHINGTON - Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie, is slated to deliver the keynote address at an awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 19 which will culminate a series of year-long series activities staged in that city to mark Jamaica's 50th Independence Anniversary. The function, which is scheduled for the Atlanta City Hall Atrium, will...

Matters of mutual interest between Jamaica and the Washington, D.C. National Guard were high on the agenda, during a visit to the Jamaican Embassy on January 10 by the Commanding General of the National Guard, Major General Errol Schwartz. In the discussion with Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie, Major General Schwartz and his team outlined some...