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CARICOM stands ready to do all in its power to assist Haiti and play a prominent role in its reconstruction, the community's representative to Tuesday's Ministerial Preparatory Conference in Montreal, Canada, former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P. J. Patterson, said. "As small economies, our resources may be limited, but not our willingness to assist," Mr. Patterson told the one-day...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding says while the world focuses on bringing immediate aid to Haiti, it should not make the mistake of walking away when things appear to be returning to what may be regarded as normal. Mr. Golding made the appeal when he addressed yesterday's (Jan 24) opening session in Kingston of the first forum of Ministers...

Haiti's ability to assume the chairmanship of CARICOM is now uncertain following the devastating January 12 earthquake, which has left the country in a chaotic state. President of Haiti, Rene Preval, was slated to assume the chairmanship when the term by Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerritt, comes to an end on June 30. However, during a press conference yesterday...

Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Jeremy Collymore, has reiterated the region's commitment to offer "appropriate and targeted" support to Haiti over the long-term. Speaking to journalists yesterday (Jan.22) via satellite from Barbados, Mr. Collymore noted that Jamaica would continue to lead CARICOM's efforts in its role as the CDEMA Sub-Regional Focal Point (SRFP) with responsibility...

A team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) yesterday (Jan. 23) wrapped up three days of meetings with key disaster management agencies to assess the country's disaster management programme and determine the level of technical assistance that can be offered by the Japanese government. The team of experts, which began their work with meetings with the Office of Disaster...

Britain's new High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Howard Drake has praised Jamaica for its quick and positive response to the Haitian earthquake crisis. During his courtesy call on Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding at Jamaica House in Kingston this morning, (Jan 22) Mr. Drake said Britain was also committed to playing its part in providing much needed medical...

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MYSC), in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will be hosting the first Forum of Ministers Responsible for Social and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston from January 24-26, 2010. The forum will bring together Ministers, public authorities, experts and representatives...

Chief State Liaison at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Ian Boyne, has warned that intolerance for opposing views could pose an obstacle to Jamaica's prospects for foreign direct investment. "Investors are actually looking to invest in places that respect diversity, that respect pluralism. They don't want to be in societies that are intolerant, that are bigoted," he told a media...

Former Jamaica Prime Minister the Most Hon P.J. Patterson, has been selected as CARICOM's representative on a co-ordinating committee to organise an international conference on a strategic plan for Haiti's reconstruction. Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding made the announcement on Tuesday (January 19), in a statement to the House of Representatives updating Parliamentarians on the current situation in Haiti,...

Thirteen auto service technicians departed the island on Saturday (Jan. 16) to take up training and job opportunities in Canada. The group represents the first set of skilled workers to benefit under an eight-month work-study programme, which is being facilitated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Another group of 14 heavy duty mechanics are scheduled to depart on...

Jamaica has been designated the centre through which the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) relief intervention for earthquake-hit Haiti will be channelled. Addressing journalists at a media briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston on Friday (January 15), Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Daryl Vaz, disclosed that this decision was reached during a meeting of CARICOM representatives hosted by Prime Minister the...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, gets a quick briefing from United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, as they walk to the VIP Lounge at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Saturday night (January 16). Mrs. Clinton stopped at the airport on her way from earthquake torn Port-au-Prince, Haiti,...