The Senate has approved legislation to formally merge the functions of the Agricultural Marketing Corporation (AMC) under the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC). The Bill, the Agro-Investment Corporation (Amendment) Act, was passed today (June 4), without amendments. Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Leslie Campbell, who piloted the Bill, said the merger is consistent with...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has called for greater access to vaccines by the Caribbean and Africa, as these nations continue their fight against the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Addressing the Africa Day webinar on Tuesday (May 25), Mr. Holness emphasised: “Africa cannot be denied opportunities, nor can the Caribbean, if we are to truly advance the ethos...

Cabinet gave approval for the Double Taxation Agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jamaica. The agreement will eliminate double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure on Wednesday (May 19), during the post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House...

A decision has been taken to postpone to 2022, the 9th Biennial Jamaica (virtual) Diaspora Conference, which was slated for June 16-18, 2021. The Ministry’s sensitivity to the realities of the impact of the pandemic on all stakeholders warrants this consideration. We are pleased to note that the 2022 staging of the Conference will coincide with what is expected to...

Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), greets newly appointed Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Emina Tudakovic, during her courtesy call at Jamaica House on Wednesday (May 12).

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, has hailed the longstanding friendship between Jamaica and the European Union (EU) and pointed to the need for the two to build a bolder path towards achieving shared goals. Senator Johnson Smith was addressing a virtual cultural extravaganza on Sunday (May 9) to mark Europe Day. The one-hour show,...

Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Scotland, Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, has been named the new Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sir Geoff, who is an internationally renowned scientist and human rights activist, will assume his new role at an official inauguration ceremony, which will be held during the University’s Bicentennial celebrations in October 2021. As Chancellor, Sir Geoff will...