More

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has said that the administration is engaging local bauxite and alumina companies, and the unions representing the sector's workers, to avoid closure of the plants, which would result in the loss of hundreds of jobs. In a national broadcast on December 14, the Prime Minister noted that the global bauxite/alumina industry is in a "precarious" position,...

The series of island wide consultations on the draft National Minerals Policy, organised by the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications, were successful in increasing public awareness of some of the serious issues relating to minerals development in the country. "There are some serious issues relating to minerals development in the country and the series of public consultations assisted us in...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has informed that the Government is currently in negotiations with Swiss metals and minerals trading company, Glencore, regarding the financial obligations that were entered into with that company in 2005, by the previous administration. "We are in negotiations now and we are trying to see if we can get out of it (the previous agreement), if...

Since the Government came into power the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications has, among other things, been focussing on the formation of new legislations and repositioning the local mining industry. To this end the Telecommunications Policy is being refined, and the process to revise the Telecommunications Act, will follow the finalisation of the new Telecommunications Policy. The new Telecommunications Policy...

Some 600 persons from bauxite mining communities islandwide are to be trained under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed yesterday (August 26) between the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) and the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL). This was disclosed by Executive Director of JFLL, Edward Shakes at a JIS Think Tank session today (August 27). "We have signed an MoU...

State Minister in the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications, Laurence Broderick, has informed that at least two companies are seeking to expand their operations in light of increased usage of alumina in manufacturing and other activities globally. The companies, West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco), and Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART), are currently conducting the necessary studies to guide possible expansion,...

State Minister in the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications, Laurence Broderick is proposing a diversification in the types of energy fuel used to power the operations of the local bauxite and alumina sector. This, he said, is against the background of the spiraling increases in the cost of fuel globally, and the significantly high percentage of the country's oil imports...

The bauxite and alumina sector yielded some US$1.3 billion in gross export earnings during 2007, State Minister in the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications, Laurence Broderick informed the House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 9). Making his contribution in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate, Mr. Broderick said this was some 14 per cent more than the previous year, adding that 2007...

State Minister in the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications, Laurence Broderick has said that the Government is fully committed to working with new and existing investors in the bauxite and alumina sector, to safeguard its viability and international competitiveness. He pointed out that the sector has experienced radical changes, noting that one of the challenges impacting the monitoring of the...

Students and teachers at the Discovery Bay Basic School in St. Ann should be feeling safer now, as a chain link fence has been erected at the school by the St. Ann Jamaica Bauxite Partners (SAJBP). Public and Community Relations Officer at SAJBP, Winston Watson, told JIS News that the company was more than happy to assist the school. "As...

Minister of Energy with oversight for Mining and Telecommunications, Clive Mullings, has said that the rise in global demand for metals and some industrial minerals has resulted in renewed interest being shown by both foreign and local investors in local deposits. "This is reflected in an increase in the number of applications for prospecting and other licences," he said, adding...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service, Senator Don Wehby, has said that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is currently examining how best to meet the needs of borrowing member countries, in relation to the issue of the international food crisis. He also added that a delegation from Jamaica would be attending a one day seminar...