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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...

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of Jamaicans and friends turned out at a church in  Decatour, Georgia, on January 5, to celebrate the lives of Ainsworth and Jacqueline Mallett and son Drew, the Georgia-based Jamaican family, who perished in a traffic accident on December 27. Formerly of Stone Mountain, Georgia, the Malletts owned and operated the Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill...

Head of the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Cayman Islands, Her Excellency Ambassador Paola Amadei, is dispelling misconceptions about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). This, particularly in relation to the agreement, which the EU signed with Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) member countries in 2008. This facility, she points out, has been described,...

A Cays Management Policy is scheduled to be completed in  2013, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown said. Speaking at the 107th meeting of the National Council on Ocean and Coastal Zone Management (NCOCZM), held on December 19 at the offices of the Ministry,  in  Kingston, Mr. Brown said the Cays Management...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has expressed appreciation for assistance, particularly in the area of health, which the country has been receiving from the Republic of Cuba, for the past 40 years. “Our country has benefited much from Cuba’s internationalist goodwill. The government and people of Jamaica appreciate the sacrifice of the Cuban government and people in making...

The Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU) have signed a $240.7 million (€2.25 million) agreement to implement a Capacity Building Project under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The EPA is a trade agreement between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips; Head of...

A Bill seeking to amend the Consumer Protection Act, to improve the efficiency of the legislation and strengthen the authority of the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) in resolving consumer disputes, was debated and passed in the Senate on December 7. The Bill, entitled: ‘An Act to Amend the Consumer Protection Act’, was approved with seven amendments.  It was initially debated...