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Contrary to the practice of placing the focus on civil and political rights which Western governments deem more important than economic, social and cultural rights that are the main thrust of Southern governments, all these rights must serve as the basis for full national development, says human rights specialist, Ms. Maarit Kohonen. "Human Rights in development is not simply about...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade K.D. Knight has emphasised that the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) will have very positive spin offs for the country through job creation, and would create more opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises. Minister Knight along with other representatives of the Ministry was speaking at a recent meeting hosted by businesspersons...

Wayne McCook, Senior Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has said that private sector response to the upcoming China-Caribbean Economic Co-operation Trade Forum has been so overwhelming, that they have had to close registration for the event. Speaking with JIS News following a press conference to brief journalists on the schedule for the upcoming China-Caribbean Economic...

The Jamaica Library Service (JLS) had a number of significant achievements for the 2003/04 fiscal year including the reconfiguration of the first mobile library to offer information and communication technology (ICT) services, the successful hosting of the national reading competition, and extensions to the St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland parish libraries. As set out in the JLS's annual report for the...

The China-Caribbean Trade Fair and Forum, which will be held from February 2-5 2005, will provide a golden opportunity for private sector interests in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean to widen their scope of operations and forge business ties. Speaking with JIS News, Robert Stephens, Senior Vice President at the Port Authority of Jamaica and chairman of the planning committee...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has stated that Jamaica's contribution to countries affected by the tsunami disaster in South Asia could take the form of monetary assistance given the magnitude of the disaster and the cost of sending personnel and relief supplies over long distances. Mr. Patterson made the comment during a radio interview on Wednesday (Dec. 29). The Prime Minister...

Irwine Clare, Head of the New York-based Caribbean Immigrant Services (CIS), has urged Caribbean nationals in the United States to seek to become citizens of the country. Mr. Clare issued the challenge during his address at the Caribbean American Organisation of Youth Development's fundraiser, which was held in the Bronx on the weekend. Pointing to what he described as the...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Delano Franklyn has called for support of the implementation of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), particularly from persons who might be wary that the Court can succeed. Senator Franklyn argued that while admittedly, there were financial challenges and securing unanimous support from all Caribbean Community (CARICOM)...

The World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) is reporting that its seven-day visit to Jamaica to promote the coaching and playing of blind cricket in the island was successful. In a report on the Jamaica visit, Tim Guttridge the WBCC Vice Chairman and Development Director for the Atlantic region including the Caribbean, said it was clear that Jamaica would be a...

Thomas "Mack" McLarty, former White House Chief-of-Staff and Special Envoy to Latin America and the Caribbean, has welcomed the appointment of Professor Gordon Shirley as Ambassador to Washington and expressed certainty that the new envoy would build on Jamaica's tradition of strong international advocacy. "We are therefore, confident that Ambassador Shirley's (tour) here will be similarly productive and benefit the...

Jamaica has been given the honour of hosting the 35th Annual Conference of the International Institute of Communications (IIC), which will see the convergence of telecommunications and broadcasting regulators from all over the world. In an interview with JIS News, Cordell Green, Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission, revealed that Jamaica's reputation and track record in communications was "second to...

Jamaicans in the United Kingdom (UK) have thrown their support behind the government's sugar lobby and are pressing their political representatives to bring the issue to the British and European parliaments. Community groups in Nottingham, Leeds, Manchester and Leicester have initiated a letter writing campaign to their councillors, members of parliament and representatives in the European parliament, asking for Jamaica...