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An additional $2.9 billion has been earmarked in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, to complete construction of the Montego Bay Convention Centre this year. The project, being executed by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), aims to provide the resort city and its environs with adequate space to facilitate meetings, exhibitions and event-type activities. Additionally,...

The Government's capacity to analyse and manage development data is to be further improved with the provision of $ 7 million for the Support to National Development Planning Goals, Millennium Development Goals and the Human Development project in the 2010/2011 Estimates of Expenditure. Being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), through funding from the United Nations Development Programme...

The late Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston, the Most Rev. Lawrence Burke, was hailed for his devotion to education and the Catholic Church at a memorial mass held last week at the St. Joseph Chapel of Regis College in Toronto, Canada. The event was organised by the St. George's College Old Boys Association (Ontario Chapter); the Immaculate Conception High School Alumnae...

The Government will be providing increased social protection support for the country's poor and vulnerable, who have been severely impacted by rising world food prices. A sum of $105 million has been set aside in the 2010/2011 Estimates of Expenditure, which is before the House of Representatives, for the Social Protection Support to Food Price Crisis project, which is being...

"Who am I? Black and beautiful Who am I? Smart and sensitive Who am I? Phenomenal and philosophical Who am I? I am me". The year 2007 was when Claudette Graham penned those words, not knowing that three years later she would have realized her true potential and that unearthing her hidden talents, would have transformed her into who she...

The sum of $3.7 billion has been earmarked for the Social Protection Project in the 2010/2011 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project, being implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Government of Jamaica. Its objectives are to further improve the effectiveness...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, has called on the Jamaica Manufactures' Association (JMA) to encourage members to expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. "I would love to see the Jamaica Manufactures' Association...impress upon its members, that we want a small percentage of the workforce of the members to come from...

Residents in Central Jamaica had a chance to air their views as to whether or not there should be an increase in the national minimum wage, as the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission (MWAC) wrapped up its regional consultations on Thursday (March 18) in Manchester. Several persons, who attended the meeting held at the Manchester Club, agreed that while an increase...

The Minimum Wage Advisory Commission says it will ask Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, to provide a consultant to assist the Commission in determining when and how minimum wages should be adjusted. The suggestion has received broad support from workers' organisations and employers, who believe that a systematic study would form a more concrete basis on...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles, is to meet with representatives the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) at his Ministry on Friday, April 9, to present a proposal to them in an effort to settle their dispute over retroactive pay. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles This was stated in a release issued by...

The Road Safety Unit (RSU) is reporting a 27 per cent reduction in road fatalities since the start of 2010, when compared with the corresponding period for last year. Up to March 17, some 64 persons have been killed in motor vehicle crashes. This is 24 less than the 88 persons who died during the similar period last year. Twenty...

Jamaicans were on Wednesday (March 17), reminded of their basic rights as consumers, during the staging of a Consumer Expo in observance of World Consumer Rights Day at the Carib Cinema's car park, Cross Roads, Kingston. The expo was part of a week of activities planned to recognise World Consumer Rights Day, which was observed on March 15 by the...